Question

a good persuasion: therefore, hear me, hermia,
i have a widow aunt, a dowager
of great revenue, and she hath no child;
from athens is her house remote seven leagues;
and she respects me as her only son.
there, gentle hermia, may i marry thee;
and to that place the sharp athenian law
cannot pursue us. if thou lovest me then,
steal forth thy father’s house to - morrow night;
and in the wood, a league without the town, . . .
there will i stay for thee.

hermia
my good lysander!
i swear to thee, by cupid’s strongest bow,
by his best arrow with the golden head, . . .
in that same place thou hast appointed me,
to - morrow truly will i meet with thee.

lysander
keep promise, love. look, here comes helena.

enter helena.

hermia
god speed fair helena! whither away?

helena
call you me fair? that fair again unsay.
demetrius loves your fair: o happy fair . . .
sickness is catching; o, were favor so,
yours would i catch, fair hermia, ere i go;
my ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye,
my tongue should catch your tongue’s sweet melody. . . .
o, teach me how you look, and with what art
you sway the motion of demetrius’ heart.

this question has two parts. first, answer part a. then, answer part b.
part a
what mood is conveyed through helena’s dialogue in lines 26 - 33?
a curious and inspired
b playful and humorous
c envious and frustrated
d disappointed and confused
part b
how does the figurative language in lines 26 - 33 develop the mood in part a?
a the puns about facial features show that helena still wants hermia to be her friend.
b the repetition of the word “fair” highlights helena’s admiration of the love hermia has found.
c the exaggerated praises of hermia’s speaking skills indicate that helena enjoys talking to hermia.
d the metaphor comparing beauty to an ailment helena wants to “catch” reveals her wish for hermia’s beauty.

Explanation:

Part A: Helena’s dialogue (lines 26–33) expresses longing for Demetrius’ love (which he directs at Hermia) and frustration at her own inability to win it, paired with envy of Hermia’s appeal to Demetrius.
Part B: Helena uses a metaphor ("Sickness is catching; O, were favor so, / Yours would I catch") comparing Hermia’s ability to attract Demetrius to a contagious ailment, revealing her desire to "catch" Hermia’s beauty or charm to win Demetrius.

Answer:

Part A: C. envious and frustrated
Part B: D. The metaphor comparing beauty to an ailment Helena wants to "catch" reveals her wish for Hermia’s beauty.