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Year 8

Act 3 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’: disorder in the forest

I can explore Act 3 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, focusing on the disordered relationships between the Athenian nobles and Titania and Bottom.

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New
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Year 8

Act 3 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’: disorder in the forest

I can explore Act 3 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, focusing on the disordered relationships between the Athenian nobles and Titania and Bottom.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Oberon is pleased that Titania has fallen in love with Bottom.
  2. Oberon is angry that Puck put the magical potion on the wrong Athenian man.
  3. The relationship between Titania and Bottom is an example of disorder.
  4. For Elizabethans, Titania and Bottom’s relationship would be seen as especially funny because it disrupts the hierarchy.
  5. Elizabethans believed that everyone had their place in a hierarchical system called The Great Chain of Being.

Common misconception

Oberon finds the disorder between the Athenian nobles funny.

As soon as Oberon realises Puck's mistake, he swiftly tries to correct it.

Keywords

  • Disorder - confusion, chaos

  • Theme - an important idea to a text that is explored through different characters and plot points

  • Hierarchy - a system whereby people or things are ranked, with some being higher than others

  • Elizabethans - a person alive when Elizabeth I was on the throne (1558-1603); the first audiences of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ were Elizabethan

  • The Great Chain of Being - a term used by Elizabethans which referred to a system of ranking which they believed was created by God

The extract to be read in learning cycle 2 is reasonably long. Consider how you will read it with your pupils. Consider any words you might want to gloss, the questions you want to ask, and whether watching one or more productions would help them understand the comedy of this interaction.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need access to a copy of William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. However, the relevant extracts for this lesson can also be found in the additional materials.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
  • Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', what do we learn about the character of Titania?
Correct answer: She is a monarch.
She is married to Thesus.
Correct answer: She is supernatural.
She is in conflict with Puck.
Correct answer: She is tricked by Oberon.
Q2.
In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', what do we learn about the character of Bottom?
Correct answer: He is a skilled manual labourer from Athens.
He is supernatural.
His head is transformed into that of a donkey by Oberon.
Correct answer: He wants to perform a play for Duke Theseus.
He falls in love with Titania after being anointed with the magic potion.
Q3.
In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', why does Oberon want Puck to fetch him the magical potion?
Correct answer: To get revenge on Titania.
To transform Bottom into a donkey.
To create chaos amongst the Athenian nobles.
To make Titania fall in love with him.
Correct answer: To help Helena.
Q4.
Starting with the first, put these plot points from Act 2 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' in chronological order.
1 - Puck puts the magical potion on Lysander by accident.
2 - Helena sees Lysander lying on the forest floor.
3 - Helena wakes Lysander up, worried he is dead.
4 - Lysander tells Helena he loves her and regrets the time he spent with Hermia.
5 - Helena believes Lysander is making fun of her and runs away.
6 - Lysander follows Helena, determined to express his love for her.
7 - Hermia wakes up alone in the forest.
Q5.
In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', when Oberon puts the magical potion on Titania, he says, "Wake when something is near."
Correct Answer: vile
Q6.
What is the name for the hierarchical system that was so important to Elizabethan society?
The Great Chain of Hierarchy
The Good Chain of Being
God's Chain of Being
The Great Chain
Correct answer: The Great Chain of Being

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', how does Oberon react when he realises Titania is in love with Bottom?
angrily
regretfully
hopefully
Correct answer: happily
sadly
Q2.
In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', how does Oberon react when he realises Puck put the love potion on the wrong Athenian man?
happily
laughingly
regretully
passively
Correct answer: angrily
Q3.
In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', what does Oberon do while Puck is looking for Helena in Act 3?
transforms Demetrius into a donkey
watches Titania dote on Bottom
puts he love potion on Hermia
nothing - it is Puck's role to undo the mistake
Correct answer: puts the love potion on Demetrius
Q4.
In Act 3 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Puck tells Oberon that Titania "with a is in love."
Correct Answer: monster
Q5.
In Act 3 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', when Puck tells Oberon what has happened to Titania, Oberon states, "This falls out than I could devise".
Correct Answer: better
Q6.
In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', after Oberon realises Puck put the magical potion on the wrong person, he tells him to "About the wood go than the wind" to find Helena.
Correct Answer: swifter

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