Rebekah Hendershot

Rebekah Hendershot

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Slide Duration:

Table of Contents

Section 1: Introduction
Introduction to William Shakespeare

22m 20s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:18
Lesson Overview
1:02
Who Was William Shakespeare?
1:38
Playwright
1:40
Poet
1:44
Businessman
1:52
Wordsmith
2:00
What Do We Know About Shakespeare?
2:06
Birth
2:08
Father
2:34
Education
2:56
Marriage
4:10
Children
4:51
The Lost Period
5:52
Work in London
6:36
Globe Theater
8:14
Real Estate Investments
8:28
Writing Style
8:52
Early Plays
9:30
Comedies
9:36
Histories
9:54
Others Written in Early Period
10:26
Big Plays
10:36
Problem Plays
11:02
What Else Do We Know About Shakespeare?
11:30
Wrote Poetry
11:32
Fewer plays after 1607
11:42
Died
12:28
What Don't We Know About Shakespeare?
14:02
Few Personal Records
14:46
No Portraits During Lifetime
14:52
Little Unpaid Writing
15:40
Limited Education
15:54
Religion
16:16
Sexuality
16:54
Authorship
17:32
Why Does Shakespeare Matter?
18:12
Invented Modern English
18:16
Most Quoted
19:08
Changed Storytelling
19:26
Most Human Human Being
19:40
Am I Ever Going to Use This in the Real World?
20:16
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
21:10
How This Course Will Work

4m 18s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:10
What Does This Course Do?
0:30
What Does This Course Not Do?
0:54
What’s in Each Lesson?
1:56
Background of the work
2:04
Content of the work
2:12
Tips and tricks
2:20
How to Use These Videos
3:28
Section 2: Plays
Romeo and Juliet

26m 51s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:10
Lesson Overview
0:44
Background
1:30
Setting
2:34
Characters
3:30
Romeo
3:31
Montague
3:44
Benvolio
3:56
Prince Escalus
4:04
Count Paris
4:12
Mercutio
4:26
Juliet
4:44
Capulet
4:58
Tybalt
5:04
Rosaline
5:24
Nurse
5:42
Friar Laurence
6:06
Plot
6:24
The brawl
6:26
The barty
7:32
The balcony scene
9:14
Marriage arrangements
10:34
Lots and lots of fighting
11:08
Lots and lots of angst
12:34
The plot thickens
13:30
The tomb
15:06
Themes
17:06
Major Passages
20:02
Jumping-off Points
21:40
Love
21:42
Fate
22:08
Blame
22:16
Light and Darkness
22:44
Tragedy or Dark Comedy?
23:00
Source of Family Feuds
23:28
Remakes
24:06
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
25:28
Hamlet

39m 28s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:10
Lesson Overview
0:40
Background
1:20
Setting
2:54
Major Characters
4:02
Hamlet
4:10
Claudius
4:34
Gertrude
4:54
Polonius
5:14
Laertes
5:38
Ophelia
5:48
Horatio
6:14
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
6:28
The Ghost
6:44
Fortinbras
7:14
Gravediggers
7:18
Plot
7:32
A death, a wedding, and a coronation
7:34
Appearance of the ghost
8:36
The mad prince
9:54
Laertes leaves for Paris and Ophelia gets advice
10:30
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
11:08
Hamlet and Ophelia
11:38
The Mouse-Trap
12:08
Reaction
15:44
Ophelia's madness
16:52
Laertes returns and Ophelia dies
17:40
Hamlet returns; Yorick and Ophelia's grave
18:40
The duel
20:22
Everybody dies (except Horatio)
20:56
Themes
22:10
Major Passages
26:18
Act I, scene 2, 129-158
26:34
Act I, scene 4, 67
27:12
Act II, scene 2, 297-298
28:04
Act III, scene 1, 58-90
28:52
Act V, scene 1, 122
29:46
Act V, scene 1, 185-195
31:18
Jumping-off Points
31:58
Uncertainty in the play
32:00
Examine comedy
32:38
Hinge points in the play
33:46
The role of women
34:30
Suicide
35:28
Examine theatricality
36:32
Soliloquies
37:10
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
38:10
Macbeth

