A Midsummer Nights Dream (New Folger Library Shakespeare) [Paperback]

William Shakespeare (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Series: New Folger Library Shakespeare

The New Folger Library edition features brief and simple clarification of seventeenth-century language, scene-by-scene plot summaries, and explanatory notes illuminating obscure and obsolete expressions.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Washington Square Press (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671042904
• ISBN-13: 978-0671042905
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #222,369 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > Children's Books > Arts, Crafts & Music > Performing Arts > Drama & Theater

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Midsummer Night's Dream, May 20, 2001

By 

"adidas21012" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Mass Market Paperback)

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a great play. It was my first time reading Shakespeare and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There are a few sets of characters in this, and that makes it a little hard to understand at first. There is

There are the Athenians: Theseus, Philostrate, Hippolytta, Egeus, Demetrius, Helena, Hermia, and Lysander.

The Artisans or Actors: Quince, Snout, Snug, Flute, Starveling, and Bottom (Not named Bottom for just any reason)

The Fairies: Oberon, Titania, Robin Goodfellow (Puck), Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mustardseed, and Mote.

These characters are brought together all by one character, Robin Goodfellow. He is the servant of Oberon and he is ordered to complete some tasks, but he messes up. All of the characters are than linked by him. I won't tell you what happens because that is the good part of the book. I really liked the book because it was funny and it kept me on the edge, something that I didn't think would happen in this play. I read this in 7th grade and had a little trouble understanding it. Our class was told to buy the New Folger kind, because it helped explain the story. The book is a little hard to understand so is what Folger has done is put the synopsis of the scene at the beginning of each scene on the left hand page. Also on the left page are vocabulary words to help you further understand the book. The play is than written on the right hand side of the page. This makes life much easier. The plot is great and I didn't give it away so I expect you to buy the book at this cheap price and read the great play, A Midsummer Night's Dream!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It will transport you..., March 21, 2001

By 

Timothy_Froh (The United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Mass Market Paperback)

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a different time or place? Just pick up a copy of this comedy by William Shakespeare. It is a book that mixes four plots interchangeably, thus blurring the line between what is real and what is not. It is a book about Fairies, Royalty, and Struggling Actors. A timeless classic, that, once begun, is almost impossible to put down. Those who read through it's magical pages will never forget the content therein.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play in Five Acts, and revolves around several major characters, each of which can be classified into selective groups.

The Athenians (and lovers): Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, Philostrate (completely unimportant to the plot), Demetrius, Hermia, Lysander, and Helena.

The Actors: Peter Quince, Nick Bottom, Francis Flute, Tom Snout, Snug, and Robin Starveling

The Fairies: Oberon, Titania, Puck, Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed

The play successfully intertwines multiple plots, which, I believe is absolutely astounding. The play is brought together by one single event: The marriage of Theseus (The Duke of Athens) and Hippolyta (Queen of the Amazons). This event brings all the characters together to form what would become A Midsummer Night's Dream.

What's most interesting about the play though, are the various interpretations of it. Some feel that the reason the lovers went into the forest was to escape from the harshness of Athenian law and enter into the realm of the natural world. Some people feel that the end is the affirmation of the status quo. That is, with the ruling class men showing their superiority over the working class actors. But isn't this the very thing that is so great about Shakespeare? Shakespeare leaves each and every play open to many, many interpretations.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Romantic Comedy., May 21, 2001

By 

Christopher B. Jonnes "author of BIG ICE and... (Stillwater, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Mass Market Paperback)

I was a restless ninth-grader, having just plowed through Dickens' Great Expectations under duress from a crotchety English-teaching schoolmarm, when the next assignment came down: A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare. All hope for excitement in life seemed lost. But as I did my duty and read this book, it grabbed hold of me. It was actually good. By the end of the story, it had become a defining moment in my literary life. I was astounded that some crusty old guy from England four hundred years ago could write such a funny, entertaining, and insightful tale. I've been a book lover ever since.

The story is a unique mix of romantic comedy and fantasy. Young couples are caught in a swirl of complicated love triangles. Theseus and Hippolyta are to be married. Lysander loves Hermia, whose father, Egius, prefers she marry Demetrius. And Helena, friend of Hermia, loves Lysander. So it goes.

When all the parties visit the forest on a midsummer night--along with a troupe of actors practicing their performance for Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding--a group of fairies led by Oberon, Titania, and Puck further complicate matters by introducing a magical love potion. What follows is one of the most hilarious and sophisticated tales ever written. It is truly genius, and deserving of its stature as a timeless classic. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.