Unit 19 The Merchant of The Merchant of

VeniceVenice

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

For any Englishman, there can never be any discussion as to who is the world’s greatest poet and dramatist. Only one name can possibly suggest itself to him, that of

William ShakespeareShakespeare.

The Merchant of VeniceThe Merchant of Venice

A Brief Introduction

Task 1:Task 1:

Can any of you tell Can any of you tell us this famous us this famous story?story?

• The Merchant of VeniceThe Merchant of Venice is the most outstanding is the most outstanding “romantic” comedy written by “romantic” comedy written by William Shakespeare, the William Shakespeare, the British playwright and poet of British playwright and poet of Renaissance. Renaissance.

Task 2Task 2 Read……

• This play is mainly about the process of a story that Shylock, a cruel and greedy moneylender, is punished by Antonio, a merchant of Venice, with the help of his friends--Portia and Bassanio. The central theme of the play is the triumph of love (between Portia and Bassanio) and friendship (between Antonio and Bassanio) over insatiable greed and brutality (as presented by Shylock). A happy ending is brought about when Shylock is punished.

Here we can see the true progressive Here we can see the true progressive significance of The Merchant of Venice significance of The Merchant of Venice and of its author, consistent hatred for the and of its author, consistent hatred for the oppressors and sympathy for the oppressors and sympathy for the oppressed. Meanwhile, it provides us an oppressed. Meanwhile, it provides us an opportunity to learn some language points opportunity to learn some language points as well as revising Direct and Indirect as well as revising Direct and Indirect speech.speech.

Task 2Task 2 Read……

• Shakespeare, more perhaps than any other writer, Shakespeare, more perhaps than any other writer, made full use of the great resources of the English made full use of the great resources of the English language. Most of us use about five thousand words in language. Most of us use about five thousand words in our normal employment of English~ Shakespeare in his our normal employment of English~ Shakespeare in his works used about twenty-five thousand! There is works used about twenty-five thousand! There is probably no better way for foreigner to appreciate the probably no better way for foreigner to appreciate the richness and variety of the English language than by richness and variety of the English language than by studying the various ways in which Shakespeare uses it. studying the various ways in which Shakespeare uses it. Such a study is well worth the effort, even though some Such a study is well worth the effort, even though some aspects of English usage, and the meaning of many aspects of English usage, and the meaning of many words, have changed since Shakespeare's Day.words, have changed since Shakespeare's Day.

Task 3Task 3 Read and know more……

• It is paradoxical that we should know comparatively little about the life of the greatest English author. We know that Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon, and that he died there in 1616. He almost certainly attended the Grammar School in the town, but of this we cannot be sure. We know he was married there in 1582 to Anne Hathaway and that he had three children, a boy and two girls. We know he spent much of his life in London writing his masterpieces. But this is almost all that we do know.

Task 3Task 3 Read and know more……

Page65---Look at the warming up. Try the

exercises:

• Suggested answers to Suggested answers to Exercise I:Exercise I:

1 “To be or not to be: that is the question.”

HamletHamlet

Meaning: Is it possible or not? Is he alive Is it possible or not? Is he alive or not?or not?

2 “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

King Henry IVKing Henry IV

Meaning: The life of leaders isn’t easy. HaviThe life of leaders isn’t easy. Having many responsibilities, leaders ong many responsibilities, leaders often van’t sleep well.ften van’t sleep well.

3 “Neither a borrower or a lender be”

HamletHamlet

Meaning: Be careful to take or give money to Be careful to take or give money to others.others.

4 “Romeo, why are you Romeo? Deny your father, and refuse your name…”

Romeo & JulietRomeo & Juliet

Meaning:If only you had a different name, we If only you had a different name, we would not have this problem.would not have this problem.

5 “Words, words, only words, no matter from the heart.”

Troilus and CressidaTroilus and Cressida

Meaning:It is all empty words, and there isn’t It is all empty words, and there isn’t any truth in them. / You just talk, but any truth in them. / You just talk, but you don’t mean it.you don’t mean it.

6 “A pound of flesh.”

The merchant of VeniceThe merchant of Venice

Meaning: A harsh demand or terrible A harsh demand or terrible punishmentpunishment

7 “All the world’s a stage.”

As you like itAs you like it

Meaning: Life should not be taken too Life should not be taken too seriously.seriously.

8 “My salad days.”

Anthony and CleopatraAnthony and Cleopatra

Meaning: When I was youngWhen I was young

Listening comprehensions

1 Venice.

2 About three months.

3 3,000 ducats.

4 A pound of flesh from any part of his body.

Answers to Exercise 1Answers to Exercise 1

Page 66

Answers to Exercise 2:

• ShylockShylock is a cruel businessman. He lends Antonio 3,000 ducats.