24m

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:10
Public Service Announcement
0:44
Lesson Overview
1:18
Background
1:54
Setting
4:20
Major Characters
4:52
Macbeth
4:58
Lady Macbeth
5:20
Duncan
5:28
Malcom and Donalblain
5:30
Banquo
5:32
Fleance
5:38
Macduff
6:04
Lady Macduff
6:16
Witches
6:22
Siward
6:25
Hecate
6:27
Ross, Lennox, Angus, Menteith, Caithness
6:39
Plot
6:45
Macbeth's and Manquo's victories
6:46
The witches' prophecy
6:59
Prophecy fulfilled
7:59
Lady Macbeth's encouragement
8:05
The murder of Duncan
8:29
Malcom and Donalblain flee
8:41
Banquo killed, Fleance excapes
9:05
The feast
9:23
Witches redux
9:59
Move against Macduff
11:05
Lady Macbeth's madness and suicide
12:29
Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane
12:41
Macbeth vs. Macduff
12:59
Prophecies fulfilled
13:31
Macbeth dies, Malcolm becomes king
13:43
Themes
13:47
Major Passages
17:19
Act I, scene 5, 36-52
17:25
Act I, scene 7, 1-28
18:09
Act II, scene 2, 55-61
18:21
Act V, scene 1, 30-34
18:55
Act V, scene 5, 16-27
19:19
Jumping-off Points
19:55
How does the idea of prophecy play out?
19:57
How are the five kings in the play alike and different?
20:11
Who is the hero of the play?
20:39
Is Macbeth villainous or tragic? Or both?
20:59
Is this play misogynistic?
21:11
What role does blood play in the story?
21:23
Key events offstage
21:39
Is Macbeth a moral play?
22:39
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
23:03
King Lear

30m 59s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:38
Background
1:08
Setting
2:26
Major Characters
3:04
Lear
3:05
Goneril
3:12
Regan
3:16
Cordelia
3:24
Earl of Kent
3:32
Fool
3:44
Dukes of Albany and Cornwall
3:48
Oswald
3:50
Earl of Gloucester
3:58
Edgar/Poor Tom
4:06
Edmund
4:12
Plot
4:26
Gloucester and his bastard
4:40
Lear's contest; kingdom divided; Cordelia disinherited
5:00
Lear's visit and Goneril's complaints
6:36
Kent becomes Caius
7:00
Message to Gloucester and off to Regan's castle
7:24
Plot, cont.
7:36
Edmund tricks Gloucester
7:42
Kent vs. Oswald
8:42
Edgar's disguise
9:12
Lear Betrayed
9:42
The storm
10:06
Edmund rises with Cornwall
11:42
Kent and Gloucester make plans
12:14
Plot, cont.
12:24
Gloucester captured and tried
12:30
Lear's madness and the Fool vanishes
13:22
Gloucester reunited with Edgar
14:10
Albany splits from Goneril and Cornwall dies
14:34
Kent arrives in Dover; Lear won't see Cordelia
15:10
Plot, cont.
15:28
Regan schemes against Goneril
15:34
Gloucester's miracle
15:52
Edgar kills Oswald
16:34
Mad Lead pardons Gloucester's sins and flees
16:58
Edgar gives Albany a letter, theres a fight and more scheming
17:32
Plot, cont.
17:56
Battle; Lear and Cordelia captured
17:58
Edgar saves Gloucester
18:18
Lear and Cordelia sent away; Edmund lies
18:26
Edgar vs. Edmund; treachery revealed
19:02
Goneril and Regan die
19:20
Lear weeps over Cordelia; Edmund dies; Lear dies
19:58
Kent dying; Edgar ascends
20:16
Themes
20:22
Major Passages
22:40
Act I, scene 2, 1-22
23:28
Act IV, scene 1, 37-38
24:04
Act V, scene 3, 256-260
24:42
Jumping-off Points
25:44
What is nature's role in the play?
25:45
How do your perceptions of the major characters change throughout the play?
26:30
Relationship between Cordelia and Lear; Edgar and Gloucester; Goneril and Regan and Edmund
26:40
What purpose does the Fool serve? Why does he vanish?
27:26
What role does age play in the story?
28:10
Dissolution of authority
29:12
Why did Shakespeare change the ending?
29:26
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
29:58
Othello

