Explore Theme Development in 'The Merchant of Venice'

Explore how Key Themes Develop in 'The Merchant of Venice'

In the exam, you might be asked to comment on the presentation of a theme in an extract from the play. You will then be expected to consider the same theme in the play as a whole.

It is important that you know the play well enough to be able to choose relevant parts of the text where these themes are presented by Shakespeare. You will also be expected to demonstrate an awareness of how these themes develop throughout the course of the play.

To get the best marks, you will need to:

- demonstrate a good understanding of how the themes in the play are affected by the context in which Shakespeare was writing.

- analyse the writer's choices of language, structure and dramatic devices and comment on their effect on the audience.

This activity will help you to revise how themes develop in 'The Merchant of Venice'.

You should always refer to your own text when working through these examples. These quotations are for reference only.