• PortiaPortia is a rich and beautiful woman. She will marry Bassanio. She also acts the role of the lawyer.

• AntonioAntonio is a rich businessman who likes to help other people. He helps his friend Bassanio, but because of that he gets into trouble with Shylock.

•BassanioBassanio is Antonio’s best friend. He gets married with Portia, after financial help from Antonio.

•The DukeThe Duke is the King or the president of Venice. He is also the head of the court.

Listen again and fill in the blanks• 1 Bassanio, Antonio's best friend, is ______

_______ Portia. Portia is a rich and beautiful lady. She loves Bassanio ____they cannot get married because he is too______. Then, Bassanio asks Antonio to _____him three thousand ducats. Being ________money just then, Antonio goes to Shylock to borrow the money. Shylock has always ____Antonio, because Antonio has often ___________shown how cruel and terrible Shylock is.

in love with in love with

butbutpoorpoor

lendlendshort of short of

hatedhated

in publicin public

• 2 Shylock _______to lend Antonio the money, but Antonio must __________to allow Shylock to take a pound of his _______ from any part of his body ____he cannot pay the money back _____three months. Antonio agrees to this, _______the money and _______it to Bassanio.

agreesagrees

promisepromisefleshflesh

ififafterafter

takesgivesgives

1. Useful expressions: 2. Correct me if I’m wrong, but…3. You shouldn’t forget that…4. What shouldn’t be forgotten is…5. One of the most important facts is...6. The way I would go about it…7. But in this particular case…8. As far as I know…9. After all

Speaking-- Speaking-- page66page66

Speaking-- Speaking-- page66page66

S1: Iam sure many people perhaps hate somebody, but that is no reason to want to kill someone.

S2: Right. You can hate somebody, but you must still be polite.

S3: Well. 1 think that what Antonio did was just very stupid. It is never a good idea to ask your biggest enemy for help. You shouldn't forget that you can never trust your enemies.

S4: I agree. If you place yourself in the power of your enemies, they will do something bad.

S2: So, what would you do?

Mercy versus Mercy versus RevengeRevenge

S4: Well. I would not kill my enemy, but I suppose I would also try to make life hard for him.

S3: Yes. You just tell them to give you all they have. They must sell their house, car, computer: everything.

S1: But what if someone doesn't have any money? Like Antonio?

S2: That is still no reason to kill them. As far as I know, you can have them put in prison for not paying back to you.

S3: Yes, but then you cannot get anything?S2: Is getting something the most important them?S4: Of course.S2: Well, I think you must always show you are better

than your worst enemy. Andthat means you must show mercy. After all, we are all human.

Let’s have a restLet’s have a rest

Language study in this part

• Merchant

• Deny

• Pay back / pay sb. back

• Have mercy on… 对…怜悯• Revenge

• Go about: 开始做 ; 着手于

• Deny:Deny: v. 否认 , 拒绝 To declare untrue; To refuse to believe; reject

e.g. The protesters were determined not to be denied.

抗议者决定不达目的不罢休 He said that I had stolen his bicycle,

but I denied it. 他说我偷了他的自行车，可是我否认

了。 He denies his wife nothing. 他对她有求必应。

2.2. Pay backPay back / pay sb. Back 还钱 ; 偿还 I will pay him back all my heart.

Have you paid me back the money you own me yet?

Can you lend me some money - I can pay you back tomorrow.

你能借给我点儿钱吗？我明天就可以还给你。

• pay off: 还清；成功 Did your plan pay off? 你的计划成功了

吗？Our plan certainly paid off; it was a great

idea." 我们的计划当然成功了 , 那是个很好的主意。“

• pay out: 花费；支出I paid out a lot of money for that car.为了那辆汽车我花了不少钱。• pay up: （不情愿地）付清；还清（债

务

• Have mercy on…

• 3. Mercy3. Mercy: 仁慈 , 宽恕 , 怜悯• show mercy to sb. 对某人起了怜悯之

心• It was a mercy that no one was hurt.

没有人受伤真是幸运• It's a mercy that the explosion happen

ed after the theatre." 爆炸发生在散戏以后 , 真是不幸中之大幸。 "

• at the mercy of: Without any protection against; helpless before: 任由…摆布；在…面前无助：

E.g. :

• They were drifting in an open boat, at the mercy of the elements. 在一敞篷船中漂泊，任由暴风雨摆布

• 4. go aboutgo about: To set about to do; undertake: 着手做；承担：

• Go about your chores in a responsible way. 请以负责的态度去做你的工作

• 5. revenge:revenge: n. 报仇 , 复仇 To inflict punishment in return

I broke Mary's pen by accident, and in revenge she tore up my school work.我不留心弄坏了玛丽的钢笔，出于报复，她撕掉了我的作业。