'A Midsummer Night's Dream' - Study Guide

'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Summary

With such a fantastical plot, the best way to begin your study is by reading our plot summary. This resource gives you a one-page overview of the story and gives you a sense of the shape of the play in modern English.

Who is Puck?

Meet Puck; the most mischievous character in the play. Puck's use of magic drives the plot in unexpected directions, as our character analysis reveals.

Who is Lysander?

Lysander is eloping with Hermia and "tries his luck with her" in the forect. However, he is wrongly anointed with the love potion and falls in love with Helena. 

Discover more in our Lysander character analysis shows.

Who are Helena and Demetrius?

Not is all quite right with this pair of lovers. The insecure Helena wants to be more like her friend in order to win back the affections of Demetrius. As the story evolves, Demetrius is drugged to fall in love with her.

Discover the lovers from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' with our character analysis of Helena and Demetrius.

Who are Theseus and Hippolyta?

This exotic pair of lovers are the rulers in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Theseus is the Duke of Athens and Hippolyta is the Queen of the Amazons - and they are soon to be married. Discover more with our Theseus and Hippolyta character analysis.

Who are Oberon and Titania?

 Oberon and Titania from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' are central characters. This character analysis will help you understand these complex characters.

Who is Hermia?

Hermia is a feisty female character who agrees to elope with Lysander to the forest. Headstrong as ever, she protects her reputation and integrity by rejecting Lysander's advances in the forest. She insists that he sleeps further off; “But gentle friend, for love and courtesy, Lie further off in humane modesty.” (Act 2, Scene 2).

Who is Bottom?

Bottom is the comic fop in A Midsummer Night's Dream; he provides the comedy moments and emerges as the play's most memorable character. 

He is the classic comic fool, full of self importance and the belief that he can play any and all of the roles in the mechanical’s play. We are encouraged to laugh at his ridiculous character rather than with him.

This character analysis will help you appreciate why Bottom is so loved!

Scene-by-Scene Analysis

 Detailed analysis and modern-day translations of A Midsummer Night's Dream, all broken down into individual scenes to help you study this play closely.

Act One

• Act 1, Scene 1 Summary
• Act 1, Scene 2 Summary

Act Two

• Act 2, Scene 1 Summary
• Act 2, Scene 2 Summary

Act Three

• Act 3, Scene 1 Summary
• Act 3, Scene 2 Summary
• Act 3, Scene 3 Summary

Act Four

• Act 4, Scene 1 Summary

Act Five

• Act 5 Summary (Part 1)