Topic: - Research on Shakespeare with reference to ‘The Merchant of Venice’.
The learners are required to submit individual assignments of reasonable length (not
exceeding 300 – 400 words in total) in hardcopy or as a PDF of the written document in
Microsoft Teams.
June 2021
Assignment Guidelines:
Assignments should be based on the following lines:
(i) Character/thematic analysis
(ii) Socio-economic, cultural, historical relevance / background
(iii) Summary / paraphrase
(iv) Appreciation of literary qualities
(v) Identifying with a character (Placing oneself in the place of a character in given
circumstances and explaining one’s actions.)
(vi) Imagine alternative outcomes or endings in a literary piece and the effect on all
concerned
Answers
Answer:
The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, does not fit the conventional
definitions of a tragedy or a comedy. It is categorized as a comedy, although one of the
two distinct plotlines is a tragedy. This play is multi-faceted and is really a combination
of two plays in one; therefore it lends itself well as a source for teaching different lessons
in the high school classroom. This curriculum unit can be used in conjunction with social
studies, math and the arts, so it is not restricted to drama or literature in the English
classroom.
This unit is important because Shakespeare is an integral part of the English
curriculum. Shakespeare‟s tragedies are the major focus, so it would add an extra
dimension if students were exposed to the comedies. The Merchant of Venice is
particularly a good choice because it bridges the gap between comedy and tragedy.
Shakespeare blends serious issues and values with light comedic elements in this rather
complex play. The two main plots are the comedy about Portia and her marriage to
Bassanio and the tragedy about Antonio, the merchant and Shylock