Annotated Bibliography: Critical Essays: 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

Annotated Bibliography

Kehler, Dorothea. A Midsummer Night's Dream: Critical Essays. New York: Garland Pub, 1998. Print.

In this text, Dorothea Kehler discusses the modern aspects of theatre and play writing that were evident in Shakespeare’s play. The book uncovered several complex and advanced styles in music, dance and humor that have been used in contemporary theatre. The author is a professor in English literature from San Diego university. Dorothea is also a private novelist and part-time poet. The book provided a modern approach towards analyzing Elizabethan literature.

Muir, Kenneth. Shakespeare: the Comedies: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice-Hall, 1965. Print.

In this textbook, Kenneth Muir compared the differences that existed in theatre during Shakespeare’s time and in modern theatre. Kenneth particularly analyzed the tastes, culture and styles used by the Elizabethan artists. However, the book also adopted a critical approach that sought to review the make-believe world that existed in the play. The book also analyzed the reality of the characters as well as their relevance in the contemporary world. Kenneth Muir was a literary scholar that concentrated on Shakespearian content for several years. The author was also a playwright and a poet. The book was written in a professional manner that covered the comparison in an elaborate manner.

Rolfe, William. Shakespeare's Fairies: The Triumph of Dramatic Art. New York: American Book Company. Print.

Rolfe William concentrated on the supernatural aspects that were covered in the play. The author brought out the approach used to introduce fairies into the storyline. The text also discussed the role played by Shakespeare in sensitizing the a...

... middle of paper ...

...lemma of romance, and while the play engages several different romantic elements, it does not represent a genuine love chronicle. A Midsummer Night's Dream separates the spectators from the sentiments of the proponents with the purpose of triggering amusement at the troubles and difficulties experienced by people in love. The analysis of the relevance of the plot, characters and theme in the play in today’s world will offer a deeper understanding of the play structure and the author’s intention. All the three authors expressed a common understanding: Shakespeare was ahead of his time in terms of style, approach and content. Even during the Elizabethan era, he was able to write and successfully produced a play that contained seamless dance, music and costumes, it was a century after his death that most of the styles were fully understood and successfully implemented.