A Brief Analysis of the Structural Devices in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Abstract

In this article, we have analyzed the structural devices Shakespeare has applied to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by using formalistic criticism. The structural devices the great master has used are mainly dramatic plots with the focuses on dramatic conflicts, dramatic irony and thematic concerns.
The central component of dramatic plot is its dramatic conflict. The causes of dramatic conflicts are disorder among characters. The five stages of dramatic conflicts are the same with dramatic plots. They are exposition, rising actions, climax, falling actions and conclusion. The conclusion or denouement for comedy is that a comedy tends to endorse the values of society, sometimes at the expense of individual needs or values. Dramatic irony is another useful structural device. It means the fulfillment of a plan, action or expectation in a surprising way, often the opposite of what the characters intend. Thematic concerns are plots or dramatic actions to be put together and lead to the revelation of the theme.