Conduct a close reading of ONE of the extractsChoose ONE only of these extracts 1- A Midsummer Nights Dream 2- The Merchant of Venice 3- Henry VWrite a close reading of ONE of the passages listed in the Module Handbook. Your discussion should attend to the particularities of its language, structure, genre, and theme; you should also discuss the passages relation to the text as a whole and the passages relationship to the texts historical moment. Make sure you have a clear line of argument running through the essay: for example, it would be helpful to outline the central theme(s) of your chosen passage in your introduction (e.g. race, religion, gender), and then (in subsequent sections of your essay) to trace the ways in which the formal elements of the text (language, imagery, structure, stage directions etc.) advance its theme(s). As this is primarily a close reading, it is not expected that you will embark on extensive secondary and contextual research; however, you are expected to engage with some secondary material to demonstrate awareness of existing scholarly perspectives (at least three additional sources). Awareness of existing scholarly sources can also help bring depth and nuance to your argument. Please read the marking criteria for this assessment before submitting. While you may wish to make passing references to other parts of the play, your analysis should be rooted in the passage. Do not use the passage as a starting point for a discussion as the play as a whole. Questions to consider when constructing your close reading:Who is speaking and how are they speaking?What is the central theme of this passage? What kind of rhetorical or theatrical techniques are being used to convey this theme?What form does this passage take (i.e. poetry, prose, or both). How does the form impact the meaning of the passage?For poetry: how is the verse displayed on the page? Can you discern its metre and rhyme scheme? How do they help shape the meaning of the passage?Are there any stage directions, effects, entrances, or exits that influence the scene?3.When you are writing, be sure to balance close attention to language with an awareness of the performance possibilities afforded by the passage. When discussing language, you might think about the significance of specific word choices, images, metaphors, idiom (formal, or informal), and metre (verse, or prose). When discussing performance possibilities you might think about where characters are standing on the stage (are they in a gallery, or on the main stage), what kind of stage it is (indoor, or outdoor), what the actor might be wearing (if it seems especially important), or how the actor speaks their lines (e.g. in dialogue, monologue, aside or soliloquy). Does this passage require any specific stage technologies (e.g. sound effects, lighting effects, props, cosmetics or other stage materials (e.g. stage blood).4.Although this is a commentary or a close critical analysis of a text, use relevant pieces of criticism to provide critical assessments of the text and contextual information. I would expect you to use a minimum of three critical sources. In addition to this, it is a good idea to consult at least one critical edition, to see which words or phrases the editor has glossed.please use act, scene, and line numbers when quoting from the page: DO NOT USE PAGE NUMBERS.
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