Culminating Test
The first part of the culminating assessment is a test over the play as a whole. The test will consist of the following parts and will be taken on Haiku.
15 Objective Questions
(T/F and multiple choice) about the setting, characters, and events of the play. Who's who, who did what, and why.
2 Essay Questions - your choice of two of the these topics:
15 Objective Questions
(T/F and multiple choice) about the setting, characters, and events of the play. Who's who, who did what, and why.
2 Essay Questions - your choice of two of the these topics:
- Discuss the relationship between the setting and atmosphere, or mood, of the play. Develop your answer with specific references to the text.
- “The course of true love never did run smooth,” comments Lysander, articulating one of A Midsummer Night’s Dream’s most important themes—that of the difficulty of love (I.i.134). Explain why love is a primary theme of the play. Support your answer with specific evidence from the play.
- A Midsummer Night's Dream is a classic example of Shakespearean comedy, but what makes it funny? Consider the use of farcical elements (transformations, mistaken identities, dramatic and situational irony). Support your response with examples from the play.
- Identify and analyze the dramatic structure of the two primary conflicts: Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius / Oberon, Titania, and Bottom. Be sure to address the exposition, including conflicts; climax; and resolution of each problem. Develop your analysis with evidence from the play.
Connections Assignment
The Connections that follow the play (pages 93-124) create the opportunity for you to relate the play's themes to other genres, times and places and to your own life. As the second part of the culminating assessment, you will choose one of the selections, complete an individual written assignment, and then deliver a presentation to the class in which you summarize the connection text and explain its connection to the play.
There are eleven connections; two students can present nine of the texts and three students will present two of the texts. We will "draft" the connections, so it will be a good idea to preview the choices ahead of time and be prepared with several choices.
from "The Knight's Tale" from The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, p. 93-94 (epic poem)
2. Chase G.
3. Samantha
Presentation Focus Question: Does either Chaucer or Shakespeare present a convincing sketch or Hippolyta as a battle leader for the Amazons? Use evidence from both texts to support your claim.
"Queen Mab," by William Shakespeare, p. 95-96 (poem)
2. Britney
Presentation Focus Question: How does Titania, Queen of the Fairies in the play, differ from Queen Mab in the poem? Use textual evidence from both texts to support your claim.
"Midsummer Night is More Than a Dream" by Jay Walljasper, p. 97-100 (magazine article)
2. Andrew
Presentation Focus Question: What features of the play suggest that it is set during Midsummer celebrations? Use textual evidence from both texts to support your claim.
"Woman's Constancy" by John Donne, p. 101 (poem)
2. Kenli
Presentation Focus Question: How does the situation in this poem reflect that of Hermia and Lysander? Use evidence from both texts to support your claim.
"Tin Tan Tan" by Sandra Cisneros, p. 102-103 (short story)
2. Melanie
Presentation Focus Question: What specific references in this short story call to mind A Midsummer Night’s Dream? Use evidence from both texts to support your claim.
from "The Daily Round" from How Shakespeare Spent the Day by Ivor Brown, p. 104-109 (book excerpt)
2. Helen
Presentation Focus Question: Could the amateur troupe that presents the story of “Pyramus and Thisby” in the play qualify to be actual Shakespearean actors? Use evidence from both texts to support your claim.
"The Laugher" by Heinrich Boil, p. 110-112 (essay)
2. Aaron
3. David
Presentation Focus Question: How are The Laugher and Bottom different? Use evidence from both texts to develop your claim.
"Mr. Moon: A Song of the Little People" by Bliss Carman, p 113 (poem)
2. Tristen
Presentation Focus Question: What images do the poem and play share? Use evidence from both texts to support your claim.
"The Fairies" by William Allingham, p. 114-116 (poem)
2. Faith
Presentation Focus Question: How do Shakespeare’s fairies in A Midsummer Night’s Dream differ from the fairies in Allingham’s poem? Use evidence from both texts to develop your comparison.
from The Rebirth of Shakespeare's Globe by Richard Covington, p. 117-123 (magazine article)
2. Shannon
Presentation Focus Question: How does the play “Pyramus and Thisby,” performed for the three newly married couples, compare to the Globe theater presentations? Use evidence from both texts to develop your response.
"Love Potion Number Nine" by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, p. 124 (song lyrics)
2. Chase V.
Presentation Focus Question: In these song lyrics, the love potion prompts the narrator to start “kissin’ ev’rything in sight.” Does the flower potion that Oberon and Puck apply in A Midsummer Night’s Dream cause any of the lovers to behave in a similar manner? Use textual evidence to support your claim.
