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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 3Scene 1
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"wild fowl"
Humor
Act 3,
Scene 1
Lines 25-30

An explanation of the humor in Bottom’s misuse of the term “fowl” in Act 3, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Snout

Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion?

Starveling

I fear it, I promise you.

Bottom

Masters, you ought to consider with yourself: to
bring in — God shield us — a lion among ladies is a most
dreadful thing, for there is not a more fearful wild fowl
than your lion living, and we ought to look to't.

Bottom is trying to sound more eloquent than his education allows. A lion is obviously not a fowl (bird).