Category Archives: Shakespeare

On the eve of the previous day, I was prancing through long, fresh lemongrass with my love, Lysander; today my heart is trembling with fear as he has vanished from my sight. Exhausted, I awoke during the night. Maybe, someone or something woke me. I then knew that he had disappeared. Whatever woke me, it has long gone. But the ferocious wolves are howling, wise old owls are hooting, squirrels are gnawing hazelnuts and grasshoppers are leaping. Hopefully, he’s not amongst the fighting stags or the savage badgers from the east. Though the dew has soaked me through, I do not care: I only want the love of my life back.

I am certain that he has not run away because there is not one reason why. Oh Lysander, where have you gone? I long for you to protect me from dangerous beasts that will do absolutely anything to me. Maybe you have been taken over by evil. But how could that happen during a short slumber? Cold wind from the north blows into me, pushing me closer to a vortex of loneliness. Lysander, please just come back.

Yesterday, I was cheerfully running through yellow autumn leaves with my lover Lysander; today, I’m running through the dark forest to find my lover Lysander. Woken quickly by the whistling of the wind, I find my clothes are torn by the sharp brambles. Footprints rest in the mud. My heart is as still as stone for Lysander has gone. Was he taken by vicious beasts? Or was he stolen by the king’s men? I may never find out but I will keep searching.

I wish I had never come. I can’t go back for I will be killed or made a nun. I ran away with my lover to live a good life; now he has gone. I am all alone.

Yesterday, I was leaping with joy; today I woke up with fear in me. I can hear sticks snapping and leaves trembling underneath. Wolves are howling as the moonlight trickles away. I miss Lysander. All that I can think of is, where is he?

I think, this morning, wolves are eating his flesh. Will I ever see him again? My true love is gone. I can hear stags fighting. I wonder if that will be me in between.

I wish I had never gone with Lysander. I wish I listened to my father I believe that Demetrius is right for me now.

Beneath even the most difficult personalities, everyone can love. Be very careful whilst making this potion: even the slightest imperfection can create a horrific outcome but, if done correctly, you are guaranteed to get someone loving.

To create this precise potion, you will need these ingredients:  the juice of a saffron linden berry only found on Lovers’ Peak; the enchanting tear of a majestic robin cried with joy; a fragment of romance sprinkled by a first kiss; the frosted string of a spider king; three petals of a crimson rose.

Although this potion is hard to make, it is not impossible. First, squeeze the juice of a saffron linden berry into a steel container for three minutes so that it can settle down (the container must be steel to contain the power of the potion). You will know that you got a good berry if the juice is a neon green. Then, you start mashing the rose petals in a pestle and mortar whilst slowly pouring the berry juice into the mixture. This has succeeded if the liquid lets out some pink smoke and calmly transforms to a pale colour! After that, you must put in an ounce of tears from a majestic robin cried with joy. Next, you must cut a one-inch piece of king spider string and slide it in. If the mixture is now yellow and emitting a white aura, then you are on the right track! Finally, sprinkle the fragment of romance in one pinch at a time until the potion is a deep-red and, if it is, you have succeeded.

With this mighty potion at your side, just put two drops in someone’s eye and they won’t be able to resist your charms (no matter how weak they are). If any steps have been done incorrectly, the outcome will be your worst nightmare… so don’t!

Love potions take time and skill to make. If you rush this creation, there is no way it will work. Successful potions will take perseverance and, once finalised, you will have your reward.

Take one cupful of blue, luxurious water from a waterfall. Next, take a freshly-picked rose, picked so sweet – this will be an effective scent to the loved one. Now, carefully collect some crystallised sweet honey from a bee. (Quick tip: you will find a beehive from inside oak trees which cover 25% of the forest. After you have done this, take the succulent juice from a sweet, ripened strawberry bush. Last of all, grab a frosted leaf with snow so fresh – early in the morning before dawn is best otherwise you’ll have a defrosted leaf.

First, tip the rainwater into a cauldron. Next, gently, spoonful by spoonful, put the honey inside. Thirdly, pour the juice of a sweet strawberry bush in. (Make sure there are no thorns inside!!) Now, place the fresh frosted leaf into the sweet mixture inside the cauldron. Finally, cut the stem of the rose off then place the top of the rose in. What you should do now is blend everything together. Then you can pour it into a jar. Not all of the liquid is needed in the jar; put it into a cold place as it can be used for another occasion.

Now, if you’ve followed these steps perfectly, you will have a LOVE POTION! Gently, pour it into the suspect’s eyes. After a few seconds of waking up, the potion should begin to … work! Their love will start!

Dear Agony Aunt,

I have a  desperate issue: my love-sick ex-girlfriend follows me around like a little dog or like the stars do the moon. The minute I’m walking alone then, in the blink of an eye, she appears telling me pathetically that, “the wildest hath not such a heart as me.” It is flattering yet I’m sure I will lash out at her soon.

Moreover, I have fallen in love with Helena’s best friend, Hermia, yet she does not fall for me. Instead, she sashays around with a hopeless romantic, Lysander. Unfortunately, now he has revealed my past affairs to the father of my fiancé and to the king, Theseus. I am now anxious about whether Egeus, Hermia’s father, thinks me trustworthy to take his daughter’s hand in marriage.

I urgently need advice to be rid of my ex-girlfriend so that I can focus on stealing the heart of Hermia and also redeem myself with Egeus.

Yours

Demetrius.

Dear Agony Aunt,

I am desperate for your help! My beloved boyfriend has broken up with me so he can go off with my best friend. I know that Hermia (my BFF) doesn’t want to marry Demetrius (my true love); she is being forced  by her despicable father. Even though Hermia is beautiful, I am certain that Demetrius would be happier with me. In my mind, he still loves me but, whenever I go near him, I get abuse and threats thrown in my face. Despite his rudeness, I am determined to get him to go out with me again.

Furthermore, I am so worried about Hermia because her father is threatening her: marry Demetrius or DIE! I’ve known Hermia since school but I’m anxious that our friendship will be destroyed if this problem isn’t sorted. I am begging you for your help. I’m desperate for advice. This love-life chaos is getting out of control. Please help!

Yours faithfully,

Helena

Dear Agony Aunt,

I have a crisis to sort out: my ex-girlfriend refuses to leave me alone. Moreover, it is like I’m the tree and she is the leaf not letting me go. There is nothing I have not tried. I’ve told the truth, telling her she even makes me sick. Also, I have tried telling her horrible things. I just don’t know what to do anymore.

Although I do look gorgeous and am not resistible, I love someone else now. That is why I desperately need your help to save me from that crazy woman.

Yours thankfully,

Demetrius.

We have started to study one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays: a Midsummer Night’s Dream. So far we have found out about the characters at the start of the play and the difficulties they face because of who they love.

We began by learning about Hermia and Lysander and Egeus’ request to Theseus that Hermia be executed if he continues to refuse to marry Demetrius.

We then did some drama based on the conversation between Demetrius and Helena in the forest. On Friday we wrote  letters to an ‘Agony Aunt’ as either Demetrius or Helena to try to get advice about their problems.