22nd out of 40 books
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6 voters
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream is perhaps the best loved of Shakespeare's plays. It brings together aristocrats, workers, and fairies in a wood outside Athens, and from there the magic begins. A young woman flees Athens with her lover, only to be pursued by her would-be husband and by her best friend. Unwittingly, all four find themselves in an enchanted forest where fairies an...more
Hardcover, 152 pages
Expected publication:
March 1st 2012
by CRW Publishing Ltd
(first published 1595)
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A Midsummer Night's Dream, abridged.
DEMETRIUS: I love Hermia!
LYSANDER: Shut up, I love her MORE. Anyway, you already hooked up with Helena.
DEMETRIUS: Who?
HERMIA: I want to marry Lysander but I'm already engaged to Demetrius and he won't leave me alone! Two hot boys are in love with me, WHY IS MY LIFE SO HARD?
HELENA: FUCK. YOU. ALL.
TITANIA: Hey Oberon, I got a new Indian baby from one of my dead servants.
OBERO...more
DEMETRIUS: I love Hermia!
LYSANDER: Shut up, I love her MORE. Anyway, you already hooked up with Helena.
DEMETRIUS: Who?
HERMIA: I want to marry Lysander but I'm already engaged to Demetrius and he won't leave me alone! Two hot boys are in love with me, WHY IS MY LIFE SO HARD?
HELENA: FUCK. YOU. ALL.
TITANIA: Hey Oberon, I got a new Indian baby from one of my dead servants.
OBERO...more
Has this ever happened to you:
1. You pledged your love by telling a guy how much like a spaniel you are?
2. Your father threatened to kill you or put you in a convent if you didn't marry the man he preferred?
3. Though Queen of the Amazons, you are now forced to marry your kidnapper?
4. Got close and personal with transspeciesism?
5. Your husband drugs you and then stands around to watch you profess your love to a stranger?
6. You challenged your rival to a d...more
1. You pledged your love by telling a guy how much like a spaniel you are?
2. Your father threatened to kill you or put you in a convent if you didn't marry the man he preferred?
3. Though Queen of the Amazons, you are now forced to marry your kidnapper?
4. Got close and personal with transspeciesism?
5. Your husband drugs you and then stands around to watch you profess your love to a stranger?
6. You challenged your rival to a d...more
Yey! The very first Shakespeare that I read from cover to cover! Sneer if you have to but I graduated from a low-standard high school in a small island in the Pacific. The only dramatization that we did was Leon Ma. Guerrero's My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife. I played the lead role of Leon, the young farmer, though. In college, I took up a paramedical course in the city and we had World Lit but we only read mimeographed copies of Shakespeare sonnets. I still remember the term iambic pentamer...more
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....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....more
Is it bad to compare Shakespeare to Wodehouse, because that is who I think actually wrote this. I actually laughed out loud towards the end, which I would not have expected. After I finished, I had to go run & read Neil Gaiman's take on this play from Dream Country, which was just as superb as I remembered it. So I guess the moral is that reading Shakespeare makes you realise how Neil Gaiman is a genius.
A Midsummer’s Night Dream is perhaps Shakespeare’s best known and most well loved comedy. It is one of Shakespeare’s most readable plays, and most people seem to love it because of its use of language and wonder. Like in many of the other plays, a reader can see the use of doubling, for instance Theseus and Hippolyta with Oberon and Titania. Also present are Shakespeare’s low characters and the standard confusion and inversion of roles.
As much as I love Dream, and I love Dream,...more
As much as I love Dream, and I love Dream,...more
My second reading of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream was much more fruitful than my first. The play helped me realize, to a greater extent, Shakespeare’s genius and his works’ complexity.
The way Shakespeare frames the reality of those characters in love is very true and entertaining. In the final act, Theseus asserts that “The lunatic, the lover, and the poet / Are of imagination all compact.” Throughout the play, Shakespeare equates those in love to the insane, to...more
The way Shakespeare frames the reality of those characters in love is very true and entertaining. In the final act, Theseus asserts that “The lunatic, the lover, and the poet / Are of imagination all compact.” Throughout the play, Shakespeare equates those in love to the insane, to...more
A Midsummer Night's Dream is a light romp through the faery woods. It's a story filled with humor and imagination. It was a lot of fun to read. I loved the play within a play and had a soft spot for the bumbling actors. Pure silliness. My only discomfort came from Helena, that girl needs a major smack upside the head dose of self-esteem. Demetrius has told her he does not, cannot love her. Her response is, "And even for that do I love you the more. I am your spaniel; and Demetrius, the mo...more
Recently I read A Midsummer Night's Dream for my Introduction to Shakespeare class. Previously, I have read Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo & Juliet. While most high school students read Romeo and Juliet and most likely Hamlet in high school, I think that when I am a teacher (ohh the countdown...) I would like to try to incorporate A Midsummer Night's Dream into my classroom as opposed to the more traditional plays.
