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Understanding A Midsummer Night's Dream A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents
Faith Nostbakken
ISBN: 0-313-32213-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-313-32213-6
216 pages
Greenwood Press
Publication: 8/30/2003
List Price: $51.95 (UK Sterling Price: £35.95)
Discount Price: $25.98 Sale Price for U.S. Customers Only. Save 50%. Ends 12/31/2009.
Availability: In Stock
Media Type: Hardcover
Also Available: Ebook
Trim Size: 6 1/8 x 9 1/4
Subjects:
Description: This casebook begins by establishing the dramatic and literary concerns of the play, such as structure, themes, poetic language, and original sources and classical inspiration. Four historical context chapters consider attitudes toward gender relations, social distinctions, popular culture, and imagination in Shakespeare's time, revealing contemporary social and political issues and debates reflected in the comedy.

One of Shakespeare's most delightful plays, A Midsummer Night's Dream enchants audiences and readers with its celebration of magic, dreams, and love. This casebook begins by establishing the dramatic and literary concerns of the play. Four historical context chapters consider attitudes toward gender relations, social distinctions, popular culture, and imagination in Shakespeare's time, revealing contemporary issues and debates reflected in the comedy.

Each unit is supported by primary historical documents, including pamphlets and proclamations. A discussion of performance and interpretation focuses on how the play's popularity and perspectives have evolved over the centuries, and thematic connections to modern influences like sitcoms and Freudian dream analysis show how the play is pertinent to young readers. Numerous ideas for written assignments and oral discussions are offered, along with further suggested readings.
Table of Contents:
  • Introduction
    Dramatic Analysis
    Gender Relations: Love, Marriage, and the Battle of the Sexes
    Social Distinctions: Royalty, Gentry, and the Common People
    Popular Culture: Holidays, Entertainments, and Play-Acting
    Imagination: Dreams, Fairies, and Transformation
    Performance and Interpretation
    Contemporary Applications
    Index
About the Author: FAITH NOSTBAKKEN has taught at the University of Alberta, Canada. Her research focuses on Shakespeare and Renaissance drama, particularly the historical contexts. She is the author of two other books in Greenwood's Literature in Context series, Understanding Macbeth: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents (1997) and Understanding Othello (2000).
LCC Class: 822
PDF Catalogs:
Sale Catalog 2008.pdf
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