Literature In English Practice Test (A Midsummer Night’s Dream – William Shakespeare)

Upon realizing that she has been sleeping with the donkeylike Bottom, what does Titania feel?

A. Disappointment    B. Amazement     C. Anger    D. Satisfaction

'Lord, what fools these mortals be!’

In the line above, the character is _______

A. expressing the behaviour of the lover
B. expressing the love between two lovers
C. expressing the exaggerated silliness of the lovers' behaviour
D. expressing the gift of God in their lives

What does Bottom say as he pretends to kill himself?

A. "I want to live, to live, to live."
B. "[D]ie, die, die, die, die."
C. "[S]ave me, save me, save me."
D. "Thisbe, I die for you, you, you, you."

What has happened to the Athenian youths over the course of the night?

A. Demetrius and Helena now love each other, as do Lysander and Hermia.
B. Demetrius and Hermia now love each other, as do Lysander and Helena.
C. Demetrius and Titania now love each other, as do Lysander and Hippolyta.
D. Demetrius and Hippolyta now love each other, as do Lysander and Titania.

What is Robin Goodfellow's other name?

A. Oberon    B. Titania    C. Fairy    D. Puck

What does Bottom wish to eat?

A. Hair    B. Hay     C. Carrots    D. Apples

What does Egeus tell Theseus about the craftsmen's play?

A. That it is terrible and not worth seeing
B. That it is wonderful and extraordinary
C. That it is boring and laughable
D. That it is maudlin and sentimental

What happens when Helena wakes Lysander?

A. He confusedly asks where he is.
B. He looks frantically for Hermia.
C. He asks whether he is still dreaming.
D. He falls in love with her.

Why can't Bottom tell his friends about his adventure in the forest?

A. Puck has sealed Bottom's lips.
B. Titania has sworn Bottom to secrecy.
C. The craftsmen have to go perform their play.
D. Oberon has taken away Bottom's ability to speak.

Why must the craftsmen not eat onions or garlic before their play?


A. Because they'll likely eat part of the wedding feast after their performance
B. Because they must be prepared to "utter sweet breath"
C. Because these things will cause the eater to fall in love with the first person or thing he sees
D. Because these things are "most foul, not fair"

What does Oberon realize when he sees Hermia and Demetrius in the clearing?

A. That Puck has given the love potion to the wrong woman
B. That Puck has used up all of the love potion
C. That Puck has confused Bottom with Demetrius
D. That Puck has given the love potion to the wrong man

What happens when the juice of the love-in-idleness flower is rubbed on a sleeper's eyelids?

A. The sleeper will fall in love with the first living thing he or she sees upon waking.
B. The sleeper will dream of his or her true love.
C. The sleeper won't wake up until the juice is washed off.
D. The sleeper will turn into a fairy.

What does Titania give to Bottom?

A. An embrace and a crown of flowers
B. An embrace and a group of fairy servants
C. An embrace and several kisses
D. A robe to wear during his performance

Full of vexation comes, with complaints Against my child, my daughter Hermia
stand forth, Demetrius. My noble Lord, stand forth, Lysander, and my gracious
duke, child... I beg the ancient privilege of Athens. As she is mine, I may
dispose of her. Which shall be either to this gentleman or to her death,
according to our law, immediately provided In that case
[Act 1 Scene 1].

The speaker's mood is that of _______

(a) Joy     (b) Vexation    (c) Happiness     (d) Pear

Full of vexation comes, with complaints Against my child, my daughter Hermia
stand forth, Demetrius. My noble Lord, stand forth, Lysander, and my gracious
duke, child... I beg the ancient privilege of Athens. As she is mine, I may
dispose of her. Which shall be either to this gentleman or to her death,
according to our law, immediately provided In that case
[Act 1 Scene 1].

The speaker accused _______ of bewitching his child.

(a) Oberon    (b) Theseus     (c) Puck    (d) Lysander

Duke Thescus

‘Hippolyta, I woo ‘d thee with my sword
And won thy love doing thee injuries
But I will wed thee in another key,
With pomp, with triumph and with reveling


Duke’s statement above the Hippolyta means that he _______

A. make trouble to see Hippolyta
B. jump the fence to see Hippolyta
C. should be injured by Hippolyta
D. will win the love of HippoIyta

How does Quince convince Bottom to play Pyramus?

A. By appealing to Bottom's vanity
B. By appealing to Bottom's sense of humor
C. By appealing to Bottom's love of wine
D. By appealing to Bottom's reason

What does Titania accuse Oberon of?

