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TRANSCRIPT
Act 1, Scene 1Pre-reading Question:
Mid-Summer Nights Dream is a play written by William Shakespeare. How do you think reading a play will be different from reading a novel or watching a movie?
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Questions for discussion
1. Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus? What does Egeus expect him to do?
2. How does Lysander’s comment about Demetrius’s previous love affair with Helena complicate things?
3. What do Lysander and Hermia plan to do about this seemingly impossible situation?
4. Why do they tell Helena what they plan to do?
5. Even though Helena loves Demetrius and is Hermia’s best friend, why does she decide to tell Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander’s plans?
Activity #1
Rewrite any 15 consecutive lines from Act 1, Scene 1 of A Midsummer Nights Dream in your own words.
Act 1, Scene 2
Pre-reading Question:Have you ever been to a play or a movie? How was the experience of watching actors different from reading a play?
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Questions for discussion
1. Why does Nick Bottom want to play all the parts?
2. How do you suppose the artisans' are handling the concern of frightening the ladies with their interpretation of Pyramus and Thisby?
3. Where are the actors supposed to meet the following night?
4. Who else is meeting in these same woods at the same time? 5. In what way is this scene supposed to be funny? Why do you
suppose Shakespeare included this scene?
Activity
Draw a picture and write a short description (5-7 sentences each) of each of the actors.
Act 2, Scene 1Pre-reading Question
At the end of Act 1, Helena plans to tell Demetrius about the plan that Hermia and Lysander have made to run away. Why does Helena plan to tell Demetrius? Do you think that her plan will work?
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Questions for discussion
1. How have Oberon and Titania been involved in the past with Theseus and Hippolyta, and why have they come to Athens?
2. What effect has their quarrel had on nature, on the seasons and on humans?
3. Why won’t Titania give the changeling to Oberon? 4. What are Oberon’s plans for Titania? Do you think they will work?
5. How does Helena react to Demetrius’s verbal abuse?
6. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about Demetrius and Helena?
Activity
In Shakespeare's time, the staging of plays was fairly simple because theaters had few of the technological resources we have today. Productions of Shakespeare have constantly evolved to reflect the concerns and capabilities of modern producers. In small groups (2-4 people) imagine that you are in charge of putting together background sound. List and describe below three to five (3-5) songs or sound effects that you would use to set the mood for this scene. Why would you use these particular ones?
Act 2, Scene 2
Pre-reading QuestionWhat would you do if you had access to the magical juice from the purple flower? Why?
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Questions for discussion
1. Why does Oberon want Titania to wake up and fall in love with something?
2. Why does Hermia insist Lysander sleep away from her? 3. Why does Puck put the juice on Lysander’s eyes?
4. How does Helena react to Lysander’s sudden love for her when he wakes up?
5. How is Hermia’s dream a reflection of reality?
Activity
In Act 2 Shakespeare sets up a number of unresolved situations. Identify at least three of these situations. Write down your prediction for each one. When you are done, compare with a partner.
Act 3, Scene 1Pre-reading QuestionWhat do you think will happen to Titania now that she has had the juice put onto her eyes? Who will she fall in love with?
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Questions for discussion
1. How are Puck and Oberon going to correct Puck’s earlier mistake?
2. Why is Helena upset when Demetrius says he loves her? Isn’t this what she had wanted all along?
3. How does Lysander treat Hermia? Why can’t she believe what he says?
4. What are Lysander and Demetrius going off to do?
5. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about the two young men?
6. How well does Puck’s trickery work?
7. How can you tell when you have reached the climax of a story?
Act 4, Scene 1 and 2
Pre-reading QuestionPredict what will happen to Bottom. Will he remember that Titania was in love with him? Is he going to be ready to act in his play?
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Questions for discussion
1. What sort of explanation will Oberon have for Titania’s question about what happened to her? Do you think he will tell her the truth?
