Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that Benjamin Britten obtained the plot for the opera, "Midsummer Night's Dream", from Shakespeare's play by the same name. The writer relates that in 1960 Britten, along with his companion, Peter Pears, presented it as a showpiece for friends and for a wide variety of talents. The writer points out that the opera contains a largely spoken, theatrical part, a boy's soprano choir, a large fairy who sings coloratura, a simple country bumpkin named Bottom whose head is turned into an ass' head by Puck and romantic subplots. The writer maintains that the opera is humorous and lyrical and a treat for the musical ear. The writer concludes that in this opera, the audience falls in love with Puck and with the fairies, as if the love-juice had been put on their own eyes.

From the Paper
"Britten starts the opera in what was the second act of Shakespeare's play, but refers to what happened, so the audience does not feel anything is missing. The rustic folk, the fairies and the lovers are first presented in the woods around Athens and from there on the action never stops. The lead role of Oberon is sung by a countertenor, which is very rare, as leads are usually sung by tenors or basses. As the fairies appear, the well-known song, "Over hill, over dale" is heard, sung by Tytania's young boys' fairy choir. The strange relationship of Tytania and Bottom is the central romantic story that Britten chose to make the centerpiece of the opera. The dominating female fairy has a very difficult role to play, as she is attracted to Bottom, but is subject to Oberon and his accomplice, Puck, who make her life very difficult and her music hard to sing."

Tags:puck, oberon, musical, play

Abstract
In this article, the writer studies Act III Scene 1 of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare. The writer focuses on Sir Philip Sydney's defense of poetry in the play.

From the Paper
"This paper discusses Act III Scene 1 in the light of Sir Philip Sydney's contention in his "A Defence of Poetry" that "Poesie therefore, is an Art of Imitation: for so Aristotle termeth it in the word mimesis (24), that is to say, a representing, counterfeiting, or figuring forth to speak Metaphorically. A speaking Picture, with this end to teach and delight." Act III begins when the craftmen bumble in to set up their attempt at drama. Puck asks ironically, "What hempen ..."

Tags:midsummer, night's, dream

Abstract
This paper discusses Shakespeare's play; "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and analyzes how it satisfies the functions of literature, raising a heightened sensitivity of the complexities of life. The paper also discusses plot devices.

From the Paper
"A Midsummer Night's Dream: One of the functions of literature is to force the reader to question the things he has taken for granted; another is to heighten his sensitivity to the complexities of life and individuals. Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" fulfills both functions masterfully. Shakespeare's play creates an intricate juxtaposition of plot and characters that reduces even the careful reader to a state of confusion."

Tags:A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare, literature

Abstract
The paper discusses the sinister undercurrents in William Shakespeare's comedy, "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

From the Paper
"Although Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is regarded by critics as a comedy, at times there are more sinister undercurrents in the play that suggest it has a darker side. This essay will examine specific elements of the play to argue that Shakespeare balanced his comedic intent with a desire to explicate the aspects of human nature that are less than perfect and benevolent. Several characters i.e. Theseus, Egeus, Demetrius and Titania are each capable of using their..."

Tags:Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Abstract
The paper examines a passage from the beginning of the final, short scene of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", that is, Act V Scene ii. The paper discusses the speech by Puck, who is preparing the way for the final appearance of the fairy king and queen, Oberon and Titania. The paper relates that the whole of Act V is unusual, in the sense that the story has already ended by the end of Act IV, and thus, this passage is part of an extended, joyful bookend to the play. The paper explains that the passage's primary function within the play may be seen as clearing the way for a final blessing to be bestowed on the happy ending of the play, and of course on the happy lovers.

From the Paper
"This passage is the beginning of the final, short scene of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", that is, Act V Scene ii. It is a speech by Puck, who is preparing the way for the final appearance of the fairy king and queen, Oberon and Titania. The whole of Act V is unusual, in the sense that the story has already ended by the end of Act IV. Thus, this passage is part of an extended, joyful bookend to the play. The passage's primary function within the play may be seen as being to clear the way for a final blessing to be bestowed on the happy ending of the..."

