Essay Assignment
Essay Assignment
Essay Assignment
Mouat
English 9
Ms. Bergman
Name: ____________________________
W.J. Mouat
English 9
Ms. Bergman
Outline example:
Prompt: Are the characters in A Midsummer Nights Dream driven by the desire for power?
[you may not write about this prompt]
Essay outline by D. Bergman
Thesis:
The characters in A Midsummer Nights Dream are driven by their desire for
power, which can be seen in Demetrius desire for Hermia, Pucks use of the potion,
and Titanias refusal to give Oberon the Indian child.
Topic 1:
Demetrius desire to marry Hermia, even though she doesnt love him, shows that
he doesnt really love her but only desires to have power over her.
1. Relent, sweet Hermia: and, Lysander, yield/Thy crazed title to my
certain right (I. i. 91-92).
2. Evidence: Demetrius follows Hermia and Lysander into the forest,
knowing she is running from him.
Explanation: Even though he knows Hermia doesnt want him, and
Helena does, he wants what he cant have, to show that he is powerful
enough to get what he wants.
Topic 2:
When Puck uses the potion, he does it to show that magic has power over mortals,
and he has control of that magic, which makes him very powerful.
1. He puts the potion on Lysander instead of Demetrius, and then enjoys
watching their fight.
2. Rather than just letting Titania fall in love with a wild animal, Puck
shows his power by turning Bottom into an ass
- My mistress with a monster is in love . . . An asss nole I fixed
on his head (III. ii. 6,17).
Topic 3:
Titania shows that she likes having power over Oberon by not giving him the
Indian child and holding that against him.
1. She will let nature be destroyed, people killed, and food supplies for
people get ruined to avoid giving him the boy.
2. proud Titania (II. i. 60).
3. She shows her desire for power when she offers him the chance to stay if
he follows her rules: If you will patiently dance in our round/And see
our moonlight revels, go with us; If not, shun me, and I will spare your
haunts (II. i. 140-142).