the first sentence of a paragraph stating its main idea

a word which connects two clauses in a sentence; for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so and although are all examples

'A Midsummer Night's Dream': powerful topic sentences about Puck

English

The plot of William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

Understanding the genre of William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

The patriarchal world of William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

The presentation of Egeus in Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, Act 2, Scene 1: Titania and Oberon’s conflict

Model paragraphs about Act 2, Scene 1 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

The character of Puck in Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

The character of Oberon in Act 2, Scene 1 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

Exploring the character of Puck in Acts 2 and 3 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

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

The significance of the magical forest in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

The impact of the magical potion in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

How is Puck presented in Act 2, Scene 2 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’?

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’: Puck - obedient servant or irreverent joker?

Act 3 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’: disorder in the forest

'A Midsummer Night's Dream': How is Puck presented in Act 3, Scene 2?

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

How is Puck presented in Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'?

'A Midsummer Night's Dream': Puck's epilogue in Act 5

Analysing Puck's epilogue in Act 5 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

Exploring key themes in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream': love, power, disorder

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’: Shakespeare and the supernatural

Creating an argument about the character of Puck in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

Introductions to essays about Puck in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

Analytical paragraphs: Puck and the supernatural in ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream'

Conclusions to essays: Puck and the supernatural in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

'A Midsummer Night's Dream': reviewing and refining an essay about Puck

In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', pupils learn about marriage conventions within Shakespeare's patriarchal society. In 'Macbeth: Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian Villain', pupils explore the ways in which this female character subverts the expectations of women in her day and question whether modern and contemporary audiences are likely to sympathise with her. 

In 'The Tempest', pupils explore the ways in which Ariel and Caliban, as 'outsiders', might be perceived by modern and contemporary audiences. In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', pupils use context to develop their understanding of marriage rituals and attitudes to magic in the play. 

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.

'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

References to forced marriage, violence against women and girls.

Depiction or discussion of sexual violence

When writing about 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', you should start each paragraph with a clear {{}} which states the paragraph's main idea.

To show why you could agree or disagree with the idea.

To show how you support the text you are reading.

To select quotations from the text you are writing about that prove your idea.

To list all the quotations you know from the text on this topic.

When writing about 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', you could start paragraphs with a topic sentence. You must support this topic sentence in the paragraph. What does it mean to support a topic sentence?

In this topic sentence about 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', which word is the conjunction? "Shakespeare presents Puck as a mischief maker but his pranks are often harmless unlike Oberon's."

In this topic sentence about 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', which word is the conjunction? "Although Shakespeare presents Puck as an irreverent character, to Oberon he only ever shows respect."

"You are that shrewd and knavish sprite Called Robin Goodfellow." Act 2, Scene 1

"For now I must to Oberon." Act 2, Scene 2

"I am that merry wanderer of the night." Act 2, Scene 1

"I jest to Oberon and make him smile[.]" Act 2, Scene 1

Which quotation would best support this topic sentence about 'A Midsummer Night's Dream': "Shakespeare presents Puck as a character who restores order despite his love of chaos."?

"Lord, what fools these mortals be!" Act 3, Scene 2

"Shall we their fond pageant see?" Act 3, Scene 2

"I'll put a girdle round about the earth In forty minutes." Act 2, Scene 1

Which quotation would best support this topic sentence about 'A Midsummer Night's Dream': "Shakespeare presents Puck as a character who is a devoted servant to Oberon despite his love of chaos."?

He threatens Lysander with severe punishments.

He threatens Hermia with severe punishments.

In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', what do we know about the character of Egeus?

Puck disobeys orders; Egeus follows them.

Puck likes to play harmless pranks; Egeus threatens severe punishments.

Puck is a servant; Egeus is a powerful patriarch.

Puck and Egeus are both characters in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. What are some of the differences between them?

Puck wants to create chaos; Oberon uses it for good.

Puck accidently causes chaos; Oberon deliberately harms Titania.

Puck uses it to transform Bottom; Oberon uses it to trick Titania.

Puck doesn't know what the potion can do; Oberon does.

In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', both Oberon and Puck use the magical potion. What are the differences between how they use it?

He refuses to use the antidote as Oberon orders.

He leads the Athenians through the forest to increase their unhappiness.

He causes more chaos by putting the magical potion on Helena.

He says he finds watching unhappiness a fun hobby.

He asks Oberon if they can watch the chaos as entertainment.

In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', how do we know that Puck enjoys watching the Athenian nobles in chaos?

He refuses to use magical potion Titania.

He obeys Oberon's orders swiftly and efficiently.

He obeys Oberon's orders even when he doesn't want to.

He shows respect to Egeus by using the magical potion incorrectly.

He only has fun with Bottom after he has fulfilled Oberon's orders.

In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', how do we know that Puck respects the hierarchy?

He disobeys Oberon when he finds something more fun to do.

In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', why might we describe Puck as a contemptuous character?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction or discussion of sexual violence

Adult supervision required

Starter Quiz