Unit 19

The Merchant of Venice

script 手稿 playbook 剧本 scene 一幕 /一场

director 导演 actor 男演员 actress 女演员

leading role 主角 part/role 角色

hero 男主角 opera 歌剧

heroine 女主角 pantomime 舞剧

dub 配音 drama 戏剧 , 话剧

setting 布景 Shaoxing opera 越剧

stage 舞台 Peking opera 京剧

Drama and theatre :

剧场，戏院 theatre 喜剧 comedy

线索 clue 悲剧 tragedy

情节 plot 悲喜剧 tragicomedy

故事梗概 outline 独幕剧 one-act play

对白 dialogue 舞台剧 stage play

独白 monologue 服装 costumes

旁白 aside 道具 property

台词 lines 剧作家 playwright /author

编剧 playwriting 创作 create

排练 Rehearse 表演 perform

The Merchant of Venice

A Venetian merchant of huge wealth. He makes his money from trade,much liked by his friends. He is always ready to help others.

A successful Jewish moneylender. He lends the 3,000 ducats to Antonio.He asks Antonio to pay with one pound of his flesh if the debt is not repaid on time.

The romantic lead of this play.He is Antonio’s friend. He marries Portia.He borrows a lot of money from Antonio.

The heroine of this play.Portia is a wealthy and beautiful woman who is desired by many men. She also possesses a sharp mind,which saves Antonio from doom at the hands of Shylock.

As judge over the court case between Shylock and Antonia,he has the power to pardon a death sentence.In the play,he is put in a difficult position by Shylock;he doesn’t want Antonio to die,but to ignore Shylock’s legal rights would be to place all of Venice in disrepute as a place to conduct business.

Duke

Antonio Shylock

Bassanio Portia

(merchant) (money-Lender)

enemies

husband & wife

friends

(authority of the city)

Pre-reading

1.What are the three most important characters in the play?

Shylock Antonio Portia

2.What do you think Portia will do to save Antonio?

listening

Listen to the play and then judge the following sentences whether true or false.

1)The Duke encouraged Shylock to cut off the flesh from Antonio.( )

2)Shylock insisted on taking the pound of flesh to support or trust the law of Venice. ( ) 3) The case is a most troublesome one.( )

4) Everyone had mercy on Antonio but Shylock.( ) 5) Shylock gave up taking the flesh when he realised the meaning of showing mercy on others.( ) 6) Portia ,a learned judge , made a fair and just judgement according to the law.( )

1.The Duke encouraged Shylock to cut off the flesh from Antonio.( )

2.Shylock insisted on taking the pound of flesh to support or trust the law of Venice. ( )

F

F

3) The case is a most troublesome one.( )

4) Everyone had mercy on Antonio but Shyl

ock.( )

5) Shylock gave up taking the flesh when he

realised the meaning of showing mercy on o

thers.( )

6) Portia ,a learned judge , made a fair and j

ust judgement according to the law.( )

T

T

F

F

Read the text carefully and then answer the following questions.

1.What does the Duke ask Shylock to do ?

What do you think of the Duke’s character?

2.What’s Shylock’s reply?

3.What does Bassanio offer?

4.What is Shylock’s reply?5.What mustn’t Shylock take? 6.What does Shylock decide to take instead of the pound of flesh?7.Why can’t he take the money instead? 8.What does Shylock has to do in the end?

1.What does the Duke ask Shylock to do ?

What do you think of the Duke’s character?

2.What’s Shylock’s reply?

To have mercy on Antonio.

He demands his pound of flesh.

kind merciful

3.What does Bassanio offer?

4.What is Shylock’s reply?

He offers six thousands ducats for the three thousand that Antonio borrowed

He still demands his pound of flesh.

5.What mustn’t Shylock take?

6.What does Shylock decide to take instead of the pound of flesh?

7.Why can’t he take the money instead?

8.What does Shylock has to do in the end?

He mustn’t take any blood out of Antonio.

Because he only wants justice.

He has to give half his money to his daughter and give the other half to the city of Venice.

He decides to take three times the money more than Antonio borrowed from him.

Post reading

1)Why does Shylock prefer to take his pound of

flesh instead of money from Bassanio?

2) How does Portia help to save Antonio? Why

does she do so?

3) What are the two meanings of “I’ll pay him back

with all my heart ”?

1)Why does Shylock prefer to take his pound of flesh instead of money from Bassanio?

Because Antonio is his enemy ,so he wants to use this opportunity to kill him.

