Shakespeare?

Bazinga_N

Just wondering what thoughts you have on the Merchant of Venice or Romeo and Juliet... We are going to be studying one or the other and I'm not sure which one I should vote for!

xfabgalx

Bazinga_N wrote: »

Just wondering what thoughts you have on the Merchant of Venice or Romeo and Juliet... We are going to be studying one or the other and I'm not sure which one I should vote for!

We've done Romeo and Juliet for drama. I like it
I'm sure its better because you're probably going to watch the modern movie in class or something.

ButtonBox

I've studied the Merchant of Venice.
It's easy enough, not too difficult like. Once you learn off a few relevant quotes, you can basically answer any question, whether it be on the theme, a character, or a different ending (god help us all if that comes up). It's not really that interesting/entertaining Like we spent about 3 weeks altogether reading it (we didn't read it all, we were told the most important scenes and read them), and thought it was so depressing. When our teacher was like "it's a comedy!" we were all like O.o..
The theme can be kinda tricky because different people will say different things, eg Trial, Mercy and Justice, or Sectarianism, or Cruelty to Outsiders. :P It's a good choice to study if you find it hard to write the recommended amount, 'cause you could write pages on the Merchant of Venice.

I didn't study or read Romeo and Juliet, so I've nothing to say on that, but I recently heard that it's actually meant to be really difficult? Like as in there's much more to it than just the love story.

Hope that helps. Sorry if it was too long, haha.

xfabgalx

I find Romeo and Juliet easy to understand! Its easy to find answers to exam questions:
e.g. a heroine is Juliet because she deals with stress well and her range of depth in emotion makes her unlike other characters; From great happiness to extreme despair, hate to love etc in minutes. She confronts Romeo's banishment bravely and comes to terms with it, "Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring". She is able to "count her blessings" with a realism greater than Romeo could manage, "... my husband lives" whereas her cousin, Tybalt is dead.

These points could also work for an admiration question and how they impact the play: affects family feud, "Yea, noise? then I'll be brief. O happy dagger! This is thy sheath;" peace after deaths for love; valued for this.

The quotes I have mentioned are key to studied drama and are very easy to learn especially the last quote as it has a sort of rhyme to it.

Bazinga_N

Two great perspectives! Thanks Guys.. Im just not sure.. Im kind of leaning towards Romeo and Juliet because I want to do a Play I'd actually enjoy.. but I've heard Merchant if Venice is better for exam purposes when it comes to studying a such.. How long do ye guys reckon it would take to read each one? Im not looking for the shortest or anything just, seeing which one might be quicker to study!

Thanks for all your help so far!

The One Who Knocks

The updated Romeo & Juliet book has a section at the end for study help, it gives ya character analysis , themes, key quotes, everything you need really

Not to mention the wealth of information available online (Sparknotes)

I personally find Romeo & Juliet easy to study for

Know a few characters & themes and you're sorted (you'll remember all the quotes anyway, by the time you finish reading it in class)

ButtonBox

Bazinga_N wrote: »

Two great perspectives! Thanks Guys.. Im just not sure.. Im kind of leaning towards Romeo and Juliet because I want to do a Play I'd actually enjoy.. but I've heard Merchant if Venice is better for exam purposes when it comes to studying a such.. How long do ye guys reckon it would take to read each one? Im not looking for the shortest or anything just, seeing which one might be quicker to study!

Thanks for all your help so far!

It took us about 7/8 classes altogether in second year to read the Merchant of Venice, but we only read the "most important" scenes. To read the whole thing.. feck, I don't know, there's a lot there like. If ye read the entire thing in school, it'd take lots and lots and lots of classes up. If ye read the most important parts at school, and the bits in between at home, probably about a month.

xfabgalx

Jamez735 wrote: »

The updated Romeo & Juliet book has a section at the end for study help, it gives ya character analysis , themes, key quotes, everything you need really

Not to mention the wealth of information available online (Sparknotes)

I personally find Romeo & Juliet easy to study for

Know a few characters & themes and you're sorted (you'll remember all the quotes anyway, by the time you finish reading it in class)

Yeah the Folens one is great - seen other people with Edco but noticed is not as detailed.
I'm not sure how many classes it took as I moved schools and missed classes on Romeo and Juliet! But hey, we looked at every act and scene and highlighted important quotes in about 2 or 3 weeks (revision at start of 3rd yr) while at the same time answering exam questions for homework and analyzing what we could write for the question. Plus watching the movie in class is a great help too and its modernized but no lines were changed just the places.

iliketwixbars

Bazinga_N wrote: »

Just wondering what thoughts you have on the Merchant of Venice or Romeo and Juliet... We are going to be studying one or the other and I'm not sure which one I should vote for!

I studied The Merchant of Venice for the Junior Cert. I enjoyed it, the storyline isn't too bad. We spent from Christmas of 2nd year to the summer holidays reading and studying the drama in detail.

The Merchant of Venice also has hundreds and hundreds of resources available to make it easier to study (including Sparknotes).

I'm sure either novel would do fine for the junior cert, just thought I give my opinion on the one I studied.