1. An introduction to Shakespeare & A Midsummer Night’s Dream

2. William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was born on April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, about 100 miles northwest of London. He died April 23, He was 52 years old.
He married Anne Hathaway in He was 18. Hathaway was 26. They had three children: one daughter and a set of twins (a boy and a girl).
The first written reference to Shakespeare's existence in London occurred in 1592, when Shakespeare was in his late twenties.

5. In 1594 (age 30), he became a playwright and actor for Lord Chamberlain’s Men (company of actors – one of two leading companies in London).
One of the first plays Shakespeare wrote for the company was Romeo and Juliet (around ). A Midsummer Night’s Dream was said to be written around this time too.
Shakespeare wrote a total of 37 plays in his lifetime. The most well-known include Macbeth, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night and Othello.

6. In 1598 he became part owner of a new theatre, the Globe Theatre in London.

9. Drama was tremendously popular during Shakespeare’s lifetime
Drama was tremendously popular during Shakespeare’s lifetime. The queen herself, Elizabeth I, loved to watch plays – including many by Shakespeare – in her court.
‘Companies’ of actors traveled throughout England, performing for eager audiences.

10. Elizabethan era (1558–1603) Language
"Hello", best said as "Good Day!", "Good morrow!", "Well met" "Good Bye" spoken as "Fare thee well!", "God save thee", "I shall see thee anon". "Yes" be "Aye" "No" be "Nay" "You" are certainly "Thou" "You would" or "You should" rolls best off the tongue as "Thou would'st“ or "Thou should'st". "Listen "takes power as "Hark" or "Hark now" "Ignore that" best be whispered as "Shun that" "Come here" moves more feet as "Come hither"

11. "A Salesperson" barks louder as a "Hawker"
"Until later" - "Anon"
"Days"- "Morrow"
"Evening"- "E'em"
"Never"- "Ne'r"
"Often"- "Oft"
"Why"- "Wherefore"
"Maybe"- "Perchance"
"Away"- ''Aroint"
"Truly"- "Verily"
"Thank you" - "Grammercy"

12. Lets Hurl Some Insults!
Shakespeare was famous for his insults and uses them in many of his plays.
His characters used such insults as “cankerblossom” and “puppet” toward others.
Lets create our own Shakespearean Insults!

13. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
From the title and images provided, brainstorm the following elements of setting
-          Time period
-          Location
Atmosphere

14. Midsummer Night
Midsummer Night is June and was thought to be one of the nights of the year when sprites were especially powerful. People also believed that flowers gathered on Midsummer night could work magic and that Midsummer Night was a time when people dreamed of their true loves and sometimes went insane.
Sprites are elf-like creatures, including fairies, elves, pixies, and even gnomes!

15. Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream describes the comic misadventures of two pairs of lovers who become lost in a dark wood and fall under the power of the sprites.
This tale of frustrated love and mistaken identity makes audiences laugh at the ridiculous ease with which lovers change the object of their affection, while still believing that their feelings are completely sincere.

16. What is love?
How and why do people fall in and out of love?
Are lovers in control of themselves and their destinies?

17. How and why do people fall in and out of love?
How is love related to questions of identity – both the lover and the beloved?
Are lovers in control of themselves and their destinies?
Which is more real, the “daylight” world of reason and law, or the “night time” world of passion and chaos?

18. You can fall in love at first sight.
Anticipation Guide
You can fall in love at first sight.
If you disobey your parents, you should be punished with isolation or death.
You should pursue the person you love no matter what.
When you’re in love, you do crazy things.
Being in love is like being in a dream.
You can fall in love at first sight.
In the woods, the characters fall in love at first sight after Puck pours the flower’s nectar into the eyes of the characters (the flower has the same effect as Cupid’s arrow). Does this make fun of the idea of love at first sight? Do you think Shakespeare believes in love at first sight?
If you disobey your parents, you should be punished with isolation or death.
At the beginning of the play, Hermia is told by her father that she cannot marry Lysander, the man she loves, because he wants her to marry Demetrius. In fact, her punishment could be isolation in a nunnery or death. This seems ridiculous by today’s standards, but why do you think people during Shakespeare’s time thought it was okay? Why does this punishment only apply to daughters? What are today’s punishments for disobeying your parents?
You should pursue the person you love no matter what.
Helena pursues Demetrius at all costs even though he doesn’t love her in the beginning. Why does she keep following him? Should she just get over him? Are there still times today when a person is extremely diligent in pursuing someone they love? What do you think of people are do this?
When you’re in love, you do crazy things.
Lots of crazy things happen in the woods! Titania even falls in love with someone who has the head of donkey! Although this is not literally true today, are there times when people in love do crazy things? How does love affect you? Why do you do crazy things when you’re in love?
Being in love is like being in a dream.
The title A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Puck’s final monologue suggests that the entire play is a dream. Also, everything that happens in the woods when the lovers have a few mix-ups is suggested to be a dream as well. Does this suggest a metaphor of love being like in a dream? How is being in love like being in a dream?

19. Stressing Subtext: Exit Slip
How would you describe the subtext of this statement as presented by Michelle Pfiefer?
What do you think of her portrayal?
Act 2, Scene 1

20. Act 2 Scene 2: Exit Slip
In your opinion, what does the setting of the forest contribute to the play?
Why have a play called A Midsummer Night’s Dream set in a forest?