A Midsummer Night's Dream is a comedy play by the legendary William Shakespeare. There are several themes and settings used in the play that are analyzed by the writer.
Setting of Place Analysis in A Midsummer Night's Dream by William ShakespeareAnastasia Windy
This is an analysis of play entitled A Midsummer Night's Dream written by William Shakespeare. The writer analyze the setting of place used by Shakespeare in this play.
Setting of Place Analysis in A Midsummer Night's Dream by William ShakespeareAnastasia Windy
This is an analysis of play entitled A Midsummer Night's Dream written by William Shakespeare. The writer analyze the setting of place used by Shakespeare in this play.
The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11, and thought by many critics to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is set on a remote island, where the sorcerer Prospero, rightful Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place using illusion and skilful manipulation. He conjures up a storm, the eponymous tempest, to cause his usurping brother Antonio and the complicit King Alonso of Naples to believe they are shipwrecked and marooned on the island. There, his machinations bring about the revelation of Antonio's lowly nature, the redemption of the King, and the marriage of Miranda to Alonso's son, Ferdinand.
A critical note on Aeschylus' classical Greek Drama Prometheus Bound. This is supplementary study material. Students and teachers are advised to study the original text and genuine reference sources for better understanding of the text. The presentation is based on various resource and references available.
This is my presentation for my MA English class. You are free to modify, share, redistribute and add to it in any way you like.
*I do not own the images used in the presentation. They are the property of their respective owners.
The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11, and thought by many critics to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is set on a remote island, where the sorcerer Prospero, rightful Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place using illusion and skilful manipulation. He conjures up a storm, the eponymous tempest, to cause his usurping brother Antonio and the complicit King Alonso of Naples to believe they are shipwrecked and marooned on the island. There, his machinations bring about the revelation of Antonio's lowly nature, the redemption of the King, and the marriage of Miranda to Alonso's son, Ferdinand.
A critical note on Aeschylus' classical Greek Drama Prometheus Bound. This is supplementary study material. Students and teachers are advised to study the original text and genuine reference sources for better understanding of the text. The presentation is based on various resource and references available.
This is my presentation for my MA English class. You are free to modify, share, redistribute and add to it in any way you like.
*I do not own the images used in the presentation. They are the property of their respective owners.
Chapter 8 THEATER We sit in the darkened theater with many str.docxspoonerneddy
Chapter 8 THEATER
We sit in the darkened theater with many strangers. We sense an air of anticipation, an awareness of excitement. People cough, rustle about, then suddenly become still. Slowly the lights on the stage begin to come up, and we see actors moving before us, apparently unaware of our presence. They are in rooms or spaces similar to those that we may be in ourselves at the end of the evening. Eventually they begin speaking to one another much the way we might ourselves, sometimes saying things so intimate that we are uneasy. They move about the stage, conducting their lives in total disregard for us, only hinting occasionally that we might be there in the same space with them. At first we feel that despite our being in the same building with the actors, we are in a different world. Then slowly the distance between us and the actors begins to diminish until, in a good play, our participation erases the distance. We thrill with the actors, but we also suffer with them. We witness the illusion of an action that has an emotional impact for us and changes the way we think about our own lives. Great plays such as Hamlet, Othello, The Misanthrope, Death of a Salesman, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Long Day’s Journey into Night can have the power to transform our awareness of ourselves and our circumstances. It is a mystery common to much art: that the illusion of reality can affect the reality of our own lives.
Aristotle and the Elements of Drama
Drama is a collaborative art that represents events and situations, either realistic and/or symbolic, that we witness happening through the actions of actors in a play on a stage in front of a live audience. According to the greatest dramatic critic, Aristotle (384–322 BCE), the elements of drama are as follows:
1. Plot: a series of events leading to disaster for the main characters who undergo reversals in fortune and understanding but usually ending with a form of enlightenment—sometimes of the characters, sometimes of the audience, and sometimes of both
2. Character: the presentation of a person or persons whose actions and the reason for them are more or less revealed to the audience
3. Diction: the language of the drama, which should be appropriate to the action
4. Thought: the ideas that underlie the plot of the drama, expressed in terms of dialogue and soliloquy
5. Spectacle: the places of the action, the costumes, set designs, and visual elements in the play
6. Music: in Greek drama, the dialogue was sometimes sung or chanted by a chorus, and often this music was of considerable emotional importance; in modern drama, music is rarely used in serious plays, but it is of first importance in the musical theater
Aristotle conceived his theories in the great age of Greek tragedy, and therefore much of what he has to say applies to tragedies by such dramatists as Aeschylus (ca. 525–456 BCE), especially his trilogy, Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides. Sophocles (ca. 496–406 B.