A. Falling in love with Hippolyta
B. Falling in love with Hermia
C. Falling in love with Helena
D. Falling in love with Thisbe

The traditional verse form of speech as dialogue in Midsummer Night’s Dream is used to symbolize the _______

A. impressiveness of the characters
B. intense feelings of the characters
C. traditionality of the play
D. function of poetry in the play

Why has a group of laborers gathered at Peter Quince's house?

A. They're discussing the food to be served at Theseus"s wedding.
B. They're writing and rehearsing several songs to honor Theseus.
C. They're discussing the repairs that need to be made at Theseus"s palace before his wedding.
D. They're rehearsing a play that the men hope to perform at Theseus"s wedding.

What is the alarming news that Snug shares with the group?

A. Theseus has been married, along with a few lords and ladies.
B. Bottom has returned from the forest, with the head of an ass.
C. Titania has crowned Bottom "fairy king."
D. Pyramus is an actual person, and he has arrived for Theseus's wedding.

What does Puck call the craftsmen when he sees them rehearsing?

A. "crafty craftsfolk"
B. "hempen homespuns"
C. "authorial actors"
D. "theatrical dramatists"

What does Puck ask the audience to do to demonstrate its enjoyment of the play?

A. To laugh     B. To sing    C. To applaud     D. To stomp their feet

What does Titania have that Oberon wants?

A. A human servant
B. An Indian princess
C. An Indian prince
D. A royal title

Why are the laborers worried?

A. They're worried that the audience won"t find the play amusing.
B. They're worried that the lion will upset the ladies in attendance.
C. They're worried that no one will pay attention to the performance.
D. They're worried that they haven"t been invited by Theseus to attend his wedding.

Why has Egeus come to see Theseus?

A. His daughter won't marry the man he wants her to marry.
B. His daughter refuses to attend Theseus's wedding.
C. His daughter refuses to act as Hippolyta's lady in waiting.
D. His daughter wants to perform in the entertainments planned for Theseus's wedding.

On what do the craftsmen agree?

A. Bottom is the only person in Athens with any true acting talent.
B. Bottom cannot have been felled by an ass-headed monster, because he is too powerful, impressive, and handsome.
C. Bottom is the nicest and best weaver in all of Athens.
D. Bottom is the wittiest, most intelligent, and best person in all of Athens.

How does Theseus feel about the story told by the Athenian youths?

A. Believing, because his love for Hippolyta has made him generous
B. Disbelieving, because darkness and love have a way of exciting the imagination
C. Believing, because as a young man he spent time in the woods with the fairies
D. Displeased, because he wanted the Athenian youths to marry other people

Full of vexation comes, with complaints Against my child, my daughter Hermia
stand forth, Demetrius. My noble Lord, stand forth, Lysander, and my gracious
duke, child... I beg the ancient privilege of Athens. As she is mine, I may
dispose of her. Which shall be either to this gentleman or to her death,
according to our law, immediately provided In that case
[Act 1 Scene 1].

The above statement is made by _______

(a) Lysander     (b) Helena     (c) Egeus     (d) Theseus

What is notable about the craftsmen's performance?

A. It is awkward, and full of strange sights and apparitions.
B. It is hilarious, and full of delights and dancing.
C. It is clumsy, and full of strange speeches and misapprehensions.
D. It is sad and disheartening, full of strange speeches and misapprehensions.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is preoccupied with the Juxtaposition of ______

A. death and disappointment
B. love and hate
C. appearance and reality
D. love and death

What do the craftsmen fear has happened to Bottom?

A. He has been turned into a fairy.
B. He has been felled by a terrifying ass-headed monster.
C. He has abandoned their play to live forever in the forest.
D. He has been eaten by a terrifying creature with wings and fire-breath.

What does Hermia think Helena used to lure Lysander?

A. Her height    B. Her beauty    C. A fairy potion    D. Her fair hair

Why must the fairy servants keep Oberon and Titania separated?

A. Because it's bad luck for them to see one another on the night before their wedding
B. Because they're very angry with each other
C. Because they've fallen out of love
D. Because Oberon has rejected Titania for Hermia

What is the purpose of the prologue written by the craftsmen for their play?