Because Antonio is her husband -Bassanio’s friend, and lent money to Bassanio ; what ’more what Shylock does is not reasonable.

2) How does Portia help to save Antonio? Why does she do so?

She finds a legal flaw by her wisdom,

attends the trial as a learned judge, and then defends Antonio successfully.

a. Figurative meaning :I’m very sincere and grateful to pay you back all the money.

b.Literal meaning: I’ll pay you back by giving my own heart / life.

3) What are the two meanings of “I’ll pay him back with all my heart ”?

4.What do you think of the “judge” and her judgement?

• Be a gentleman first and a soldier second

5.What kind of play does it belong to, comedy or tragedy?

It’s a comedy.Because in a comedy the good wins and the bad loses,otherwise it’s

a tragedy.The Merchant of Venice belongs to the former.

analyse the structure the play

• Background:Antonio and Bassanio borrow

3,000 ducats from Shylock.However,there is a catch:if the debt is not repaid on time,

Antonio as security will pay with one pound of his flesh.

Problem:Antonio and Bassanio are not able

to pay the debt.Antonio’s ships arelost.Shylock

starts demanding his pound of flesh.

•

Conflicts

Shylock insisted on taking a pound of flesh because Antonio could not pay back the Money he borrowed on time.

Rising action:

The Duke tells Shylock to have mercy on Antonio. Bassanio promises to pay twice or even ten times the money that Antonio has borrowed. Portia tells Shylock to be merciful, but Shylock insists on having his pound of flesh.

Climax:

Portia declares Shylock may have a pound of flesh to cut nearest to Antonio’s heart, no more, no less. And if Shylock lets one drop of Antonio’s blood fall, he will lose all his land and money.

Outcome:

Shylock begs for mercy. He is punished, though not killed.

Portia not only saved Antonio but also Made Shylock give half of his money to the city of Venice.

Analyse the main characters. Find sentences in the text to support your ideas.

greedy and mean

cold-blooded stone-hearted

vengeful( 复仇心重的）

crafty( 狡诈的 )

Shylock:

Portia:

smart wise

kind merciful

decisive brave

generous

weak sheepish

kind friendly

Antonio:

I will take the money. Give me three times more than Antonio borrowed from me.

Take my life too. My money and goods are as dear to me as life itself. They are my only comfort. When you take those away from me, you also take my life.

Why must I have mercy on him? Tell me that!

I have done nothing wrong and I fear no judgment. I desire my pound of flesh.

I have sworn to heaven to have my pound of flesh. I must have it.

Antonio is my enemy, and I hate him.

If you offered me six times what you have just offered, I would still take my pound of flesh. Give me my pound of flesh.

Why must I have mercy on him? Tell me that!

I have promised to take my pound of flesh. If you won’t let me have it, that will be a sign of weakness and no one will trust your laws anymore. The greatness of Venice will be lost.

I ask for what is mine by law.

Oh, wise young judge!

I promise. Let me go home now. I am not well.

And Shylock, take your knife and prepare to do the deed. Have you brought sth. to weigh the flesh? A balance?

Did you bring a surgeon, shylock, to take care of Antonio’s wounds and make sure that he doesn't bleed to death?

You must cut off one pound of flesh, no more, no less. And not one drop of blood must fall.

Then Shylock must be merciful. He must have mercy on Antonio.

Mercy brings good. Mercy falls like the gentle rain from the sky upon the earth. We should learn to show mercy to others.

Therefore, go down on your knees and beg the Duke for mercy.

We cannot change a law. If one law is changed, then people will later want to change other laws.

That is the law. You wanted justice, so you shall get justice, more than you wanted.

She is a woman, but she can act as a wise judge and she manages to save Antonio.

Although Antonio’s ships are at sea and he has no money at hand, he borrows money from Shylock on the condition that if he can not pay the money back on time, Shylock will cut one pound of flesh from any part of his body.

My ships are all lost at sea and now I have to pay Shylock with a pound of my flesh…how I wish to see you before I die. If your love for me is not enough to lead you here, forget about the letter.

It’s useless trying to argue with Shylock. You might as well go stand upon the beach and argue with the sea. Don’t wait any longer. Pass judgment on me and give Shylock what he wants.

If Shylock cuts deep enough, I’ll pay him back with all my heart.

Farewell Bassanio. Don’t be sad for me.

I shall be happy to give up my part of Shylock’s money. Shylock must promise to leave the money upon his death to his daughter and her husband.

