SECTION 1: THE PLAY

• 11 Moral Dilemmas Students think about key ideas in the play
• 13 The Players and the Play Introduces characters and key elements of the play
• 15 Act 1: Venice Sets the scene for the drama of the play
• 17 Act 1: What's Gone on Already? Looks at the background to the play
• 19 Act 2: Changing the Scene Looks at the structure of the act
• 21 Act 2: Shylock and Revenge Considers what motives drive Shylock
• 23 Act 3: Venice, Belmont and the Law Looks at 'obeying rules' in the plot
• 25 Act 3: The Villainy You Teach me Looks at how Shylock is a product of abuse
• 27 Act 4: Jewish Banker in Trial Shock Looks at the 'key' scene - Act 4, scene 1
• 29 Act 4: Courtroom Drama Explores the theme of prejudice in the trial
• 31 Act 5: Love Conquers All? Looks at how the Jewish characters fade out
• 33 Act 5: A Happy Ending? Are Bassanio and Portia a perfect couple?

SECTION 2: THEMES

• 39 Themes An introduction to the themes
• 41 Prejudice Focuses on the courtroom scene
• 43 Revenge Students investigate all strands of the theme
• 45 Bonds Between People Looks at friendship, love and hate
• 47 Law Versus Justice Looks at the dramatic conflict in the play
• 49 Marriage Looks at marriage as a dramatic theme

SECTION 3: CHARACTERS

• 55 Shylock Activities to encourage character analysis
• 57 Antonio Activities to encourage character analysis
• 59 Bassanio Activities to encourage character analysis
• 61 Portia Activities to encourage character analysis
• 63 Nerissa and Lancelot Activities to encourage character analysis
• 65 Lorenzo and Jessica Activities to encourage character analysis
• 67 Suitors and Friends Activities to encourage character analysis

SECTION 4: LANGUAGE AND CONTEXT

• 73 Prose and Poetry Looks at key language elements
• 75 Shakespeare's Audience Audience's reactions to play
• 77 Love and Hate Language search and analysis
• 79 A Modern Version Ideas for interpretive staging

SECTION 5: APPENDICES

• 84 APPENDIX 1 Useful websites
• 85 APPENDIX 2 Useful quotes
• 86 APPENDIX 3 Synopsis of the story
• 87 APPENDIX 4 Discussion questions
• 88 APPENDIX 5 Characters - quick sketches
• 89 APPENDIX 6 Writing frame for Venice, Belmont and the Law (for use with page 23)