Definition of comedy then and now
Relationship between Jessica and Shylock
Relationship between Antonio and Bassanio
Shylock’s rhetoric (use of language)
Venice v. Belmont
Portia’s character
How Portia relates to men around her
Justice v. mercy
Trials in Shakespeare’s time
Meaning of “A Pound of Flesh”
Roles of women in TMOV
Role of law in TMOV
Religious lessons in TMOV
Parallels between Portia’s agreement with her father and Antonio’s agreement with Shylock
Morocco’s, Arragon’s, and Bassanio’s rationale for choosing caskets
Melancholy then and depression now
Analyze important speeches
Attitudes toward money
Relationship between Christians & Jews
The Merchant of Venice
Possible Topics & Projects
Possible sources for TMOV material: Pecorone
(1378), by Giovanni Fiorentino; Gesta
Romanorum (Latin, 13th Century); oriental tales;
Connection to fairytale themes: the princess in the tower and the bond.
Elizabethan England family relationships
Self-interest v. love
Symbols:
 Three caskets
 Pound of flesh
 Leah’s ring
Examine the relationship between the three storylines: 1) Portia’s pending marriage; 2)
Shylock’s pound of flesh; 3) Antonio’s loss of
Bassanio
How would you portray important characters?
Venetian Ghetto
Usury & the Jews
Story of Jacob & Laban
Exchange of rings
Inter-religious marriage
Religious conversion
What happens if a character would be brought to present day Dodgeville?
Write about what happens after the play.
Compile a list of important quotations from the entire play & analyze
 the Jew of Malta, by Christopher Marlowe
(1564-1593)
Examine themes:
 Friendship requires sacrifice
 Appearances are deceiving
 Revenge ultimately destroys its perpetrator
Jews suffer bigotry and other forms of mistreatment because of their religion and race
 Women can be just as competent as men, maybe even more so
 Women can be just as ruthless as men, maybe even more so
 Don't count your ships until they're in port
 Great wealth and privilege breed apathy and disquietude
Imagery in TMOV
Anti-Semitism in Shakespeare’s England
Was Shakespeare and anti-Semite?
Title of the play: Why TMOV? Who is the merchant?
In medieval and Renaissance times, why was Venice such an ideal city for a merchant to conduct business?
Rodrigo Lopez & Queen Elizabeth (Jewish doctor accused of poisoning her)
Effect of the knife-sharpening scene?
What happens to Shylock?
Elizabethan England:
 Crime & punishment
 Executions
 Tortures
 Religion
 Queen Elizabeth I
 Queen Elizabeth I – Jews & Catholics
 Sumptuary Laws
 Major figures of the era
 Women
 Daily Life
 Village Life
 Occupations & Jobs
 Marriages & Weddings
 Wedding Dress
 Entertainment
 Customs
 Family Life
 Theatres
 Theatre Costume
 Actors/Acting Troupes
 The Globe Theatre

History of Venice
Renaissance Venice
 Society
 City Geography
 Important people
 Politics
 Art
 Architecture
Projects:
(All projects will incorporate a written portion)
Create a series of tableaux or still pictures
Director’s notebook
Costume design
Create an Elizabethan Dictionary
Create a webquest
Create a webpage on a topic above
Create a sound track for the play or a character
Act out a scene (live)
Act out a scene (film)
Act out a scene adding original, modern language monologues
TMOV meets Jerry Springer/Dr. Phil
Newspaper
Magazine
Illustrations
Character diary
Visual aids
Relevant/related art
Mural
Compare/contrast versions
TMOV in modern times
Relate fashion of TMOV era & now
Comedy then & now
Family roles
Vehicles
Values
Lifestyles
True meaning of the caskets
Loans then & now
Fashion
Language
Scrapbook
Rewrite a scene, causing it to change the outcome of the play.
Create a model
Direct a documentary
Interpretive dance
Rewrite in own words
Write a song/poem
CD mix
Transform into a modern movie
Paper
Drawings
Speech
Acting
Rap
Song
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