The Merchant of Venice WebQuest Description: The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Grade Level: 9-12 Curriculum: English / Language Arts Keywords: William Shakespeare, play, The Merchant of Venice, comedy Published On: 2014-05-18 22:17:13 Last Modified: 2014-05-20 20:46:23 WebQuest URL: http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=245265
William Shakespeare was born in 1564 to a middle-class merchant in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Shakespeare did not proceed with his formal education after some time. Around 1590 he left his family behind and traveled to London to work as an actor and playwright. Shakespeare eventually became the most popular playwright in England and part-owner of the Globe Theater. Written sometime between 1596 and 1598, The Merchant of Venice is classified as a Shakespearean comedy. In this book four main stories are set. First, Shylock's money lending to Bassanio with Antonio as guarantor. Second, Portia finding a husband through them picking the correct casket. Third, the relation between Lorenzo and Jessica. Fourth, the story of the rings of Bassanio and Gratiano given to them by Portia and Nerissa. This webquest will help enhance your understanding of the main themes in the play, The Merchant of Venice, by performing various activities.
Read the play, The Merchant of Venice. Identify and understand the main conflicts and their solutions. Task 1: Describe the differences and similarities between the three suitors to Portia (Prince of Morocco, Prince of Arragon, and Bassanio).Task 2: Use maps and the internet to find out the geography and history of Venice, Italy, then create a short story (one to two paragraphs) relating to it. Task 3: Create a wedding invitation for Portia and Bassanio. Task 4: Answer the following questions (see Processes) about the book.
Task 1: Compare and Contrast the Three SuitorsRead about the three suitors (Prince of Morocco, Prince of Arragon, and Bassanio).Take notes about each character.Create a three-circle venn diagram and put each description in the correct circle/area.Have a minimum of 8 items in the whole diagram.Task 2: Research and Story-makingUse the internet, books, and maps to research the history of Venice, Italy.Use the same materials to research the geography of Venice, Italy.With the information, write a story (one to two paragraphs) that takes place in Venice, Italy during the Elizabethan era.Task 3: Create a Wedding InvitationRead about Portia and Bassanio and their marriage.Use online templates (http://www.weddingchicks.com/freebies/) or make your own wedding invitation.Make sure the invitation reflects on the time period they were living in and their own personal styles.Task 4: Answer QuestionsWhich casket contained a skull, and a scroll through the skull's eye?Beside the ring, what other object did Portia take from Bassanio?When Shylock dies, to whom will his money go to?How does hatred manifest itself the most in the story?Where is the use of money most significant?What does Shylock want, more than anything, after he learns about Antonio's ship's wreckage?
Answer all the questions correctly and completely.Preform the tasks in a presentable way. Comments______
Category and Score Poor Fair Proficient Excellent Score Questions Questions are not Questions are not Questions are correctly Questions are 20 answered at all. completely and/or answered but not completely and correctly correctly answered. complete. answered. Category and Score Poor Fair Proficient Excellent Score Content Content is not factual Content is factual but Content is factual and Content is factual and 20 and does not convey the does not convey the conveys the correct conveys the correct correct message. correct message. message but needs a message. few tweaks. Organization Materials are not neat Some materials are neat Most materials are neat All materials are neat 20 and are difficult to and easy to understand. and easy to understand. and easy to understand. understand. Quality Work has no quality. Work has low-quality. Work has good quality Work has high-quality. 20 but not the best.
Total Score 80
Good Job! The tasks are all completed. Just by reading one play, you completed many activities and discovered many new things. In the end of The Merchant of Venice, Antonio offers mercy (even though he didn't have to because the law favored him) to Shylock provided he converts to Christianity and leaves all his possessions to Lorenzo and Jessica after he dies. From this we can learn that mercy prevails over justice.
This Webquest is based on the play, The Merchant of Venice. These are the main themes connected to the play:LoveHatredFriendshipMoneyMarriageParent/Child RelationsMercyLoyaltyJustice Standards The standards are based on high school English curriculum. Credits I would like to thank God for everything. -The Merchant of Venice. By William Shakespeare. Globe Theater. Performance. -"The Merchant of Venice." http://www.shmoop.com/. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2014. . -www.google.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2014. . -http://www.online-literature.com/. The Literature Network, n.d. Web. 18 May 14 . Other