A Midsummer Night's Dream (No Fear Shakespeare)
by William Shakespeare, SparkNotes Editors
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 15118)
recommended to Marco by:
english teacher
recommends it for: school children
recommends it for: school children
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in October, 2007
I'd forgotten until recently just how much I love this story! Getting to teach it to my senior honor students has actually been a lot of fun; there really are so many relatable, "real-life" themes in the stories that my students and I have had a great time with so far. This is totally a play that needs to be seen in order to be appreciated, and while I love the word play and some of the great lines, I'm a much bigger fan of this work as a performance. Midsummer lends itself so well ...more
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My favorite Shakespeare. I've been in it and I see it whenever I have the chance.
I forced it on 4th, 5th, and 6th graders last year. At first they were terribly confused by Shakespearean language but ultimately, they loved it.
During Bottom's soliloquy in the play-within-a play, after a half-page of ridiculous, melodrama and general wordiness, I asked the kids what he was trying to say, and one correctly deduced, "It's night. It's night. It's night. That's a wall. It's a wall. ...more
I forced it on 4th, 5th, and 6th graders last year. At first they were terribly confused by Shakespearean language but ultimately, they loved it.
During Bottom's soliloquy in the play-within-a play, after a half-page of ridiculous, melodrama and general wordiness, I asked the kids what he was trying to say, and one correctly deduced, "It's night. It's night. It's night. That's a wall. It's a wall. ...more
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Don't take this the wrong way. It was okay.
Not that Shakespeare isn't Shakespeare, not that he isn't the Best, the Standard, the HOLY GRAIL of the written word, just that my reading experience would have been more earth-shattering had it happened when I was so much younger.
This play has been reused so many times that even though I just read it, I felt the entire time that I had just read it. And in regard to Shakespeare's writings as a whole, the storylines and morals a...more
Not that Shakespeare isn't Shakespeare, not that he isn't the Best, the Standard, the HOLY GRAIL of the written word, just that my reading experience would have been more earth-shattering had it happened when I was so much younger.
This play has been reused so many times that even though I just read it, I felt the entire time that I had just read it. And in regard to Shakespeare's writings as a whole, the storylines and morals a...more
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For me as a man of theatre, reading a play is kind of ”one man performance”, and totally different experience compare to the very same plays performance at theatre or in film form. I consider them as three different versions of one story.
I would never forget A Midsummer Night's Dream in film directed by Max Reinhardt and William Dieterle(1935).
ترجمه ی این نماش نامه توسط مسعود فرزاد ابتدا در سال 1342 با نام "رویا در شب نیمه ...more
I would never forget A Midsummer Night's Dream in film directed by Max Reinhardt and William Dieterle(1935).
ترجمه ی این نماش نامه توسط مسعود فرزاد ابتدا در سال 1342 با نام "رویا در شب نیمه ...more
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Read in January, 2006
Brilliant.
I have no problem with reading Shakespeare as he wrote, but I will admit that I rely on the notes to help me understand a particular word or phrase. In this series, the entire script is so notated -- the 'original' scrip on the left-hand page, and the 'translation' on the right hand side. This has helped me understand the plays even more.
I wouldn't, however, rely solely on this edition. Notes on texts can also be a valuable resource.
And then there's the play itself.... ...more
I have no problem with reading Shakespeare as he wrote, but I will admit that I rely on the notes to help me understand a particular word or phrase. In this series, the entire script is so notated -- the 'original' scrip on the left-hand page, and the 'translation' on the right hand side. This has helped me understand the plays even more.
I wouldn't, however, rely solely on this edition. Notes on texts can also be a valuable resource.
And then there's the play itself.... ...more
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Read in April, 2008
Well, as always with Shakespeare, I found it a little cryptic, due to the language barrier, and a language barrier it is, as Old English is nothing like the English we use now. I did watch the movie while reading it, and that helped a bit, as I was able to see what was happening, and had faces to attach to the names I was reading. It was very hard reading, and as such I found I could not immerse myself in it and enjoy it fully. The storyline itself was not particularly notable, I actually found ...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
teenagers
This book was a pretty funny book! It was hard to understand some parts since it was in old English. It was about a square between Lysander, Hermia, Helena, and Demetrius. Both Demetrius and Lysander were in love with Hermia, but Hermia loved Lysander when she was supposed to get married to Demetrius. As for Helena, she was in love with Demetrius the whole time. Then there was another part of the play where the mechanics were supposed to perform a play for the duke and duchess of Athens for thei...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
Classics readers, play readers, Fantasy readers
Deus ex Machina doesn’t have to wait to the end – it could be a whole play, and here William Shakespeare proved that. The human characters are largely insufferable with their overwritten, saccharine love and anxiety, but with a donkey’s head, a lovestruck goddess and a spritz of devious magic, it turned into a very amusing mess of a play. Sometimes it felt like he was parodying his own romances. Even in this, one of the least serious of William Shakespeare’s plays, the frequency of needl...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
people who like shakespear's book
this is a play about four lovers: lysander, hermia, demetrius and Helena. lysander and demetrius both love hermia but Egeus, Hermia's father, does not approve lysander. Helena loves demetrius but he doesnt love her back. The fairies come in and decides to make things right, Oberon, king og fairies, told Puck to put love potion on demetrius so that he'll fall in love with the first thing he see when he awakes. so puck goes, only he mistakens lysander for demetrius. lysander falls in love with h...more
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Read in January, 2004
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in May, 2008
I read this in anticipation of seeing the play next week.
