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Year 8 - English

Act 3, Scene 2 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream': order is restored in the forest

'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 explain how the disorder in the forest is resolved, and consider how happy the ending of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is.

Key Notes

  • In Act 3, Scene 1, we see Puck's ability to create disorder amongst the Rude Mechanicals.
  • In Act 3, Scene 2, we see Puck use the same abilities to restore order amongst the Athenian nobles.
  • Puck applies the antidote to Lysander, but not Demetrius.
  • Oberon asks for, and gets, the little boy he wants from Titania.
  • The resolution to the play is happy, but audiences might question the treatment of Titania and Demetrius.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • resolution: ending
  • comedy: a play designed to make you laugh, often involving misunderstandings and ending in marriage
  • Rude Mechanicals: the phrase Puck uses to describe the poor Athenian actors, referencing their day jobs as skilled manual labourers
  • restore: to return something back to its original state
  • antidote: remedy or cure against a drug

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Titania, Lysander and Demetrius have the antidote applied to them.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

In Act 3, Scene 1, we see Puck's ability to create disorder amongst the Rude Mechanicals. In Act 3, Scene 2, we see Puck use the same abilities to restore order amongst the Athenian nobles.

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

ending.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Titania, Lysander and Demetrius have the antidote applied to them. Correction: So that the play can end in happy marriages between all four Athenian nobles, only Lysander has the antidote applied to him. Demetrius is still under the influence of the magical potion.

More Lessons In This Unit

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