A Midsummer Night's Dream (Cliffs Complete) [Paperback]

William Shakespeare (Author), Michael McMahon (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 29, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0764587250 | ISBN-13: 978-0764587252

In the CliffsComplete guides, the novel's complete text and a glossary appear side-by-side with coordinating numbered lines to help you understand unusual words and phrasing. You'll also find all the commentary and resources of a standard CliffsNotes for Literature.

CliffsComplete A Midsummer Night’s Dream   has long been one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays. Its magical atmosphere, farcical plot, hilarious play-within-a-play, and general air of celebration have been enjoyed by nearly every generation since it was written.

Everything is not what it seems in this play. Stay on top of what’s really going on — and save valuable studying time — all at once. Enhance your reading of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with these additional features:

•  A summary and insightful commentary for each act
• Bibliography and historical background on the author, William Shakespeare
• A look at the historical context and structure of the play
• Discussions on the play’s symbols and themes
• A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
• Review questions, a quiz, discussion topics (essay questions), activity ideas
• A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Internet sites

Streamline your literature study with all-in-one help from CliffsComplete guides!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

All-In-One Resource! from the creators of CliffsNotes^™ Plus Exclusive character map • Handy review exercises • Additional resources Visit the Student Resource Center at cliffsnotes.com

• Hundreds of downloadable titles
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• Glossary of common Shakespearean terms
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About the Author

Michael McMahon taught literature in public and private schools in England and now writes full time.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Cliffs Notes (April 29, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764587250
• ISBN-13: 978-0764587252
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,818 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 1564, and his birth is traditionally celebrated on April 23. The facts of his life, known from surviving documents, are sparse. He was one of eight children born to John Shakespeare, a merchant of some standing in his community. William probably went to the King's New School in Stratford, but he had no university education. In November 1582, at the age of eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway, eight years his senior, who was pregnant with their first child, Susanna. She was born on May 26, 1583. Twins, a boy, Hamnet ( who would die at age eleven), and a girl, Judith, were born in 1585. By 1592 Shakespeare had gone to London working as an actor and already known as a playwright. A rival dramatist, Robert Greene, referred to him as "an upstart crow, beautified with our feathers." Shakespeare became a principal shareholder and playwright of the successful acting troupe, the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later under James I, called the King's Men). In 1599 the Lord Chamberlain's Men built and occupied the Globe Theater in Southwark near the Thames River. Here many of Shakespeare's plays were performed by the most famous actors of his time, including Richard Burbage, Will Kempe, and Robert Armin. In addition to his 37 plays, Shakespeare had a hand in others, including Sir Thomas More and The Two Noble Kinsmen, and he wrote poems, including Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece. His 154 sonnets were published, probably without his authorization, in 1609. In 1611 or 1612 he gave up his lodgings in London and devoted more and more time to retirement in Stratford, though he continued writing such plays as The Tempest and Henry VII until about 1613. He died on April 23 1616, and was buried in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford. No collected edition of his plays was published during his life-time, but in 1623 two members of his acting company, John Heminges and Henry Condell, put together the great collection now called the First Folio.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shakespeare for the timid!!!, July 8, 2004

By 

"tapgirlmom" (Chesaning, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Cliffs Complete) (Paperback)

I have tried to read the traditional versions of the play and only got confussed. The print of this is easy to read and it features definitions for words that maybe confussing. This is a complete version of the play with infomation added along. You WILL understand the play when you are done with this book!!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delight!, April 15, 2008

By 

N. Peterson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Cliffs Complete) (Paperback)

Oh if all problems could be resolved with a bit of magic! A nice play for a younger person or novice just dipping their toes into the works of the Bard. It's lighthearted tone is nice for seasoned fans as well. It is delightful.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CliffsComplete A Midsummer Night's Dream, February 7, 2011

By 

jessiemarie1701 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Cliffs Complete) (Paperback)

Great book. Nicely done. Love how it has a little guide for you and has a section for your own notes.