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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 1Scene 2
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"monstrous little"
Humor
Act 1,
Scene 2
Lines 39-47

An explanation of the humor in the phrase “monstrous little” in Act 1, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Flute

What is Thisbe? A wandering knight?

Quince

It is the lady that Pyramus must love.

Flute

Nay, faith, let not me play a woman. I have a
beard coming.

Quince

That's all one. You shall play it in a mask, and
you may speak as small as you will.

Bottom

An I may hide my face, let me play Thisbe too. I'll speak
in a monstrous little voice: “Thisne, Thisne!” —
“Ah Pyramus, my lover dear!" – "Thy Thisbe dear and lady dear!”

"A monstrous (gigantic) little voice" is an oxymoron, a self-contradictory expression, just like Quince’s use of "Lamentable Comedy" in the title of the play.