A. To explain the play's plot and main themes
B. To explain that the lion isn't really a loin, the sword isn"t really a sword, and no one really dies
C. To beg the audience to forgive the craftsmen's lack of experience as actors
D. To commend Theseus and Hippolyta on their wedding day

Full of vexation comes, with complaints Against my child, my daughter Hermia
stand forth, Demetrius. My noble Lord, stand forth, Lysander, and my gracious
duke, child... I beg the ancient privilege of Athens. As she is mine, I may
dispose of her. Which shall be either to this gentleman or to her death,
according to our law, immediately provided In that case
[Act 1 Scene 1].

The statement of the speaker is prompted by her daughter’s refusal to marry ________

(a) Bottom     (b) Mustard-Seed    (c) Demetrius     (d) Quince

Full of vexation comes, with complaints Against my child, my daughter Hermia
stand forth, Demetrius. My noble Lord, stand forth, Lysander, and my gracious
duke, child... I beg the ancient privilege of Athens. As she is mine, I may
dispose of her. Which shall be either to this gentleman or to her death,
according to our law, immediately provided In that case
[Act 1 Scene 1].

The statement was made in the _______

(a) Palace     (b) Wood    (c) Garden     (d) Forest

Where is the play set?

A. In and around Genoa
B. In and around Athens
C. In and around London
D. In and around Verona

What is the name of the play to be performed?

A. The Most Lamentable Comedy and Most Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbe
B. A Midsummer Night's Dream
C. The Most Lamentable Comedy and Most Cruel Death of Lysander and Hermia
D. The Twisted Tale and Lamentable Woes of Athenian Lovers

How does Puck prevent Lysander and Demetrius from fighting?

A. He confuses the would-be combatants until they are hopelessly lost.
B. He pretends to be Helena, leading Lysander far away from Demetrius.
C. He casts a spell that prevents the would-be combatants from finding each other.
D. He causes the would-be combatants to fall asleep.

What does Oberon ask Puck to do?

A. To find an Athenian king being pursued by a lady
B. To find an Athenian youth being pursued by a lady
C. To find an Athenian queen being pursued by a young man
D. To find an Athenian lady being pursued by a young man

What does Puck do to Bottom?

A. He transforms Bottom's head into that of an ass.
B. He transforms Bottom into a fairy.
C. He gives Bottom the ability to fly.
D. He sprinkles the love potion onto Bottom's eyes.

What does Demetrius tell Helena?

A. That he loves her
B. That he wishes to marry her
C. That he doesn't love her
D. That he is already married

Why does Quince have trouble conducting the meeting?

A. Because he has fallen in love with Theseus's fiancee
B. Because he can't remember why the men have gathered at his house
C. Because Bottom keeps interrupting him
D. Because he thinks it's a bad idea for the men to perform at the wedding

What mistake does Puck make?

A. He squirts the juice on the wrong man.
B. He squirts the juice on the wrong fairy.
C. He squirts the juice on the wrong woman.
D. He loses the flower.

How does Bottom react to Titania's behavior?

He wishes she would leave him alone.
He wonders about her motives.
He accepts it as perfectly natural.
He fears it won't last.

What does Titania kiss as she lays in the grove?

A. Bottom's "sweet forehead"
B. Bottom's "downy fur"
C. Bottom's "fair large ears"
D. Bottom's "sun-dappled cheek"

Full of vexation comes, with complaints Against my child, my daughter Hermia
stand forth, Demetrius. My noble Lord, stand forth, Lysander, and my gracious
duke, child... I beg the ancient privilege of Athens. As she is mine, I may
dispose of her. Which shall be either to this gentleman or to her death,
according to our law, immediately provided In that case
[Act 1 Scene 1].

‘My child” as referred to in the extract is _________.

(a) Hermia     (b) Helena     (c) Titania     (d) Snout

Why does Oberon undo the spell on Titania?

A. She agrees to give him the Indian child.
B. She agrees to marry him.
C. She promises to leave the forest.
D. She swears her allegiance to Oberon forever.

What does Puck declare as he squeezes the love potion onto Lysander's eyelids?

A. A good night to all, and to all a good night.
B. In the morning all will be well.
C. All is blissful and peaceful in the land of dreams.
D. When you wake, this will be a dream.

How does Helena react to Lysander's exclamations of love?

A. She fears that he is mocking her.
B. She is wonderfully surprised.
C. She is begrudgingly accepting.
D. She enthusiastically reciprocates.

What is Theseus planning as the play opens?

A. His wedding to Titania
B. His wedding to Hermia
C. His wedding to Helena
D. His wedding to Hippolyta