by Spark Notes
First published 2022
Hermia loves Lysander, but her father demands she marry Demetrius. She flees to the forest with Lysander, pursued by Demetrius and Helena, who loves Demetrius unrequitedly. In the same woods, fairy king Oberon quarrels with his queen Titania over a changeling boy. Oberon's servant Puck uses magic flower juice to make Titania fall in love with Bottom, a weaver transformed with a donkey's head. Puck also tries to help Helena by enchanting Demetrius, but mistakenly bewitches Lysander instead. Both men now pursue Helena, leaving Hermia bewildered. Meanwhile, the craftsmen rehearse their play for the duke's wedding. After much confusion and comic chaos, Oberon reverses most spells, the lovers pair off correctly, and the fairies bless three weddings. This guide presents Shakespeare's original text alongside plain English translations, making every joke and plot twist clear without losing the poetry's beauty.
Genres: drama, classic-literature, fantasy, comedy
Vibes: lyrical, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Forest
Period: Midsummer
135 pages · Paperback · Independently published