(
课件网) 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 world is “a stage where every man must play a part”. Sometimes we judge people or situations favourably by what they look like and then we find out that things were not as they appeared to be. There are many occasions in everyday life when one needs to pretend and in some way be an actor. Why is Shakespeare’s work still popular today Which work do you like best Share your answers with the class. One possible answer: His works looked at common human themes, such as betrayal, murder, lust, power, ambition and love. These themes are as much a part of human nature today as they were all those years ago and are the themes we see in modern soap operas and Hollywood films. 1. holding up her hand to interrupt interrupt v. to say or do sth. that makes sb. stop what they are saying or doing 打断(某人的)讲话，中断(某人的)行动，打扰 e.g. Sorry to interrupt, but I need to talk to you. She tried to explain what had happened but he kept ... ...
