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Year 8

How is Puck presented in Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'?

I can select quotations which help me explore how Puck is presented across Acts 2 and 3 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

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Year 8

How is Puck presented in Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'?

I can select quotations which help me explore how Puck is presented across Acts 2 and 3 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Some people argue Puck is the most important character in the play because of his significance to the plot.
  2. Selecting powerful quotations is a key skill in English.
  3. Powerful quotations link to your topic sentence.
  4. Powerful quotations are rich in methods.
  5. You should select more than one quotation to prove each topic sentence.

Keywords

  • Quotation - words from the text

  • Topic sentence - the first sentence of a paragraph stating the paragraph’s main idea

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

  • Contemptuous - insulting; disrespectful

  • Methods - the tools a writer uses to create their work; for example, characterisation, setting, language choices

Common misconception

Using one quotation per paragraph is enough.

Using multiple quotations per paragraph can be effective if you select quotations which link. Select quotations from across the text.


To help you plan your year 8 english lesson on: How is Puck presented in Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

The Practice Task of learning cycle 2 sees pupils select powerful quotations from across two Acts of a play written in Shakespearean English. Consider just how much time pupils will need so that the outcome - selecting powerful quotations - can be achieved.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

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

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', which of the following accurately describe the character of Puck?
a disloyal servant
a jester to Theseus
Correct answer: a loyal servant
Correct answer: a mischievous practical joker
a Rude Mechanical
Q2.
In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', why does Puck help restore order at the end of Act 3?
Theseus orders him to.
He feels sorry for the Athenian noble people.
He doesn't mean to - it is another of his mistakes.
He feels sorry for Titania.
Correct answer: Oberon orders him to.
Q3.
Complete this sentence stem: In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Puck wants to watch the Athenian nobles distress but...
they run away from him, terrified.
Correct answer: Oberon commands him to restore order.
he regrets his meanness and helps them.
Oberon orders him to restore order to Titania's kingdom.
he can't watch because he has to get the little boy Oberon wants.
Q4.
Starting with the first, order these key plots points from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' all relating to the character of Puck in chronological order.
1 - Puck is established as a lover of practical jokes.
2 - Puck is shown to be a loyal servant to Oberon.
3 - Puck puts the magical potion on Lysander by mistake.
4 - Puck transforms Bottom's head into that of a donkey.
5 - Puck wants to watch the Athenian nobles in chaos.
6 - Oberon orders Puck to restore order to the Athenian nobles.
7 - Puck uses his abilities to restore order to the Athenian nobles.
Q5.
In Act 2, Scene 1 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', the fairy says she knows that Puck "Mislead[s] night wanderers, laughing at their ".
Correct Answer: harm
Q6.
In Act 3, Scene 2 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Puck enjoys watching the Athenian nobles in distress, calling it "sport" and a "fond ".
Correct Answer: pageant

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Understanding the key terms below will support writing a powerful essay. Match the terms to their definitions.
Correct Answer:quotation,words from the text
tick

words from the text

Correct Answer:topic sentence,the first sentence of a paragraph stating its main idea
tick

the first sentence of a paragraph stating its main idea

Correct Answer:analysis,looking at a text closely and considering what it might mean
tick

looking at a text closely and considering what it might mean

Correct Answer:methods,the tools a writer uses to create their work
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the tools a writer uses to create their work

Q2.
When writing an essay about 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', should you link quotations together in the same paragraph?
No - this will be confusing for the reader.
No - this will mean your analysis of each quotation is under-developed.
Yes - you should include every quotation you know in each paragraph.
Correct answer: Yes - linking quotations together shows your deep understanding of a text.
Correct answer: Yes - linking quotations together helps you prove your topic sentence.
Q3.
When writing an essay about 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' you will select quotations to include. What is true of selecting powerful quotations for an analytical essay?
select one quotation to include in each paragraph
Correct answer: select multiple quotations to include in each paragraph
select the longest quotations you know so you have a lot to say
Correct answer: make short notes about how you will explore the quotation
Correct answer: select quotations are rich in methods so you can analyse them
Q4.
A is the first sentence of a paragraph stating the paragraph's main idea.
Correct Answer: topic sentence
Q5.
Why might some people argue that Puck is the most important character in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'?
he is the most supernatural character
he is the only character who appears in every Act of the play
he has the most number of lines in the play
even though he is a servant, he still has a lot of lines
Correct answer: of all the characters, he is the one who impacts the plot the most
Q6.
Starting with the first, order these plot points from Act 3, Scene 2 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' into chronological order.
1 - Oberon accuses Puck of deliberately creating chaos amongst the Athenians.
2 - Puck wants to watch the chaos amongst the Athenians.
3 - Oberon orders Puck to restore order.
4 - Puck leads the Athenians through the forest.
5 - The Athenians, tired from being led by Puck, fall asleep.
6 - Puck puts the antidote onto Lysander so he falls back in love with Hermia
7 - Puck says that "all shall be well".

Additional material

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