Hermia has problems, several that many teenagers can relate to. Problem #1 - Her dad d...more
Hermia has problems, several that many teenagers can relate to. Problem #1 - Her dad d...more
I'm not a huge fan of Shakespeare (I know, it's practically blasphemy), but I do like his comedies A LOT better than his tragedies. This one is, of course, especially ridiculous. Puck made the play for me, particularly after I saw Stanley Tucci's portrayal of the character. He's hilarious. Overall, seeing it performed helps immensely. The humor comes across so much better, and the often-confusing dialogue makes much more sense. I do often need the footnotes, though. I guess while I do somewhat e...more
After the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, inspired in part by Ovid’s retelling of the Babylonian story Pyramus and Thisbe, Shakespeare reincorporates Pyramus and Thisbe in a more humorous light in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Again, young lovers defy parental authority but, unlike Paris in Romeo and Juliet, the spurned intended, Demetrius, seeks out to reclaim his reticent wife-to-be. As they all enter the forest, followed by Helena, the forgotten suffering adorer of Demetrius, love is sent askew ...more
I gave it 5 stars because it was a good story and it was very funny.
This play is about a young couple, Hermia and Lysander, who want to get married to eachother, but Hermia's dad wants her to marry someone else name Demetrious. If she doesn't, they will kill her or send her to a convent. So the two run off into the forest together, but Hermia tells her friend Helena. Helena is jealous and loves Demetrious, but he loves Hermia. Helena tells Demetrious and they run off to find Hermia a...more
This play is about a young couple, Hermia and Lysander, who want to get married to eachother, but Hermia's dad wants her to marry someone else name Demetrious. If she doesn't, they will kill her or send her to a convent. So the two run off into the forest together, but Hermia tells her friend Helena. Helena is jealous and loves Demetrious, but he loves Hermia. Helena tells Demetrious and they run off to find Hermia a...more
Peter Holland’s superb introduction goes deep into the background of the major characters, unpacking the baggage known by the first audiences. Many characters resonated in ways that are lost to audiences today. To use on example, the meaning of Robin surely derives from his place as a puck character and the other stories told about him which most of us do not know. Expand this to Theseus, Hippolyta, views of courting lovers, and you begin to get the idea of how rich this introduction is. It is j...more
A Little Bit of Personal History: Technically, I was supposed to be reading this play in my literature class with my teacher helping me understand its allegorical and literary importance. However, since I missed my classes due to my involvement in other college activities, I decided to at least read the scenes which were important from the sessionals' point of view. And so, just five days before my exam, I decided to finish what I must have missed in college i.e. Two Acts of the play. But boy...more
Probably composed in 1595 or 1596, A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's early comedies but can be distinguished from his other works in this group by describing it specifically as the Bard's original wedding play. Most scholars believe that Shakespeare wrote A Midsummer Night's Dream as a light entertainment to accompany a marriage celebration; and while the identity of the historical couple for whom it was meant has never been conclusively established, there is good textual and bac...more
Every year at my high school, we had a whole day for a Shakespeare Festival, dedicated to everything Shakespeare and his time. There's food, performances, dances, and each class had to perform a Shakespeare play - except for the Juniors because their syllabus for English involved American literature - for the community and the other students.
My junior year, our class did not want to be left behind so we volunteered to perform a play and the head of the English department (who loved ...more
My junior year, our class did not want to be left behind so we volunteered to perform a play and the head of the English department (who loved ...more
I saw this play performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company when they uncharacteristically visited Adelaide and I so enjoyed this production that I have been unable to watch it since. Maybe that is my loss because I am told that the recent Michelle Pfieffer version of the film is quite good. Maybe I should get around to watching it (or even ordering it from Amazon) one of these days.
This is a strange play, and there is on specific source from which Shakespeare borrowed, though it is believ...more
This is a strange play, and there is on specific source from which Shakespeare borrowed, though it is believ...more
Relationships are tough--even (or perhaps especially) between fairies. I appreciate Shakespeare so much better now than in high school, having grown in my own understanding of human nature and now realizing his tremendous insight into it. The story is entertaining, the characters generally likeable and relatable, and there are several laugh-out-loud moments. Taken at face value, the play may be viewed as a "weak and idle theme," as Puck suggests. However, a deeper reading a...more
I've seen the play perform numerous times, with varying levels of acting skills, some of which were more like the 'rude mechanicals' ;), but hadn't as yet actually read the play. It was a delight to read, very accessible even with Elizabethan language and turn of phrases. Enchanting, the Bard is fine form, playing with love, spirits, identity and for laughs; it's a play that will be retold for ages to come.
Aside from Shakespeare's own wit, I was amused that the play-within-the-play was...more
Aside from Shakespeare's own wit, I was amused that the play-within-the-play was...more
I only decided to read this book because in Global literature class we were reading the Romeo and Juliet play so i was thninking since i liek that then maybe i would like other works from William Shakespeare.