Bassanioa.I offer ten times the money that Antonio has borrowedb.Please change the law a little

Charactersimple-minded,with a clearsense of right and wrong,devoted to his friendlack of education

Reading Comprehension

Choose the right answer for each blank.1 Antonio was a merchant of Venice who was liked by everyone because ______.

A he was always happy to give others advice.

B he was always ready to lend money to others

C he never refused to help others2 Shylock was a moneylender, who ______.

A was glad to lend money to others without

conditions

B worked hard to make a lot of money

C was cruel and hated Antonio

C

C

3 Shylock lent Antonio three thousand ducats on condition that ________.

A Antonio would return the money within three months B Antonio would return the money with a pound of flesh C Antonio would let Shylock have a pound of his flesh if he failed to repay the money in time

4 Shylock refused to have mercy on Antonio because _______. A he hated Antonio and intended to kill him B he had done nothing wrong and feared no judgement C he trusted the laws of Venice and refused to change his mind

C

A

5. Which happened last in Part 1?

A. Shylock insisted on having one pound of Antonio’s flesh.

B. Portia declared that the law allowed Shylock to take Antonio’s flesh.

C. Antonio said his last words to Bassanio.

D. Portia warned Bassanio of the impossibility of changing the law.

6. It seems that the Duke at the court supported ___________.

A. Portia   　　 B. Antonio   　C. Shylock  　　 D. none of them

7. In writing style, this text is a _____________.

A.drama  　　

B. story  　

C. fable ( 寓言 ) 　

D. fairy tale （童话）

8The text mainly tells about___.

A.Antonio’s kindness B. Portia’s cleverness

C. Shylock’s cruelty D. all of the above

9. Antonio did business with ____.

A.people in Venice B. people in Italy

C. people in other countries D. people in the world

7. Antonio was a ____ person.

A.warm-hearted B. strong-willed

C. open-minded D. ill-tempered.

8.In the text the author shows us human being’s merit of ____.

A.bravery B. pride

C. kindness D. tolerance

9. Find out the right order:

A. Shylock insisted on having one pound of

Antonio’s flesh.

B. Portia asked Shylock to show his mercy on Antonio.

C. Antonio said his last words to Bassanio.

D. Portia warned Bassanio of the impossibility of changing the law.

B

A D C

the Merchant of Venice(2)

10.Shylock was charged with( 指控 ) ___.

A. murder B. stealing

C. cheat D. ill-treatment

11. To punish a murderer, the law of Venice would ___.

A. take everything that he owned away

B. sentence him to imprisonment

C. sentence him to death

D. both A and B

12. That Portia was able to defend Antonio was due to___.

A.her cleverness

B.B. a famous lawyer’s help

C. her husband’s support D. Both A and B

Discussion

1. What is usually weighed with a balance?

What goes into the scales left and right?

2. Why a balance is needed in the play?3. What’s the deeper meaning of the

balance?

6.A classical balance is often used as a symbol for The Merchant of Venice.

①What’s usually weighted with a balance?

②Why does Portia ask Shylock whether he bought a balance?

a balance is used to weigh things you want to buy. The goods for sale go into the left scale, and the weight goes into the right scale.

to make sure that he can only take exacatly one pound of flesh from Antonio.

③What’s the deeper meaning of the balance? What’s weighted in Portia’s court of law?

The deeper meaning of the balance is to weight the argument of Shylock against the defense of Antonio. To pass judgement , the judge must find the right balance. It is the question what is fair and must that is really weighted in Portia’s court.

Read the following sentences that could be spoken in the play. Who says what and to whom?

sentence spoken by spoken to

“I feel sorry for you. You’ve come to face an enemy with a heart of stone, who knows neither pity nor mercy.”

“I don’t have to give you answers that will please you”“Don’t worry! Before he can even take one drop of your blood, he will first have to take my flesh, blood, bones and everything else.”“Don’t feel bad that a friend paid back the money you owed, but feel bad that you lost him.”

Duke Antonio

Shylock Bassanio

Bassanio Antonio

Antonio Bassanio

1. As far as I know… 据我所知…… as far as I’m concerned (=in my opinion) 就我而言 ; 依我之见 as far as they are concerned 就他们而言 as far as the eye can reach 就视力所及as far as prep. & conj. 远至某处。例如：They walked as far as the foot of a mountain. 他们走到山脚那么远。

2. after all 表结果与预想不同，“结果，终究”；置于句尾。表原因时，“毕竟，究竟” , 通常置于句首 (1) I expected to fail the exam, but I passed after all.(2) I thought I could come to see you this afternoon. but I’m not free now after all.(3) I know you’re tired. After all, you have been working all day.

