Shakespeare on the Double! A Midsummer Night's Dream [Paperback]

William Shakespeare (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 23, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0470212721 | ISBN-13: 978-0470212721 | Edition: 1

End your struggle with the Bard’s prose and appreciate his comedy about the trials and tribulations of love. Shakespeare on the Double! A Midsummer Night’s Dream includes an easy-to-understand modern English translation alongside the original Shakespearian text so that you can read only the translation, read the translation with the original text, or tackle the original text, referring only to the translation when you’re stumped. A comprehensive character list describes the traits of each major character, a visual map depicts relationships, and review questions reinforce important information so you won’t miss the action.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"The course of true love never did run smooth."

In this light-hearted comedy, some characters are heavy-hearted due to love's trials and tribulations. An elopement, a betrayal, narrowly averted fights, powerful love potions, and mischievous fairies contribute to the chaos, and much of the action takes place in a magical forest. With this modern, easy-to-understand translation, you won't lose any sleep struggling to decipher A Midsummer Night's Dream. Special aids make following the action and grasping the meaning a snap:

• A brief synopsis of the plot and action

• A comprehensive character list that describes the characteristics, motivations, and actions of each major player

• A visual character map that shows the relationships of major characters

• A cycle-of-love graphic that helps you follow who loves whom

• Reflective questions that help you understand the themes of the play

With Shakespeare on the Double! A Midsummer Night's Dream, the Shakespeare course will run very smoothly.

About the Author

Mary Ellen Snodgrass is an award-winning author of textbooks and general
reference works, and a former columnist for the Charlotte Observer. A
member of Phi Beta Kappa, she graduated magna cum laude from the
University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Appalachian State
University, and holds degrees in English, Latin, psychology, and the education
of gifted children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Cliffs Notes; 1 edition (June 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470212721
• ISBN-13: 978-0470212721
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,325,985 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.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#38 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Classics

#38 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Classics

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Shakespeare on the double February 2, 2010

By A. Stumm

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an excellent book for high school age teens to use as an intro to Shakespeare. the up to date english on the oppoasite page as the original words of the Bard really help with understanding the meat of the play.
Great!!