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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 5Scene 1
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"screech-owl"
Folklore
Act 5,
Scene 1
Lines 362-381

An explanation of Robin’s reference to the “screech-owl” in Act 5, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Robin 

Now the hungry lion roars,
And the wolf behowls the moon,
Whilst the heavy ploughman snores,
All with weary task fordone.
Now the wasted brands do glow
Whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud,
Puts the wretch that lies in woe
In remembrance of a shroud.
Now it is the time of night
That the graves, all gaping wide,
Every one lets forth his sprite
In the churchway paths to glide.
And we fairies that do run
By the triple Hecate's team
From the presence of the sun,
Following a darkness like a dream,
Now are frolic. Not a mouse
Shall disturb this hallowed house.
I am sent with broom before
To sweep the dust behind the door.

The screeching of an owl at night was considered an omen that something terrible, such as a death, was about to happen, so it seemed particularly ominous to the sick.