Activity

RSC Activity Toolkit: The Merchant of Venice

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This RSC Activity Toolkit: The Merchant of Venice activity also includes:

Mercy! It's a wise teacher that knows their own students and what they need to appreciate Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice. A 28-page tool kit ensures that every scholar will play a part. The kit is divided into 20 sections, each of which has step-by-step instructions for activities, links to videos, background information, and teacher tips. A resource worth its weight in gold to those new to using the play with their classes, or those who have long incorporated it into their curriculum.

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Instructional Ideas
  • Preview the entire tool kit to select those activities most appropriate for your classroom
  • Introduce the play by showing the video linked in the first section of the tool kit
  • Before reading the play, provide information on the common medieval and renaissance misconceptions about Jewish people
Classroom Considerations
  • A protocol must be in place for a safe, respectful discussion of the apparent anti-Semitism in the play
  • The tool kit does not address the anti-Semitism in the play
  • Requires computers with internet access as well as copies of the play
Pros
  • The activities are designed to appeal to mainstream classes as well as theatre arts students
Cons
  • None