Final Playlist for your Essays

Michael:  Debaser --Pixies
Preeya: Crazy Little Thing Called Love -- Queen
Timmy: Control -- Janet Jackson
Alex: Me, Myself & I -- De La Soul
Renee: Tunnel of Love -- Bruce Springsteen
Sam L: Losing my Religion -- R.E.M.
Rebecca: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun -- Cyndi Lauper // Girls -- Beastie Boys
Aidan: We're Not Gonna Take it -- Twisted Sister
Sam VL: Lady -- Kenny Rogers // I Don't Want to Live without You -- Foreigner
George: Wanted Dead or Alive -- Bon Jovi
Grey: Dude Looks like a Lady -- Aerosmith

Final Project

Here are your options

TMOV: Topic sentences & evidence

1. Review of topic sentences ... same rules apply as for thesis statement. Working in pairs, work through these guidelines

• A strong thesis is arguable.  Someone has to be able to disagree with you.
• A thesis is a complete sentence (for a paper that is fewer than 10 pages, you really should not need more than one sentence to make a clear argument).
• A thesis takes a stand or draws a conclusion, rather than summarizing or simply announcing a subject.
• A thesis is as specific as possible, rather than vague or general.
• A thesis expresses one main idea, & does not make too many points all at once.
• A thesis expresses a new insight. It presents a unique ideas

2. What does your evidence tell you? Talk through your evidence with partner. Remember: you must connect evidence to thesis early and often.

TMOV: Questions & thesis statements

Thesis workshop!!

Start finding evidence.

TMOV: Final scene & essay questions

Review Nunn's final scene. Discuss differences between the two versions. Reminder of questions:

1. How to the two Portia's differ? How are they similar?
2. How are the two Antonio's different? How are they similar?3. How does the filmmaker make the viewer sympathize with Shylock?4. How does the filmmaker alienate/welcome Antonio from/into the group?

Act 5 --> Final thoughts on how it all comes together

Review questions --> AMAZING!!!! Let's narrow down. Let's find the best, the worst, the ones that didn't really sound awesome or really make us cringe. And then -- pick one to focus on.

TMOV: Essay questions (homework)

Please post your essay questions here. Don't forget to look at your previous post on themes. Really good work and definitely a great question or two in there.

Mary

TMOV: Act 5 and It's all over

Review trial scenes from both film versions. Please take notes to answer the following questions ...

1. How to the two Portia's differ? How are they similar?
2. How are the two Antonio's different? How are they similar?
3. How does the filmmaker make the viewer sympathize with Shylock?
4. How does the filmmaker alienate/welcome Antonio from/into the group?

Act 5
Thoughts on the end?
Who is the Merchant of Venice?

Questions
Write an essay question for the following topics: 1. Character, 2. Theme, 3. Language, 4. Structure, 5. Specific passage (optional)

Act 5: Who is the merchant of Venice?

So all the stories are neatly tied up and all is right with the Venetian world. Awesome. Or maybe not.

Pick three themes you think are dominant in this play, and tell me a little bit about how they are displayed over the course of the play and what characters play interact with each theme.

TMOV: Act 4 (all of it!)

Break into three groups (Portia, Shylock, Antonio). 

What are the major speeches of your character?

What do we learn about your character in each speech?

How does your character change over the course of Act 4?

What new insights are gained into your character?

How has your opinion changed about your character (if at all)?

How does Shakespeare make your character a sympathetic one?

Discuss once groups are done.

Larger question for class --> with whom do you sympathize?

TMOV: 3.3-3.5

1. Review Doctrine of Humanity scenes from both films

3.2
2. Portia & Bassanio --> Who is in control of the situation? How does Portia flatter Bassanio? And vice versa? Portia and the ring? (149-185)
3. Bassanio & Antonio --> (241-294) Can we trust Bassanio's words re Antonio? Can Bassanio have Portia AND Antonio?
4. Portia v Portia --> pre casket v post casket

3.3
Review blog comments

3.4
Purpose? Set up confrontation between Portia & Shylock! What do we learn about Portia?

TMOV: 3.3-3.5 homework

Is Venice a Christian state (governed by religious law) or a commercial state (governed by the law of commerce)? Which value has proved dominant thus far in the text and why? What are the larger implications of having a state governed both by industry AND religion?

