A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Lesson 2

Mastery Content:

• Shakespeare studied ancient Greek and Roman myths and history at

school
• The ancient Greeks and Romans lived about 2,500 years ago
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream is set in ancient Athens
• Shakespeare set A Midsummer Night’s Dream hundreds of years before the
time he was writing
• Ancient Athens was cultural and ordered but could also be severe.

Do Now: List at least four things you know about Shakespeare’s early life.

• He got married at just 18 years old.

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• He couldn't spell certain words.
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• He survived the plague, while his brother lost his life.
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• Shakespeare left school at around the age of 14 or 15.
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Today, we are going to find out more about Shakespeare’s education.

Task: Read the text called ‘Life in Ancient Athens’ and answer the questions that
follow.

Life in Ancient Athens

What did Shakespeare learn at school?

We know that Shakespeare went to a

grammar school where students studied
for very long hours. They studied a lot of
maths, including arithmetic, algebra and
geometry and they had an extensive
religious education.
Shakespeare’s grammar school
Shakespeare would also have learnt a lot
about ancient Greece and Rome when he was at school. The ancient Greeks and
Romans lived about two thousand years before Shakespeare was even born. The
Elizabethans really admired the ancient Greeks and Romans, even though they lived
such a long time ago. The Elizabethans made their children learn about the ancient
Greeks and Romans in school.

Who were the ancient Greeks?

The ancient Greeks and Romans were famous for lots of

things. They had lots of great writers who wrote
wonderful stories. The stories that they wrote about are
not always true. They are myths. Myths are ancient
stories about magical and fantastical events. Greek
and Roman myths are still popular today. Lots of them
have been turned into films. For example, you might
have seen the films ‘Hercules’, ‘Troy’, ‘300’, ‘Clash of
Theseus battling the the Titans’, ‘Immortals’ or ‘Percy Jackson and the
minotaur in a famous myth Olympians’. All of these films are based on Greek and
from Ancient Greece.
Roman myths.

As well as important writers, they had clever

mathematicians who made important discoveries.
They had amazing artists who made striking pots.
These pots often show everyday people creating
things as a pastime. They thought that education
was very important. In ancient Greece, men would
regularly meet in grand buildings to discuss
Philosophy. A part of a painting which
shows the famous
mathematician, Pythagoras,
writing down his theories.

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 What was life like for people living in ancient Greece?

Women were generally not educated and were

expected to obey men. Society was very ordered and
there were very harsh punishments for people who
broke the rules. They put some criminals in a bronze
statue of a bull and lit a fire underneath the statue so
that the person burned to death!
The bronze bull used to
burn people to death.

How did the ancient Greeks influence Shakespeare?

Shakespeare must have paid attention when he was at school, because he was
influenced by the writers of ancient Greece and Rome. Some of Shakespeare’s
plays are about real things that happened in ancient Greece and Rome and some
of his plays are about myths from Greece and Rome.

His play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is set in one of the most famous ancient
Greek cities called Athens. It was known all around the world for its wealth and
grand buildings. The people who lived in Athens were called ‘Athenians’. When we
read the play, you will be able to see how Shakespeare presents Athenians and their
culture.

Ancient Athens

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Glossary

Ancient Greece and Rome - Two famous places that were very important about
2500 years ago.

influence - When someone has a big impact on someone else.

myths – Ancient stories about magical and fantastical events.

Task: Answer the following questions in full sentences.

1. In which era did Shakespeare go to school?

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Shakespeare was born during the Elizabethan Era
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2. What talents and skills are the ancient Greeks famous for?

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The Greeks made important contributions to
philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and medicine.
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3. How were people in ancient Greece treated if they broke the law?

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They would not be imprisoned, but executed in a public area.
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4. Shakespeare wrote ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in 1595. When did he

set it?

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A Midsummer Night's Dream took place during the age of Theseus.
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Extension: What other examples can you think of where a writer has written about
a different time to the one they live in?

