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'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

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Why this why now

This unit uses and builds on pupils' understanding of Shakespeare, outsiders and genre from 'The Tempest'. They begin to analyse more of Shakepseare's form and techniques, as well as reading more of Shakespeare's language. They also move from creative responses to Shakespeare towards analytical reponses. This unit prepares pupils for their study of 'Othello' and 'Macbeth' by deepening their understanding of genre, form and the role of outsiders and the supernatural in Shakespeare.

Prior knowledge requirements

  • Pupils know who Shakespeare was and when he was writing
  • Pupils understand the performative aspect of plays and recognise the conventions of playscripts
  • Pupils can select quotations to support a point
  • Pupils can apply context to explain the writer's viewpoint or attitude
  • Pupils can make logical inferences and explain them
  • Pupils can comment on the effect of language or structural features

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Why this why now

This unit uses and builds on pupils' understanding of Shakespeare, outsiders and genre from 'The Tempest'. They begin to analyse more of Shakepseare's form and techniques, as well as reading more of Shakespeare's language. They also move from creative responses to Shakespeare towards analytical reponses. This unit prepares pupils for their study of 'Othello' and 'Macbeth' by deepening their understanding of genre, form and the role of outsiders and the supernatural in Shakespeare.

Prior knowledge requirements

  • Pupils know who Shakespeare was and when he was writing
  • Pupils understand the performative aspect of plays and recognise the conventions of playscripts
  • Pupils can select quotations to support a point
  • Pupils can apply context to explain the writer's viewpoint or attitude
  • Pupils can make logical inferences and explain them
  • Pupils can comment on the effect of language or structural features

'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

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.

28 lessons in unit

  1. 1

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

    I can explain the plot and main themes of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
  2. 2

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

    I can explain how I know that ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is a comedy.
  3. 3

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

    I can explore how the patriarchy is presented in William Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, focusing on the openings of Act 1 and Act 2.
  4. 4

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

    I can explain how Shakespeare presents the character of Egeus in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, including considering relevant context.
  5. 5

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

    I can explore the presentation of Titania and Oberon in Act 2, Scene 1 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
  6. 6

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

    I can evaluate model paragraphs about the presentation of Oberon and Titania in Act 2, Scene 1 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, and use my evaluation to develop my own writing.
  7. 7

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

    I can explain how Puck is introduced in Act 2 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, and common Elizabethan beliefs about this character.
  8. 8

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

    I can explore how the character of Oberon is presented in Act 2, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
  9. 9

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

    I can explain how the character of Puck is presented and how audiences might respond to him, focusing on his actions in Acts 2 and 3 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
  10. 10

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

    I can include relevant contextual ideas in my writing when exploring the character of Puck in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
  11. 11

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

    I can explain why some of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' takes place in a magical forest.
  12. 12

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

    I can evaluate how the magical potion is used by Oberon and Puck, and the impact it has on different characters in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
  13. 13

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

    I can explain how Puck is presented in Act 2, Scene 2 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
  14. 14

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

    I can explore the way Puck treats the Rude Mechanicals in Act 3 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, and consider how this is different or similar to his words and actions in Act 2.
  15. 15

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

    I can explore Act 3 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, focusing on the disordered relationships between the Athenian nobles and Titania and Bottom.
  16. 16

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

    I can explain how Puck is presented as a remorseless character in Act 3, Scene 2 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
  17. 17

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

    I can explain how the disorder in the forest is resolved, and consider how happy the ending of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is.
  18. 18

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

    I can select quotations which help me explore how Puck is presented across Acts 2 and 3 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
  19. 19

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

    I can create a convincing interpretation of Puck's epilogue from Act 5 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ through performance.
  20. 20

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

    I can explore the language of Puck’s epilogue, linking it to other moments in the play.
  21. 21

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

    I can explain how three key themes (love, power and disorder) are explored in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
  22. 22

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

    I can explore how the supernatural is presented in a number of Shakespeare’s plays and use this exploration to explain why the character of Puck is a comic figure.
  23. 23

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

    I can explain how Puck is presented in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ using evaluative and well supported topic sentences.
  24. 24

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

    I can create and maintain an argument about the character of Puck by writing clear topic sentences which support a thesis statement.
  25. 25

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

    I can write a well-structured introduction for an essay about the character of Puck in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
  26. 26

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

    I can write focused analytical paragraphs about how Shakespeare uses the character of Puck to explore ideas about the supernatural in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
  27. 27

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

    I can write a well-structured conclusion about how Shakespeare uses the character of Puck to explore the supernatural in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
  28. 28

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

    I can evaluate model paragraphs about Puck and the supernatural in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, and use this evaluation to improve my own analytical writing.

Learn how you can make the best use of Oak resources

A step-by-step guide to getting started

Get more out of Oak