1. Introduction to Shakespeare and A Midsummer Night’s Dream

2. William Shakespeare Born 1564, died 1616
Lived during the Renaissance (cultural “rebirth”)
Patrons: Queen Elizabeth I, then King James I
Left family in Stratford-on-Avon & went to London to make a living as actor, poet, playwright
Married Anne Hathaway and had 3 children: Susanna, Hamnet (died age 11) and Judith
Wrote 37 plays and over 150 sonnets (poems)

3. The Globe Theatre Built in 1599, burned down in 1613,
rebuilt in 1614, closed in 1642
by the Puritans.
Shakespeare’s most famous plays
premiered here.
Built across the river from London
proper - outside city limits.
Open air, daytime performances.
Flag flew on performance days.

4. Inside the Theater EVERYONE came, from nobles to “groundlings”
People came to “hear” a play
emphasis on language
No curtain
Minimal set and props
Acting was not a respected profession
Men played all parts
Repertory - same group of actors
Othello: k
Set up for Midsummer:

5. Genres and Conventions
Types of plays
Comedies
Tragedies
Histories
Structure:
Divided into five acts
Written mostly in verse (poetry)
Minimal stage directions

6. Tragedies and Comedies
Tragedy
Comedy
Named after hero of high birth (royal or aristocratic)
Hero has a tragic flaw
Ends in death
No title characters, can be high or low born
Mistaken identities, mixed up plans, chaos
Ends in marriage

7. A Midsummer Night’s Dream was written c. 1594, early in Will’s career
On “Midsummer Night” ….
Fairies and sprites were especially powerful
People had especially vivid dreams
People were more susceptible to both love and insanity (perhaps because love was considered a form of insanity!)
“Dream” could mean
A fantasy
A nightmare
The work of fairies
A way to work through problems

8. Four Groups of Characters
Rulers
Four Lovers
Mechanicals (Common Working Men)
Fairies
Their lives intersect - chaos ensues.

9. Two Worlds Athens Ruled by Theseus Magic Forest Ruled by Fairies
Daytime
Order
Reason
Law
Symmetry
Magic Forest
Ruled by Fairies
Nighttime
Chaos
Passion
Anarchy
Asymmetry