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Shakespeare Lesson Plan, June 29th 2016 — A Midsummer Night’s Dream
PART 1: Introduction —
what are our classes together going to consist in?
Some questions for you: What is your name, where are you from? how have you liked Cambridge
so far? What has been your past experience with english literature? what are your favourite books?
What have you liked or disliked from previous english classes? What are you hoping to get from
this class? What’s been your experience with Shakespeare so far? (This could be anything not just
reading a play, but also seeing a play, what you know and have learned from popular culture…)
Have you seen any modern adaptations? (10 Things I hate about you or She’s the Man for example),
also music, opera, ballet…
PART 2: A Method for textual analysis called PQC for Point, Quote, Comment —
This is a great tool to use, and if you only remember one thing from our classes I would like it to be
this. So, how does it work? Say you are reading a text and you come across the following passage:
“Isabelle was carrying a red bag and wore a red dress.”
You’ve noticed the colour red keeps on being used and you want to give an analysis of it. So you
use this method: PQC.
1. First you Point: The author repeatedly portrays the character of Isabelle using the colour red.
2. Then you Quote from the text: “Isabelle was carrying a red bag and wore a red dress”.
3. Then you Comment — this is the most important part of your analysis, without it you are not
analysing a text. Without your own comment you are only pointing and stating what the author
has done, this won’t get you the marks as it isn’t very interesting — your comment is your own
analysis, your contribution to the text. For this example your comment could be: The colour red
highlights Isabelle’s passionate nature and foreshadows her murder (or whatever you think it
might be doing). It would be great if you could start thinking with this method in mind, and for
us to try and participate using this 3 step process together.
PART 3: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595-1596) —
Has anyone read it? or heard of it? What do you think makes Shakespeare so great? Why is he said
to be the best writer of the english language in your opinion?
What is a play? How to quote a play?
If time allows and you are interested, I could talk to you about the Renaissance and how
Shakespeare’s writing fits in with this movement
PART 4: What you need to know —
Characters + Plot (both photos taken from official RSC Complete Shakespeare):
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There is also this video from Sparknotes that I have many issues with as there are quite a few
mistakes, but it might nonetheless be useful if reading the above paragraph description doesn’t quite
do it for you (do try and steer clear from Sparknotes as their analyses are pretty dim for this play):
https://youtu.be/M1wMfOwlAZ8
Much better is this trailer from the 1999 film, directed by Michael Hoffman, which captures, I think
the overall playful yet intense mood of the play & highlights the key themes. See if you can spot
them from this short 1minute video: https://youtu.be/QYknOe7OluE
I thought having a short scene by scene break down of the action might also be helpful
Act I Scene 1 (set in the court at day):
Theseus + Hippolyta plan to marry. Egeus enters with Hermia (his daughter), Lysander (her lover),
and Demetrius (her betrothed). The love triangle is announced. Theseus decrees Hermia must obey
or die, or come a nun.
Helena enters, the love triangle becomes a love rectangle (or square, depending on how you see it)
as she loves Demetrius, who once loved her but now loves Hermia.
Hermia + Lysander agree to run away together. Helena is told of their plan and confides in the
audience that she will tell Demetrius of Hermia + Lysander’s escape so as to win Demetrius’s
gratitude and affection.
Act I Scene 2:
We are introduced to the amateur theatre troupe: Quince, Snug, Flute, Snout, Starveling & Bottom
They provide comic levity. Their humour lies in taking everything literally and not fully
understanding the meaning of words.
Bottom is the most important character here.
Act II Scene 1 (set in the wood at dusk):
Robin Goodfellow aka Puck ‘a sprite’ or magical creature talks to a fairy and admits to his
mischievous tendencies.
Enters Oberon + Titania (King & Queen of the fairies). They have been fighting due to their
jealousy: as fate would have it Oberon was Hippolyta’s lover, and Titania’s Theseus’ (remember
Duke of Athens and Queen of the Amazons). They now are fighting again about a changeling boy
given to Titania by one of her followers. The audience is told that when the king & queen of the
fairies fight the entire universe goes off balance.
Oberon mentions he has a plan to Puck: he will use a magical flower’s juice to make Titania fall in
love with a very embarrassing creature so as to hand over the boy.
Demetrius enters looking for Hermia. Demetrius is followed by Helena. Demetrius tells Helena to
leave him alone, Helena repeats her claim of love. Oberon hears it all and vows to help Helena.
