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Year 8 - English

'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Act 2, Scene 1: Titania and Oberon's conflict

'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils read and explore Shakespeare's comedy 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. They focus on the character Puck and the theme of the supernatural, and analyse their role and importance at different points in the play. Finally, they plan and write an essay about Puck and the supernatural.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explore the presentation of Titania and Oberon in Act 2, Scene 1 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

Key Notes

  • Act 2 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' begins, like Act 1, with a conflict.
  • Shakespeare uses dramatic methods to draw attention to the differences between the two conflicts.
  • Dramatic methods are the tools a playwright uses to create their work e.g. characterisation, setting, stage directions.
  • You should explore dramatic methods when annotating, discussing or writing about a text.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • stage directions: text in a play script which gives information about how a scene should be staged, or how an actor should say a particular line
  • train: in the context of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', it means followers, entourage, servants
  • dramatic methods: the tools a playwright uses to create their work; for example, characterisation, setting, language choices, stage directions
  • annotate: to add short notes to a piece of text with your own ideas and comments; a key skill in English
  • equality: the state of being of the same status as someone else, with the same rights

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • You can't compare one scene to another. You must focus on one at a time.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

Act 2 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' begins, like Act 1, with a conflict. Shakespeare uses dramatic methods to draw attention to the differences between the two conflicts.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'stage directions'

text in a play script which gives information about how a scene should be staged, or how an actor should say a particular line.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: You can't compare one scene to another. You must focus on one at a time. Correction: A play is not a sequence of unconnected scenes and characters. They all work together to present and explore particular ideas. You should compare characters and scenes in order to understand a play, its characters and ideas more deeply.

More Lessons In This Unit

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