10ENG: Rewriting a Scene

Welcome (back) to the blog, year 10s! I'll be using this throughout the term to give you tips for your assignments and exams, and help you keep up to date with what we do in class. If you want to do well this term, make sure you check this regularly!

Firstly, there are two things that will help you greatly with THE MERCHANT OF VENICE:

• The summary material at the start of your play text, on pages v - xxviii
  
• The No Fear Shakespeare translation at http://nfs.sparknotes.com/merchant/

When you rewrite your scene, you must TRANSLATE SHAKESPEARE'S LANGUAGE, turning it into modern conversation. Here's an example. I've translated ACT 1 SCENE 1 LINES 39-47 into modern language:

SALERIO: Don't tell me about it. I reckon Antonio is feeling down because he's worrying about all his cargo.

ANTONIO: No, like I said, that's not the problem. I've been wise with my money and I haven't risked investing it all in one ship or trade zone. My business isn't worrying me.

SOLANIO: Well, you must be in love then.

ANTONIO: No, don't be stupid!

Scene Summaries

Below, I've summarised the three scene options for you.

ACT 1 SCENE 3 LINES 1-36

Read the discussion of the conversation on page xiii of your play text. Bassanio is in a town square trying to find a usurer (money lender) who Antonio can borrow from. Shylock is being very cautious. Bassanio thinks that Shylock is questioning Antonio's character, but Shylock is in fact worrying about his own financial security.

ACT 2 SCENE 6 LINES 26-59

Lorenzo is in love with Shylock's daughter, Jessica. She dislikes her father. Lorenzo and Jessica have planned to elope together. Jessica will be able to escape by being disguised as a servant boy of Lorenzo's. In this scene, Jessica meets Lorenzo at her window. She is her disguise and is embarrassed by it. While they wait for Jessica, Lorenzo tells Gratiano about how much he loves her.

ACT 3 SCENE 1 LINES 21-66

Read the discussion of the play on pages xviii - xix. A ship has been wrecked in the English channel and Solanio reckons it's Antonio's ship. Salerio and Solanio talk with Shylock about his deal with Antonio. Shylock expresses his rage at the way he has been mistreated by Antonio, and then says he wants revenge. Christians have treated him badly so he wants to do the same to them if he gets the chance.