MERCHANT OF VENICE - SHAKESPEARE PLAYS

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

QUESTIONS/ACTIVITIES:

·         Who is the protagonist? Justify your answer…perhaps argue why a character isn’t the protagonist.

·         As in all Shakespeare’s plays, the Merchant of Venice contains many motifs: Law, Cross Dressing and Filial Piety. Discuss how they affect the outcome of the play.

·         What does Leah’s ring symbolize?

·         What do you think Portia’s father’s motives were for ‘imprisoning’ her by the 3 caskets?

·         Draw 3 columns. Write 3 headings – SOCIAL, CULTURAL, HISTORICAL. Now jot dot points under each column for where you consider the following fit: GENDER RELATIONS, ANTI SEMETISM , JEWS VS CHRISTIANS. Now write examples from the play in each table.

SOCIAL	CULTURAL	HISTORICAL