A midsummer night's dream - Year 1

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo, mavo
• Leerjaar 1

Shakespeare’s Month

Year 1

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Introduction to MSND

The teacher is the storyteller 

You can get assigned roles

Remember to make sound effects when asked

Background music: 

Magical creatures

• Trolls, Witches, Fairies - 16th-century lore 
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• They can be the object of mischief or they can sometimes be helpful
• At the beginning of the play, Titania and Oberon are fighting over a changeling boy. This might remind you of stories about fairies kidnapping babies
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• Puck/Robin Goodfellow is also folklore because even though he happily did housework, he was also accused of stealing, making maids trip and leading travellers down the wrong path.
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• Fairy folk and woodland creatures exist in many stories around the world.  

Do you know any stories of magical creatures? What do they do and what do they look like?

Do you know these Dutch folklore creatures? 

Plot summary

The end of the story

This play is full of couples - and some of them are not very happy. However, in the end, with a bit of help from the fairies, everything is sorted out.

If you are thinking of pretty creatures with wings and magic wands, think again. Shakespeare's fairies argue and fight as much, if not more than human beings - and they are not above playing some nasty tricks. But as Puck says when he apologizes to the audience at the end, it is probably best not to take all this too seriously. Perhaps it was all a dream...

Creative Writing Assignment

Imagine that you are Puck and you are telling the story of the mix-up with the love potion from your point of view: what happened?

• Why did everything go so wrong with the love potion from the magic flowers?

• How did Oberon treat you?

• What did you think of the lovers and the mix-up?

A midsummer night's dream Quiz

When the play begins, how long before Theseus and Hippolyta are to be married?

1. Four weeks
2. Four hours
3. Four days
4. Four years

Hermia's father wants her to marry Demetrius, but who does she want to marry instead?

1. Lysander
2. Oberon
3. Theseus
4. Egeus

Helena is Hermia's best friend. She is jealous of her. Why is she jealous?

1. Because she is seen as more beautiful
2. Helena loves Demetrius
3. She thinks she is not a good friend after she fell in love
4. Helena wants to marry lysander

There is a group of 'workmen' who want to play a play at the wedding. Who is NOT part of this group?

1. Puck
2. Bottom
3. Starveling
4. Snout

The play is about two tragic lovers.
What are the names of the unhappy couple?

1. Romeo and Juliet
2. Anthony and Cleopatra
3. Pyramus and Thisbe
4. Troilus and Cressida

In the woods, Oberon is very angry with Titania. Why?

1. She wants to become human and marry a man
2. She wants to take over his kingdom
3. She cast a wicked spell on him
4. She will not give Oberon her son to be his slave

Oberon sends Puck to go find a flower.
What is it called?

1. Love in idleness
2. Love in a mist
3. Heart's ease
4. Ragged Robin

Tatania is poisoned and falls in love with the first person she sees. Who does she fall in love with?

1. Bottom
2. Puck
3. Demetrius
4. Lysander

Which of these couples do NOT get married?

1. Theseus and Hippolyta
2. Demetrius and Helena
3. Oberon and Titania
4. Lysander and Hermia

The 'workmen' perform their play.
Which creature does Snug play?

1. A lion
2. A tiger
3. A bear
4. An elephant