24m 32s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:30
Background
1:04
Setting
2:58
Major Characters
3:54
Othello
4:02
Desdemona
4:04
Michael Cassio
4:28
Iago
4:46
Brabantio
5:04
Emilia
5:10
Bianca
5:20
Roderigo
5:26
Duke of Venice
5:32
Gratiano
5:34
Lodovico
5:40
Montano
5:46
Clown
5:52
Plot
5:58
Roderigo and Iago; Othello's secret marriage; Iago's plot
6:00
Othello's trail
7:04
The army goes to Cyprus
7:48
The feast of Cyprus
8:06
Iago sends Cassio to Desdemona
9:16
Plot, cont.
9:30
Cassio asks Desdemona for help
9:36
Iago suggests to Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful
9:42
Othello's self-doubt
10:28
Handkerchief stolen
11:04
Iago goads Othello even more
11:06
Iago gets Cassio to laugh and Biana gets Othello to believe
12:20
Plot, cont.
12:48
Othello rages at Desdemona
12:56
Othello goes for a walk
13:56
Roderigo and Iago attack Cassio; Iago kills Roderigo
14:50
Othello kills his wife
15:18
Iago is revealed; Emilia dies
15:54
Othello kills himself
16:16
Themes
16:18
Major Passages
18:14
Act I, scene 1, 57-65
18:26
Act I, scene 3, 179-188
19:08
Act III, scene 3, 267-279
20:00
Act V, scene 2, 341-354
20:40
Jumping-off Points
22:00
How does race play out in this play?
22:12
Examine the role of sex in this play
22:40
How does Emilia change?
22:54
How does Iago play with the audience's sympathies?
23:00
Male characters' dual roles as military men and lovers
23:10
Physical and emotional isolation
23:24
How is this Iago's story? How is it Othello's?
23:38
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
23:50
A Midsummer Night's Dream

30m 12s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:54
Background
1:48
Setting
3:50
Characters
5:44
Theseus
5:50
Hippolyta
5:56
Hermia
6:02
Lysander
6:10
Helena
6:22
Demetrius
6:52
Egeus
7:04
Bottom
7:16
Quince, Flute, Starveling, Snout, Snug
7:32
Oberon
7:56
Titania
8:08
Puck
8:20
Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, Mustardseed
8:46
Plot
9:02
A wedding or an execution
9:04
The lovers run away
10:12
Helena and Demetrius run after them
10:18
Everybody gets lost in the woods
10:48
Titania and Oberon fight
11:00
Flower juice
11:42
Oberon feels sorry for Helena
13:20
Stupid actors in the forest
13:24
Puck helps
15:32
Plot, cont.
15:44
Lysander falls in love with Helena
15:52
Everyone runs around in circles
17:40
Demetrius falls in love with Helena
17:46
Duels, tears, and more running around
18:16
Plot, cont.
18:32
The actors rehearse
18:38
Puck, Bottom, and the donkey head
18:44
Titania in love
19:20
Oberon gets the child
19:28
Lovers go back to normal
19:36
Discovery
19:54
A group wedding
20:24
And it was all a dream!
20:36
Themes
20:54
Love
20:58
Shape-shifting
21:08
Dreams
21:56
Authority
22:26
Gender roles
22:48
Major Passages
23:24
Act I, scene 1, 132-134
23:28
Act I, scene 1, 227-235
23:50
Act III, scene 2, 115
24:22
Act IV, scene, 199-209
24:52
Act V, epilogue, 1-8
25:18
Jumping-off Points
26:30
Development of dreams
26:34
Love
26:48
Rules and tradition
26:58
Changes
27:12
Sex and coarse jokes
27:22
Puck and Bottom
27:45
Honesty
28:22
Play within a play
28:36
Humor
29:02
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
29:24
Much Ado About Nothing