This book is about 3 things happening at once. The king and queens of fairy are argueing over the indian boy which recently the mother of the boy died because she was mortal. But sicne the queen was a close/good friend to the mother she want to take care of him but the king wants him ...more
This book is about 3 things happening at once. The king and queens of fairy are argueing over the indian boy which recently the mother of the boy died because she was mortal. But sicne the queen was a close/good friend to the mother she want to take care of him but the king wants him ...more
Still my favorite Shakespeare play.
Today I needed to be reminded pure joy exists. I pulled out a very worn copy. My mind highlights different passages every time I read it. Here are today’s:
“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;
And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind.”
“And therefore is love said to be a child,
Because in choice he is so oft beguil'd.”
“Four days will quickly steep themselves in nights;
Four nights ...more
Today I needed to be reminded pure joy exists. I pulled out a very worn copy. My mind highlights different passages every time I read it. Here are today’s:
“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;
And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind.”
“And therefore is love said to be a child,
Because in choice he is so oft beguil'd.”
“Four days will quickly steep themselves in nights;
Four nights ...more
Study guide
First off I would just like to say that I read the sparknotes “No fear Shakesphere” version of Midsummer’s night dream but I couldn’t find it on the book list so it’s all good but anyways it is pretty much the same thing. With help from the No Fear Shakesphere version I understood the story much easier and it came a lot clearer. I read it and I was like you know what? This story is exactly like a modern day soap opera. So to begin the story there is this maiden named Herim...more
Brilliant, Shakespeare at his finest. Midsummer Night’s Dream is probably my favorite comedy, the reason being that he is able to talk about profound subjects while making you laugh and in such a lyrical fashion. This is the type of play that exhibits his profound genius and shows why no other author even comes close to touching Shakespeare, period.
This play is soaked in sexuality, and I like it. It is sensual and provocative, exhibiting the absurdity but intensity of love and the allure ...more
This play is soaked in sexuality, and I like it. It is sensual and provocative, exhibiting the absurdity but intensity of love and the allure ...more
From what I've seen, this may be the single most popular Shakespearean play to perform in high school. The language (as always) is hard to decipher and harder to memorize and deliver in a meaningful way, but audiences love the show, and the lighting, costume, and set designers have a field day with creating the visual look of the play. Because, hey--fairies! Everyone loves brightly colored, sparkly things. But it's not just the fantasy-world part of the play that's appealing. The crossed-up roma...more
This is another great comedy by Shakespeare with lots of pretty speeches that remind me of some of my favorite works. I believe Charlotte Brontë had one of Lysander’s speeches in mind when she described Rochester’s feelings towards Jane: “[M]y heart unto yours is knit, so that but one heart we can make of it: Two bosoms interchained with an oath; so then, two bosoms, and a single troth.” I also thought that Hermia’s dream had a sort of Jane Eyre quality to it as well: “Ah me, for pity!—what a dr...more
If the best way to learn a play is to actually act it out this is the only Shakespeare I have truly learned, despite excellent dramatic readings in AP English of numerous other plays.
In middle school I was in a bad production of A Midsummer Night's dream, as a rather awkward Lysander, awkward because I was a 13 year old boy asked to act devoutly in love with a 14 year old girl, doubly awkward because somewhere inside I knew I didn't even like girls. All in all my performance was a trif...more
In middle school I was in a bad production of A Midsummer Night's dream, as a rather awkward Lysander, awkward because I was a 13 year old boy asked to act devoutly in love with a 14 year old girl, doubly awkward because somewhere inside I knew I didn't even like girls. All in all my performance was a trif...more
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Written in the mid-1590s, probably shortly before Shakespeare turned to Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of his strangest and most delightful creations, and it marks a departure from his earlier works and from others of the English Renaissance. The play demonstrates both the extent of Shakespeare’s learning and the expansiveness of his imagination. The range of references in the play is among its most extraordinary attributes: Shakespeare draws on sources as various as Greek my...more
How many times have I read this delightful play over the years? And how many times have I seen it performed? Indeed, I can still remember our performing the “Pyramus and Thisbe” play-within-a-play in high school English class half a century ago. The charm of this work never seems to fade, its multiple plots weaving their way amongst each other seamlessly. This time through, following the suggestion of Professor Peter Saccio of Dartmouth College, I paid particular attention to the differences...more
William Shakespeare weaved many recurring structures and dissimilarities into his plays. He interwove them brilliantly into a theme about the difficulty of love in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The astonishing contrast of opposites within the play, the heart of William Shakespeare’s genius, created one the most popular and well-written plays of all time. The character’s differences exemplify how imagined inequalities and envy lead to strife, jealousy, and hatred. The play suggests our emotions caus...more
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William Shakespeare (baptised 26 April 1564) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "The Bard"). His surviving works consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. Hi...more
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“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind.”
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