A Midsummer Night's Dream
Assigned by 1 of the 9 reading lists, catalogue entry only
- Written
- c. 1595-1596
- Era
- Renaissance
- Form
- Comedy
- Language
- English
- Length
- Short · 200 ppunder 120 pages
- Difficulty
- Approachable1 of 5 for a first-year reader
We recommendA Midsummer Night's DreamFolger Shakespeare Library (Simon and Schuster), 2004The easiest Shakespeare to start with, and this edition keeps it that way.
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Hermia, ordered by her father to marry Demetrius, runs into the woods outside Athens with Lysander, followed by Demetrius and by Helena, who loves him. In the same woods Oberon and Titania, king and queen of the fairies, are quarrelling over a changeling boy, and a troupe of Athenian workmen are rehearsing a play for Duke Theseus's wedding. Oberon's servant Puck misapplies a love potion, the lovers' affections tangle, and the weaver Bottom is given an ass's head and Titania's love. All is put right by morning.
No reading guide yet
The catalogue entry above is complete: the dates, the form, the themes and every program that assigns A Midsummer Night's Dream are verified against each program's published list.
What is missing is the part that takes real work: the summary, the key passages, and a recommended translation. The edition named below is the one most programs assign, so the buy links are useful already.
