A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare Story zoom

© www.teachit.co.uk 2014 22577 Page 1 of 2

Teaching notes A story zoom is a physical, practical demonstration of key points in the plot. Option one:

Place students in roughly five groups. Read out the summary of the plot in small sections

of four to five points (you don’t need to use every point on the list). Each group’s task is to

create a frozen image to go with each section of the story. Give each group one minute to

create their tableaux and then ask them to hold each for ten seconds so that you and the

rest of the class can see their ideas. Not every student needs to appear in each image or

tableau.

When they are creating their images, it’s important for students to concentrate on how their

character is feeling at the time. As they are working without words they will need to

convey their characters’ thoughts and feelings more carefully using controlled posture,

facial expressions and eye contact. Option 2:

Place students in groups of six or so and give them the plot summary of 20 points. Ask

students to choose five points and recreate the scene for each. In this activity, some of

the points from the list may be run together to allow for a more complex scene. Give

students time to rehearse their scenes and then perform them.

In either option there is scope for students to take control of direct their peers. It could be

that each person in the group is responsible for directing a different tableau or scene.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare Story zoom

© www.teachit.co.uk 2014 22577 Page 2 of 2

The plot in twenty points:

1. Egeus wants his daughter Hermia to marry Demetrius. If she doesn’t, she will be punished by being sent away or even executed.

2. Hermia is really in love with Lysander.

3. Egeus takes Hermia to Theseus, Duke of Athens, who gives her four days to decide between love and duty.

4. The lovers, Hermia and Lysander, decide to run away from Athens.

5. The lovers have mentioned their plan to Hermia’s friend Helena, who tells Demetrius, hoping to regain his love, having once been engaged to him.

6. Demetrius sets off after the lovers.

7. Meanwhile in the woods, six Athenian workmen are rehearsing a play for the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta (Queen of the Amazons).

8. Nearby in the woods, the fairy king and queen Oberon and Titania, are arguing over the Changeling boy she is raising. Oberon is annoyed and decides to play a trick on Titania. He sends his servant Puck to fetch a magical plant called love-in-idleness, the juice of which can be spread over a sleeping person’s eyes, making them fall in love with the first thing they see.

9. Demetrius, with Helena giving chase, passes Oberon in the woods. Oberon feels sorry for Helena. He tells Puck to spread the magical juice on Demetrius’s eyelids.

10. Oberon finds Titania asleep and puts the love potion onto her eyes. Puck meanwhile mistakes Lysander for Demetrius and puts the potion onto his eyes.

11. Helena trips over Lysander and wakes him up. Lysander instantly falls in love with Helena. Helena is shocked and runs off with Lysander following.

12. Hermia wakes up alone and sets off in search of Lysander.

13. The workmen are rehearsing near to the sleeping Titania. Puck secretly listens, and transforms Bottom to give him an ass’s head. Bottom’s singing awakes the sleeping Titania, who falls madly in love with him. Bottom is quite pleased and Titania’s fairies are ordered to attend to his every wish.

14. Oberon realises Puck’s mistake and anoints Demetrius’ eyes while Puck is sent to fetch Helena. When Demetrius awakens and shares his love for Helena, she feels she is being mocked.

15. Hermia arrives and sees that both Lysander and Demetrius are in love with Helena. A huge argument follows.

16. Puck draws the lovers into the forest until they fall asleep exhausted. He then covers Lysander’s eyes with potion to restore his love for Hermia, and casts a spell so none of the lovers will remember what has happened.

17. As Titania sleeps, Oberon removes her enchantment, having been promised the Changeling boy by her.

18. As morning breaks, a hunting party led by Theseus and Hippolyta come across the lovers. Egeus is still keen to force Hermia to marry Demetrius but having seen the young lovers so happy together, Theseus overrules him. They all return to Athens where there is a triple wedding.

19. Bottom and his company perform their play to much applause.

20. Oberon and Titania, with Puck by their side, bless the palace and bid everyone a goodnight.