~When to Sight a Faerie~~~

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Melanie Hill
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1 Act II The Faeries Names Position/ Role Personality Concerns, Goals Other Faeries Puck (Robin Goodfellow) Titania Oberon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~When to Sight a Faerie~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Faeries have the ability to render themselves visible or invisible to the mortal eye at will and they can be simultaneously visible to one person whilst invisible to another. However they can at times be espied without their knowledge. This is normally while they are at work or engaged in faerie revels when they are discovered by humans who come across them unawares or by those determined enough to use devious method to seek them out. Time is often an essential ingredient as most faerie sightings take their place either at noon, when the sun is at its zenith, or alternatively at midnight and in the twilight hours preceding sunset and sunrise, all of which mark the translation from light to dark or vice versa. It should also be noted that dawn can also be the moment of escape for humans on whom faerie spells have been cast. May Day (which celebrates the return to the summer solstice), Midsummer s Eve and Halloween (which to the Celts marked the changeover from the old Celtic year to the new) are especially favorable times for sightings. This transition element is also important where people are concerned and it explains why growing children and, particularly, young girls just prior to puberty are far more likely than adults to see the little people. It is for this reason in fact that a wise parent will take care on May Day to ensure his children wear clothing adorned with bells or carry daisy chains as these will ward off danger from faeries. These festivals were also marked with merriment and flirtations. A Maypole was decorated, and Morris dances were performed around the pole. A Morris dancer would wear a bright, ribboned costume that was covered with bells. These bells would make a lovely noise during the dances. Young men and women would spend the night in the woods and return in the morning with tree branches to decorate the town. These celebrations were also called the fetching home of May or the rites of May. 7

2 In general terms, faeries do not like to be seen by humans so the gaze of the observer must be steady for the little people will disappear in the blink of an eye. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Protection Against Faeries~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wary country folk have discovered numerous methods of discouraging the more troublesome faerie attentions. Those walking alone at night are particularly vulnerable proven methods of self-protection for the different risks. Effective devices and objects including the following: Turning clothes inside out (a glove turned inside out and tossed into a faerie ring will dispense the revelers) Bells Iron (eg. A knife in a doorway, a nail in the pocket, a pen, scissors hung above a baby s crib) The Bible Running water Bread A Crucifix or Cross (Also, when marked on the top of cakes, this dissuades the faeries from dancing on them) Salt Holy prayers Rowan and Red Thread (in the case of the Scots, a red ribbon attached over the front door or tied to the tails of cattle this was to discourage witches. Elsewhere a red cloth was sometimes tied around children s chests as protection against the little people) Ancient churchyard mold Daisy chains Stones with holes (to protect horses) Horseshoes (moon symbol and iron combined) Flax on the floor Shoes placed with toes pointing away from the bed A sock under the bed A knife under pillow A twig of Broom A pig s head or pentagram drawn on the door The burning of thorns on top of a faerie hill will release captive children St. John s wort An Anglo-Saxion leechcraft anti-elf cocktail: Rub myrrh into wine, and equal quantity of white incense. Shave a little off an agate stone and add to wine. Drink this after a night s fasting, or three mornings, or nine or twelve. Old time May Day fertility rites always utilized the sun symbol daisy to protect the participants from the faeriefolk who are particularly active at such significant times of the year. Among other protective devices were the bells on the legs of the dancing Morris Men these bells are still happily, in use today. 1. Identify THREE beliefts about faeries that surprised you. 2. Now that you have a better understanding of the lore Shakespeare was familiar with, what can you expect from the faeries we meet in Act II? 8

3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Lyrical Faerie World~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shakespeare gives some of the most lyrical and beautiful lines to the faeries. Titania s long and poetic speech from lines is a perfect example. Analyze Titantia s monologue below identifying at least TWO specific examples of literary devices listed below and explain the meaning of those lines you selected. Ø IMAGERY: anything appealing to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) Example: The leaves rustled and crackled in the waning moonlight Ø ALLITERATION: repetition of initial consonant sounds Example: Sally sells seashells down by the seashore. Ø ASSONANCE: repeated vowel sound Example: Breathe and sneeze and wheeze please. Ø PERSONIFICATION: giving human characteristics to something nonhuman. Example: The tree wept over losing his leaves. TITANIA: These are the forgeries of jealousy; And never, since the middle summer s spring, Met we on hill, in dale, forest, or mead, By pavèd fountain or by rushy brook, Or in the beachèd margent of the sea, To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind, But with thy brawls thou hast disturbed our sport. Therefore the winds, piping to us in vain, As in revenge have sucked up from the sea Contagious fogs, which, falling in the land, Hath every pelting river made so proud That they have overborne their continents. The ox hath therefore stretched his yoke in vain, That rheumatic diseases do abound. And thorough this distemperature we see The seasons alter: hoary-headed frosts Fall in the fresh lap of the crimson rose, And on old Hiems thin and icy crown An odorous chaplet of sweet summer buds Is, as in mockery, set. The spring, the summer, The childing autumn, angry winter, change Their wonted liveries, and the mazèd world By their increase now knows not which is which. And this same progeny of evils comes From our debate, from our dissension; We are their parents and original. The plowman lost his sweat, and the green corn Hath rotted ere his youth attained a beard. The fold stands empty in the drownèd field, And crows are fatted with the murrain flock. The nine-men s-morris is filled up with mud, And the quaint mazes in the wanton green, For lack of tread, are undistinguishable. The human mortals want their winter here. No night is now with hymn or carol blessed. Therefore the moon, the governess of floods, Pale in her anger, washes all the air, 9

