Drill  Watch the following scene. Pick two parts of the scene and explain why someone might find them humorous.

Today We Will…  Identify elements of comedy in Shakespeare  Read and comprehend Act I, Scene I of Shakespeare’s, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

Shakespeare -Who’s heard of this guy? Actor and playwright -Wrote 37 plays, 154 sonnets, 2 narrative poems -Played a huge role in shaping the English language “He was not of an age, but for all time!” - Ben Johnson

“In Shakespeare the birds sing, the bushes are clothed with green, hearts love, souls suffer, the cloud wanders, it is hot, it is cold, night falls, time passes, forests and multitudes speak, the vast eternal dream hovers over all. Sap and blood, all forms of the multiple reality, actions and ideas, man and humanity, the living and the life, solitudes, cities, religions, diamonds and pearls, dung-hills and charnelhouses, the ebb and flow of beings, the steps of comers and goers, all, all are on Shakespeare and in Shakespeare.” - Victor Hugo

Aspects of Shakespearean Comedy  Happy ending  Marriage  Light-hearted tone  Emphasis on situations  Young lovers overcoming difficulty  Separation and re- unification  Deception  Multiple plots  All styles of comedy

Before Reading  Without further ado, let’s preview!  To summarize…  Multiple Plots

Hippolyta & Theseus Queen of the Amazons To marry Theseus Duke of Athens Won Hippolyta through sword

“…our nuptial hour/Draws on apace.” Philostrate Theseus & Hippolyta

“Full of vexation come I…” Theseus Hermia Egeus Lysander Demetrius

Egeus, Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius Theseus Hermia Egeus Lysander Demetrius Hermia – Daughter of Egeus Betrothed to Demetrius Wants to marry Lysander Lysander – Wants to marry Hermia Demetrius – Wants to marry Hermia Once courted Helena

“There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee.”

“…he no more shall see my face.” Helena Wants to marry Demetrius

Act I, Scene I  Split into groups of 5 or 6. Select each group member to be a character in the scene. Together, read Act I, Scene I.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Written by William Shakespeare Read by Awesome Honors Students!

In Closing…  How far did your group get in the reading?  What do you think will happen next?  How is Shakespeare setting the stage for something funny to happen?

For Next Time…  Act I, Scene I & Act I, Scene II  Have 3 Questions  Italicized questions in text