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Year 8

Exploring key themes in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream': love, power, disorder

I can explain how three key themes (love, power and disorder) are explored in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.

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Year 8

Exploring key themes in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream': love, power, disorder

I can explain how three key themes (love, power and disorder) are explored in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.

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Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A theme is an important idea in a text that is explored in a number of different ways.
  2. As students of English, the first step is to work out what are a text’s most important themes.
  3. The next step is to consider when these themes are explored in the text.
  4. Finally, you could consider what a writer might be trying to say about this particular theme.

Common misconception

A theme is any idea or plot point in a text.

Themes are the most important ideas in a text. There may be multiple. The most important themes are the ones that are returned to over and over again, and explored in a number of different ways.

Keywords

  • Theme - an important idea in a text that is explored in a number of different ways

  • Explore - to look into something in detail.

  • Hierarchy - a system whereby people or things are ranked, with some being at the top, and others lower dow

  • Patriarchy - a society in which men hold the power; the laws and structure of that society prevent women from having power

  • Supernatural - things that can’t be explained by the laws of nature

Learning cycle 2 is complex. Pupils may never have had to connect a theme with writer's intentions. Consider how many examples your pupils may need, and the timing for the discussion questions during the explanation to set pupils up for success in the Practice Task.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need access to a copy of William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Each of these characters in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is powerful, and holds power over others. Match the character to their source of power.
Correct Answer:Egeus,has power over his daughter's life

has power over his daughter's life

Correct Answer:Theseus,has power over the city of Athens

has power over the city of Athens

Correct Answer:Oberon,has power over Titania after he uses the magic potion

has power over Titania after he uses the magic potion

Correct Answer:Puck,has power to transform himself and others

has power to transform himself and others

Q2.
In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', there are lots of examples of different types of relationships. Match the type of relationship to its example.
Correct Answer:romantic relationships,explored through the Athenian nobles

explored through the Athenian nobles

Correct Answer:friendships,explored through Hermia and Helena

explored through Hermia and Helena

Correct Answer:mismatched relationships,explored through Titania and Bottom

explored through Titania and Bottom

Correct Answer:father daughter relationships,explored through Hermia and Egeus

explored through Hermia and Egeus

Correct Answer:hierarchical relationships,explored through Puck and Oberon

explored through Puck and Oberon

Q3.
In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', how does Oberon manage to get the little boy from Titania?
He makes Bottom fall in love with her so she is distracted.
He uses a magical potion on her which transforms her into half animal.
Correct answer: He asks her for the boy when she is distracted with Bottom.
Correct answer: He ignores her desire to keep the boy and tricks her into giving him to him.
He orders Puck to steal the boy from Titania when she is sleeping.
Q4.
Each of these characters in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is presented as powerless at some point in the play. Match the character to the reason they are vulnerable.
Correct Answer:Hermia,threatened with extreme punishments by her father

threatened with extreme punishments by her father

Correct Answer:Lysander,doesn't always have power over who he loves

doesn't always have power over who he loves

Correct Answer:Bottom,is powerless against Puck's transformative magic

is powerless against Puck's transformative magic

Correct Answer:Titania,can't stop Oberon taking the little boy from her

can't stop Oberon taking the little boy from her

Q5.
'A Midsummer Night's Dream' was first performed to an Elizabethan audience. Elizabethan society was which means it was a society in which men held the power.
Correct Answer: patriarchal, a patriarchal society
Q6.
'A Midsummer Night's Dream' was first performed to an Elizabethan audience. What were some important ideas in Elizabethan society that Shakespeare is exploring in his play?
Correct answer: The importance of patriarchy.
The importance of magical potions in terms of marriage.
Correct answer: The reality of supernatural.
The importance of the forest and caring for the natural world.
Correct answer: The importance of hierarchy.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
There are a number of key themes in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. What is a theme?
An important character in a text which is explored in different ways.
An important quotation in a text which could be explored.
Correct answer: An important idea in a text which is explored in a number of different ways.
An important plot point in a text which is explored in different ways.
Important language devices used by the writer in a text.
Q2.
Below are three key themes in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Match each theme to one way it is explored in the play.
Correct Answer:love and marriage,through the Athenian nobles

through the Athenian nobles

Correct Answer:order and disorder,through Titania's relationship with Bottom

through Titania's relationship with Bottom

Correct Answer:the supernatural,through the character Puck

through the character Puck

Q3.
Which of the following would count as a key theme in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'?
Correct answer: love and marriage
Correct answer: order versus disorder
the use of the magical potion
Correct answer: the supernatural
Puck's epilogue
Q4.
When exploring a theme in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', you will first consider which themes are the most important. Then you will consider where this theme is explored. What is the next step?
To consider how many quotations link to this theme.
Correct answer: To consider what Shakespeare might be trying to say about this theme.
To consider if you think it is a good theme.
To consider if the theme is a character as well.
Q5.
There are lots of words which help us analyse 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' in a clear and academic way. Match the words to their definitions.
Correct Answer:theme,an idea that is explored in a text in a number of different ways

an idea that is explored in a text in a number of different ways

Correct Answer:character,a person created by the writer

a person created by the writer

Correct Answer:plot,the main events in a story

the main events in a story

Correct Answer:methods,the tools a writer uses to create their work eg. language choices

the tools a writer uses to create their work eg. language choices

Q6.
What might be appropriate answers to the question: 'How does Shakespeare explore the theme of order and disorder in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'?'
Correct answer: Through the chaos that occurs in the forest.
Correct answer: Through the little boy in Titania's care.
Correct answer: Through the relationship between Titania and Bottom.
Through the play's first Elizabethan audiences.
Though the quotation, "Give me that boy!"