Act II Scene 2 (set in the wood, at night):
Titania falls asleep with her court the fairies. Oberon “poisons her” with the love flower.
Lysander + Hermia enter but sleep apart so as to preserve Hermia’s modesty (i.e. her virginity)
Robin Goodfellow/Puck: mistakes Lysander for Demetrius and puts the flower’s juice on
Lysander’s eyes.
Lysander wakes and sees Helena. He falls in love with Helena and abandons Hermia. Helena
thinking she is being mocked by Lysander runs away. Hernia is left alone in the woods as Lysander
chases Helena.
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III.1. (the wood, night)
The players practice their play Pyramus & Thisbe, a story written by Ovid in his Metamorphoses
(Latin author, writes in 8 A.D.)
Bottom is turned into an ass (this means a donkey, not an anatomical part) by Puck. Titania falls in
love with Bottom. Bottom isn’t interested in Titania but fascinated by her fairies. Titania somewhat
kidnaps Bottom. He does not seem alarmed.
III.2. (the wood, night)
Oberon’s plan hasn’t worked as he realises Lysander loves Helena and Demetrius still does not.
Oberon orders Puck to set it right, but Puck being the mischievous creature he is wants more
entertainment. He thus also makes Demetrius fall in love with Helena. Our love triangle now has
another apex: Helena.
Helena + Hermia fight over Lysander. See this clip from the RSC company at The Globe for this
very famous ‘girl fight’ which contains the notorious quote
“O, when she’s angry, she is keen and shrewd./ She was a vixen when she went to school, / And
though she be but little, she is fierce” (III.2.333-5)
https://youtu.be/oqmoIyIPEcc
remember Demetrius also loves Helena now so Lysander + Demetrius resolve to fight a duel.
Luckily both of them are tricked by Puck who gets them apart and lost in the woods where they fall
asleep. Puck gives Lysander the cure to the love-flower.
IV.1. (the wood at dawn)
Titania tries to seduce Bottom who is still not keen. Oberon undoes the spell and frees Titania of her
love for an ass as Titania has given him the changeling boy. Oberon + Titania reconcile in a dance.
Theseus + Hippolyta + Egeus arrive in the woods where they set up camp for a hunt. The lovers
wake and mention their dream.
All is now right as Demetrius loves Helena. All the young lovers agree to marry alongside Theseus.
Bottom also wakes and gives this very famous speech, perhaps the most important of the play:
BOTTOM: God’s my life, stolen hence, and left me asleep! I have had a most rare vision. I
have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was: man is but an ass, if he go
about to expound this dream. Methought I was—there is no man can tell what. Methought I
was,—and methought I had,--but man is but a patched fool, if he will offer to say what
methought I had. The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man's hand is
not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report, what my dream was. I will
get Peter Quince to write a ballad of this dream: it shall be called Bottom's Dream, because
it hath no bottom; and I will sing it in the latter end of a play, before the duke: peradventure,
to make it the more gracious, I shall sing it at her death. (IV.2.195-206)
Exit
IV.2 (wood at day)
The players are reunited with Bottom who refuses to tell them what has happened to him. They
resolve to head to court and perform their play for the Duke (Theseus).
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V.1. (Court)
Pyramus & Thisbe is played. It is a very funny parody of Romeo & Juliet. (Interesting fact:
Shakespeare wrote Dream very closely after R+J.) The court is verily entertained by the play.
Robin, Oberon, Titania & the fairies all say goodbye to the audience promising a happy outcome to
all overs
Robin Goodfellow closes the play with his famous soliloquy:
PUCK: If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call;
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.
PART 5: What are the key themes of the play?
What are “themes”? Why should we care? Have you identified any key themes, ideas or topics?
PART 6: Textual Analysis of One Passage + Acting of the Passage
I have chosen Act II Scene 2. This is up for discussion if you preferred another passage after seeing
the play.
Discussion of Acting techniques. What makes good acting? How do you envision this scene? How
is pursuit acted here? How does love come across? Is there anger or sadness?
Some key acting techniques (to be explained & expanded): body before words; words always for a
reason; where is the trigger?; only 3 emotional choices: sad, mad, glad.
PART 7: Talk of the Set & Previous Renditions
How do you envision it? How did the play measure up to your own thoughts? What did you like or
dislike about it? What worked or didn’t? Why did it? Why didn’t it?
If there is time, and if you are interested we could also discuss other media: ballet, opera, paintings,
photos.