Besides reading a familiar passage I only knew from Baby Shakespeare (of the Baby Einstein series), I especially enjoyed this little speech of Theseus:
"The lunatic, the lover and the poet
Are of imagination all compact:
One sees more devils than vast hell can hold,
That is, the madman: the lover, all as frantic,
Sees Helen's beauty in a brow of Egypt:
The poet's eye, in fine frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from heaven to ...more
Besides reading a familiar passage I only knew from Baby Shakespeare (of the Baby Einstein series), I especially enjoyed this little speech of Theseus:
"The lunatic, the lover and the poet
Are of imagination all compact:
One sees more devils than vast hell can hold,
That is, the madman: the lover, all as frantic,
Sees Helen's beauty in a brow of Egypt:
The poet's eye, in fine frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from heaven to ...more
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Read in May, 2008
this book is one of the many plays Shakespeare wrote but it's also confusing, with three stories all happening at once your head my start to spin. I had to read this as a school requirement but I liked it, it was a very quick read. It wasn't a particularly great book, it was to be funny. Sometimes the language got me a little bit confused, my addition was different form the one above I couldn't find the right on. Mine was from the the No Fear Shakespeare series with the modern english right b...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommended to Michelle by:
AP Lit
Ohhh Shakespeare, you silly, silly man.
I enjoyed reading Midsummer Night's Dream just because, you know, it's one of those books that you have to read. It was very, very Shakespeare.
I'd definitely be interested in seeing it on stage, now that I've read it and have more of an appreciation for what is actually happening. I've seen it before but a long time ago when, frankly, I did not care.
I've really been enjoying this mandatory read of books that I've always thought I should re...more
I enjoyed reading Midsummer Night's Dream just because, you know, it's one of those books that you have to read. It was very, very Shakespeare.
I'd definitely be interested in seeing it on stage, now that I've read it and have more of an appreciation for what is actually happening. I've seen it before but a long time ago when, frankly, I did not care.
I've really been enjoying this mandatory read of books that I've always thought I should re...more
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Read in January, 1998
Perhaps my favorite of Shakespeare's comedies, A Midsummer Night's Dream is a story of mistaken identity, true love, and fairy magic. Hermia and Lysander are in love and want to marry, but Hermia's father Egeus wants her to marry Demetrius, whom Hermia's friend Helena loves. Meanwhile, all is not right in the fairy realm. Oberon and Titania, king and queen of the fairies, are arguing over a changeling boy. In preparation for Duke Theseus's wedding to Hippolyta, a group of mechanicals,...more
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I had to read Shakespeare because my English teacher made me do it at junior high *grins* meanwhile my friends were reading popular young-adult books. Made me feel like a total geek.
But I ended up liking most of his works that I've read. But this one is particularly lovely. I prefer comedy instead of tragedy, so that explains. What I like about his works is his choice of words. It seemed 'out of this world' even in the 15th century. Made me want to take aspirin, yes, but I managed to finish ...more
But I ended up liking most of his works that I've read. But this one is particularly lovely. I prefer comedy instead of tragedy, so that explains. What I like about his works is his choice of words. It seemed 'out of this world' even in the 15th century. Made me want to take aspirin, yes, but I managed to finish ...more
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I like Shakespeare's comedies. There are a group of people out there who think that the only legitimate works by an author are the depressing ones. Although there is certainly something to the idea that a depressing book stays with you longer, almost haunts you in a good way, happy books have their places too. I like this play because it's funny, but there is still plenty of substance for a deconstructionist. Shakespeare is always concerned with the nature of relationships and the danger of prid...more
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Read in January, 1995
recommended to Lindsay by:
Mrs. Seiterrecommends it for: Shakespeare lovers
My first contact of this play was when I was Hermia in a sixth-grade production. While I didn't understand all of the language and I didn't like the kid playing Lysander, I loved the story. The way Puck plays tricks on everyone creating chaos. The way Titania falls in love with a donkey. The players poor attempt at a decent script. The way everything is righted in the end. Shakespeare's works are meant to be performed and I think that in reading the script in preparation for the performance real...more
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Read in February, 2008
What?!
OK - so I had to refer to my Shakespeare Handbook to decipher what I was reading. UGH! Perhaps it's the "poem" style of writing or the cryptic way of telling a story but I was completely lost throughout. Of course when I read about Midsummer Night's Dream in my handbook it WAS funny and I COULD picture it in a play w/ everyone running about in confusion. It almost plays out like Romeo & Juliet but with a funny plot twists.
However, if I'm going to read any more...more
OK - so I had to refer to my Shakespeare Handbook to decipher what I was reading. UGH! Perhaps it's the "poem" style of writing or the cryptic way of telling a story but I was completely lost throughout. Of course when I read about Midsummer Night's Dream in my handbook it WAS funny and I COULD picture it in a play w/ everyone running about in confusion. It almost plays out like Romeo & Juliet but with a funny plot twists.
However, if I'm going to read any more...more
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If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding, but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend;
If you pardon, we will mend.
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearnéd luck,
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long:
Else the Puck a liar call.
So good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore ...more
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding, but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend;
If you pardon, we will mend.
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearnéd luck,
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long:
Else the Puck a liar call.
So good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore ...more
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.95 (14712 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.95 (42 ratings) number of reviews: 462popular shelves
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A Midsummer Night's Dream Study Guide
Probably composed in 1595 or 1596, A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's early comedies...
www.eNotes.com.
A Midsummer Night's Dream Study Guide
Probably composed in 1595 or 1596, A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's early comedies...
www.eNotes.com.