Hadj Ounis's most notable work is his sculpture titled "Metamorphosis." This piece showcases Ounis's mastery of form and texture, as he seamlessly combines metal and wood to create a dynamic and visually striking composition. The juxtaposition of the two materials creates a sense of tension and harmony, inviting viewers to contemplate the relationship between nature and industry.
Explore the multifaceted world of Muntadher Saleh, an Iraqi polymath renowned for his expertise in visual art, writing, design, and pharmacy. This SlideShare delves into his innovative contributions across various disciplines, showcasing his unique ability to blend traditional themes with modern aesthetics. Learn about his impactful artworks, thought-provoking literary pieces, and his vision as a Neo-Pop artist dedicated to raising awareness about Iraq's cultural heritage. Discover why Muntadher Saleh is celebrated as "The Last Polymath" and how his multidisciplinary talents continue to inspire and influence.
Fashionista Chic Couture Maze & Coloring Adventures is a coloring and activity book filled with many maze games and coloring activities designed to delight and engage young fashion enthusiasts. Each page offers a unique blend of fashion-themed mazes and stylish illustrations to color, inspiring creativity and problem-solving skills in children.
This tutorial offers a step-by-step guide on how to effectively use Pinterest. It covers the basics such as account creation and navigation, as well as advanced techniques including creating eye-catching pins and optimizing your profile. The tutorial also explores collaboration and networking on the platform. With visual illustrations and clear instructions, this tutorial will equip you with the skills to navigate Pinterest confidently and achieve your goals.
Fed by curiosity and beauty - Remembering Myrsine Zorba
Themes and Settings in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare
1. U M M A N A B I E G H I S M A I L J A L L A
THEMES AND SETTINGS ANALYSIS IN
“MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM”
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
2. Abstract
This essay is to analyze “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
by William Shakespeare. The aim of this writing is to
identify and analyze the themes and settings used in
the play. The writer uses intrinsic theories and close-
reading method. In the play, Shakespeare uses love
as the general theme and Athens as the general
setting.
Keywords: Themes, Setting, Love, Athens
3. Introduction
Background of the Study
According to critic George Jean Nathan, a good drama is “anything interests an
intelligently emotional group of persons assembled together in an illuminated
hall.” One of the writers whose dramas stood out is William Shakespeare.
Shakespeare has written many great plays, such as Hamlet, King Lear, A
Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the well-known Romeo and Juliet.
The drama which the writer decided to analyze in this paper is a comedy play by
William Shakespeare, entitled “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. The aspects of which
the writer decided to analyze is the theme and the settings of the play.
Purpose of the Study
To understand the themes used in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
To understand the settings used in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
Scope of the Study
The scope of the study is to explain the themes and settings in William
Shakespeare’s comedy play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
4. Literary Review
Theme
A theme is the main subject that surrounds the drama. The theme of a play refers to
the play’s main idea. There are a couple of ways to analyze the theme of a play. It
can either be clearly stated through dialog or action, or can be inferred after
watching the entire performance. The theme is the philosophy that forms the base of
the story or a moral lesson that the characters learn. It is the message that the play
gives to the audience.
Settings
Settings in a play consist of the time and the place in which a play takes place.
The time setting may range from the hour to the era in which the play is set. The
hour to the year affects the appearance and the era affects the central theme of the
play, the issues raised, the conflicts, and the way characters interact with one
another.
The place setting also affects the appearance, culture, social hierarchy, economical
and political condition, and so on.
Nevertheless, the time and place where a play is set both define the historical and
social context of the play.
5. Discussion of the Themes
Love
Love is the most apparent theme in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
Love in this play is displayed by both fairies and humans. In this play,
not only Shakespeare shows us the true kind of love that is displayed by
the four Athenians; Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius, but also
the forced kind of love that is displayed by the humans Theseus and
Hyppolita, and Oberon and Titania, the King and Queen of the fairies.
Gender
“A Midsummer Night's Dream” clearly shows us the gender tensions, at
the beginning of the play, Hermia fights her father for the right to choose
her own spouse, but since a father has more power than a daughter, her
father has the right to assassinate Hermia if she doesn’t marry the man
he chose for her. (Act 1, Scene 1). Not only this shows the gender tension,
it also shows the power a father has over his daughter at that era.
Moreover, the scene of Theseus who is set to marry Hyppolita due to a
battle, and the King and Queen of Fairies, Oberon and Titania, are at a
battle of the sexes which disrupts the natural world.
6. Magic
The fairies in the play are not a coincidence. They represent the situations
in which magic is needed. The magical aspect of the theme is also displayed
by the love potion, which represents the power of love in a magical way.
