Act 5, Scene 1 Summary

At 5, Scene 1 takes place in Athens at the palace of Theseus. Hippolyta and Theseus talk about the story that they have heard from the four lovers about their experiences in the woods. It sounds like it must be a fairy tale. They decide that these tales are the results of love's delusion, which can cause all kinds of strange visions and fancies to seem like truth.

Lysander, Demetrius, Hermia and Helena enter together. There are three more hours between dinner and bedtime to be filled with revels and plays. Philostrate brings in a list of entertainments for Theseus to select from. Theseus selects the scene of Pyramus and Thisbe as being most appropriate for the festivities. Philostrate says that he has seen some of the play and found it very comical, but not in a good way. He advises Theseus not...