Tuesday, September 25. Merchant of Venice, Act 2, scenes 1 through 4

11-12W2b: I can develop a topic thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, direct quotations and paraphrased information or other examples, appropriate to the audience's knowledge of the topic. Include formatting, graphics, and multimedia when useful to aid comprehension.
11-12W2c: I can use precise language, content-specific vocabulary and literary techniques to express the appropriate complexity of a topic
 I can draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How does ethnicity influence the direction of the plot in Act 2 of The Merchant of Venice?


Coming up: Merchant of Venice vocabulary 4 quiz on Thursday, September 27 (another copy below; handed out yesterday)
In class: we are beginning Act 2 today. If you are absent, make sure you have listened / read the material. 
Take out your graphic organizers. At this point we have finished all of Act 1. You may access the text and the audio each day on the blog. 
At this point you should have the following:
on the character chart: one or two characters (the only one we have not met is Shylock's daughter Jessica, whom we will hear from today). Under each of the names should be some of the responses to the questions asked in the directions.

On the plot chart: you should have two examples of text that support the pound of flesh plot line and two examples of text that support the casket choice plot line. Include the correct citation format and paraphrase.
 Today the elopement plot line will be introduced. For homework, look on the blog at the text and find two textual examples that support the elopement, cite correctly and paraphrase.


Note: we will hear information on the plot line of the elopement, and the character of Jessica, Shylock's daughter, is introduced.
At the beginning of class tomorrow, you will have 15 minutes to work on your graphic organizer. Find the text in Act 2.3 and Act 2.4.


Act 2, scenes 1-4 begin 28:02 end 45:49  (approx 18 min)

digital text: today we are reading Act 2 through scene 4


ACT 2.1

SCENE SUMMARY
Morocco has come to take the casket challenge to win Portia’s hand, but she tells
him that if he fails, he may never marry.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Examine Morocco’s opening lines. What issues does he address?

2.  What is Portia’s reaction to Morocco? Based on her previous comments to Nerissa, do you believe her? Why or why not?

3.  Notice how careful Portia is with her words. Why do you think this is? What does this indicate about her intelligence?


SCENE SUMMARY Act 2.2

Launcelot Gobbo, Shylock’s servant, ponders running away from Shylock to serve another master. He encounters his father, Old Gobbo, who is nearly blind and doesn’t recognize his son. Launcelot plays a trick on his father, misdirecting him and
pretending that Launcelot is dead, but soon reveals himself and asks for his father’s blessing. During their reunion, Launcelot begs Bassanio to have him as a servant.
Bassanio then sees Gratiano, who asks to go to Belmont with Bassanio. Bassanio allows Gratiano to accompany him, making clear, however, that Gratiano needs to be on his best behavior, since he has a reputation for being a wild man. Gratiano agrees, but asks that his behavior not be judged on the partying they plan to do that night.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Why does Launcelot want to leave Shylock’s service? How do his comments
affect our perceptions about Shylock?
2. Why does Bassanio accept Launcelot as his servant so quickly? Can he afford a
servant?
3. Why does Gratiano want to go with Bassanio to Belmont?

Act 2.3
SCENE SUMMARY
Jessica tells Launcelot that she, too, plans to run away from her father’s house with Bassanio’s friend Lorenzo.

1. What does Jessica give Launcelot?

ACT 2. 4.
SCENE SUMMARY
Lorenzo, Gratiano, Salerio and Solanio make plans for the masque, a Shrove Tuesday
(Mardi Gras) celebration, discussing whether or not they should arrange for
torchbearers. Launcelot, on his way to invite Shylock to dine with Bassanio, arrives with Jessica’s letter detailing her plans for escape, which includes taking her father’s gold and jewels. Lorenzo tells Gratiano that Jessica will be disguised as a page and will serve as a torchbearer during the night’s festivities.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Why would torchbearers be considered vile?
2. What does Jessica’s letter say?

3. What is her plan?

Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare  vocabulary 3  Quiz on Thursday, September 25

1.   to bestow- (verb)- to give as a gift

2.   renowned- (adjective)- widely known or esteemed

3.   livery (noun)- uniform worn by servants

4.   trifle (noun)- insignificant detail

5.   civility (noun)- act of showing regard for others

6.   vile (adjective)-morally reprehensible

7.   strumpet (noun)- prostitute

8.   to allay (verb)- to make something less strong

9.   famished (adjective)- having great hunger

10.amity (noun)- friendship
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  Name _____________________________Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare  

Plot Strand development: As you read the play, you will note the development of the four main plot lines. We will pause and work on these in class. This will help you develop the textual evidence you will need for your final essay on the play.

Directions: for each plot line, (1) begin by identifying the act, scene and relevant text. This must be formatted as follows: (2.2.345-8), as an example. This would your evidence is from act 2, scene 2, lines 345 to 348).  Here’s another example: (3.4.34-36). This means your evidence is from Act 3,scene 4, lines 34-36). NEVER USE PAGE NUMBERS! (2) Once you cite the text, write down the quote.  (3) Next paraphrase the quote. That means put text into your own words. (4) Finally, explain how the plot has progressed through these lines.

pound of flesh plotline	casket plotline	elopement plotline	ring plotline

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Name___________________________________  The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare  character growth graphic organizer

From the following list of characters, choose two whose growth over the play you would like to follow: Antonio, Bassanio, Shylock, Portia, Nerissa, Jessica

For each entry, give the Act, Scene and lines which you are referencing. This is the same format as the plot development organizer. NEVER USE PAGE NUMBERS! Here is a model: (3.5.29-50)  This organizer is bring an understanding to the conflicts and complexities that challenge the individual. Each time there is a development, respond to the following: 1. What conflict is the character facing? What choices must he or she make? Consider whether the conflicts are internal or external? What factors are influencing the character’s actions? Consider historical, social, biological, personal identity. Who will be impacted by this character’s decisions?  End your response with an analysis statement. Make a connection between the character’s actions and how in similar circumstances someone may respond similarly or differently in contemporary society.

Character: Antonio	Character: Portia
What is the character’s relationship to the others in the play?	What is the character’s relationship to the others in the play?
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