However, the power of the love potion is what pulls the trigger for the four
young lovers; Hermia, Helena, Lysander, and Demetrius.
Foolishness
The foolishness of the play can be seen in the scene where Shakespeare
displays Bottom with an ass’ head instead of his own (Act 3, Scene 1), which
is ridiculous.
It is also shown when Robin squeezed the love potion into Lysander’s
eyelids instead of Demetrius’ (Act 2, Scene 2)
Despite the ridiculousness of it, this is what makes the comedy aspect shine
through the play.
7. Dreams
Dreams are an important theme in the play. Not only it is apparent as it is
the title of the play—“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”—the ‘dreams’ theme
also can be seen from the dialogue in the play itself; “I have had a dream,
past the wit of man to say what / dream it was. Man is but an ass if he go
about t’expound this dream,” (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 185).
At the end of the play, Puck says to the audiences as well that if they have
been offended by the play, they should remember it as nothing more than a
dream. (Act 5, Scene 1)
Marriage
Marriage is clearly one of the major themes in the play as from the
beginning, Shakespeare creates a scene when Egeus attempted to force
Hermia to marry the man he had chosen to be her husband, Demetrius.
(Act 1, Scene 1)
Also there is scenes of the forced-marriage between Hyppolita and Theseus,
and the fairies-mariage between Oberon and Titania.
8. Discussion of the Settings
Athens
The play begins in Athens, where Duke Theseus and Hippolyta are preparing for an
elaborate wedding (Act 1, Scene 1) and ends in "the palace of Theseus" (Act 1, Scene 1,
and Act 5, Scene 1).
This also has a social influence to the play, as Athens is a place for law and order
where a father can demand the death penalty for a disobedient daughter refusing to
marry the man of his choosing.
The Wood
Most of the action aspect of the play takes place in "a wood near Athens." (Act 2, Scene
1 and Act 4, Scene 1). In many plays, a wood is a place where magic happens. It a place
full of dreams, containing more dreams than reality. It is also a mysterious place
where wishes are made true and fantasy turns into reality.
The wood gives the play the mood of light fantasy of the play. It also allows magic to
solve the love problems in the plot.
The wood is first mentioned by Lysander when he asked Hermia to run away with him
to his aunt’s, and asked her to meet him in the forest (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 156-165)
The wood is also mentioned in the following scene by Quince who wished to rehearse
in the wood so they wouldn’t be bothered by the crowds in the city (Act 1, Scene 2,
Line 38-39)
9. Quince’s house
The "rude mechanicals," Bottom and company meet and
discuss their plans to entertain Duke Theseus on his wedding
day at Quince's house (Act 1 Scene 2 and Act 1 Scene 2).
May Day
This setting of time can be seen when Theseus stumbles upon
the sleeping Athenian (Act 4, Scene 1). He thinks they are
passed out on the ground because they got up early and went
into the wood to "observe / The rite of May" (4.1.137-138).
It is also mentioned Lysander, saying that he once met
Hermia and Helena in the wood to "do observance to a morn
of May" (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 169).
10. Midsummer's Eve
Unlike the apparentness of the previous time setting, the
Midsummer Eve is implied in the play.
The title is a kind of shout-out to the Midsummer's Eve,
which happens to fall on the 23rd of June. The
Midsummer’s Eve is said to be a time of mystery and
magic. Spirits would run around causing mischief and
teenage girls would have dreams about the guys they
would eventually fall in love with and marry, just like
what Shakespeare wrote in the play; in this case they are
four young Athenians (Hermia, Helena, Lysander, and
Demetrius).
11. Conclusion
A famous play writer, William Shakespeare in his play entitled “A
Midsummer Night’s Dream”, showcases some major themes that all
contributed in making the play wonderful, legendary, not to mention
immensely entertaining. In “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”,
Shakespeare uses love, foolishness, magic, gender, dreams, and marriage
as the themes, all of which are blended seamlessly into a beautiful piece
of play.
A wide range of settings are also used in “A Midsummer Night’s
Dream”. Shakespeare picked Athena as the main setting of place, with all
the cultures and hierarchy that follows the setting of Athena. Within the
Athens, several other places are mentioned in the play. There was Peter
Quince’s house where the mechanicals first assembled to discuss the play
they are going to perform for the wedding, and, last but not least, the
wood, where all sorts of magical things happen.
The title “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” makes it quite obvious to
see that the play is set during the Midsummer’s Eve, which in on the 23rd
of June. The play also mentions the May Day as the setting of time.
12. Bibliography
Kennedy, X. J. 1991. 5th ed. Literature: An
Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. United
States of America: HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
”Theme | Theme Definition by Merriam-Webster.”
Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d.
Web. 18 Dec. 2016.