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A Midsummer Night's Dream WebQuest |
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Home Introduction Task Process Resources Evaluation Conclusion |
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1. The first step in creating the Scene Work Portfolio is to select a scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream as the basis for your work. I will remind you: If you haven't yet reviewed the entire WebQuest, please do so now (including the Evaluation), before you select your scene!
Option 1: Act 1, Scene 1
Option 2: Act 2, Scene 1
Option 3: Act 3, Scene 1
You may want to review these scenes in the context of the play -- do so either in your book or by clicking here (.PDF file) or here (HTML version). |
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2. Once you've selected your scene, the next step in the Scene Work Portfolio will be to translate the scene in to Present Day English. Please work hard to select words and phrases that not only capture the emotion and essence of Shakespeare's scene, but also define the final product as clearly "modern" (hint: feel free to use slang, if necessary and appropriate).
Online Dicitonary/Thesaurus
Shakespeare Glossary |
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3. Here's where you get to use your creativity and flash your deep understanding of the characters and their motivations! Using the scene you've selected in Step 1 as a foundation, your group is to write an original scene that depicts what these characters (some or all) are doing when they are offstage. Consider the action that took place in the A Midsummer Night's Dream scene, what happens to these characters in subsequent scenes and ultimately, potential character motivations and emotions, and individual character traits to write dialogue that is fitting to the play and the players. Following are resources that will help you, including information on Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, a modern play that does just what you are being asked to do here using Hamlet as the basis! (Of note, Stoppard co-wrote the movie Shakespeare in Love.)
An Excerpt from R&G Are Dead
Amazon's "Search Inside This Book" for R&G Are Dead
Tips on Playwriting
More Tips on Playwriting
Yet More Tips on Playwriting
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4. Now that you've written your brilliant original "offstage" scene, it's time to move back to Shakespeare's language. Create a glossary of Shakespearean words and terms that may be used if your play were to be translated into Early Modern English. Be sure to note the words from your scene that Shakespeare's language would replace in this hypothetical translation.
Shakespeare Glossary
For Inspiration
Create Your Own Insults |
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5. Phew! You're almost finished...Now your group is to assume the role of an Art Direction Team for a production of A Midsummer's Night Dream, which will, of course, include your original scene. Draft a proposal to the play's Director with your concepts for the visual elements for your scene. Consider the action and characters of the scene you have written, the effects of contrasting modern language with fantastical visuals vs. blending modern language and visuals into a Shakespearean play, etc., and what visuals will enhance the effect of the scene.
Hollywood's Approaches to Shakespeare
More on Hollywood's Approaches to Shakespeare
Movie Trailers (1999 Film Adaptation)
The Royal Shakespeare Company Production
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6. Here it is...the home stretch...You've now completed all of the assignments for your Scene Work Portfolio. Please assemble everything -- the translation, original scene, glossary, and set direction proposal, neatly and creatively for my review. And don't forget to submit your team member evaluations to me separately.
Congratulations in advance on a job well done!!! |
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Back to Electronic Portfolio Home Page |
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