MOV 3.1-3.2 Discussion

1. Close Reading (3.1.47-65)

Step 1: Annotate like a pro
Step 2: Identify rhetorical strategies he uses to convey his argument
Step 3: Identify Shylock's thesis
Step 4: Identify the different parts to his argument
Step 5: Identify Shylock's tones
Step 6: Perform & then watch

2. Parable of the Lost Son --> Prodigal

3. Does Shylock's rage come from hatred for Antonio (competitor) or loss of Jessica?

4. Portia and Bassanio ---> before and after the casket choosing.

TMOV 3.1-3.2: homework

Is Bassanio the kind of man Portia's father would have chosen for her? Be sure to explain your answer.

TMOV 2.6-2.9

1. Review homework re Portia.
2. Review basics of what happened --> what has been set up in Act 2? Different relationships? Tensions?

What is a personal statement?
The personal statement should give concrete evidence of your promise as a suitor of Portia. This statement will give her (and Nerissa) an imagine of you as a person. This is also where you express what you can bring to the relationship and why Portia should choose you.

What else goes into a personal statement?
1. Information about some background, identity, interest or taken that is meaningful. Without which, Portia could never really know you.
OR
2. A lesson you’ve taken from failure and how it’s helped you find success.
OR
3. Reflection on a time when you challenged a belief or idea and were prompted to act?
OR
4. Description of a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve.

Length → 200 words

Groups
Morocco: Rebecca, Gray, Aidan, Alex
Arragon: Preeya, Sam L, Timmy, Michael
Bassanio: Renee, Sam VL, George

TMOV 2.6-2.9 Homework

What do you think of Portia?

1. Portia is filling out the common app essay and she needs to list 5 words that best describe her. What words does she choose? No text evidence needed.
2. Portia's teacher is filling out the recommendation portion of the common app, and her teacher needs to list 5 words that best describe Portia. What words does the teacher choose?  You need to cite text evidence for the teacher's choices.

TMOV 2.1-2.5: Discussion

2.1: Race comes into the play ... how is it handled in the language and in the blocking?

The basics of black males & Shakespeare

• Only three men: Aaron (villain from Titus Andronicus), Othello (tragic hero), and Prince of Morocco
• Stereotypes about blacks held by Elizabethan audience: villainous, especially given to passion, unsophisticated

Close look at the scene

1. Read through the text as a class.
2. Working in pairs (and one group of three), how is this scene staged? How are Portia and the Prince of Moroco interacting on stage? What tones do they use? Be sure you understand their language before you begin.
3. Big questions --> What does this scene reveal abut Portia? Does the PoM affirm or contradict stereotypes?

2.2: recap, big picture, purpose?

2.3: Jessica's conversion ... what does it signify? At the close of this scene, who are the pairs of lovers?

2.4-2.5: What are your thoughts on Shylock?

Compare the relationship between Jessica & Shylock with that of Portia and her father. Reminder: familial piety is very important, so what is Shakespeare telling us about religion's role in society?

TMOV: 2.1-2.5

One question --> What's the impact of structurally contrasting the scenes with Shylock against the scenes with Portia?

GREAT JOB!!! On the in-class performances. You all were fantastic. Really a great way to start my Tuesday. Thanks for your time and intention with the assignment.

TMOV: 1.2-1.3

• Look at upcoming homework (acting!)

Scene 2
Observation --> Patriarchal Society and filial piety (duty from son or daughter) meant more to Elizabethan society than to ours. Always keep that in mind.

1. Does Portia have control of her situation or is she helpless? What does the language tell us?

Acting -->  How might staging influence what we see and learn from Portia?

Scene 3
Observation --> In Scene 2, the stereotypes are mentioned but then disregarded. In Scene 3, the stereotype of the Jew is brought to fruition. Interesting.

1. Is the offer of flesh in jest or serious? Is offer of friendship serious?
2. How does Shakespeare build empathy for Shylock? How does Shakespeare destroy that empathy?
3. How is Antonio becoming a Christ figure?
4. How is Shylock his own worst enemy?
5. How does Shakespeare use language to show Shylock's difference?

Acting --> How How are Shylock and Antonio working together on stage? What does their interaction look like?

End of Act 1 & beyond ...
Notice how Shakespeare has set absolute polarities: Christian/Jew, Venice/Belmont, male/female. Shakespeare takes advantage of these apparent differences in order to put in question the whole issue of difference. How are others, and otherness, related to oneself? To the notion that one has a self?

MOV: 1.2-1.3

1. What's Portia doing in her first scene? She can't be just standing there.
2. How does Shylock's language show us what it's like to be an outcast?