Literature Lesson Plans - Sykalo Eugen 2024

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

Grade Level: 9-12 (This lesson plan can be adapted for different grade levels by adjusting the complexity of the text excerpts and discussion questions)

Subject: English Language Arts

Time Allotment: Two class periods (can be adjusted based on class discussion and activities)

Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to understand the basic plot structure and characters of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Students will be able to identify and analyze Shakespearean language devices like metaphors, similes, and wordplay.
Students will be able to discuss the themes of love, illusion, and social hierarchy in the play.

Materials:

Copies of excerpts from A Midsummer Night's Dream (focusing on Act I, including scenes with the Athenian lovers and the fairies)
Whiteboard or projector
Markers or pens
Chart paper or handout for brainstorming
(Optional) Background information on Elizabethan theater and Shakespearean comedy

Lesson Procedure:

Day 1:

Introduction (10 minutes):

Briefly introduce William Shakespeare and his importance in English literature.
Provide a short context of Elizabethan theater, mentioning the use of all-male casts and the popularity of comedies.

A Midsummer's Mystery (15 minutes):

Briefly introduce the plot of A Midsummer Night's Dream, highlighting the presence of four interwoven storylines (lovers, fairies, Athenian nobility, and mechanicals).
Explain that students will be focusing on Act I to meet the characters and understand the initial conflicts.

Into the Woods (20 minutes):

Distribute excerpts from Act I of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
These excerpts should include scenes between Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius, and Helena (lovers' quarrel), and scenes introducing the fairies (Puck and Oberon).
Have students read the excerpts silently.

Understanding the Characters (25 minutes):

Facilitate a group discussion about the excerpts. Ask questions to guide students' analysis, such as:

✵ What is the conflict between the Athenian lovers?

✵ How do the characters use language to express their emotions?

✵ Who are the fairies introduced in Act I? What are their powers and motivations?

✵ Identify any examples of wordplay or humor in the dialogue.

Day 2:

Language of Love (20 minutes):

Focus on the theme of love.
How does Shakespeare portray the different types of love in the play (romantic, unrequited, friendship)?
Analyze specific metaphors, similes, and imagery used by the characters to describe love.

✵ Consider creating a chart to categorize these literary devices.

Illusions and Transformations (20 minutes):

Introduce the theme of illusion.
How does the magical intervention of the fairies create chaos and confusion among the lovers?
How does the play explore the difference between reality and illusion?
Encourage students to consider the comedic potential of these mistaken identities.

Beyond the Laughter (20 minutes):

Discuss the underlying themes beneath the comedic surface.
How does the play satirize social hierarchy and class structures?
Are there any messages about societal expectations or the pursuit of love?

Creative Project (20 minutes):

Have students write a short monologue from the perspective of one of the Athenian lovers, expressing their feelings and frustrations at the beginning of the play.
Alternatively, students can create a comic strip depicting a scene from Act I, incorporating the characters' dialogue and the use of humor.

Differentiation:

Provide modernized versions of the Shakespearean excerpts or audiobooks for struggling readers.
Challenge advanced readers to research Elizabethan courtship rituals and societal expectations regarding love and marriage.

Extension Activities:

Students can create a family tree or diagram to visualize the relationships between the different characters in the play.
Have students compare and contrast A Midsummer Night's Dream with another comedic play by Shakespeare or a modern romantic comedy.