内容正文:
Unit 10
UNIT 10 CONNECTIONS
To read and understand a play excerpt.
To read for detail and answer questions.
To answer a critical thinking question.
Watch the extract from The Merchant Of Venice. Find out the characters in the play after reading the introduction.
The Merchant of Venice is a 16th-century play written by the world-famous English playwright William Shakespeare. In the play, Bassanio is a young nobleman who borrows money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, so he can travel to Belmont in the hope of winning the hand of Portia, a rich heiress. In return for the loan, Bassanio’s close friend Antonio agrees to give up a “pound of flesh” if Bassanio can’t repay the loan. Bassanio is successful in wooing Portia and they agree to marry, but then Antonio receives news that his ships have been lost at sea and it will be impossible for him to give Shylock a pound of his flesh. When Shylock finds out about this, he sets out to get his revenge on Antonio.
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), a famous English playwright, probably went to school but not university.
Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets. He wrote sad stories called tragedies, like Romeo and Juliet, funny stories or comedies, romantic stories and stories about historical figures such as Julius Caesar.
About the writer
Read the text. What does each character want? What do they finally get?
Character What he/she wants He/She finally gets
Bassanio To win the hand of Portia His loved woman
Shylock To get his revenge on Antonio Nothing
Portia To save Antonio Success
Antonio To help his friend What he wants
the Duke To pass sentence What he wants
Suggested answer:
In group of 5, act out the drama.
Read the expressions from The Merchant of Venice that are still used today. What do they mean?
1. Everyone wants their “pound of flesh” from me.
To get the full amount of what somebody owes you by causing them to suffer and although you don’t really need it.
2. “All that glitters is not gold.”
3. All the wo