The+Merchant+of+Venice

The Merchant of Venice
We study __The Merchant of Venice__ for Achievement Standard 2.1 - Respond to Extended Text.

This is a great site to visit if you are someone interested in doing additional reading around the text. There are several interesting focusing activities for each scene also. This is well worth a look if you are left wanting more. []

As a starting point, here is a great site that gives the original text alongside a modern translation. It may help you understand some of the more confusing passages in the play. []


 * THE AUDIO BOOK - **

Listen to the text using this [|youtube link]. You people will be cleverer at turning this into some MP3 thingy to listen to on ipods than I am. : )

**INTERTEXTUALITY - stories which are referred to in the text. **
Shakespeare makes many allusions to biblical stories/occurances, roman myths and uses many references to the church and religion. What he doesn't do is tell us why. We have to figure this bit out for ourselves. Shmoop has put together some links to these allusions that meant I didn't have to. Take a look and then try to figure out why Shakespeare does this.

[|Shmoop]

Here are some I prepared earlier...

Act 1 Scene 1 -  [|Jason and the Golden Fleece]

Shmoop is a site that claims to 'talk student'. Have a look at [|this link]. It's an interesting wee clip that explores some ideas about how and Shylock appears in the text.
 * AN INTERESTING VIEWPOINT ON THE TEXT **


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">FILIAL PIETY **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Have a look at this [|wikipedia] page. Read through the information on Filial Piety and think about how it might be important in Act2 Sc2. It will becoming an increasingly important idea as we move through the text.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Interpretations of the text written by others.] These make interesting supplementary reading. Check this out and consider how the information can add to your own thoughts and interpretations.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">ANALYSIS **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">This is a quick little 'online' quiz you can take to remember some of the key quotes from the play. Check it out. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">From this page, try clicking on the 'Scatter' and 'Space Race' games.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Shylock's development as a character]
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">This is an online study guide that also includes the entire play. The most notable difference about this site is the 'Quote in Context' feature on the home page and the 'Points to Ponder' that it also offers. Worth a look. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">You should read the character analysis notes on this site. Look for the names down the left hand menu.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Right, this link explains the use of the story of Jacob and Laban in Act1 Sc3. Check it out. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Jacob and Laban story used in Act1 Sc3]

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">This is a very [|interesting article] written by a lady who has taught this text for many years. It traces the changes in the ways her studies have viewed the play over the years. Some interesting interpretations of the characters, events and what they all mean in the text here. Broaden your view and have a read.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Act4 Scene1 - Newspaper activity
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Click on the Powerpoint and this should allow you create a Powerpoint on your computer. You are to create a newspaper page that tells Venice about the events of the trial. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Your page needs to contain -

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">1. A main story that covers the trial. Choose an angle to approach the article from. What was the reaction of the characters involved? Try to keep your coverage impartial. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> 2. An opinion piece that explores the issue of EITHER prejudice in society at the time OR justice/mercy as a notion. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">3. Fill the rest of the front page with period appropriate coverage, advertisements etc.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">MUST DO's - <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Choose either slide 2 or 3 to complete your page on. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">E-mail to me when completed - Mrs V's e-mail <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Include at least 3 quotes from this scene in your main story and 2 quotes in your opinion piece.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Theme quotes -
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Have a look at these links to find quotes that have been specifically selected based on what theme they relate to...

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Shmoop]
 * __<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Justice __**

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Online Study Guide]

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The Merchant of Venice - Study Booklet

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Year 12 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Back to the Beginning