Age range 14+

Shakespeare everyone can understand — now in new DELUXE editions!

Why fear Shakespeare? By placing the words of the original play next to line-by-line translations in plain English, these popular guides make Shakespeare accessible to everyone. They introduce Shakespeare's world, significant plot points, and the key players. And now they feature expanded literature guide sections that help students study smarter, along with links to bonus content on the Sparknotes.com website. A Q&A, guided analysis of significant literary devices, and review of the play give students all the tools necessary for understanding, discussing, and writing about Merchant of Venice.

The expanded content includes:

• Five frequently asked questions about major moments and characters in the play.
• Is the ending sad, celebratory, ironic . . . or ambivalent?
• What is the play about and how is the story told, and what are the main themes? Why do the characters behave as they do?
• Questions that guide students as they study for a test or write a paper.
• Quotes by Theme
• Quotes by Character