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Year 8 - English

The presentation of Egeus in Shakespeare's '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 explain how Shakespeare presents the character of Egeus in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', including considering relevant context.

Key Notes

  • 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' was first performed to an Elizabethan audience.
  • Elizabethans believed women should obey their fathers and husbands.
  • Elizabethans believed the supernatural was evil.
  • Shakespeare included ideas about the patriarchy and the supernatural in his plays as a way to connect to his audiences.
  • When writing about 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', you should include context to help develop your ideas.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • context: information about when and why a text was written that helps us understand a text more deeply
  • supernatural: something that can't be explained by the laws of nature
  • patriarchy: a society in which men hold the power; the laws and structure of that society prevent women from having power
  • bewitch: to put a magical spell on someone
  • Elizabethan: a person alive when Elizabeth I was on the throne (1558-1603); the first audiences of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' were Elizabethan

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The characters in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' are Elizabethan.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

'A Midsummer Night's Dream' was first performed to an Elizabethan audience. Elizabethans believed women should obey their fathers and husbands.

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

information about when and why a text was written that helps us understand a text more deeply.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: The characters in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' are Elizabethan. Correction: The play's first audiences were Elizabethan, and Shakespeare explores Elizabethan attitudes and ideas in the play. But the play is set in Athens many centuries before the Elizabethan period.

More Lessons In This Unit

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