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Year 8 - English

Including context when writing about Puck in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

'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 include relevant contextual ideas in your writing when exploring the character of Puck in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

Key Notes

  • Shakespeare was writing for an Elizabethan audience.
  • The ideas, characters and plot points in the play are designed to engage with Elizabethan society, attitudes and values.
  • Information about Elizabethan society, attitudes and values is called context.
  • When writing about the play, you should include context to develop your ideas.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • patriarchal: a society in which men hold the power; the laws and structure of that society prevent women having power.
  • hierarchy: a system whereby people or things are ranked, with some being at the top, and others lower down.
  • Elizabethan: a person alive when Elizabeth I was on the throne (1558-1603); the first audiences of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' were Elizabethan.
  • folklore: stories and traditions that are passed down from generation to generation; these are not written down, but told verbally.
  • Shakespearean comedy: a play designed to make you laugh, often involving misunderstandings and disorder, ending in marriage.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Context should be included in one sentence at the end of each analytical paragraph.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

Shakespeare was writing for an Elizabethan audience. The ideas, characters and plot points in the play are designed to engage with Elizabethan society, attitudes and values.

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

a society in which men hold the power; the laws and structure of that society prevent women having power.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Context should be included in one sentence at the end of each analytical paragraph. Correction: You can include contextual ideas where relevant - this could be at the start, middle or multiple times in a paragraph. Contextual ideas will often help you develop your analysis of a particular quotation or character.

More Lessons In This Unit

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