4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A Faerie Brawl~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Identify the central argument that is between Titania and Oberon. Then analyze the argument each character makes to support their sides. Then looking at the soliloquy above, identify the effect this argument has had on others. What is Oberon s plan to solve his problem? The Central Conflict: Titania s Side Oberon s Side Effects: Oberon s Plan: 10

5 Key Quotes Identify the speaker, to whom they are speaking, and the meaning of the following quotes. 1. Set your heart at rest: The Fairyland buys not the child of me. His mother was a vot ress of my order, And in the spicèd Indian air by night Full often hath she gossiped by my side And sat with me on Neptune s yellow sands, Marking th embarkèd traders on the flood, When we have laughed to see the sails conceive And grow big-bellied with the wanton wind; Which she, with pretty and with swimming gait, Following (her womb then rich with my young squire), Would imitate and sail upon the land To fetch me trifles and return again, As from a voyage, rich with merchandise. But she, being mortal, of that boy did die, And for her sake do I rear up her boy, And for her sake I will not part with him. 2. A certain aim he took At a fair vestal thronèd by the west, And loosed his love-shaft smartly from his bow As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts. But I might see young Cupid s fiery shaft Quenched in the chaste beams of the wat ry moon, And the imperial vot ress passèd on In maiden meditation, fancy-free. Yet marked I where the bolt of Cupid fell. It fell upon a little western flower, Before, milk-white, now purple with love s wound, And maidens call it love-in-idleness. 3. I am your spaniel, and, Demetrius, The more you beat me I will fawn on you. Use me but as your spaniel: spurn me, strike me, Neglect me, lose me; only give me leave (Unworthy as I am) to follow you. What worser place can I beg in your love (And yet a place of high respect with me) Than to be usèd as you use your dog? 11

6 4. You do impeach your modesty too much To leave the city and commit yourself Into the hands of one that loves you not, To trust the opportunity of night And the ill counsel of a desert place With the rich worth of your virginity. 5. The wildest hath not such a heart as you. Run when you will. The story shall be changed: Apollo flies and Daphne holds the chase; The dove pursues the griffin; the mild hind Makes speed to catch the tiger. Bootless speed When cowardice pursues and valor flies 6. We cannot fight for love as men may do. We should be wooed and were not made to woo. I ll follow thee and make a heaven of hell To die upon the hand I love so well. 7. O, take the sense, sweet, of my innocence! Love takes the meaning in love s conference. I mean that my heart unto yours is knit, So that but one heart we can make of it; Two bosoms interchainèd with an oath So then two bosoms and a single troth. Then by your side no bed-room me deny, For lying so, Hermia, I do not lie. 8. Lysander riddles very prettily. Now much beshrew my manners and my pride If Hermia meant to say Lysander lied. But, gentle friend, for love and courtesy, Lie further off in human modesty. Such separation, as may well be said, Becomes a virtuous bachelor and a maid. So far be distant; and good night, sweet friend. Thy love ne er alter till thy sweet life end! 12

7 9. Who is here? Weeds of Athens he doth wear. This is he my master said Despisèd the Athenian maid. And here the maiden, sleeping sound On the dank and dirty ground. Pretty soul, she durst not lie Near this lack-love, this kill-courtesy. Churl, upon thy eyes I throw All the power this charm doth owe. 10. Who will not change a raven for a dove? The will of man is by his reason swayed, And reason says you are the worthier maid. Things growing are not ripe until their season; So I, being young, till now ripe not to reason. And touching now the point of human skill, Reason becomes the marshal to my will And leads me to your eyes, where I o erlook Love s stories written in love s richest book. 11. Perforce I must confess I thought you lord of more true gentleness. O, that a lady of one man refused Should of another therefore be abused! 12. Help me, Lysander, help me! Do thy best To pluck this crawling serpent from my breast. Ay me, for pity! What a dream was here! Lysander, look how I do quake with fear. Methought a serpent ate my heart away, And you sat smiling at his cruel prey. Lysander! What, removed? Lysander, lord! What, out of hearing? Gone? No sound, no word? Alack, where are you? Speak, an if you hear. Speak, of all loves! I swoon almost with fear. No? Then I well perceive you are not nigh. Either death or you I ll find immediately. 13

SCENE II. Another part of the wood.

SCENE II. Another part of the wood. Enter TITANIA, with her train TITANIA Come, now a roundel and a fairy song; Then, for the third part of a minute, hence; At our quaint spirits. Sing me now asleep; Then