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Jumanji, Frozen, WW1-WW2 movies, Greek myths,
movies or plays about US history such as Hamilton.
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Here are some other stories which happen in a different time to when they were
written.

'Fantastic Beasts and ‘War Horse’ was written ‘Frozen’ was made in
Where to Find Them' was in 2007, but the story 2013, but the events of
released in 2016, but the happens from 1912- the story happen a long
events of the story take 1918 during World War 1 time ago during the
place in 1926. 1840s.

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Vocabulary: severe

Severe: If something is severe, it is very strict or harsh.

Examples: Look at how these sentences use the word severe:

1. Oliver was given a severe punishment for asking for

more food.

2. The man went outside despite the severe

weather conditions.

3. The boy was crying, but his injury didn’t look

very severe to me.

Practice task: In what way(s) was ancient Athens severe? Look in the reading
from earlier in the lesson to find the answer.

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The ancient Athens punishments were very severe, just executing you
if you broke the law. Their stories and myths were sometimes graphic
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and severe. The ancient Athens laws were also very severe and strict.
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Such as being burned in a bronze bull if you broke even the slightest rule.
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Comprehension task: Look at the images below. Write down how each image
relates to what you have read about ancient Athens, the setting for ‘A
Midsummer Night’s Dream’. Use the questions to help you.

Model: 1. What was Athens known for

around the world?

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Ancient Athens was known for their
Greek and Roman myths glorious city structure and famous
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have been turned into mathematicians, philosophers, writers
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and politicians.
popular films. ______________________________________
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2. How were people who

3. How were women treated differently
broke the rules punished
than men in ancient Athens?
in ancient Greece?

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Women were expected to always
follow what the men said and to obey
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They had very harsh them. Women also had little rights, not
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punishments for whoever broke being able to do pretty much everything
the rules. One of these _______________________________________
the men could. The women stayed home
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punishments consist of shoving _______________________________________
and worked all day long.
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a rule breaker into a copper bull _______________________________________
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and slowly burning them to death _______________________________________
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from the inside.
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Comprehension task: Decide which of the events below are myths and which
are histories. Circle myth or history next to each one.

Remember, a myth is a fantastical story. History is true.

1. A woman is turned into a spider after she annoys a goddess. Myth/history

2. The story of Hercules has been made into many films. Myth/history

3. The ancient Greeks fought many battles. Myth/history

4. Hercules is threatened by a dog with three heads. Myth/history
5. Athens was an important city in ancient Greece with lots of beautiful
buildings. Myth/history
6. The ancient Greeks and Romans lived about 2,000 years before
Shakespeare. Myth/history
7. Shakespeare set ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in ancient Athens, 2000
years before he lived. Myth/history
8. A man annoys a god so much that his head is turned into a donkey’s
head. Myth/history

Exit Quiz

Which statement is correct? Circle the correct answer.

a) ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is set in Athens at the time Shakespeare

was writing.
b) ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is set in England about 2,500 years ago.
c) ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is set in Athens about 2,500 years ago.
d) ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is set in England at the time Shakespeare
was writing.
e) ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is set in Rome about 2,000 years ago.

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 A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Lesson 3
Mastery Content:

• Groundlings were poor people that watched plays in Elizabethan England

• Groundlings would have horrible jobs, including shifting waste across the
city
• The poor enjoyed bear baiting, gambling and the theatre for
entertainment
• There was a large difference between the rich and poor in Elizabethan
England
• Conditions were unsanitary in large towns and cities

Do Now: Put these periods of history in the correct order, from the one furthest
back to the most recent.

Victorian Elizabethan Ancient Rome Today

England England

Ancient Greece

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Ancient Greece Ancient Rome Elizabethan Victorian Today

England England
Furthest _____________ _____________ Most
recent
back _____________ _____________

Extension: Which period of history is ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ set in? What
was this period like?
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Midsummer Night's Dream is set in Ancient Greece. People worked in
farming, fishing, or as traders, soldiers and scholars (scientists, artists and teachers).
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 A Day in the Life of a Groundling

Task: Read the transcript from the audio clip describing a day in the life of a
groundling and complete the worksheet that follows.

