The Figure of Puck in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream

Seminar paper from the year 2008 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature grade: 17 RWTH Aachen University language: English abstract: The following essay is an analysis of Shakespeare's Puck and the way he is presented in A Midsummer Night's Dream. The first topic to deal with is that of Puck's background the history of the hobgoblin before and after Shakespeare. After that the main focus will be laid on Shakespeare's presentation of Puck's character in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Potential differences between the Shakespearean and the folklore Puck are also to be pointed out. Since Puck is an ambivalent figure the characterisation is to be a try to find out wheatear Puck is presented as a more positive or a more malignant figure. The last point focuses Puck's functions in the play since it is undoubted that he has more than one. Since his 'official' function is that of Oberon's servant and jester Puck's relationship to his master will also be shortly examined in that chapter.