Act Four & Act Five: Poetry as Summary

Pyramus and Thisbe

Before we delve deeper into Act Five, we want to focus your attention to the play within the play. Pyramus and Thisbe, the play that our story ends on, is an actual play about two lovers. Follow this link and spend some time reading through Pyramus and Thisbe’s narrative. Once you’ve had a chance to read the narrative, return to this page and prepare to take part in a series of guiding questions. These questions will help you to think critically about the connections that may exist between A Midsummer Nights Dream and Pyramus & Thisbe.

The questions you will be answering include:

• What is Pyramus and Thisbe about?
• Is there any significance associated with its appeareance in A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
• Why would William Shakespeare spend so much time recreating a play within his own play?
• Is there any connection between Pyramus & Thisbe’s narrative and the narrative that exists in A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
• In what ways has the narrative in A Midsummer Night’s Dream been reflected in Pyramus & Thisbe and vice versa? Be sure to provide evidence for your answers.

Please enter your answers in the form below.