GCSE English and GCSE English Literature Shakespeare songs:

• The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
  

•  Othello by William Shakespeare
  

•   Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
  

•   Macbeth by William Shakespeare
  

Our Shakespeare songs have been developed to help GCSE students but they can also be used to engage younger pupils in Shakespeare and to provide adults with an overview of Shakespeare’s finest work.

Please visit the shop section of this site to listen to demos of all our Shakespeare songs. 

This article focuses on how to write about Shakespeare’s plays, as part of our series of articles on learning techniques, revision and preparation for GCSE English Literature and GCSE English examinations.

How to write about Shakespeare’s plays

Let the teacher/examiner assessing your written (or spoken) work see that you know that a play is drama. It happens in performance in a theater (or, today, in a feature film or TV or radio broadcast). It is not a book and there are no readers. You may have used a book containing the characters’ lines, some basic stage directions and lots of notes to help you study the play. But this is not what Shakespeare intended for his audience.

Show that you understand the difference between (fictional) characters in the play, and the (real) actors who play the parts. And don’t call the play a “film” or a “book”.

Extract from Teachkit.

We hope this article helps with your GCSE English Literature revision. Be sure to check out the LearnThruMusic Shakespeare learning songs.

GCSE English LearnThruMusic covers the following work by Shakespeare:

Othello
Romeo & Juliet
Merchant of Venice
Macbeth

As part of our FREE character profiles for 12 key GCSE texts. We want to help you revise and learn GCSE English and GCSE English Literature to your full potential.
•    Shylock: A wealthy Jewish Moneylender. Shylock feels he has been mistreated by Antonio and other Venetian Christians. A strict adherent to the law of contract Shylock demands a pound of Antonio’s flesh as a guarantee for a loan. Shylock’s scheme for revenge is thwarted as he comes unstuck by the contract he thought to take advantage of.

•    Antonio: A Venetian Merchant. A friend of Bassanio. Antonio agrees to let his flesh secure a loan for his friend. Antonio shows a disliking of Jews but eventually lets Shylock of the hook.

•    Bassanio: Citizen of Venice and friend of Antonio. Bassanio intends to marry Portia. With Antonio as his guarantor Basanio borrows money from Shylock.

•    Portia: A wealthy, beautiful and intelligent Lady from Belmont. Portia loves Bassanio but according to her fathers will she must marry whoever chooses correctly from three caskets. Portia disguises herself as a lawyer and saves Antonio from giving his flesh to Shylock.

•    Gratiano: A friend of Bassanio. Gratiano marries Nerissa who is Portia’s maid. Gratiano is quite combative and is a big critic of Shylock.

•    Nerissa: Maid or lady-in-waiting to Portia. Marries Gratiano.

•    Balthasar: Portia’s servant.

•    Jessica: Shylock’s unhappy daughter. Jessica elopes with Lorenzo despite him being a Christian and her a Jew.

•    Launcelot Gobbo: Bassanio’s servant who was formerly employed by Shylock.

•    Old Gobbo: Launcelot’s father.

•    The Prince of Morocco: A suitor to Portia who luckily for Bassanio picks the wrong casket.

•    The Prince of Arragon: Also a suitor to Portia and likewise picks the wrong casket.

•    Salarino and Solanio: Venetian gentlemen, friends and escorts of Antonio, Bassanio and Lorenzo.

•    The Duke of Venice: The Ruler of Venice. The Duke presides over the trial of Antonio and greatly respects the law.
•    Tubal: A Jewish friend of Shylock.

Be sure check out our GCSE English Literature learning song, Merchant of Venice “You Wont Find me There”

Texts we will be covering include:

1.    Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
2.    An Inspector Calls by JB Priestly
3.    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
4.    A view From the Bridge by Arthur Miller
5.    Blood Brothers by Willy Russell
6.    The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
7.    Othello by William Shakespeare
8.    Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
9.    Macbeth by William Shakespeare
10.  Lord of the Flies by William Golding
11.  Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austin
12.  Stone Cold by Robert Swindells