仲夏夜之梦 论文.docVIP

Contradiction and Unity：Interpretations of Three Characters’ Dreams in A Midsummer Nights Dream 牡丹江师范学院商务英语系2009届英语专业学士学位论文 PAGE 10 Contradiction and Unity： Interpretations of Three Characters’ Dreams in A Midsummer Nights Dream Ⅰ.Introduction William Shakespeare (26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an \o English people English \o Poet poet and \o Playwright playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the \o English language English language and the worlds preeminent dramatist. He is often called Englands \o National poet national poet and the \o Bard Bard of \o River Avon, Warwickshire Avon (or simply The Bard). His plays have been translated into every major living language, and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. A Midsummer Nights Dream is a \o Romantic love romantic \o Shakespearean comedies comedy by \o William Shakespeare William Shakespeare, suggested by \o The Knights Tale The Knights Tale from \o Geoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucers \o The Canterbury Tales The Canterbury Tales. It portrays the adventures of four young \o Athens Athenian lovers and a group of amateur actors, their interactions with the Duke and Duchess of Athens, \o Theseus Theseus and \o Hippolyta Hippolyta, and with the \o Fairies fairies who inhabit a moonlit forest. The play is one of Shakespeares most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world. A Midsummer Night’s Dream was probably written in 1595-96, and therefore belongs to Shakespeare’s early period as dramatist. This was his time of apprenticeship to the playwright’s craft, when he was experimenting in various dramatic forms, exploring among the many materials available to him, trying out new combinations of effects, making himself familiar with the tools of his craft, and perfecting his use of them. This is not to say that A Midsummer Night’s Dream