4. go about + n/ ving 着手做；从事

It was a typical Monday morning and people were going about their work as usual.

That’s not the best way to go about it.

I have no idea how to go about mending a clock.

5. have mercy on/upon sb. / show mercy to sb. 宽恕、怜悯某人 (1) They have no mercy on the poor father and daughter. (2) Have mercy on me,please. 请宽恕我吧。 beg for mercy 乞求 / 请求宽恕 at the mercy of “ 任由…摆布，在…掌握中” (3)I shouldn’t like to be at the mercy of such a cruel man. (4) They were lost at sea,at the mercy of the winds and waves.

7. It’s no use / useless / no good doing做…没用 / 没有好处。例如：It’s no use crying over spilt milk. 不要为无益的事而后悔。 It’s no good drinking and smoking a lot. It is no use in arguing with him.

6. Be reasonable. 不要这样怀恨在心。reasonable adj. 1) 合理的；懂道理的，通情达理的 ; 2 ）适度的，不高的（价钱）a reasonable man 通情达理的人a reasonable price 公平的价格

8. You might as well go stand upon the beach and argue with the sea. 你倒不如站在海滩上与大海争论。may/might as well do sth. (as do sth. else) 还是做某事好，不如做某事。例如：

We may as well have a try and see if it can be done. 我们还是试一试，看看能否办成。There is nothing to do, so I may as well go to bed. 没什么事可做，我还是上床睡觉好了。

10. pay for 补偿；受…报应 pay off 还清 pay back 偿还He paid back his debts.He paid me back 100 dollars.

9.Pass judgment on me and give Shylock what he wants. 对我宣判吧，… judgment [U] 宣判，审判。例如：pass judgement on sb. 对某人进行宣判The judgment is against her. 那项判决对她不利。

11. times 在此表示三倍以上的倍数。用 times 表示“甲是乙的几倍大（长、宽、高等）”，“甲比乙大（长、高、宽等）几倍”，可以用下列句型： ① A is … times the size ( length / height /width ) of B This street is four times the length of that one. 这条街是那条街的 4 倍长。（ = 这条街比那条街长 3 倍。） ② A is … times as big ( long , high , wide ) as B Asia is four times as large as Europe. 亚洲是欧洲的四倍大。（亚洲比欧洲大三倍。）

③ A is … times bigger ( longer , higher ) than B The meeting-room is three times bigger than our office. 会议室比我们的办公室大三倍。 ④ 三倍以下通常用 double 或者 twice 来表达两倍。 His weight is double what it was ten years ago. This railway is twice longer than that one. The room is twice the size of that one. = This room is twice as big as that one.

12. How can you hope for mercy yourself when you show none?" 如果你不宽恕别人，你自己怎能希望得到别人的宽恕呢？ "1 ） hope for“ 希望，盼望”。Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.抱最好的希望，作最坏的准备。We hope for an early answer to our letter.盼早日赐覆。2 ） "when" 在这里相当于 if 。She'll be here to give you help when necessary. 如果需要，她就来给你帮忙。

13. I do not envy you your job.我并不羡慕您的职业。envy vt. (envied-- envied –envying) 羡慕；妒嫉 envy sb. sth.I don't envy you your journey in this bad weather.我并不羡慕你在这种坏天气去旅行。How I envy you! 我真羡慕你 !

14. This is a most troublesome case. 这是一个最麻烦的案子。“a most + adj.+ 可数名词的单数形式”，不表最高级，仅表程度，“非常；十分” , most 相当于“ very”

I found him to be a most interesting boy.It is most beautiful. (very)

He asked us a most important question.He asked us the most important question on the subject.

15. Please be seated. 请坐下。

(1)Michael seated himself at the desk and began to read.(2)He looked carefully and found her seated at the back of the hall.(3) Seated in the first row,the boy listened carefully.

seat vt 1 ）意为 "使…就座 " ，宾语为反身动词，即 seat oneself ，或用 be seated 。

2 ） seat 供以座位 ; 可容纳The hall seats 2000. 这个会场有两千个座位。

16. What do you accuse of? 你起诉什么？accuse vt. 控告；指控accuse someone of sth. 指控某人某事

The police accused him of murder.The police accused him of stealing.

17. My fate is a consequence of bad fortune. 只怨我运气不好。consequence n. 结局；结果as a consequence 因而；结果As a consequence of being in hospital, Shelly decided that she wanted to become a nurse. 由于在医院的缘故，谢莉决定当一名护士。18. according to “根据…” ;“按照…” to 介词According to Tom, Jane got married last month. 据汤姆说，…I’ll do everything according to your instructions.