Tip: the words in bold are explained in the glossary.

A Day in the Life of a Groundling: Transcript

I woke up at 6 from the noise of bells ringing outside – I was late for work! I work as a
scullion on the other side of town, and I’d already been late twice that week. I
didn’t have time to have something to eat – normally some old bread and cheese –
so I was starving by the time I got to work.

The cook was not pleased to see

me. He knew I was late, and he
gave me a real telling-off for being
late again. He said that today was
my final chance – if I was late once
more he’d kick me out! That was the
last thing I needed – I only earned a
penny a day as it was, so losing this
job would be a disaster. I got
working immediately, cleaning all
the pots and pans and plates from
breakfast and washing the floor. The
estate I work on is huge and there’s
a large family living here. They’re
known for miles around for being gluttons, so they get through a lot of food! They
can afford it, so they can eat what they like. But it means more washing and
cleaning for me!

By eleven o’clock I could barely stand – that’s how hungry I was. I saw the page
come down and start bringing all the delicious food for lunch up to the lords –
stewed trout, boiled pigeons, calves tongues – it all looked so good! There was
nothing for it. I waited until the cook has his back turned, then I tried to sneak some
off the plate and into my empty stomach. But I wasn’t careful enough. “Oi! What
d’ya fink yer doin?” cook yelled. Then, faster than you can peel a carrot, he picked
up a pan and threw it straight at my face. It hit me right in the mouth and my two
front teeth smashed immediately, and blood started gushing everywhere. “Get out
of here! Don’t you come back!” cook screamed. I ran out as fast as I could, looking
for my teeth on the floor as I went.

It hadn’t been a great morning, but I knew I had to get to the barber quickly to get
my teeth looked at. I’d been to the barber before, but that was just for the
occasional haircut, maybe around Christmas when I might have had a little more

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money. I’d seen the barber work on people’s teeth before, and it looked terrible. He
looked like he was just making it up as he went along, if I’m honest, but I didn’t really
have much else of a choice, did I?

An hour, a lot of screaming, a half gallon of ale, and three shillings (nearly all of my
savings!) later, I left the barber. After the most miserable morning of my life, I
decided what I really needed was some entertainment. I headed over the Thames
to Southwark, which is where you have to go to have a good time in London. I
decided to see a play first, and luckily it was a comedy rather than a tragedy. I
don’t think I could’ve stood seeing a miserable play, and the one I saw was pretty
ridiculous, with a fairy king and queen, and a talking donkey. I might be ugly with my
new horrible teeth, but at least I don’t have donkey’s head!

After some bear baiting and a cock fight, I decided to go home. It was getting dark,
and I wasn’t looking forward to having to find a new job in the morning. I doubted
anyone would employ me – I’m 33, and far, far too old to think about training in a
new job. If I’m lucky, I might live to 50, but I’ll have to avoid the plague, and
dysentery, and goodness knows how many other unknown sicknesses. But just as I
was having these terrible thoughts, I was overwhelmed by the most awful smell. It
was truly unbelievable and indescribable. “Watch out!” a voice cried behind me.
“Gong Farmer coming through!”

“Wait a second,” I rasped. “Wait!” I took the man’s shoulders in my hands. “Have
you got any work? I’ve just lost my job and I’m looking for something to do. I hate
early mornings, and I know you only work at night…”

“We’ve always got work going as a Gong Farmer. Not too many people want to
wander the streets at night up to their necks in urine and excrement and cart it
around the city! When can you start?”

I thought for a moment, and realised I had nothing better to do. “Pass me that
bucket. I’ll get started tonight!”

Glossary:

Word Meaning
Scullion Kitchen helper – washes and cleans.
Estate A large house, usually with a lot of
outside space too.
Glutton A greedy person who eats lots.
Page A young assistant – similar to a butler.
Barber Different to today’s meaning – an
Elizabethan barber would also perform
surgery, such as removing teeth (but he
would still cut hair as well!)
Gallon About 4.5 litres
Shillings A old unit of money.
Thames The large river in London.
Southwark A borough of London on the south of
the Thames.

