William Shakespare

a cura di J. Pignet
 In order to help his friend Bassanio court beautiful and rich Portia, Antonio asks Shylock, the Jewish money-lender, for a loan. As he is unable to return the sum in the arranged time, Antonio is forced to accept the agreed terms: a pound of his flesh will be cut off by Shylock! But Portia, disguised as a young lawyer, will save him very cleverly.
 This famous Shakespearian play deals with several themes, such as racial hatred, love and friendship, which are developed at the end of each chapter. 
 
 Teacher's Resources available online: Answer Key - Audioscripts - Key to Summing-up Activities.
 
 Per aiutare l'amico Bassanio a corteggiare la bella e ricca Porzia, Antonio chiede del denaro in prestito all'usuraio ebreo Shylock. Poiché non sarà in grado di restituire la cifra nei tempi stabiliti, dovrà sottostare al patto stipulato con l'usuraio: il prelievo di una libbra di carne dal proprio corpo. Ma sarà proprio Porzia, travestita da giovane avvocato, a salvarlo con astuzia e intelligenza.
 Questa famosa opera shakespeariana tratta diverse tematiche quali l'odio razziale, l'amore e l'amicizia, sviluppate nei dossier che arricchiscono il reader.

William Shakespeare

Chapter 1 – A great challenge

Extension: Cultural London

Chapter 2 – In search of happiness

Extension: Composition and Sources

Chapter 3 – The winds of fortune

Extension: Complex personalities

Chapter 4 – Claiming the penalty

Extension: The Serenissima

Chapter 5 – The trial

Extension: The Merchant of Venice on stage

Chapter 6 – Back to life

Extension: The Merchant of Venice on screen

Summing-up Activities

Glossary

miraculous deeds3 of christ and the Saints, and the mysteries (13th-14th Before Testatina centuries), organized by the guilds4 on the feast of corpus christi and covering episodes from the Bible. later (16th-17th centuries) morality plays became popular: they were no longer strictly religious, but intended to make sinners repent, showing the clash4 between personified vices and virtues. the place where plays were performed had also evolved: from the churches (main altar, nave6 and porch) to the pageants, or moving carts7, of the origins, to inns, where courtyards were ideal stages and permitted a good view of the performance. the shape of the inn was copied by the first permanent theatres built in Shoreditch, starting in 1576 with  the theatre , built by James Burbage (a carpenter turned actor), soon followed by  the curtain ,  the rose  and  the Swan . in 1599, Shakespeare and his associates built the most famous theatre of all across the thames,  the globe . What is interesting to notice, and what underlines the popular function of the elizabethan theatre, is its structure. it is true that two different sections of the theatre existed, one for the nobles and the rich (the balconies) and one for common spectators (the pitch). yet, there was no barrier in the form of a curtain to separate the actors from the audience, and often the standing spectators in the pitch could sit on the stage or touch the actors. in this way, the public s involvement with the action was complete and intense. A curtain separated the front stage from the inner stage, an area where the actors could change their costumes, though they didn t have many at their disposal. Above it was the upper stage, used every time apparitions, ghosts or supernatural presences were required or in scenes like the balcony one in Romeo and Juliet; while creatures from hell emerged from trap-doors on the stage floor. this was all an elizabethan performance required; there was no scenery and no furnishings8 as a setting for the action: the spectators had to imagine them from the few words and allusions made by the actors; perhaps sometimes a tree branch was used to suggest a forest, but otherwise the stage was bare9. The Globe Theatre 3. deed: action. 4. Guild: association of artisans and craftsmen. 5. clash: conflict. 6. nave: central part of a church. 7. carts: wagon. 8. furnishings: the furniture, curtains and other decorations in a room or building. 9. bare: empty. 18 

2 In search of happiness Chapter BEFORE READING 1 What do you expect will happen? tick the suggestion(s) you like best. a. Shylock will ask for b. Antonio will refuse Shylock s terms; an enormous rate of interest; accept the contract; a partnership with Antonio; decide to ask another a part of Antonio s body. money-lender. c. Bassanio will ask Antonio not to accept; implore Shylock to be generous; convince Antonio to agree. 2 match each of the following words to its corresponding definition. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. 3 transaction to break habit to remind penalty talkative goat blind notary 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Unable to see. Punishment for breaking rules. Talking a lot. Stop doing things in a certain way. Piece of business. Lawyer who can make documents valid. Make someone think of something. Medium sized animal with horns and a beard. Without looking at chapter 1, name: a. b. c. d. the rich heiress: ................................................................................................................ the Jewish usurer: ............................................................................................................ the rich merchant: ........................................................................................................... the young man who needs money: ...................................................................... Rialto Bridge (M. G. Marieschi, 1710-1743) 19 

Narrativa inglese, livello B1 pre-intermedio. Questa famosa opera shakespeariana tratta diverse tematiche quali l'odio razziale, l'amore e l'amicizia.

The Merchant of Venice - Collana RAINBOWS

Level B1 • Pre-Intermediate - Collana RAINBOWS

The Merchant of Venice

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