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Love Is Blind, and Lovers Cannot See: Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
Maureen Tobin
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(181)
In this 9-week class, we will read Shakespeare's famous play about love, greed, bigotry, and revenge.
Class Experience
US Grade 8 - 11
Scheduling Note: This class can be requested as a once OR twice a week class--twice a week cuts the number of weeks in half. In addition to Shakespeare's comedies, tragedies, and history plays, many scholars include a fourth category, the problem plays. The Merchant of Venice, while usually labeled a comedy because it ends with several marriages, has tragic consequences for at least one of the characters. Often cited as a response to Christopher Marlowe's brutal play The Jew of Malta,...
9 lessons//9 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1Week 1Discussion: Historical context--Antisemitism in Renaissance England and Italy; Common Elizabethan words and phrases Watch: Opening scenes (The Merchant of Venice, 2004) Read: Act 1, Scenes 1-2Week 2Lesson 2Week 2Discussion: Shakespeare's sentences--tricks for untangling Read: 1.3-2.1 Watch: Selected clips, as time permitsWeek 3Lesson 3Week 3Discussion: Shakespeare's Italian plays and the questions they raise about authorship Read: 2.2-2.7 Watch: Selected clips, as time permitsWeek 4Lesson 4Week 4Discussion: Original pronunciation--what do we know, and how do we know it? Watch: Open University Read 2.8-3.1Week 5Lesson 5Week 5Discussion: Shakespeare's puns, featuring gentle the adjective, gentle the noun, and how does gentile fit into all of this? Read 3.2 Watch: Selected clips, as time permitsWeek 6Lesson 6Week 6Discussion: Introduction to projects. A list of possibilities will be shared, but the ultimate decision is up to the student and might involve writing, performing, painting, building, designing, etc. Projects will be shared with the class on the last day. Read 3.3-3.5 Watch: Selected clips, as time permitsWeek 7Lesson 7Week 7Discussion: We will respectfully explore the ugliness at the core of the play and try to decide how much (or little) of the antisemitism portrayed might have reflected the author's own attitude. This is a harder question than it appears. Read: 4.1-4.2 Watch: Selected clips, as time permitsWeek 8Lesson 8Week 8Last chance to discuss projects in class--any questions or concerns? Read Act 5 entire Discussion: Is there a hero in this play, and if so, who is it? Is this your idea of a happy ending? And what about the three couples who marry in the end? Watch selected clips, as time permitsWeek 9Lesson 9Week 9Project presentations
- Students will grow their knowledge and understanding of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, gaining skills that will carry over to all of Shakespeare's plays. Students will be able to explain the difference between a soliloquy and a monologue. Students will be comfortable discussing and/or debating the classification of this play as a comedy. Students will gain confidence in reading aloud. While this is not an acting class, students will be encouraged to convey character as they become more comfortable with the language. Students will demonstrate learning through classroom participation (reading and discussion) and in the completion of a final project.
0 - 1 hours per week outside of class
Homework
Frequency: includedFeedback: includedDetails: The entire play will be read aloud in class. I never require students to read alone, unguided and in silence, but they are encouraged to read ahead if they wish to be better prepared for the live reading. A final project will be chosen by each student (in consultation with the teacher) and might include writing, performance, artwork, parody, music, etc.Assessment
Frequency: includedDetails: I do not give formal assessments, but let me know if you want me to provide a grade., which will be based on classroom participation and the final project.Grading
Frequency: includedDetails:
There are no prerequisites to take this class, although Romeo and Juliet or A Midsummer Night's Dream are probably better introductions to Shakespeare.
We will be using the Folger Shakespeare Library text. There are many formats available for free download, but please be sure to select a version, like the PDF, that has line numbers. Free Download here: https://shakespeare.folger.edu/shakespeares-works/the-merchant-of-venice/ If you would like a solid book with great footnotes, you can buy the Folger paperback edition here: https://bookshop.org/books/the-merchant-of-venice-9798694776806/9780743477567 or, if your town still has an independent brick and mortar store, do give them your business. Students should also have a notebook dedicated to this class. Done well, this notebook can be a resource for future Shakespeare courses.
Be forewarned, this play includes depictions of racism and antisemitism and might not be appropriate for less mature students. We do not shy away from discussing difficult topics.
We will be using the Folger Shakespeare Library text. There are many formats available for free download, but please be sure to select a version, like the PDF, that has line numbers. Free Download here: https://shakespeare.folger.edu/shakespeares-works/the-merchant-of-venice/
Joined August, 2017
5.0
181reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Nebraska Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Master's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Nebraska
A retired English teacher, I hold an MFA in Creative Writing and a bachelor's degree in Language Arts Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. I currently work as a reading and writing coach for students of all ages. (Continued below...
Reviews
Group Class
$25
weekly or $225 for 9 classes1x per week, 9 weeks
75 min
Completed by 11 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
3-9 learners per class