There are eleven connections; two students can present nine of the texts and three students will present two of the texts. We will "draft" the connections, so it will be a good idea to preview the choices ahead of time and be prepared with several choices.
from "The Knight's Tale" from The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, p. 93-94 (epic poem)
- Chaucer introduces "The Knight's Tale" with the story of Theseus and Hippolyta.
2. Chase G.
3. Samantha
Presentation Focus Question: Does either Chaucer or Shakespeare present a convincing sketch or Hippolyta as a battle leader for the Amazons? Use evidence from both texts to support your claim.
"Queen Mab," by William Shakespeare, p. 95-96 (poem)
- Shakespeare's fanciful poem centers on Queen Mab, "the fairies' midwife," who influences people, particularly lovers in their sleep.
2. Britney
Presentation Focus Question: How does Titania, Queen of the Fairies in the play, differ from Queen Mab in the poem? Use textual evidence from both texts to support your claim.
"Midsummer Night is More Than a Dream" by Jay Walljasper, p. 97-100 (magazine article)
- The selection recounts some of the history and customs associated with the period termed midsummer; particularly the summer solstice.
2. Andrew
Presentation Focus Question: What features of the play suggest that it is set during Midsummer celebrations? Use textual evidence from both texts to support your claim.
"Woman's Constancy" by John Donne, p. 101 (poem)
- John Donne raises serious questions about the issues of commitment and faithfulness between two lovers, indicating that new love can be fickle.
2. Kenli
Presentation Focus Question: How does the situation in this poem reflect that of Hermia and Lysander? Use evidence from both texts to support your claim.
"Tin Tan Tan" by Sandra Cisneros, p. 102-103 (short story)
- Sandra Cisneros tells of the unrequited love of a pest exterminator for a woman whose house he visited professionally.
2. Melanie
Presentation Focus Question: What specific references in this short story call to mind A Midsummer Night’s Dream? Use evidence from both texts to support your claim.
from "The Daily Round" from How Shakespeare Spent the Day by Ivor Brown, p. 104-109 (book excerpt)
- Excerpts from a chapter of How Shakespeare Spent the Day provide an informative overview of the daily routine and responsibilities of a Shakespearean theater company.
2. Helen
Presentation Focus Question: Could the amateur troupe that presents the story of “Pyramus and Thisby” in the play qualify to be actual Shakespearean actors? Use evidence from both texts to support your claim.
"The Laugher" by Heinrich Boil, p. 110-112 (essay)
- In this selection, the narrator tells of making his living as a professional laugher. The Laugher has a vast repertoire of laughs - he can laugh to order and therefore is in much demand by those who are involved in producing humor.
2. Aaron
3. David
Presentation Focus Question: How are The Laugher and Bottom different? Use evidence from both texts to develop your claim.
"Mr. Moon: A Song of the Little People" by Bliss Carman, p 113 (poem)
- This short poem is an invitation from the little men, who also call themselves the Good Folk and the Little Folk, to Mr. Moon to come down and join them - an invitation which can obviously never be accepted.
2. Tristen
Presentation Focus Question: What images do the poem and play share? Use evidence from both texts to support your claim.
"The Fairies" by William Allingham, p. 114-116 (poem)
- A rhythmic poem that depicts the darker side of the fairies - the near madness of their old king, their propensity to steal little children, and their pleasure when they cause pain to humans.
2. Faith
Presentation Focus Question: How do Shakespeare’s fairies in A Midsummer Night’s Dream differ from the fairies in Allingham’s poem? Use evidence from both texts to develop your comparison.
from The Rebirth of Shakespeare's Globe by Richard Covington, p. 117-123 (magazine article)
- Excerpts from this article give a brief history of the restoration of the Globe theater and offer details about the structure and productions.
2. Shannon
Presentation Focus Question: How does the play “Pyramus and Thisby,” performed for the three newly married couples, compare to the Globe theater presentations? Use evidence from both texts to develop your response.
"Love Potion Number Nine" by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, p. 124 (song lyrics)
- The humorous lyrics for a song that tells the story of a search for a potion that will stimulate love from "the chicks," but which misfires dramatically.
2. Chase V.
Presentation Focus Question: In these song lyrics, the love potion prompts the narrator to start “kissin’ ev’rything in sight.” Does the flower potion that Oberon and Puck apply in A Midsummer Night’s Dream cause any of the lovers to behave in a similar manner? Use textual evidence to support your claim.
Individual Assignments
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Connection Presentation
Working with the person(s) who chose the same Connection text as you, prepare a brief presentation which answers your focus question.