Methinks I'll Read Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night's Dream

Art thou ready to read Shakespeare? But of course! Here you will finde assignments, definitions, explanations, and other sundry ‘stuff’ which will make reading ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ a zephyr – that is, a breeze!

This approach focuses on seeing the big picture, with only the most interesting of extra information included for thine own interest. Read the words of the beloved Bard aloud! Write some of your own! Explore the theme of ‘dreams’ . . . draw a character . . . examine the text one more time, looking for details ‘divine and rare’ . . . memorize a few lines . . . and hark! It is done!

Included here are the following: the complete play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’; seven separate sections each containing assignments and information; a glossary of Weird Words, a Biography, and Summaries of Acts and Scenes.

This text is well-suited to homeschoolers who do not anticipate putting on the play, or doing other activities that involve collaboration with numerous other people. It is especially aimed at students who are not yet familiar with Shakespeare’s plays, and who will benefit from a light-hearted but meaningful approach to reading them.

The sections and assignments are as follows:

Hark! Methinks I’ll Read the Play (read aloud and learn theatre terms)

Hark! What Do I Understand? (copying, list, translation and learn about iambic pentameter)

Hark! Methinks I Hear A Voice! (memorization, learn about ‘soliloquy’)

Hark Methinks I’ll Look Again (underline certain features, learn more about Shakespeare’s quill and ink)

Hark! Methinks I’ll Write Mine Own (Choose between a 5 paragraph essay or a report on the topic of ‘dreams’ within the play. Detailed guidelines are given. Learn about editing and copyright.)

Hark! Methinks I’ll Draw Awhile! (Draw a main character, learn about costume and set design.)

Stay, Good Friend - There’s More! (Glossary of Weird Words, Brief Biography, Summary of Acts and Scenes. Invent a word and define one from the play that you’ve never seen before.)