1. Chera Fernelius
Topic: Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Grade Level: 8
Objective: Develop a basic understanding of Shakespeare’s time and some of the context and
history of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
It is Sunday evening and you are lying in bed just dreading your English class
tomorrow. You like English just fine and your teacher is awesome, but she expects
you to read Shakespeare this week! That’s right, the whole class has to read A
Midsummer Night’s Dream and you are not looking forward to it. You wish that
Shakespeare could just hop in a time machine and come to your class so that he
could explain what the heck is going on in his plays!
You wonder, “What was England like back then? What did the theaters look
like? What about the costumes? And what is with all the thees and thous?!”
Feeling discouraged, you finally drift off into a restless sleep only to wake
up moments later. You flip over to adjust your pillow only to realize that you are no
longer in your room!
http://www.pbs.org/shakespeare/locations/
Look at the map and click on Stratford upon Avon and London, then read the information
provided.

2. 1. What were some ways in which the economy could be disrupted in a rural town?
2. Where was Shakespeare baptized and buried?
3. Why was the Thames linked to London’s prosperity?
4. What are some examples of entertainment enjoyed by the people of Shakespeare’s time
that were discovered by archeologists?
5. Where was the Globe theatre built?
So, you slowly begin to realize that you are in Shakespeare’s London! In
fact, you are standing outside of the Globe theatre! You know this must be a
dream but it all seems so real, and suddenly you’re nervous. You don’t know
anything about London during Shakespeare’s time. You figure you may as well
explore a little – maybe you’ll learn something useful for class tomorrow. You turn
to see a flyer…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Midsummer_Night%27s_Dream
Look at the image on the right of the screen and read the information provided. Click on the
image to view a larger version.
6. Is this really a flyer or advertisement for A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
7. What year was this document printed?

3. 8. Who performed this play?
You realize that A Midsummer Night’s Dream is being performed at the
Globe today! You have a feeling that seeing the play may be easier to understand
than reading it, so you figure you’ll get a ticket and see it firsthand. Wait! You
don’t know anything about the Globe, ticket prices, currency….anything.
You’re not even sure who to ask for help…or how to ask for help. You realize
you need some assistance if you’re going to be able to get by in this strange place.
Suddenly you hear someone whispering your name. You turn to see a woman
standing in a lane nearby, motioning for you to come to her. She tells you she can
help you…
http://elizabethan.org/compendium/home.html
Click on Language: Thee and Thou, More Language, and Still More Language and read the
information from these sections.
9. Are thee and thou formal or informal?
10. When can the “-eth” ending be used?
11. What word is used in place of thou when you are addressing someone whose station is
above yours?
12. Wherefore = _____________________ stay = _________________________
13. What are some expressions of greeting that you can use in place of “hello?”
14. As you will = ____________________________________________________
15. ‘Zounds = ______________________________________________________
16. Jakes = ________________________________________________________
17. Gramercy = _____________________________________________________

4. The mysterious woman suggests that you test your knew language skills on a
child so as not to offend any adult who may be above you in station. You decide to
ask a young boy who is walking by if he will purchase your play ticket for you. Then
you remember the issue of money! You turn to the mysterious woman once again…
http://elizabethan.org/compendium/home.html
Click on Money and Coinage and read this section.
18. How much is a sovereign worth?
19. How much is an angel worth?
20. What is a penny made of?
21. (Tickets at the Globe cost one penny to stand and two pennies to sit – you wish to sit in
the balconies, so you need to pay two cents). What is this coin called?
The woman kindly gives you some money and the young boy runs of to
purchase your ticket for you. When he returns, he hands you the ticket and holds
out his hand.
http://elizabethan.org/compendium/home.html
Click on Masters and Servants and read this section.
22. What does the boy want?

5. 23. Should you give a vail or a doucer? Why? What’s the difference?
You turn to thank the woman once again but she is gone. So, you make your
way to the Globe theatre. You can’t believe you’re actually there. All you can do for
a moment is stare…
http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/about-us/virtual-tour
Take a virtual tour by clicking on Stage, Yard, Middle Gallery and Upper Gallery.
24. If you had purchased a one penny ticket to stand in the yard, what would be some
potential drawbacks?
25. Which section do you think would be best for viewing the play?
26. List a couple observations that you made as you toured the Globe.
You find yourself a seat and soon the play begins. You know that this is not
the first performance of this play (because the man who introduced the play told
you so) and you wonder when the first performance was. Was it first performed in
this very theatre?
http://www.bl.uk/treasures/shakespeare/midsummer.html
Scroll down to Early Performances and read the information under this heading.
27. Is it likely that the first ever performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was
performed at the Globe?
28. Where do experts think this play was originally performed and for what reason?

6. The play begins and you notice how intricate and grand many of the costumes
are. You also notice how barren the stage is with only minimal backgrounds,
settings, etc. You also notice something strange…
http://www.folger.edu/template.cfm?cid=963
Scroll down to the Boy Actors section and read information provided.
29. List three things you learned from this section.
You wonder what A Midsummer Night’s Dream might look like in your own
time compared to Shakespeare’s time. How would the play look or be acted
differently? Would it be the same?
http://www.rsc.org.uk/explore/a-midsummer-nights-dream/2005-video-the-lovers.aspx
Watch this video clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib6SjG9vIWI&feature=related
Watch this clip too!
30. What are the biggest differences you notice between these two clips?
31. Which version do you think would be closer to a production of the play in 1600? Why?
32. Which version do you prefer? Why?
You soon become lost in the magic of the play and close your eyes to listen to
the sound of the words and music. When you open your eyes again you are back in
your own bed and your alarm clock is screaming at you that it’s time to get up! You
roll out of bed and reach to turn off your computer since you accidently left it on
all night. As you move the mouse, a video pops up on the screen and begins to play.

7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92Eu0IxEV8M
Watch this video clip from the movie “Get Over It”
As you head to school you remember the things you’ve learned that will help
you to understand A Midsummer Night’s Dream. You feel excited to put your new
knowledge to the test and you figure if they can make a modern movie based on the
play, it can’t be too bad. Right? I mean, Shakespeare has obviously been able to
stand the test of time!

8. Answer Sheet
1. Pests, summer deluges or fire.
2. In the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford upon Avon
3. It was a source of food, a transport route for goods, London’s principle source of water and its
sewer.
4. Bear and mastiff fights, bull baiting, theatre, and brothels.
5. The area around Southwark, near Bankside.
6. No it is the title page of the First Quarto.
7. 1600
8. The Lord Chamberlaine acting company.
9. Informal
10. Only with he, she and it
11. You
12. Why, to wait
13. Good day/ good morrow/ God ye good den/ God save you, sweet mistress/ How now, Sir Toby
14. Okay
15. Wow!
16. Bathroom
17. Thank you
18. One pound, or twenty shillings
19. Ten shillings
20. Silver
21. Tuppence
22. Money/ a tip
23. Student can choose / vail = money tip, doucer = sweets
24. Having to stand for hours, inclement weather, etc.
25. Answer depends on student preference
26. Answers will vary
27. No, it is believed to first have been performed at a wedding in a noble household.
28. The wedding of Elizabeth Vere in 1595 or the wedding of Elizabeth Cary in 1596
29. Answers will vary
30. Answers will vary
31. Answers will vary
32. Answers will vary