Tags:midsummer, nights, dream

Abstract
In this paper, the theme of love relationships in A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare are analyzed. By understanding the often unpredictable nature of love that arises within these characters, the two main love relationships between Hermia and Lysander and that of Helena and Demetrius are analyzed, revealing their very similar changes of loyalty and devotion that occur throughout the play. The writer discusses that without a stable sense of love that is often provide through forced marriages and through fairy world intervention, the lovers eventually sort out their differences, but without a great deal of betrayal and desire driven factors that simply cannot be controlled.

Tags:love, midsummer

Abstract
In this article, the writer first looks at the artist William Shakespeare and then studies his work "A Midsummer Night's Dream". The writer discusses the play and notes that while the situations portrayed in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' are hilarious to the point of being absurd, ultimately the play serves a higher purpose - that is, to affirm the value of love and pleasure in an often hostile universe. The writer concludes that whatever way one chooses to interpret 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', the play's goofy characters, outrageous situations, and rich language have ensured the play's status as a classic work of English literature.

Outline:
William Shakespeare the Artist
A Midsummer Night's Dream

From the Paper
"A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's most beloved romantic comedies. It consists of three plots that are chaotically interwoven in order to elicit an atmosphere of magic and the absurd, as well as love and the unknown. Throughout the course of the play, people from all different class backgrounds interact, and against the setting of a magical night forest, they come into contact with a band of mischievous fairies whose pranks will temporarily transform some of the characters, while making others' dreams come true.
"At the center of A Midsummer Night's Dream is the wedding of Duke Theseus of Athens to the Amazonian Queen Hippolyta. Egeus has chosen Demetrius to marry his daughter Hermia - and Hermia is unhappy with the decision. To rebel, she runs away from Athens into the magical forests surrounding the city alongside her lover Lysander, with whom she hopes to elope. Hermia tells her best friend Helena of her plans."

Tags:King, Oberon, Hermia, Hippolyta, Puck

Abstract
This paper analyzes one of William Shakespeare's most celebrated comedic plays, "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The author examines how the throughout the play the characters attempt to find a way to understand the mechanism of love in a rational way and experience self-alterations that they believe to be a dream in the end. The paper also looks at how the recurring reference to the ever-changing moon parallels the transformation of the characters in "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

From the Paper:

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" brilliantly expresses the profound human uncertainty about love. Dream world and reality merge undetectably so that the characters are not sure themselves in which sphere they move, nor whether what they have experienced has been imagination or truth. What seems to be a fantasy or a dream for the characters in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is actually reality. However, the dreamlike atmosphere of the play accentuates the fact that the lovers appear to be quite removed from any criteria applicable to reality."

Tags:Shakespeare, theseus, hippolyta, bottom, titania, moon, puck, helena, oberon

Abstract
This paper analyzes the use of love and magic in William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". The paper looks at how magic is used to bring the effects of love to light and how the magical setting of the play is emphasized by the language of the play, which also stresses the parallelism between love and magic. The paper concludes that, in this play, Shakespeare wonderfully uses magic to emphasize the power of love in A Midsummer Night's Dream, a love which he is describing as a magical force.

From the Paper
"The powers of love are not only shown in language, but also in the transformations that the characters are enduring in the play. Magic and love are closely linked by the symbol of the love flower, "Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound" (2.1.167) because of Cupid's mistake. The flower has endured the power of both magic and love, and is now carrying its transformation on to the ones on which its juice is applied. This is what happens to Titania, the queen of the fairies when she wakes up under the influence of the love potion in front of Bottom. The transformation of Bottom into an ass is an important magical change in the play. It has the effect of revealing Bottom's true nature, since, as Quince says, "[he is] translated" (3.1. 113). Titania's falling in love with Bottom, namely with an ass-head creature, makes us realize how love is not logical. Shakespeare thus says that love does not follow logic in any way, and can even fool a queen. Consequently, magic, under the form of the love flower, is used to emphasize the illogical nature of love."

Tags:fairies, Lysander, Titania

Abstract
Specifically, this paper presents a thesis that magic and imagination drive the events of the story in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" more than in any other Shakespearean play, thus making "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Shakespeare's only play of pure fantasy.