New
New
Year 8

How is Puck presented in Act 2, Scene 2 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’?

I can explain how Puck is presented in Act 2, Scene 2 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.

New
New
Year 8

How is Puck presented in Act 2, Scene 2 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’?

I can explain how Puck is presented in Act 2, Scene 2 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In Act 2, Scene 2, Puck tries to fulfil Oberon’s orders but he makes a mistake.
  2. Puck’s mistake creates much confusion and chaos, a key aspect of Shakespearean comedy.
  3. However, Shakespeare makes it clear that Puck’s mistake is genuine, despite his reputation as a practical joker.
  4. When writing about ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, link different moments of the play together to deepen your analysis.

Common misconception

It isn't important that Puck's mistake is genuine.

Without understanding what happens, and why, in Act 2, Scene 2, we won't have an accurate understanding of Shakespeare's characterisation of Puck which deepens and develops throughout the play.

Keywords

  • Athenian - someone from Athens

  • Monologue - in a play, a speech by one character expressing their thoughts, often directly to the audience

  • Fulfil - to carry out, to complete

  • Analysis - in English, this means looking at a text closely, considering what it might mean and why it was written in that way

  • Shakespearean comedy - a play designed to make you laugh, often involving misunderstandings and ending in marriage

The focus of LC1 is Puck's monologue and interpreting it. Consider if watching a range of interpretations from different directors would support pupil discussion of how they understand, and how they would perform, the monologue.
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
  • Risk assessment required - physical activity

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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
In Act 2, Scene 1 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', we meet Puck for the first time. What aspects of his character does Shakespeare present?
Correct answer: his obedience to Oberon
Correct answer: his mischievous nature
his anger at Titania
Correct answer: his love of practical jokes
his loving nature towards humans
Q2.
In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Oberon wants the magical potion for two reasons. What are they?
to transform Bottom into a donkey
Correct answer: to make Demetrius fall in love with Helena
to make Lysander fall in love with Helena
Correct answer: to make Titania fall in love with an unknown creature
to make Titania fall in love with him
Q3.
In Act 2, Scene 1 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Oberon commands that Puck find a magical potion for him. How does Puck respond?
Correct answer: swiftly
angrily
reluctantly
Correct answer: obediently
carelessly
Q4.
'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is a Shakespearean comedy. What are some key features of Shakespearean comedies?
Correct answer: ending in marriage
the confusion takes place in a forest
Correct answer: misunderstandings and mistaken identities
Correct answer: slapstick (physical) comedy
the supernatural
Q5.
In Act 2, Scene 1 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', we meet Puck for the first time. He tells the fairy he is speaking to, "I jest to and make him smile."
Correct Answer: Oberon
Q6.
Starting with the first, order these plot points from Act 1, Scene 1 to Act 2, Scene 1 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' in chronological order.
1 - Egeus complains to Theseus that his daughter, Hermia, is disobeying him.
2 - Theseus and Egeus tell Hermia her punishments if she doesn't marry Demetrius.
3 - Lysander and Hermia run away from Athens. Helena and Demetrius follow them.
4 - The action moves to the forest, where we first meet Puck, a mischievous fairy.
5 - Oberon and Titania arrive. Titania refuses to give in to Oberon's demands.
6 - Oberon swears revenge on Titania and asks Puck to get him a magical potion.
7 - Puck agrees to get the magical potion for Oberon.

6 Questions

Q1.
In Act 2, Scene 2 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', why does Puck put the magical potion on Lysander?
He wants to cause confusion and chaos.
He is focused on transforming Bottom, not Oberon's orders.
He can't remember Oberon's orders, and guesses.
Correct answer: He thinks Lysander is Demetrius.
He doesn't care about fulfilling Oberon's orders correctly.
Q2.
In Act 2, Scene 2, after Puck puts the magical potion on Lysander, he says, "So, awake when I am gone. For I must now to ."
Correct Answer: Oberon
Q3.
In Act 2, Scene 1 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Oberon orders Puck to put the magical potion on an Athenian man. Puck responds to this order with, "Fear not, my lord. Your shall do so."
Correct Answer: servant
Q4.
Starting with the first, order these plot points from the opening of Act 2 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' in chronological order.
1 - Oberon orders Puck to find a magical potion so he can get revenge on Titania.
2 - Oberon sees Demetrius being horrible to Helena.
3 - Oberon tells Puck to put the potion on Demetrius whilst he uses it on Titania.
4 - Oberon puts a potion on Titania, hoping she falls in love with something "vile".
5 - Puck tells us he has been searching for an Athenian man throughout the forest.
6 - Puck see Lysander and Hermia. He thinks Lysander is Demetrius.
7 - Puck puts the magical potion on Lysander by mistake.
Q5.
In Act 2, Scene 2 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Puck has a , which is the technical term for a speech expressing a character's thoughts, often directly to the audience.
Correct Answer: monologue
Q6.
In Act 2, Scene 2 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Puck calls Lysander (who he thinks is Demetrius) a " " and a "kill-courtesy", expressing his anger at him for treating Helena so badly.
Correct Answer: lack-love, lack love

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