Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream Study Guide

  (your handy at home version!)

 

                                                              

 

 

Every year, my students approach this unit with fear and trepidation...but reading Shakespeare is easier than you might think.  You just need a little help and an open mind and thou will be quoting the bard in no time!

 

                                                             

Before you read:

 

http://homepage.mac.com/cohora/ext/bard.html

It's helpful to start with a little bit of research about Shakespeare's world.  This is a great website that focuses on the culture and climate of London in the 1500's.

 

http://www.shakespearehigh.com/classroom/index.shtml

Great site for students... called Shakespeare 101, provides links, study suggestions, even chat opportunities.

 

http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/default.htm

Provides easy to navigate links about Shakespeare's life and times, a study guide, and literary criticism.

 

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/doubleissue/mysteries/shakespeare.htm

Was Shakespeare really the writer of all of these plays and sonnets?  Explore one of history's mysteries, and decide for yourself... who was Shakespeare?  Be aware of the debate.

 

                                                              

As you read, there are several rules to consider:

 

       1.  Don't worry about understanding every word... even Shakespeare scholars don't even understand every part!  Remember, Shakespeare made up a lot of words, and other words aren't used anymore. Therefore, your job is to try to understand the gist of a selection, not every word.

        2. Don't be afraid to listen to or watch the story as you read.   Remember, it's a play, it is meant to be performed and enjoyed. A flat reading is much more difficult to understand.  

        3.  Lastly, don't be afraid to use summaries to help you understand the play, use them WHILE you read.  Just remember that they are not a replacement for the original text.

        4.  You can do it!  Give yourself a little bit of time to get used to the language and in no time you will be swept up in the story.

 

http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/midsummer/

This is a link to the whole play online, so if you miss a day or a few, you can read the parts you missed online.  They are organized by act and scene.

 

midsummer_nights_dream.pdf

This is a copy to the study guide we are using in class.  If you've forgotten your packet (or misplaced it), you can print out the pages you need.

 

http://librivox.org/a-midsummer-nights-dream-by-william-shakespeare/

Here is an audio version of the play.  I highly recommend that if you are doing any of the reading at home, you listen as you read- that's what we will be doing in class!  So, you can just download this file to I-tunes or to your desktop, then simply read along with the actors.

 

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/msnd/characters.html

Quick character reference page

 

http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/mids_1_1.html

This is a slightly easier version of the play.  However, since it is not in Shakespearean language, it will be different from the audio version.

 

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/msnd

Provides summaries of the play.  Use these to check your understanding while or after you've read.

 

http://www.theatrehistory.com/british/midsummer001.html

Provides analysis of key scenes in every act.

 

                                                                          

 

After you read- enjoy some fun stuff and extension activities:

 

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1800018591/info

Here is information about the newest hollywood version of the play.  We will be watching in class.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/stories/dream.shtml

This is a cute online storybook that details the Titania and oberon conflict in the play.

  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i8unA3hBdU

Animaniacs version of the final speech by Puck... translated.

 

http://www.renfaire.com/Language/index.html

Have you been inspired?  Are you ready to perform?  This site will teach you the perfect Elizabethan accent.

 

http://www.pangloss.com/seidel/Shaker/

Want to be insulted by the best?  Insult generator insults you in true Shakespearean style!

 

http://www.pangloss.com/seidel/shake_rule.html

Ready to try your hand at more colorful critiques?  Use this Shakespearean insult kit to help...

 

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You've done it... you've survived Shakespeare and I hope you've enjoyed it too!  Don't ever let some fancy words scare you, with the right approach, you can read and understand anything.

 

 

 

PS... Mrs. Smyth designed this in conjunction with her studies at Drexel University. http://www.drexel.edu/ 

... pretty cool, huh?