2. What explanation does Demetrius have? Why does he compare his love for Hermia to an illness?
3. Why can’t the young people be sure whether they are awake or dreaming?
4. What opinion do the other artisans now have of Bottom since they think he is lost?
5. What do they most regret losing by not being able to perform the
play?
Act 5, Scene 1
Pre-reading QuestionPredict the end of this play. What do you think will happen? Make sure to include all of the characters.
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Questions for discussion
1. Why does Theseus dismiss the stories of the four young people?
2. Why does Theseus choose to see the play about Pyramus and Thisby rather than the other entertainments?
3. What is accomplished by having the Prologue tell the whole story that the actors are then going to enact?
4. How does Shakespeare use the comments from the audience to enhance the humor of the play that they are watching?
5. In what way is Thisby’s final speech supposed to humorous?
6. What is the purpose of Puck’s final speech?
Midsummer Nights Dream Final Essay
Choose one of the prompts below and write a 500-600 word essay that directly addresses the question. Make sure to follow formal essay structure and to use relevant quotes that support your position. Your final copy should be double spaced and written in proper MLA format with a bibliography at the end.
Answer one of the following questions.
1. What do you think Shakespeare is saying about the nature of young love in A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
2. What is the point of the play-within-a-play which takes up most of Act V? Explain why Shakespeare ends the play with this unusual performance.
3. In staging A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the director must decide whether to cast Hermia and Helena both as attractive, good-looking women; or, whether to portray Hermia as beautiful and Helena as comparatively plain. Which of these approaches would you favor? Explain your choice.
Rubric:
IntroductionMain idea is clearly stated /2
Body ParagraphsCovers relevant information /10 Topic sentence /3Min. 3 quotes from the text /3Clear reason for the order /3Clear transitions /3
ConclusionRestates the main idea of the essay /2
OverallAll important information is covered /5Accurate vocabulary and word choice /5Proper citations /2Spelling, grammar and punctuation /5Appropriate and interesting title /2
Total /45
Acting the Play! Step 1: Find your group
Step 2: Choose who will play each character.
Step 2: Begin to write the lines that will describe the important event.
Step 3: Edit your lines. Your group should end up with a minimum of 30 lines and each person in your group must speak.
Step 4: Rehearse your play. Make sure that every person knows what they are going to say.
Step 5: Set the scene- Find/Make props and costumes
Step 6: Present your play!
Sample Quiz: Mid Summer Nights Dream Section 1
Name: ________________________ /20
Section A: Matching
Match 10 of the following characters to their description. (1 mark each)
_____ 1. Egeus A. Helena loves him, but he's to marry Hermia
_____ 2. Lysander B. Queen of the Amazons
_____ 3. Theseus C. Queen of the Fairies
_____ 4. Hippolyta D. Hermia loves him
_____ 5. Oberon E. Wrote "Pyramus and Thisby"
_____ 6. Helena F. Duke of Athens
_____ 7. Puck G. Father of Hermia
_____ 8. Hermia H. Wants to play all the roles
_____ 9. Titania I. Plays Lion
_____ 10. Quince J. Robin Goodfellow
_____ 11. Flute K. Plays Wall
_____ 12. Demetrius L. Tells Hermia's plans to Demetrius
_____ 13. Bottom M. Plays Thisby
_____ 14. Snout N. Arranges to meet Lysander in the woods
_____ 15. Snug O. King of the Fairies
Section B: Short Answer
Answer 5 of the following questions in 2-4 full sentences on a sheet of loose leaf.
Make sure to write your name and the question numbers on the sheet. (2 marks
each)
1. Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to
Theseus? What does Egeus expect him to do?
2. What do Lysander and Hermia plan to do about this seemingly
impossible situation in act 1, scene 1?
3. Why does Nick Bottom want to play all the parts?
4. How have Oberon and Titania been involved in the past with
Theseus and Hippolyta, and why have they come to Athens?
5. What are Oberon’s plans for Titania? Do you think they will work?
6. How does Helena react to Demetrius’s verbal abuse in act 2, scene
1?
7. How does Helena react to Lysander’s sudden love for her when he
wakes up?