1. A Midsummer Night’s Dream An Introduction

2. What does the title of the play mean? Shakespeare wrote A Midsummer Night’s Dream during the early days of his career. Shakespeare wrote A Midsummer Night’s Dream during the early days of his career. This play focuses on the comical misadventures of two pairs of lovers that wander around in the woods at night. This play focuses on the comical misadventures of two pairs of lovers that wander around in the woods at night. During the night they fall under the power of sprites (fairies, elves, nymphs, leprechauns) During the night they fall under the power of sprites (fairies, elves, nymphs, leprechauns) To the theatre goers in Shakespeare’s time the title held a clue. To the theatre goers in Shakespeare’s time the title held a clue. The clue was that it may possibly be about romance, magic, and madness. The clue was that it may possibly be about romance, magic, and madness. A Midsummer Night was considered as one of the nights of the year when sprites were very powerful. A Midsummer Night was considered as one of the nights of the year when sprites were very powerful. People in Shakespeare’s time believed that flowers gathered on a midsummer’s night could work magic, and was a time when people dreamt of their true love People in Shakespeare’s time believed that flowers gathered on a midsummer’s night could work magic, and was a time when people dreamt of their true love

3. To the theatre goers in Shakespeare’s time the title held a clue. To the theatre goers in Shakespeare’s time the title held a clue. The clue was that it may possibly be about romance, magic, and madness. The clue was that it may possibly be about romance, magic, and madness. A Midsummer Night was considered as one of the nights of the year when sprites were very powerful. A Midsummer Night was considered as one of the nights of the year when sprites were very powerful. People in Shakespeare’s time believed that flowers gathered on a midsummer’s night could work magic, and was a time when people dreamt of their true love People in Shakespeare’s time believed that flowers gathered on a midsummer’s night could work magic, and was a time when people dreamt of their true love

4. Comedies Shakespeare based his comedic plays on classical Greek and Roman stories. Shakespeare based his comedic plays on classical Greek and Roman stories. A Midsummer’s Night Dream begins in Athens Greece, and quickly moves into the woods, and into the English ideal of a midsummer’s night. A Midsummer’s Night Dream begins in Athens Greece, and quickly moves into the woods, and into the English ideal of a midsummer’s night.

5. Questions addressed by Shakespeare This play is a story about frustrated love, and mistaken identity. This play is a story about frustrated love, and mistaken identity. Shakespeare explored these key questions when writing this play Shakespeare explored these key questions when writing this play What is love? What is love? Why do people fall in love and out of love? Why do people fall in love and out of love?

6. Time and Place Shakespeare wrote during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I Shakespeare wrote during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I Companies of actors would travel around England performing plays Companies of actors would travel around England performing plays

7. Facts Shakespeare wrote this play and many of his plays in blank verse Shakespeare wrote this play and many of his plays in blank verse Blank verse follows a rhythmic pattern of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. Example Blank verse follows a rhythmic pattern of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. Example Four days will quickly steep Four days will quickly steep themselves in night; themselves in night; Four nights will quickly dream Four nights will quickly dream away the time; away the time;