Shakespearean drama: genre, methods and context1 h of study
Macbeth3 h of study
Romeo and Juliet2 h 30 min of study
Much Ado About Nothing2 h of study
The Merchant of VeniceReading · 0%
The Tempest2 h of study
Other set plays: Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, Othello, Henry V and Cambridge plays2 h of study

This unit is ≈20% of the GCSE English Lit, across 7 lessons. Full syllabus

Lesson 5 of 7 · Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice

3 quick checks≈2% of the testStretch: Stretch: harder material that separates the top grades

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By the end you’ll be able to

Analyse the presentation of Shylock, antisemitism and prejudice, money and commerce, justice and mercy, and love and friendship
Trace Portia, Antonio, Bassanio, Shylock and Jessica through the casket plot and the bond plot
Analyse the key scenes: “Hath not a Jew eyes?” (3.1), the trial and “The quality of mercy” (4.1), and the return to Belmont (Act 5)

Practice this skill

Adaptive questions on The Merchant of Venice.

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Discuss Elizabethan and modern audience responses and whether the play is best read as comedy or tragedy

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