30m 34s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:44
Background
1:18
Setting
2:44
Major Characters
3:32
Don Pedro
3:34
Benedick
3:48
Claudio
4:20
Don John
4:34
Borachio and Conrade
5:06
Leonato
5:20
Major Characters (Cont.)
5:30
Hero
5:32
Beatrice
6:00
Antonio
6:26
Ursula and Margaret
6:32
Friar Francis
6:42
Dogberry
6:46
Plot
6:58
Visitors on the way home from the wars
7:04
The guests arrive
7:36
The ball
8:42
A plot against the lovers
10:26
Eavesdropping in the garden
11:16
Beatrice and Benedick in love-ish
13:18
An accusation and promised proof
13:28
The polite watchmen
13:42
The wedding
14:28
An interrogation
16:28
Two challenges to a duel
16:48
The watchmen reveal all
16:50
Claudio's grief
16:58
Leonato's terms
17:08
The Bs attempt to flirt
17:40
The wedding day
18:18
Themes
19:36
Major Passages
22:32
Act II, scene 3, 204-208
22:33
Act IV, scene 1, 217-221
23:54
Act IV, scene 2, 67-78
24:24
Jumping-off Points
26:28
Beatrice and Benedick
26:34
Tragedy or Dark Comedy?
26:54
Deception
27:26
Language and puns
27:42
Honor
28:22
Words and wit
28:56
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
29:40
The Merchant of Venice

30m 55s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:54
Background
1:24
Setting
2:54
Characters
5:16
Antonio
5:16
Bassanio
5:24
Gratiano
5:44
Lorenzo
5:48
Portia
5:58
Nerissa
6:14
Shylock
6:36
Jessica
7:02
Duke of Venice
7:06
Launcelot Gobbo and Old Gobbo
7:16
Plot
7:28
Antonio and Bassanio
7:30
Portia and Nerissa
8:38
Shylock
10:02
The Prince of Morocco
11:24
Gobbo's new job
12:14
Jessica and Lorenzo
12:58
The Prince of Morocco fails
13:42
Shylock's daughter and ducats
14:04
The prince of Arragon fails
14:54
Antonio' s fortune lost?
15:20
Bassanio wins Portia's hand
15:42
Antonio in prison
16:32
I'll have my bond
16:46
Portia and Nerissa: Road trip!
17:00
Antonio and Shylock go to trial
17:32
Balthazar
17:34
The quality of mercy is not strained
18:14
A loophole in the contract
18:34
Shylock loses everything
19:18
Fun with rings, happy ending
20:30
Themes
20:48
Major Passages
24:14
Act IV, scene 1, 89-99
24:42
Act IV, scene 1, 179-197
24:52
Jumping-off Points
25:58
The portrayal of Shylock
26:06
How would you portray Shylock?
27:02
Justice and mercy
27:40
Is this play a comedy or not?
27:54
The relationship between Antonio and Bassanio
28:14
The roles of Venice and Belmont
28:40
The relationship between Jessica and Shylock
29:06
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
30:04
Twelfth Night

19m 8s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:10
Lesson Overview
0:42
Background
1:24
Setting
3:08
Characters
3:40
Viola/Cesario
3:38
Sebastian
4:04
Orsino
4:10
Olivia
4:24
Malvolio
4:52
Maria
5:08
Antonio
5:16
Sir Toby Belch
5:34
Sir Andrew Aguecheek
5:36
Feste
6:00
Plot
6:11
Orsino in love
6:28
The shipwreck
6:32
A visit to Olivia
7:26
A prank on Malvolio
8:12
Viola and Orsino
8:18
Olivia tries to woo Cesario
9:10
Antonio and Sebastian appear in town
9:18
Malvolio tries to woo Olivia
9:32
Sir Andrew picks fight with Viola
9:52
Antonio rescues Sebastian, is arrested
10:12
Sebastian is challenges, courted, married
11:04
The clown mocks Malvolio
11:30
Marriage and beating revealed
11:48
Twins are reunited
11:56
Orsino falls for Viola
12:22
Prank on Malvolio is revealed
12:28
Laughing and singing
12:34
Themes
12:36
Major Passages
14:33
Act I, scene 1, 1-15
14:34
Act I, scene 5, 237-245
14:54
Act II, scene 4, 91-101
15:28
Act V, scene 1, 258-266
15:48
Jumping-off Points
16:28
Gender roles
16:22
The Twelfth Night Holiday
16:44
Comical characters
16:58
Malvolio
17:18
The ending
17:34
Compare Orsino and Olivia
17:48
Mistaken identity
18:14
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
18:30
Julius Caesar

