Study Questions & Essay Topics Study Questions 1. Discuss Shylock’s dramatic function in The Merchant of Venice. What do critics mean when they suggest that Shylock is “too large” for the play? Does he fulfill or exceed his role? Model Answer – In order to ensure that we understand Shylock as a threat to the happiness of Venice’s citizens and lovers‚ Shakespeare uses a number of dramatic devices to amplify Shylock’s villainy. In doing so‚ however‚ he creates a character so compelling that
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serious play with a happy ending or enough jokes throughout the play to lighten the mood. I consider the ‘Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare a tragicomedy as both tragedy and comedy can be seen throughout the play. There are many factors that give proof to this statement. To begin with‚ one of the factors of a tragedy is the presence of a tragic hero. The protagonist‚ the real merchant of Venice‚ Antonio is the tragic hero. He is sad from the beginning to the end of the play. In the beginning
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Shylock’s Downfall: The Merchant of Venice By Raghav Kaushik [KorektPhool] In Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice‚ the character of Shylock is partially responsible for his own downfall. Shylock is a victim of a society that values trade over human life; he falls foul to a city that regards Jews such as himself as inferiors; and even the intricate details of the law plays a part in his demise. It is true that Shylock feeds fat to the fire by treating the Christians with contempt; and his
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Disguise Theme in three Plays : Il Volpone‚ The Second Shepherds Play and The Merchant Of Venice It was the 16 century when the idea of disguise started to be used in many plays.. It is used as an escape from the characters personalities and sometimes for comic effect. The disguise becomes very comical as in the time it was written only men could act on stage. This could lead to much confusion and comedy in the roles of those in disguise. Disguise can give the freedom to a character to act
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Chapter 3: The Achievements of Venice (written by BS) Venice had many achievements by the 15th Century‚ mainly‚ building a maritime empire‚ social transformation and also economic prosperity. The most significant achievement‚ would be building a maritime empire‚ followed by social transformation and economic prosperity. Firstly‚ the most significant achievement would be building a maritime empire. As a maritime empire‚ Venice possessed territories along important trade routes‚ especially around
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Shakespeare’s Use of Trickery and Disguise In His Plays Shakespeare uses similar comic elements to effect similar outcomes in his works. Many of his plays utilize trickery and disguise to accomplish similar endings. Trickery plays a major role in The Merchant of Venice and drives most of the action‚ while mistaken identity‚ specifically Portia’s disguise as the "learned attorney’s" representative‚ plays a major role in the resolution of the play. The first instance of trickery in the play is
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DEATH IN VENICE Thomas Mann Context One of the most important figures of early 20th-century literature‚ Thomas Mann (1875-1955) is famous both for his fiction and for his critical essays. Mann was born in 1875 in Lubeck‚ Germany‚ to a distinguished merchant family that had a literary lineage‚ as well; Mann’s older brother‚ Heinrich‚ also became a famous novelist and playwright. Mann took a keen interest in the German philosophers Arthur Schopenhauer and Friedrich Nietzsche‚ and their theories
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Geography P. 3 February 24‚ 2011 Venice‚ Italy Introduction Venice is a city located in the northern part of Italy that is known mostly for its tourism and it’s very interesting physical geography. What makes Venice a city of geological interest is the fact that it is filled with waterways and canals‚ which are replacements for the conventional cobblestone streets commonly found in Europe. The city of Venice has one major waterway called the
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The Culture of the Venice Carnival The Venice Carnival first started in the 14th century. The word carnival‚ in Italian carnevale‚ Latin meaning means to take away or remove meat. Carnival takes place just before Lent‚ the forty days that mark a season of sorrowful reflection‚ fasting and abstinence from fruit‚ eggs‚ meat‚ and dairy products. Carnival has so many different meaning for not only the Venetian people but to people all over the world. There are different variations of carnival all around
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EXAMINE HOW SHAKESPEARE PRESENTS THE TREATMENT OF PORTIA BY MEN IN THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Written in the late 16th century‚ The Merchant of Venice’s Italian setting and marriage theme are typical of Shakespeare’s earlier comedies. The characters‚ however‚ raise this play to new heights‚ especially that of Portia‚ Shakespeare’s first great female protagonist. Her character often contradicts that of the typical subservient Elizabethan woman as Shakespeare develops her into the most dominant character
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