Merchant of Venice Lesson Plan

Shylock on Trial

Kind of Activity:

Role Play

Objective:

Students will present and defend an argument based on a close reading of the text

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.4

Structure:

Act IV centered around a trial. Have the students enact a "mock trial" where they attempt to answer one of The Merchant of Venice's most pertinent questions: Is Shylock a victim or a villain?

Have one student act as Shylock and another as the arbitrator (the Duke). Other students can be cast as "witnesses," Antonio, Tubal, Jessica, and Launcelot would be good characters to have as...