23m 55s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:38
Background
1:18
Setting
3:29
Major Characters
4:41
Julis Caesar
4:47
Calpurnia
4:53
Octavius, Mark Antony, Lepidus
5:07
Cicero, Publius, Popilius Lena
5:33
Brutus
5:37
Cassius
6:03
Portia
6:17
Casca, Tredonius, Ligarius, Decius Brutus, Metellus, Cimber, Cinna
6:23
Cinna
6:25
Soothsayer
6:33
Flavius and Marullus
6:47
Plot
6:53
The two tribunes
6:55
Caesar's triumph
7:11
Brutus and Cassius
7:59
The conspiracy
8:43
Plot, cont.
8:51
The assassination
8:55
The funeral
10:09
Brutus and Cassius fall out
11:43
Plot, cont.
12:03
Conspirators go to war
12:04
A tribute to Brutus
12:29
Themes
13:07
Major Passages
15:37
Act III, scene 2, 82-96
15:41
Act IV, scene 2, 269-276
15:51
Jumping-off Points
17:51
The use of fate and prophecy
17:55
How can the text be applied to different moments in history?
19:05
Deviations from the oringinal
19:18
The role of reputation in the play
20:09
Is Brutus truly the hero?
21:03
Friendship in the play
21:41
Who is the protagonist?
22:25
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
22:56
Henry V

29m 12s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:10
Lesson Overview
0:54
Background
1:38
Setting
2:56
Major Characters
3:26
Henry V
3:30
Cambridge, Scrope, Grey
3:40
Chorus
3:46
Dukes of Exeter
4:12
Charles VI
4:18
Dauphin
4:28
Catherine
4:30
King Fluellen
4:48
Pistol, Bardolph, Nim
5:36
Michael Williams, John Bates, Alexander Court
5:42
Hostess
5:46
Sir John Falstaff
6:10
Plot
6:22
The chorus
7:10
The plan to invade France
7:16
The plot against the prince
8:36
In France
9:20
Charles' offer
10:04
Henry's speech and its dubious reception
10:24
Harfleur surrenders
11:26
Catherine's English lessons
11:38
French taunting
12:00
Plot, cont.
12:22
Hanging a friend
12:26
A French ultimatum
13:04
Henry in disguise
13:18
Agincourt
14:44
Plot, cont.
17:14
Victory at Agincourt
17:20
Aftermath
18:32
Themes
19:44
Major Passages
22:14
Act I, scene 1, 1 ff
22:46
Act III, scene 1, 6-27
23:02
Act IV, scene 1, 242-266
23:50
Act IV, scene 3, 20-39
24:24
Jumping-off Points
25:12
How does the play deal with relationships between men?
25:22
What kind of king is Henry?
26:00
Examine Henry's use of language in the play
26:32
Does this play glorify war and conquest?
26:54
Marriage, families, and parenting
27:20
How does this play deal with diversity among the English forces?
27:46
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
28:09
Richard III

