Friday, Octtober 29, 2010

Today, I handed out the questions for Act I of The Merchant of Venice. If you were not here, you will need to do these at home over the weekend. I have attached them below:

The Merchant of Venice: Study Questions -- Act 1

Answer each question thoroughly. Write down act, scene, and line references to note where you find textual evidence of your answers.

1. What does Bassanio want from Antonio? Why?

2. What is Antonio’s financial situation? What is Bassanio’s financial situation?

3. What does Antonio tell Bassanio in response to his request? How will Antonio help
Bassanio?

4. In what way does Antonio’s comment at Act 1, Scene 1, lines 184-186 seem to contradict
his comments at Act 1, Scene 1, lines 42-46? How might you account for this apparent
contradiction?

5. What is the relationship between Antonio and Bassanio like? How do you know?

6. What kind of personality does Gratiano have? How do you know?

7. What is the main point behind Portia’s comments at Act 1, Scene 2, lines 12-17?

8. What is the “lottery” that Portia’s father has devised for her future & decreed in his will?

9. Explain what Portia specifically thinks of each of these suitors and how you know it:

a. the Prince from Naples (Neopolitan)
b. Count Palatine
c. the French Lord
d. the English Baron
e. the Scottish Lord
f. the young German

10. What is inconsistent about Act 1, Scene 2, line 123, in terms of the list of suitors that has
previously been put forth by Nerissa?

11. What does Portia say about the newly-arriving prince from Morocco? What are the
possible meanings of Act 1, Scene 2, lines 129-131?

12. What does Bassanio ask of Shylock, specifically?

13. What is the idea behind Shylock’s comments at Act 1, Scene 3, lines 33-37? Why does he
say this?

14. Why doesn’t Shylock like Antonio? What harm does Antonio cause Shylock? (HINT: look
in more than one place in the text)

15. What is Antonio’s point in Act 1, Scene 3, lines 99-101?

16. What does Antonio think of Shylock? How do you know?

17. What “deal” does Shylock make with Antonio? Why does Antonio agree to it?

18. In what way(s) does the scene between Shylock, Antonio, and Bassanio remind you of
Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus?

19. In this act, find examples of the following literary devices/techniques:

a. simile
b. metaphor
c. hyperbole
d. mythological allusion
e. historical allusion

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Today we finished reading Act I of the play The Merchant of Venice. I had you summarize it at the end of the last scene for your own retrieval.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Today, we started reading "The Merchant of Venice". We read up to line 142 of the first Act. We also wrote a glossary quiz. If you were not here, you may wrtie it at lunch of Friday.

Tuesday, October 26 2010

Today we did journaling and then you went to watch a presentation by Dwayne Peace. It is an all morning presentation. Keep in mind that the quiz we were supposed to have today on Shakespearean language will be done tomorrow.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Today, I presented an introduction to The Merchant of Venice. You were introduced to the plots, characters, and background information you will need to truly understand and connect with this play. If you were not here, a copy is in your portfolio. Also, you have a terms quiz on Shakespearean language on Tuesday. Make sure you study them (in the booklet I gave you on Shakespeare).

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Today we discussed the handout I gave students yesterday about the theatre before and during the time of Shakespeare, the language used in his plays, and the rhyme scheme used in his plays. If you were not here, study this booklet. We decided as a class to have a word definition exam (from the handout) on Tuesday rather than tomorrow so study them.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Today, I handed out a booklet entitled "The Growth of Theatre in England" which we discussed as a class.
There are a number of words in there that you need to study for a quiz on Friday. If you were not here, it is in your portfolio.
We then finished marking the Shakespeare A&E questions to be sure you have the context you need to understand Shakespeare.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Today, you were to hand in the reworked seven sentences from your introductory paragraph (the last essay) that you were given to do yesterday. I then introduced Shakespeare. We watched the A&E special on Shakespeare and you answered short comprehension questions as you viewed it. If you were not here, you will have to answer the questions using the Internet.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Today we reviewed the analysis steps that should have been done when you were writing your last in-class essay. I provided you with an introductory paragraph assignment that you were to complete for tomorrow in order to understand the strength of your essay (which was handed back). If you were not here, the assignment and your essay are both in your portfolio.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Today, you wrote your poetry unit exam. On Monday, we will start the Shakespearean drama unit.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Today, you wrote an in-class personal response essay. Tomorrow, you will write your poetry unit exam. Be sure to study your terms.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Today, we discussed how to write a personal response essay. If you were not here, the notes are in your portfolio. I then handed out all assignments that were in so you can use them to prepare for your exam. I also handed out a copy of your marks as they stand today.
Tomorrow you will write a personal response, in-class essay. On Friday, you will write your unit exam which will be a blend of short answer, matching, and multiple choice questions as well as comprehension readings.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Today, we marked all of the asignments that hadn't been returned so that you could get them all back prior to your unit exam.
You were then to study all of the terminology for this unit as well as the steps you are to follow in order to analyze a poem and the layout of an essay.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Today, you were given the poem "The Foresaken" to read and analyze. You were then given questions to answer. These, as well as any other outstanding questions, must all be in for Tuesday as we are going to discuss them.

Wednesday October 6, 2010

Today, you were given the poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred Lord Tennyson to read and analyze. You then were given questions to answer which are due for tomorrow.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Today, you read and analyzed the poem "Comparing Beginnings" by Elizabeth Brewster. You then were given questions to answer which are due tomorrow.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Today, you handed in your song analysis. I then handed out the poem "Desks" for you to analyze. After this, you were provided with questions to answer. These are due tomorrow.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Today, you were to locate a poem (or lyrics from a song - which is ALSO a poem) and analyze it fully. This is due on Monday.