(
课件网) UNIT 10 UNIT 10 CONNECTIONS THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 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. 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. 1. holding up her hand to interrupt interrupt v. 1) to stop someone from continuing what they are saying or doing by suddenly speaking to them, making a noise etc. 打断(某人的)讲话，中断（某人的）行动; 打扰 e.g. She tried to explain what had happened but he kept interrupting her. 她试图解释发生了什么事，但他一直打断她。 interruption n. 中断; 中止; 阻碍 e.g. I worked all morning without interruption. 我整个上午都在不间断地工作。 I found it hard to work with all the noise and constant interruptions. 我发现在所有的噪音和不断的干扰下工作很难。 2. Fall to your knees, therefore, and ask the Duke for forgiveness. fall/sink/drop to your knees 跪下 e.g. He fell to his knees and begged for mercy. 他跪下乞求宽恕。 knee 短语 1) at one’s mother’s / father’s) knee 儿时 e.g. I learned to speak French at my mother’s knee. 我小时候学会了法语。 2) on ... ...