23m 42s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:40
Background
1:16
Setting
2:04
Major Characters
2:58
Richard III
3:04
Edward, Prince of Wales and Richard, Duke of York
3:14
Lady Anne
3:42
Lord Buckingham
3:48
Edward IV
3:54
Clarence
4:04
Queen Elizabeth
4:28
Dorset, Rivers and Gray
4:40
Duchess of York
4:48
Margaret
4:54
Young Elizabeth
5:20
Tyrell
5:34
Richmon
5:46
Hastings
5:54
Plot
6:06
Richard's jealousy
6:14
Clarence in the Tower of London
8:16
Marriage to the Lady Anne
8:24
Queen Margaret warns the court about Richard
9:00
Clarence is killed, Edward is blamed
9:18
The Princes in the Tower
9:38
Richard's next marriage
11:10
Plot, cont.
12:12
Richard's paranoia grows
12:18
The Earl of Richmond invades
12:24
Richard's nightmare
12:36
The Battle of Bosworth Field
13:06
Richmond becomes King Hengry VII, marries Elizabeth
13:14
Themes
13:20
Major Passages
16:14
Act I, scene 1, 1-40
16:20
Act I, scene 3, 220-230
16:58
Act IV, scene 4, 118-123
17:30
Act V, scene 5, 134-145
18:48
Jumping-off Points
19:46
Is Richard a hero or a villain?
19:56
Examine the use of language in the play?
20:28
What form does evil take in the play?
20:46
How does Shakespeare portray the relationship between monarchs and those they rule?
21:24
Portrayal of Richard against history
21:56
The roles of men and women in the play, who has power?
22:06
Examine the concept of loyalty in the play?
22:16
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
22:47
The Winter's Tale

20m 46s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:40
Background
1:12
Setting
2:01
Major Characters
3:09
Leontes
3:10
Hermione
3:17
Polixenes
3:37
Camillo
3:51
Paulina
3:59
Antigonus
4:13
Perdita
4:27
Dion and Cleomenes
4:35
Manilius
5:07
Florizel
5:15
Shepherd
5:21
Clown
5:29
Autolycus
5:33
Plot
5:43
Polixenes visits Leontes
5:45
Leontes suspects Hermione
6:21
Hermione on trial
7:13
Antigonus and the baby
8:17
Prince Florizel finds the coutryside interesting
9:45
Polixenes and Camillo go in disguise
9:55
The sheep-shearing
10:07
An escape
11:15
At the Sicilian court
11:31
At Paulina's house
12:21
Themes
13:33
Major Passages
15:09
Act II, scene 1
15:33
Act II, scene 3
15:51
Act IV, scene 4
16:11
Act v, scene 3
16:31
Jumping-off Points
17:01
Contrast Leontes and Florizel
17:03
Two stories at once
17:23
Traditional fairytales
17:33
Influence of women in the play
17:59
Jealousy
18:25
Autolycus
18:51
Comedy? Tragedy? Romance?
19:13
Innocence and guilt
19:27
Hermione's return
19:55
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
20:13
The Tempest

19m 38s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:44
Background
1:16
Setting
2:24
Major Characters
2:46
Prospero
2:47
Miranda
2:56
Ariel
3:02
Caliban
3:06
Antonio
3:20
Gonzalo
3:28
Alonso
3:54
Sebastian
3:56
Ferdinand
4:04
Trinculo
4:12
Stephano
4:16
Plot
4:26
The tempest and the shipwreck
4:42
The island
4:46
Elsewhere
6:42
The lovers get to know each other
7:38
Ariel messes with the murderous drunks
7:58
Prospero's banquet
8:02
Pretty clothes and supernatural dogs
8:54
A lost son and a lost daughter
9:30
All is revealed
9:40
Loose ends
9:56
Themes
10:54
Major Passages
13:14
Act II, scene 2, 366-368
13:22
Act III, scene 1, 77-86
13:42
Act IV, scene 1, 148-158
13:58
Epilogue
14:40
Jumping-Off Points
15:32
Is Prospero Shakespeare?
15:38
Analyze the character of Caliban
15:43
Prospero's and Miranda's relationship
16:37
Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban
17:04
Examine the use of noise in the play
17:50
Governing the island
18:22
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
18:34
Section 3: Sonnets
The Sonnets

