Introduction to "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare - SS2 Literature Lesson Note

Introduction to A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

Background of the playwright

William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". He was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, at some point between 1 April 1564 and 23 April 1564; unsure about his exact date of birth because birth records were not kept consistently at the time. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, sexuality, religious beliefs, and whether the works attributed to him were written by others.

Background and setting of the play

A Midsummer Night's Dream was written by Shakespeare in the mid-1590s, and is set in and around the city of Athens, Greece. The play has two main settings: the Athenian court, and the forest outside the city. The Athenian court is a world of order and law, while the forest is a place of magic and chaos.

Plot summary

The play follows the adventures of four young lovers: Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius, and Helena. Hermia is in love with Lysander, but her father wants her to marry Demetrius. Demetrius is in love with Helena, but she is in love with him. The four lovers flee into the forest, where they encounter the fairies, led by Oberon and Titania. Oberon uses his magic to manipulate the lovers, causing them to fall in love with the wrong people. Eventually, the lovers are reunited, and the play ends with a triple wedding.

Shakespearean language and current

Shakespeare's language can be difficult for modern readers to understand, but it is also very beautiful and poetic. Some of the key features of Shakespearean language include:

Iambic pentameter: Shakespeare's plays are written in iambic pentameter, which is a meter in poetry that consists of five pairs of syllables, with each pair consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable.
Blank verse: Blank verse is a type of poetry that is written in iambic pentameter, but does not rhyme.
Metaphor and simile: Shakespeare uses metaphor and simile extensively in his plays. Metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two things without using the words "like" or "as." Simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using the words "like" or "as."
Archaic language: Shakespeare uses some archaic language in his plays, which means that it is no longer used in modern English.
Here are some tips for understanding Shakespearean language:

Read the text aloud- This can help you to hear the rhythm of the language and to understand the meaning of the words.
Pay attention to the context- The meaning of a word can change depending on the context in which it is used.
Use a dictionary or glossary- This can help you to look up unfamiliar words.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you are struggling to understand a passage, ask a teacher, classmate, or friend for help.
Even though Shakespeare's language can be difficult to understand, his plays are still relevant and enjoyable today. They deal with universal themes such as love, loss, and identity. Shakespeare's plays have also been adapted into many films and television shows, making them more accessible to modern audiences.