A Midsummer Nights Dream Lesson 3: The Most Lamentable Comedy and Most Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbee - The Labourers Worksheet

In the exploration of "A Midsummer Night's Dream", specifically Lesson 3, students delve into the play within a play titled "The Most Lamentable Comedy and Most Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbee". This part of the teaching resources focuses on the characters of the labourers, who are responsible for performing this secondary play. The worksheet encourages students to consider the characteristics of these labourers, prompting them to describe the individuals who take on the roles of Pyramus, Thisbee, and others within the comedic yet tragic performance that unfolds within Shakespeare's famous work.

As part of this exercise, students are invited to think critically about the portrayal of the labourers in the play. They are asked to consider the attributes that make these characters endearing, humorous, or perhaps inept as actors within the context of the story. The activity serves to deepen the students' understanding of characterisation and the layers of narrative present in "A Midsummer Night's Dream", as well as to appreciate the interplay between the primary plot and the subplot presented by the labourers' performance. The worksheet is an engaging tool to facilitate discussion and analysis of the text, allowing students to engage with the material in a way that enhances their appreciation of Shakespeare's comedic artistry.