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Year 8

'A Midsummer Night's Dream': How is Puck presented in Act 3, Scene 2?

I can explain how Puck is presented as a remorseless character in Act 3, Scene 2 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

New
New
Year 8

'A Midsummer Night's Dream': How is Puck presented in Act 3, Scene 2?

I can explain how Puck is presented as a remorseless character in Act 3, Scene 2 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Oberon and Puck have different reactions to the disorder amongst the Athenian nobles.
  2. Oberon tries to restore order immediately.
  3. Oberon blames Puck for the chaos.
  4. Puck enjoys the disorder, calling it “sport”.
  5. Arguably, Shakespeare presents Puck as a remorseless character who has contempt for the humans in the forest.

Keywords

  • Remorseless - without regret or guilt.

  • Restore - to return something back to its original state.

  • Pageant - a show.

  • Contemptuous - insulting.

  • Sport - in the context of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, it means an enjoyable hobby.

Common misconception

Puck tries to create more chaos after realising his mistake.

Puck is consistently shown to follow Oberon's orders in relation to the Athenian nobles, and to try and do so correctly. However, he does find it very funny, even though he didn't deliberately create the situation.

In this lesson, we see Puck react to the chaos of the Athenian nobles and explore his speeches carefully. Consider if showing performances of the disorder would help your pupils understand why Puck considers it a "pageant" and "sport".
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 sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
  • 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).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
At the beginning of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', who is Demetrius in love with?
Titania
Helena
Correct answer: Hermia
no-one
Hippolyta
Q2.
After having the magical potion applied to them in Acts 2 and 3 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', who do Lysander and Demetrius fall in love with?
Hermia
Correct answer: Helena
Titania
Bottom
Q3.
In Act 2, Scene 1 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', what do we learn about the character of Puck?
Correct answer: He finds practical jokes funny.
Correct answer: He likes to trick people.
He makes Titania laugh with his practical jokes.
Oberon doesn't like that he plays practical jokes.
Correct answer: He has a reputation for causing mischief.
Q4.
A pupil said of Puck, a character in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream': "Puck purposefully causes chaos amongst the Athenian nobles." How would you correct them?
Puck tricks the nobles, just like he tricks Bottom.
Puck obeyed Oberon's orders to create chaos.
Puck created chaos, but only to make Oberon laugh.
Correct answer: Puck was truly trying to help Helena but mistook Lysander for Demetrius
Correct answer: Puck tries to follow Oberon's orders, but accidently makes a mistake.
Q5.
Starting with the first plot point, order these events from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' in chronological order.
1 - Puck puts the magical potion on Lysander by accident.
2 - Lysander falls in love with Helena and leaves Hermia alone in the forest.
3 - Oberon realises Puck has put the magical potion on the wrong man.
4 - Oberon applies the magical potion to Demetrius.
5 - Demetrius wakes up and immediately falls in love with Helena.
6 - Helena thinks Demetrius and Lysander are mocking her by pretending to love her.
7 - Hermia feels betrayed by Lysander and Helena.
Q6.
In Act 3, Scene 2 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', when Oberon realises that Puck put the magical potion on the wrong man, he orders Puck to find Helena "swifter than the ".
Correct Answer: wind

6 Questions

Q1.
In Act 3 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', how does Helena feel when both Demetrius and Lysander say they love her?
happy
beloved
Correct answer: mocked
contemptuous
remorseless
Q2.
In Act 3 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', how does Hermia feel when both Demetrius and Lysander say they love Helena?
Correct answer: abandoned
determined
contemptuous
remorseless
Correct answer: betrayed
Q3.
In Act 3 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', what does Puck want to do after he realises the Athenian nobles' love lives are in chaos?
tell Oberon
apply the love potion to the women
nothing
Correct answer: watch
restore order
Q4.
In Act 3 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Oberon accuses Puck of creating the chaos amongst the Athenian noble people on purpose. Is this a fair accusation?
Correct answer: No - Puck made a genuine mistake.
Correct answer: No - Puck tried to follow Oberon's orders carefully.
No - Oberon gave conflicting orders about Demetrius and Bottom.
Yes - Puck wanted to cause chaos and is just sorry he got caught.
Yes - Puck did what he wanted with the Athenians, just like he did with Bottom.
Q5.
In Act 3 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', as Puck watches the Athenian nobles fighting, he says, "Lord, what these mortals be!"
Correct Answer: fools
Q6.
In Act 3 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Puck says he enjoys watching the Athenian noble people in chaos. He calls it a "fond pageant" and a " ".
Correct Answer: sport

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