So the assessment task is
<b>"Students are to compose a 3-5 minutes speech for their peers in which they explain the following:
- The choice of extract in relation to its significance to the wider context of the play and how it reveals character, dramatic purpose, key concepts and how language forms and features assist those relevations
- The ways in which you chose to present your character in performance that complements your understanding of the text as a whole"</b>
Firstly, I'm stuck between three choices of extracts. I'm leaning towards Shylock's "If you prick us do we not bleed" extract. I've quoted the extracts at the bottom. If you can suggest any better extracts, please do.
I know what each extract is saying but I'm not too clear on the <b>significance to the wider context</b>, <b>character, dramatic purpose, key concepts </b> and I have no idea whatsoever about the language and forms used in Shakespeare. I just need some tips and guidelines on what I should say. Basically, I'm REALLY LOST AND CONFUSED on how i should tackle this assessment.
Any help at all would be great!
SHYLOCK'S (Act 3 Scene 1)
To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else,
it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, and
hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses,
mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my
bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine
enemies; and what's his reason? I am a Jew. Hath
not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with
the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject
to the same diseases, healed by the same means,
warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as
a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?
if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison
us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not
revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will
resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian,
what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian
wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by
Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you
teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I
will better the instruction.
BASSANIO'S (Act 3 Scene 2)
So may the outward shows be least themselves:
The world is still deceived with ornament.
In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt,
But, being seasoned with a gracious voice,
Obscures the show of evil? In religion,
What damned error, but some sober brow
Will bless it and approve it with a text,
Hiding the grossness with fair ornament?
There is no vice so simple but assumes
Some mark of virtue on his outward parts:
How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false
As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins
The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars;
Who, inward search'd, have livers white as milk;
And these assume but valour's excrement
To render them redoubted!
PORTIA'S (Act 4 Scene 1)
The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.
<b>"Students are to compose a 3-5 minutes speech for their peers in which they explain the following:
- The choice of extract in relation to its significance to the wider context of the play and how it reveals character, dramatic purpose, key concepts and how language forms and features assist those relevations
- The ways in which you chose to present your character in performance that complements your understanding of the text as a whole"</b>
Firstly, I'm stuck between three choices of extracts. I'm leaning towards Shylock's "If you prick us do we not bleed" extract. I've quoted the extracts at the bottom. If you can suggest any better extracts, please do.
I know what each extract is saying but I'm not too clear on the <b>significance to the wider context</b>, <b>character, dramatic purpose, key concepts </b> and I have no idea whatsoever about the language and forms used in Shakespeare. I just need some tips and guidelines on what I should say. Basically, I'm REALLY LOST AND CONFUSED on how i should tackle this assessment.
Any help at all would be great!
SHYLOCK'S (Act 3 Scene 1)
To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else,
it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, and
hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses,
mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my
bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine
enemies; and what's his reason? I am a Jew. Hath
not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with
the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject
to the same diseases, healed by the same means,
warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as
a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?
if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison
us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not
revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will
resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian,
what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian
wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by
Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you
teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I
will better the instruction.
BASSANIO'S (Act 3 Scene 2)
So may the outward shows be least themselves:
The world is still deceived with ornament.
In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt,
But, being seasoned with a gracious voice,
Obscures the show of evil? In religion,
What damned error, but some sober brow
Will bless it and approve it with a text,
Hiding the grossness with fair ornament?
There is no vice so simple but assumes
Some mark of virtue on his outward parts:
How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false
As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins
The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars;
Who, inward search'd, have livers white as milk;
And these assume but valour's excrement
To render them redoubted!
PORTIA'S (Act 4 Scene 1)
The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.