Study Guide To The Merchant Of Venice By William Shakespeare

A Study Guide for William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice," excerpted from Gale's acclaimed Shakespeare for Students. This concise study guide includes plot summary; character analysis; author biography; study questions; historical context; suggestions for further reading; and much more. For any literature project, trust Shakespeare for Students for all of your research needs.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, which raises questions about antisemitism and the cultural stereotypes of the Jewish people during the sixteenth-century. As a dramatic comedy, The Merchant of Venice displays themes like friendship and unrequited love, as well as religious persecution. Moreover, the text conveys the perspective of Renaissance Christians, particularly the obligation they felt to convert those who did not believe in Jesus as Christ. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Shakespeare’s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains: - Introductions to the Author and the Work - Character Summaries - Plot Guides - Section and Chapter Overviews - Test Essay and Study Q&As The Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

Timeless Shakespeare-designed for the struggling reader and adapted to retain the integrity of the original play. These classic plays retold will grab a student's attention from the first page. Presented in traditional play script format, each title features simplified language, easy-to-read type, and strict adherence to the tone and integrity of the original. Thirty-five reproducible activities per guide reinforce basic reading and comprehension skills while teaching high-order critical thinking. Also included are teaching suggestions, background notes, summaries, and answer keys. The guide is digital; simply print the activities you need for each lesson.

The Merchant of Venice, is an intriguing drama of love, greed, and revenge. Believed to have been written in 1596, it is classified as a comedy, but while it shares certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is perhaps remembered more for its dramatic scenes, and especially for the character of Shylock, a vengeful Venetian moneylender. At its heart, the play contrasts the characters of Shylock, with the gracious, level-headed Portia, a wealthy young woman, besieged by suitors. One suitor in particular, Antonio, a merchant in Venice, must default on a large loan provided by Shylock, who insists on the enforcement of the binding contract that will cost the life of Antonio, inciting Portia to mount a memorable defense. In this richly plotted drama, Shylock, whom Shakespeare endowed with the depth and vitality of his greatest characters, is not alone in his villainy. In fact, the large cast of ambitious and scheming characters demonstrates in scene after scene, that honesty is a quality often strained where matters of love and money are concerned. In many of the play’s productions, Shylock gives such powerful expression to his alienation due to the hatred around him that, he emerges as the hero. The suspense and gravity of the play's main plot, along with its romance, have made The Merchant of Venice an audience favorite and one of the most studied and performed of Shakespeare's plays.

A wealthy merchant indebts himself to a moneylender, agreeing to sacrifice a pound of flesh if he forfeits the loan. The comic results are a lesson in true justice. Setting: Venice, Italy Pgs: 42

Unlock the more straightforward side of The Merchant of Venice with this concise and insightful summary and analysis! This engaging summary presents an analysis of The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, which recounts the fierce legal battle that ensues when the Jewish moneylender Shylock seeks to claim a ‘pound of flesh’ from the Venetian merchant Antonio, who has defaulted on a loan. The character of Shylock is one of the most controversial in the Shakespearean canon – his cruelty and vengefulness have led many to criticise his characterisation as anti-Semitic, but his portrayal as a victim of prejudice and his eloquent speeches lend ambiguity to that reading, as well as bringing a more tragic dimension to the play as a whole, even though it is often classified as a comedy. The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare’s most frequently discussed and debated plays even today, and has been consistently adapted for stage and screen since it was first performed in 1600. Find out everything you need to know about The Merchant of Venice in a fraction of the time! This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you: • A complete plot summary • Character studies • Key themes and symbols • Questions for further reflection Why choose BrightSummaries.com? Available in print and digital format, our publications are designed to accompany you on your reading journey. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time. See the very best of literature in a whole new light with BrightSummaries.com!