21m 9s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:10
Lesson Overview
0:40
What is a Sonnet?
1:26
A 14-line lyric poem, usually about love
1:32
Structure calls for four quatrains and a couplet
1:36
Rhyme scheme
1:50
Written in iambic pentameter
2:04
What is a Sonnet?, cont.
2:46
First quatrain establishes theme
2:48
Second quatrain develops theme
2:50
Third quatrain rounds off theme
2:56
Final rhyming couplet concludes with twist or surprise
3:04
What Do We Know?
3:10
Poems probably written in the 1590s
3:12
Theaters closed in 1592 due to plague
3:14
Some poetry written on commission
3:46
Probably circulated in manuscript form
4:06
Published in 1609 without Shakespeare's permission
4:14
What Don't We Know?
4:58
Who commissioned the sonnets
5:04
How Thomas Thorpe for his hands on them
5:12
Who W.H. was
5:18
Who the characters were
5:48
Why Do the Sonnets Matter?
5:54
Some of the finest poetry ever written
6:00
Created new sonnet form
6:12
Writing by Shakespeare that isn't a play
6:32
Great for quoting
6:52
What It Means: Sonnet 18
6:58
What It Means: Sonnet 20
9:00
Sonnet Characters: The Fair Youth
11:06
Attractive young man, identity unknown
11:20
Some sonnets encourage him to procreate
11:26
Romantic or platonic love?
11:32
Affair with Dark Lady?
11:50
Possibly Henry Wriothesley
12:02
Was Shakespeare gay?
12:22
Sonnet Characters: The Dark Lady
13:58
Attractive young woman, identity unknown
14:00
Dark features
14:20
Object of sexual love
14:30
Married?
14:56
Mystery
15:08
Sonnet Characters: The Rival Poet
15:20
A competitor
15:26
Possibly George Chapman or Christopher Marlowe
15:28
Possibly fictitious
16:02
What It Means: Sonnet 130
16:26
How to Read a Shakespearean Sonnet
19:06
Break it up
19:08
Read line-by-line
19:28
Look for allusions
19:36
Read the sonnet aloud
19:56
Read it before and after assignments
20:32
Pay attention to the last couplet
20:48
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Lecture Comments (7)

0 answers

Post by Ryan Hou on April 12, 2021

Didn't Lysander say "The course of true love never did run smooth. " ?

2 answers

Last reply by: Ryan Hou
Mon Apr 12, 2021 7:04 PM

Post by Ryan Hou on August 6, 2020

Why did Demetrius tell Theseus that he loves Helena? I thought that Puck had given him and Lysander the antidote to the flower juice.

2 answers

Last reply by: Monicasong
Sat May 9, 2020 6:15 AM

Post by Shirley Zhang on February 17, 2020

What is your favorite play written by William Shakespeare?

A Midsummer Night's Dream

  • First Things First
    • This lesson will teach you how to read and understand a play by William Shakespeare, one of the greatest playwrights in the history of the English language (and the man who invented quite a lot of it).
    • These videos are not a substitute for reading Shakespeare, listening to Shakespeare, or watching Shakespeare performed.
    • Seriously. Don’t be that guy.
  • Background
    • Written 1590 – 1596 (maybe 1594?)
    • Possibly written for an aristocratic wedding or a holiday
    • First published in 1600
  • Setting
    • Athens—Theseus and Hippolyta are about to be married
    • The woods around Athens
    • Fairyland—in the woods? Not in the woods? Who knows?
    • Athens in Shakespeare does not mean actual Athens.
  • Characters
    • Theseus—Duke of Athens
    • Hippolyta—his fiancee
    • Hermia—a pretty girl, Lysander’s girlfriend
    • Lysander—Hermia’s boyfriend
    • Helena—Hermia’s less-pretty friend; loves Demetrius
    • Demetrius—another young man; loves Hermia.
    • Egeus—Hermia’s father
    • Bottom—an actor
    • Quince, Flute, Starveling, Snout, Snug—more actors
    • Oberon—King of the Fairies
    • Titania—Queen of the Fairies
    • Puck—Oberon’s sidekick (a fairy trickster)
    • Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, Mustardseed—fairy servants of Titania
  • Plot
    • A wedding or an execution
    • The lovers run away
    • Helena and Demetrius run after them
    • Everybody gets lost in the woods
    • Titania and Oberon are fighting
    • Flower juice
    • Oberon feels sorry for Helena
    • Stupid actors in the forest
    • Puck “helps”
    • Lysander falls in love with Helena
    • Everyone runs around in circles
    • Demetrius falls in love with Helena
    • Duels, tears, and more running in circles
    • The actors rehearse
    • Puck, Bottom, and the donkey head
    • Titania in love
    • Oberon gets the child
    • Lovers back to normal
    • Discovery
    • A group wedding
    • “And it was all a dream!”
  • Themes
    • Love—including its dark side
    • Shape-shifting and loss of identity
    • Dreams
    • Authority gone crazy
    • Gender roles
  • Major Passages
    • “The course of true love never did run smooth.”

