SHAKESPEARE THE MERCHANT OF VENICE EDITED WITH A LIFE OF SHAKESPEARE, AN ACCOUNT OF AIDS TO THE STUDY OF THE PLAY HARVARD COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY ITD Norwood Press Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. FOREWORD IN revising my father's edition of the Merchant of Venice, I have been influenced by the changed condition in high schools since the time when his work was done. The greater number of pupils, the consequent inadequacy of reference material, the more general and less specialized literary preparation, and the broader aims and ideals of the rising generation — all these conditions demand a different type of annotation from that of twenty years ago. My own recent problems in teaching the Merchant of Venice with college preparatory, commercial, and technical classes have led me to include in the present edition the following eight features not found in my father's work: a fuller and more informational array of notes; a study of the structural elements of the play; a discussion of the sources and historical setting of the comedy; glimpses of life in Shakespeare's time as shown by the play; comments of well-known persons on the characters of the drama; a list of familiar quotations from the Merchant; an account of Shakespeare, the man,—his life, work, reputation, and the theatre for which he wrote; and finally a list of topics for oral and written composition. These eight features will be found in the appendix following the text of the play. It is hoped that this additional material will not only increase the interest and inspiration of the student, but that it will also lighten the labor of the teacher. SAMUEL THURBER, JR. |