The Merchant of Venice: Study Guide

for Pearson Edexcel International GCSE English Literature

One of Shakespeare's most divisive plays, The Merchant of Venice offers plenty of intrigue: controversial themes, fantastic speeches, cross-dressing, and of course the much-debated character of Shylock. Unpack every scene and clarify essential context with this comprehensive resource offering targeted, detailed notes and analysis to lead students through the play.

It is very detailed and informative and would certainly ensure pupils understood the play

S Griffin, Teacher and Peer Reviewer (GCSE edition)

  1. Walkthrough – Build understanding of the chosen text with insightful and relevant commentary and analysis. All scenes are concisely summarised, then examined in detail.
  2. Whole-text Analysis – Explores: Characterisation • Relationships • Setting • Themes • Ideas and Messages • Language • Form • Structure • Context

Plus!

  • Student-friendly plot summary
  • Key term glossary
  • Further reading
  • Original illustrations

Woven into the analysis throughout you will find:

  • Discussion prompts to encourage debate and individual interpretation
  • Active learning tasks to deepen understanding
  • Key term definitions to ensure students grasp difficult concepts

Suggested answers are provided for questions and activities.

The perfect companion to the Activity Pack for this text.