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Bear baiting Dogs fight against a chained bear.
People watching bet on who will win –
the dogs or the bear.
Plague a vicious disease which killed thousands
throughout the Elizabethan era.
Dysentery A severe disease which causes
problems with the digestive system –
usually fatal in Elizabethan England.

Gong Farmer Someone who moves excrement from

the built up areas of the city to lesser-
populated areas.

Task: Complete the worksheet below with notes on the following topics:

• Jobs

• Food

• Health

• Entertainment

Life as a groundling - worksheet

Jobs: What kinds of work would people do?

Cooks and kitchen help were good jobs back then. There were also pages,
which were small assistants like waiters.

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 Food: What would people eat? Did all people eat the same food?

The rich ate stewed trout, boiled pigeons, and calves tongues. The poor
ate moldy bread or cheese and vegetables, with barely any money to go
to food, most were starving during the day.

Health: How were people treated for illnesses? What kinds of illness
were common?

The plague and dysentery were common illnesses. The poor could not
treat many illnesses which causes most to die at a young age.

Entertainment: What did people do to have fun?

People watched plays or the arts, as the

Elizabethan Era was during the renaissance.

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 Vocabulary practice: severe

A word we looked at last lesson is severe.

If something is severe, it is very strict or harsh.

Which of these statements show that life was severe for some people living in the
Elizabethan era?

A. I woke up at 6 from the noise of bells

ringing outside.

B. …they get through a lot of food! They can

afford it, so they can eat what they like. But it
means more washing and cleaning for me!

C. Then, faster than you can peel a carrot,

he picked up a pan and threw it straight at my
face.

Let’s clarify what a groundling is. Read the information below.

A groundling was a person who visited the Globe Theatre in the early 17th century
and was too poor to pay to be able to sit on one of the three levels of the theatre.
By paying one penny, they could stand in ‘the pit’, also called ‘the yard’, just below
the stage to watch the play. The pit didn’t have a roof. This meant that the
groundlings would get wet if it rained during a play. Standing in the pit was
uncomfortable, and people were usually packed in tightly. The groundlings were
commoners who were also referred to as ‘stinkards’ or ‘penny-stinkers’.

Groundlings

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 Main Task: Write two paragraphs that answer the question below. Each
paragraph must be between 5 and 8 sentences long.

What was life like for a groundling in Elizabethan London?

Tip: You can write about: Jobs, Health, Food or Entertainment.

Paragraph 1:
Groundlings were treated poorly and got paid poorly as well. For one penny,
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the groundlings could sit in "The Pit". This is an area of the Globe Theater
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that has no roof and is not even a foot away from the stage. Since the pit had
no roof, if it rained the groundlings would get wet. There were also no seats
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in the pit, so they had to stand down there for hours on end until the play was over.
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Paragraph 2:

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The jobs that the poor were typically blacksmiths, and farmers. These jobs
would pay around a penny a day, with the jobs taking up nearly the whole
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day. The poor were expected to obey the rich and if they wanted something,
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the poor would try to get it for them. Groundlings were also treated with
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disrespect, being called named like ‘stinkards’ or ‘penny-stinkers'.
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❑ Check 1: Are Check 2: Does Check 3: Does Check 4: Have

there any run-on each sentence each proper you spelt
sentences? begin with a noun begin with a ‘groundling’ and
❑ capital and end capital? ‘Elizabethan’
with a full stop? correctly?

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Extra writing space:

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Exit Quiz

Which statement is correct? Circle the correct answer.

a) In the Elizabethan era, life was easy for poor people.

b) In the Elizabethan era, only rich people could afford to go to the
theatre.
c) In the Elizabethan era, you could go to the theatre for free if you
were a groundling.
d) In the Elizabethan era, the people who bought the cheapest tickets
to the theatre were called groundlings.
e) In the Elizabethan era, poor people could afford to go to the
theatre, but they didn’t bother because only rich people could
understand what was going on.

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