Midsummer

Night’s Dream

by
William Shakespeare
Structure of the Play
 Five Acts  Act IV – protagonists’
plans collide with
 Act I– Exposition: antagonists’
Introduces characters
and establishes conflict  Act V – The resolution:
all ends in love and
 Act II – Establishes marriage
characters, even more
conflict
 Act III – Climax of a
comedy: confusion is
at its maximum,
decisions are made
Can you match quotes from A Midsummer Night’s
Dream to their modern-day translations?

Shakespeare’s • For aught that I could ever

read, Could ever hear by
• Don’t bother wishing you
could leave this forest,

Language tale or history, The course

of true love never did run
because you’re going to
stay here whether you
smooth. want to or not.
--Lysander, Act 1, Scene 1
When asked the number one
challenge with Shakespeare’s • How now, spirit? Whither • In books they say that
works, modern-day audiences wander you? true love always faces
will almost always respond: “the --Puck, Act 2, Scene 1 obstacles.
language.” It’s true that the
language does sound a bit • I’ll follow thee and make a • Should we watch this
different to our ears, and heaven of hell, To die upon ridiculous scene? Lord,
Shakespeare uses phrases that the hand I love so well. what fools these mortals
we no longer use in our everyday --Helena, Act 2, Scene1 are!
speech. But think of this: There
are phrases that we use today • Out of this wood do not • I’ll follow you and turn
that would baffle Shakespeare, desire to go. Thou shalt this hell I’m in into a kind
should he mysteriously time remain here whether thou of heaven. It would be
travel to this day and age. That’s wilt or no. heavenly to be killed by
because language (especially --Titania, Act 3, Scene 1 someone I love so much.
English) is constantly
transforming. • Shall we their fond pageant • Hello, spirit! Where are
see? Lord, what fools these you going?
mortals be!
--Puck, Act 3, Scene 2
Formal or Familiar

 You is formal, used to address a stranger, or someone

higher in station
 Ye is plural, or a synonym for you.
 Thou is informal, used among friends, and to address a
child or servant.
 Thee and thine are possessive forms of thou.

• Out of this wood do not

• How now, spirit? Whither desire to go. Thou shalt
wander you? remain here whether thou
--Puck, Act 2, Scene 1 wilt or no.
--Titania, Act 3, Scene 1
Iambic Pentameter

 Iambic (dah-DUM) Pentameter (5 iambs/meter)

 Every line has a regular beat like a heartbeat:
dah-DUM, dah-DUM, dah-DUM, dah-DUM, dah-DUM

Try beating the rhythm – by lightly tapping the table – about

one beat per second, or slightly faster. Read the following
lines while you beat the rhythm:
I’ll FOllow THEE and MAKE a HEAVEN of HELL
To DIE upON the HAND I LOVE so WELL.
The Characters
the Mortals, the Fairies, the Mechanicals
The Mortals
Theseus
 The Duke of Athens.
 Theseus is a character
from Greek mythology,
made famous for lifting
a boulder.
 Conquered the Amazons,
and will marry their
queen, Hippolyta.
Hippolyta
❖ Queen of the Amazons.
❖ She has agreed to be
Theseus’ bride after he
defeated her in battle.
Hermia
• She loves Lysander
against her father’s
wishes.
• Both Lysander and
Demetrius are in love
with her, but she
• is determined to elope
with Lysander.
• She is short.
Lysander
• In love with
Hermia.
• His belief in the
power of love is
what leads all of
the lovers to travel
into the woods.
Demetrius
• Although he originally
claimed to love
Helena, Demetrius
quickly fell in love
with Hermia after
Helena began to
reciprocate his
feelings. He is well
liked by Egeus and
feels he has the right
to marry Hermia.
Helena

• Hermia’s best friend. She is

madly in love with
Demetrius, who now loves
Hermia.
• She wishes to be more like
her best friend, and tries to
attract Demetrius’
attention by following him
into the forest after
Hermia.
• She is tall.
The Fairies
Oberon
King of the Fairies. He is
currently at odds with
Titania, because she has
adopted a young Indian boy
that he wants as his
henchman. This conflict
leads to most of the
confusion in the woods.
Titania

Queen of the Fairies. She

refuses to be in the
company of her husband
Oberon until he will
leave the
young Indian boy alone
with her.
Puck
Fairy servant to
Oberon. He is famous
for playing pranks and
causing mischief.
The Mechanicals
 Peter Quince: A carpenter. He leads the group of
mechanicals in their attempt to put on a play for
Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding celebrations.
 Francis Flute: A bellows-mender, or someone who helps
to repair leather. He plays the role of Thisbe.
 Robin Starveling: A tailor. He was originally asked to
play Thisbe’s mother, but is seen in the performance as
the role of Moonshine.
 Tom Snout: A tinker, or a metalsmith. He is asked to
play the role of Pyramus’ father, but plays the Wall in
the performance.
 Snug: A joiner. A joiner is a carpenter that does more
detailed work without nails and screws. This usually
applies when making furniture. He plays the role of the
Lion.
Bottom
• Asks to play every role
in the performance.
• He makes many
claims about his
strength as an actor.
• He plays the role of
Pyramus.

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ts-dream-summary-quotes
-and-characters.html