19. tear (tore, torn) vt. & vi. 撕裂；撕开(1)He tore the letter to pieces.(2)She tore the skirt on a nail. 她的裙子被钉子钩破了。tear up 撕碎The magician tore up a $5 note and then made it whole again.

tear down 推倒（建筑物）；摧毁These old house are being tearing down to make a way for a new road.

20. swear vt. & vi. (swore, sworn) 发誓；断言。(1) swear to do sth.(2) swear that… He swore that he would never drink. (=He swore never to drink.) 他发誓说决不再喝酒。I swear that you are wrong. 我断言你错了。

21. Antonio, get ready and offer up your breast. 安东尼奥，准备好献出你的胸膛。 offer 献出 例如：They offer up a lamb to God. 他们向神献出羔羊。 She offered him a cup of tea. 她给他一杯茶。offer up: present献出；献上 eg:offer up a sacrifice 奉献；牺牲；献祭

22. And Shylock take your knife and prepare to do the deed. 夏洛克，拿起你的刀准备割吧。 do the deed 付诸行动，实施。例如： deed [U] 行为 , 事实。如： To help the poor is a good deed. A friend in need is a friend in deed. 患难见真交。do good deeds 就是“做好事”的意思。Lei Feng did a lot of good deeds.

23. a balance 你带来了称肉的器具吗？balance n. 秤 , 天平 , 平衡the balance of the nature 生态平衡24.bleed to death 因流血过多致死to 表程度，“到” fight to death beat to death starve to death25. take … in one‘s arms “拥抱”。上课铃声一响，老师就抱着书走进了教室。The teacher went into classroom ， taking some books in his arms.

26. I declare the court allows it and the law gives it to you.我宣布法庭许可你这样做，法律把它判给你。declare vt. 宣告；发表；公告。例如： They will declare the results of the election soon. 他们将很快公布选举的结果。I declare this meeting open. 本人宣布本次会议开始。He declared that he was right. 他声称他是对的。

27. However, he agreed to lend Antonio the money on one condition.condition [U] & [C] 状态，健康状态；条件。(1) My car is old but in good condition.(2) He has been out of condition for two weeks.(3)Their working conditions are improving.

①on condition that 在…条件下。后接同位语从句，相当于 if/ only if 例如：He’ll lend you the money on condition that you return it on time.他会把钱借给你，条件是你要按时归还。

②on no condition 决不On no condition shall I agree. 我决不会同意。You should on no condition go to the party.

= if/ only if

I can lend you the money on this condition.

28. I ask you to let him stand in my place and give judgment. in one’s place=in place of 代替某人。 The manager is away and I’ll attend the meeting in his place (in place of the manager). 经理不在，我将代替他出席会议。 Who will go in my place?in one’s place 在适当的位置上。Everything in the room is in it’s place.房间里一切都井井有条。The bookshelf is out of place here.书架放这里不协调。

27. He is young, but I never seen so young a body with so wise a head.so adv. 如此，非常。so + adj. + a/an + n.＝ such + a/an + adj. + n.I’ve never seen so beautiful a child.He wrote so good a book as his first one.如果形容词前有 as, so, too, how 时 a/an 就该放在形容词后， as/ too/ so/how+ adj. +a/an +n. It is too serious a matter.How interesting a speech he made!However cold it is, he kept taking exercise.

28. shall (1) shall和第一、三人称连用，在疑问句中表示征求意见或许可。如：Shall I/he come in? 我 / 他可以进来吗？(2)shall和第二人称连用，在陈述句中表示命令、允诺、警告、威胁、决心等语气。 You shall get the book tomorrow. (允诺 ) 你明天就可以拿这本书了。 You shall be sorry for what you have done. （警告） I shall never do such a thing, never! ( 决心 ) 这种事我绝对不干，决不！

29. Therefore, go down on your knees and beg the Duke for mercy. 因此，你赶快跪下求公爵开恩吧。 go/fall down on one’s knees （为了祈祷、服从）下跪。例如：He went down on his knees to beg a chance to him. 他下跪请求给他一次机会。

bend one’s knees 屈膝bend the knee to sb. 屈服于某人

30. upon(=on) ＋ n / ving 就在某时或某场合之后(1)Upon my arrival home, I found there were something strange.

When I arrived home, …….

(2)On asking for information, I was told I must wait.

= When I asked for information, …