Merchant of Venice: Study Guides

"Though The Merchant of Venice is dominated by the figure of Shylock, and the tragedy of the Holocaust and continuing discord in the Middle East make the play's discussion of Judaism especially resonant to modern audiences, Merchant also offers many other exciting prospects for the writer ... "

"For many students, the greatest obstacle to writing about Shakespeare is the process of reading Shakespeare. The root of the problem for many, not surprisingly, is Shakespeare's language, which is unfamiliar at times and can seem difficult to read. Like everything else, practice, patience, and a little effort will help. In the meantime, there are some things you can do that will make Shakespeare much more accessible to you. First ... "

"When writing about Shakespeare's tragedies, ... , one way of approaching the task is to start by understanding the precise nature of ... gap, in the play or plays you are treating, between what could have been and what is. Then identify, in as much detail as you can, the reasons why the darker outcomes emerged, why the brighter possibilities were eclipsed ... "

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"William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the finest poet and playwright who ever lived. Yet he was the son of illiterate parents and never attended college ... "

"The Merchant of Venice is the story of a Jewish moneylender who demands that an antisemitic Christian offer “a pound of flesh” as collateral against a loan. First performed in 1598, Shakespeare’s study of religious difference remains controversial. Read a character analysis of Shylock, the plot summary and important quotes ... "

"The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare that tells the story of a merchant called Antonio and a moneylender called Shylock. Antonio takes out a loan from Shylock on the condition that, if he cannot pay him back, he has to give him a pound of his flesh. The play is usually classed as a comedy, although it does also contain some tragic elements ... "

"Antonio, an antisemitic merchant, takes a loan from the Jew Shylock to help his friend to court Portia. Antonio can't repay the loan, and without mercy, Shylock demands a pound of his flesh. The heiress Portia, now the wife of Antonio's friend, dresses as a lawyer and saves Antonio ... "

"All of the information you need about the play is divided into four sections: Story, Characters, Language and Staging. Each section has three different levels of information. Choose which level is right for you or simply move between them to find what you need. Here’s a quick guide to help you get started with The Merchant of Venice. You may also find the fun home learning activities in our Activity Toolkits helpful! ... "