Act IV, Scene I Summary

This scene opens with Bottom being endlessly pampered and attended to by Titania's servant fairies. Oberon and Robin watch nearby, and Oberon tells Robin that he has recieved the Indian slave boy so Robin can now undo the spell of the flower. After Titania loves Oberon once more, Bottom's ass-head is taken off and he plus the four lovers are put to sleep. Theseus, Hippolyta, and Egeus come along as they hunt with hunting dogs. They come across the lovers, Demetrius with Helena and Lysander with Hermia. They explain their love for each other, and Egeus pleads with Theseus to punish them. Theseus, however, sees what is happening and refuses him, planning a wedding for all the couples, including himself and Hippolyta. All exit, discussing their now dreamlike experience, excited about their upcoming future. As they exit Bottom awakes from a seemingly elaborate and wonderful dream.

Act III, Scene II Summary

After carrying out (wrongly, of course) his master’s plans, Puck returns to Oberon to report the results. After explaining Titania’s love of the ass-head Bottom, Oberon is extremely pleased with Puck. However, after Demetrius and Hermia walk onto the scene and Puck says he anointed the eyes of a different Athenian, Oberon becomes angry because Puck failed his job. Hermia yells at Demetrius, accusing him of murder of Lysander. After Hermia finally leaves, Demetrius falls asleep, and, trying to fix the mess they made, Oberon anoints his eyes with the magic nectar. Then, Lysander and Helena walk into Demetrius’ place, Lysander lusting after Helena and Helena believing she is being mocked. Demetrius is woken up and falls immediately in love with Helena, which makes her think she is being mocked still. Lysander and Demetrius argue endlessly for Helena when Hermia finds them and grabs Lysander, asking him what’s going on. He rudely shakes her off and she is very confused. When she realizes he has left her for Helena, she threatens Helena violently and Helena accuses her fo being part of the pranking conspiracy. At this point Lysander and Demetrius actually prepare to duel each other, but then Oberon orders Puck to impersonate the two men, leading the other of track until both Lysander and Demetrius are exhausted and fall asleep. Helena and Hermia quickly follow suit. After all of this, Puck anoints the eyes of Lysander again to try to undo the love of Helena and restore his love of Hermia.

Act III, Scene I Summary

The acting company (Quince, Starveling, Snout, Snug, and Bottom) meet at the Duke’s Oak in the forest, coincidentally near the fairy queen Titania. At first they discuss how to keep from frightening ladies in their prospective audiences. Bottom comes up with a plan to use a prologue explaining that the characters are just actors, and nothing more. While they rehearse, Bottom leaves to investigate a strange noise he heard. It turns out to be Puck, invisible and watching them practice! He plays a dirty trick on Bottom, making it seem as if he has an ass-head to everyone but him. When Puck and him return to the practice area, everyone else in the acting company runs from Bottom, thinking he is cursed. He is confused and thinks they are making fun of him, so he sings to show them he is unafraid. His singing wakes up the sleeping Titania, and she sees Bottom. Because of the magic flowers given to her by Oberon just before, she falls in love with Bottom at first sight. He is then treated to the best hospitality that Titania and her fairies can offer.

Act II, Scene II Summary

The scene begins with Oberon, King of the Fairies, and his queen Titania in a quarrel. Titania has acquired a young Indian servant boy from an Indian King, which quickly made Oberon jealous. The two fairies argue endlessly until Titania leaves the scene. Once she is gone, Oberon reveals his plan to his faithful sprite Puck (also called Robin). His plot is to use a magic flower which, when rubbed into the eyes of a person, causes them to love the first creature they see. He tells Puck to find him some of the flower so he can use it on Titania to make her love some hideous beast, and while she is distracted he will take the boy. Afterwards he will use the flower again to return her love to him. Puck goes off to find this flower, and while Oberon is alone Demetrius runs by him with Helena pathetically following him. Helena bugs him about her love for him while he attempts to run away and scorns her. After they poass Puck comes back with the flower, and Oberon gives him some instructions: first of all, use the flower on Titania as planned, and second, give some to Demetrius (who he describes as "the man dressed like an Athenian") so he will love Helena. This is because Oberon sympathizes with Helena.

Act II, Scene I Summary

The scene begins with Oberon, King of the Fairies, and his queen Titania in a quarrel. Titania has acquired a young Indian servant boy from an Indian King, which quickly made Oberon jealous. The two fairies argue endlessly until Titania leaves the scene. Once she is gone, Oberon reveals his plan to his faithful sprite Puck (also called Robin). His plot is to use a magic flower which, when rubbed into the eyes of a person, causes them to love the first creature they see. He tells Puck to find him some of the flower so he can use it on Titania to make her love some hideous beast, and while she is distracted he will take the boy. Afterwards he will use the flower again to return her love to him. Puck goes off to find this flower, and while Oberon is alone Demetrius runs by him with Helena pathetically following him. Helena bugs him about her love for him while he attempts to run away and scorns her. After they poass Puck comes back with the flower, and Oberon gives him some instructions: first of all, use the flower on Titania as planned, and second, give some to Demetrius (who he describes as "the man dressed like an Athenian") so he will love Helena. This is because Oberon sympathizes with Helena.

Act I, Scene II Summary

Quince, Bottom, Snug, Starveling, Snout and Flute are members of an acting company. Quince is telling them their roles for their newest play, "Pyramus and Thisbe". Bottom is Pyramus, the male lover, which he is enthusiastic about, Flute, Thisbe the lady of Pyramus, which he is very angry about, Starveling, Thisbe's mother, Snout, Pyramus' Father, and Snug, the lion. Snug is confused about the lines for the lion, and Bottom expresses his desire to have all the parts. They all discuss what they'll need for the parts and then Quince adjourns the meeting and asks them all to meet next time at the Duke' Oak.

Act I, Scene I Summary

At first, Theseus and Hippolyta are talking about their upcoming wedding. Unfortunately they do not have long to talk about their plans because Egeus, Hermia, Demetrius and Lysander burst into the scene. Egeus is coming to Theseus in search of advice and help with his daughter. He explains that his daughter, Hermia, has been meeting with Lysander, who she says is her true love, which is against his rules because she is supposed to marry Demetrius. Hermia argues that Lysander is just as good of a man as Demetrius, and Lysander backs up this claim himself. In the end of this, Theseus and Egeus draw up three conclusions: Hermia marries Demetrius, Egeus executes Hermia, or Hermia becomes a nun. Then all but Lysander and Hermia exit the scene. They discuss in secret their plans to get secretly married at Hermia's rural manor house. Helena walks into them and tells of her desire to be as beautiful as Hermia so she can catch the eye of Demetrius. Hermia and Lysander soon give out their plan to Helena, but this soon turns out to be a bad idea after they leave because Helena plans on telling their secret to Demetrius.