The presentation of Egeus in Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Shakespeare presents the character of Egeus in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, including considering relevant context.
Key learning points
- ‘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.
Keywords
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 misconception
The characters in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' are Elizabethan.
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.
Teacher tip
Consider if your pupils have read another Shakespeare play with an angry father, disobedient daughter or references to the supernatural. How could you use this (rather than 'Othello', learning cycle 1) as a way to understand what Shakespeare is doing through the character of Egeus in Act 1?
Equipment
You need access to a copy of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of sexual content
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', what is the name of Hermia's father?
Q2.Where is 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' set?
Q3.In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', who does Egeus want Hermia to marry?
Q4.In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Hermia faces punishment if she doesn't obey her father and marry Demetrius. What punishments does she face?
Q5.In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', what supernatural or magical elements does Shakespeare include in the play?
Q6.In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', why might we describe Athens, where the play is set, as patriarchal?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.'A Midsummer Night's Dream' was first performed in around 1595. What is the name for the play's first audiences?
Q2.Who was on the throne when Shakespeare wrote 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'?
Q3.'A Midsummer Night's Dream' was first watched by an Elizabethan audience. What were some common expectations of Elizabethan women?
Q4.A pupil said, 'When 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' was first performed, women were considered men's equals.' How might you respond to this statement?
Q5.In Act 1, Scene 1 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Egeus says Lysander has " " Hermia and that is why she has fallen in love with him.
Q6.In Act 1, Scene 1 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Egeus says Demetrius has his " " to marry Hermia, whereas Lysander does not.
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: The presentation of Egeus in Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: The presentation of Egeus in Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.