      -Act I, Scene 1, 132-134

    • “Therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.”

      -Act I, Scene 1, 227-235

    • “Lord, what fools these mortals be!”

      -Act III, Scene 2, 115

    • “I have had a most rare dream …”

      -Act IV, Scene 1, 199-209

    • “If we shadows have offended …”

      -Act V, Epilogue, 1-8

  • Jumping-Off Points
    • How does Shakespeare develop the idea of dreams in this play? Who dreams, and when? Which dreams are true, and how true are they?
    • How does love affect the various characters in this play? Is love a force for good or evil in this story?
    • What is Shakespeare’s attitude toward rules and traditional roles?
    • Many characters in this play change their shape, their appearance, or their attitudes—sometimes through magic, sometimes not. When and why does Shakespeare make these changes?
    • What role do sex and coarse jokes play in this story?
    • Only two characters (Puck and Bottom) appear in all three of the main story threads of this play (the lovers, the fairies, and the actors). How do they move the story along? How do Puck and Bottom interact with each other?
    • Throughout the play, Puck deceives and plays tricks on other characters, yet at the end he calls himself “an honest Puck.” What does it mean to be “honest” in a story like this?
    • Why did Shakespeare choose to set a play within his play? What effect does this have?
    • What does this play say about Shakespeare’s sense of humor, or that of his audience?
  • The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
    • Watch it performed (or on film if you can’t get to a theatrical production). All of Shakespeare makes more sense when it’s spoken by actors who have lived his words and know, bone-deep, what he’s talking about. Never underestimate the power of performance. Remember that this is how Shakespeare meant his work to be seen …

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Lecture Slides are screen-captured images of important points in the lecture. Students can download and print out these lecture slide images to do practice problems as well as take notes while watching the lecture.

  • Intro 0:00
  • First Things First 0:08
  • Lesson Overview 0:54
  • Background 1:48
  • Setting 3:50
  • Characters 5:44
    • Theseus
    • Hippolyta
    • Hermia
    • Lysander
    • Helena
    • Demetrius
    • Egeus
    • Bottom
    • Quince, Flute, Starveling, Snout, Snug
    • Oberon
    • Titania
    • Puck
    • Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, Mustardseed
  • Plot 9:02
    • A wedding or an execution
    • The lovers run away
    • Helena and Demetrius run after them
    • Everybody gets lost in the woods
    • Titania and Oberon fight
    • Flower juice
    • Oberon feels sorry for Helena
    • Stupid actors in the forest
    • Puck helps
  • Plot, cont. 15:44
    • Lysander falls in love with Helena
    • Everyone runs around in circles
    • Demetrius falls in love with Helena
    • Duels, tears, and more running around
  • Plot, cont. 18:32
    • The actors rehearse
    • Puck, Bottom, and the donkey head
    • Titania in love
    • Oberon gets the child
    • Lovers go back to normal
    • Discovery
    • A group wedding
    • And it was all a dream!
  • Themes 20:54
    • Love
    • Shape-shifting
    • Dreams
    • Authority
    • Gender roles
  • Major Passages 23:24
    • Act I, scene 1, 132-134
    • Act I, scene 1, 227-235
    • Act III, scene 2, 115
    • Act IV, scene, 199-209
    • Act V, epilogue, 1-8
  • Jumping-off Points 26:30
    • Development of dreams
    • Love
    • Rules and tradition
    • Changes
    • Sex and coarse jokes
    • Puck and Bottom
    • Honesty
    • Play within a play
    • Humor
  • The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare 29:24
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