A Midsummer Nights Dream Lesson 2: Dramatis Personae - PowerPoint

The second lesson in a series exploring Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" focuses on the play's Dramatis Personae, or cast of characters. The objective of the lesson is twofold: firstly, to read and discuss the initial exchanges of Act 1, Scene 1, and secondly, to delve into the personalities and relationships of the four central characters—Helena, Hermia, Demetrius, and Lysander. The lesson encourages students to examine the text closely, guiding them to form their initial impressions of each character by noting down descriptive words and phrases.

Students are prompted to engage in a deductive exercise by examining the play's cover, considering the title, any illustrations, and the blurb to infer details about the setting, plot, and genre. The lesson then moves on to a reading and discussion of the first scene, paying particular attention to the dialogue and actions of the aforementioned characters, which serve as the primary tools Shakespeare uses to bring them to life on stage. The plenary session wraps up the lesson, prompting students to discuss the similarities and differences between the characters, and to consider why Shakespeare might have created these four distinct individuals. Such exploration aids in understanding the characters' roles and the dynamics of their relationships as the play unfolds.