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

in the 15th century, venice started a policy of expansion on the Before3 and Testatina so came into collision first with the Scaligeri of verona mainland and then with the visconti of milan. By the end of the century, the venetian frontiers ran from the coast near monfalcone up to the Alps and down along the Adda and the po to the sea. in the 16th century, the rich venetians converted part of their capital from credit and commerce to agriculture and invested great sums of money in country villas and lands. yet venice s mercantile power began to decline: its possessions in the levant were gradually captured by the expanding ottoman turks and its commercial trade was drastically reduced by the opening of the cape route to the indies (1486). in addition, the discovery of America (1492) moved the great traffic routes to the Atlantic and trade passed to the portuguese, Dutch and english. By the 15th century,venice had become a great market for exchange between the east and europe, a place where a variety of cultures mixed and combined, full of activities and artisans (ceramists, painters glassworkers, makers of lace4 and silk). So the noble families, the rich merchants and the various confraternities built beautiful, decorated palaces on the grand canal. painting developed relatively late in venice with the Bellinis in the 15th and early 16th centuries followed by the masters of the venetian school titian, tintoretto and paolo veronese. the Serenissima was already famous in Shakespeare s times for its many festivals which celebrated the most important events in its history, like the marriage of the Sea (on Ascension Day), when the Doge on his gala gondola, Il Bucintoro, throws5 a ring into the waters of the Adriatic. Also carnival, which began in the 11th century and marks a moment of wild licentiousness6 before lent7, was also well known abroad. air with force, especially by a sudden movement of the arm. 6. licentiousness: immorality. 7. Lent: period of penitence before Easter. 3. mainland: continent. 4. lace: delicate ornamental network for clothes. 5. throws: sends something through the 58 

5 The trial Chapter BEFORE READING 1 What do you remember about the female characters? Portia: ........................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... Nerissa: ........................................................................................................................................ .......................................................................................................................................................... Jessica: ........................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... 2 What do you expect will happen? tick ( ) the answer you think best. a. Jessica will be sorry about what she did. return what she took away. be happy and remorseless. b. Nerissa will refuse to wear a man s clothes. really go to convent. follow Portia and help her. c. Portia will go to a convent as she said. go to Venice to help Antonio. go to Venice to spy on her husband. 3 match the words in the two columns with letters with their opposites in the columns with numbers. a. b. c. d. love (n.) fear (n.) like (v.) cruelty (n.) 1. mercy 2. slave 3. give up 4. hate e. f. g. h. gain (n.) continue (v.) freeman (n.) stand (v.) A stage version at the Phoenix Theatre, London (1989) 5. kneel 6. dislike 7. courage 8. loss 

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

Flowbooks è una piattaforma di distribuzione dedicata al mondo della scuola e dell'università.  Con questa piattaforma di distribuzione, il team di sviluppo Flowbooks  si impegna a soddisfare le esigenze degli utenti digitali, rendendo l'utilizzo accessibile e piacevole.  Entra nella tua area di interesse!

Edisco è una Casa editrice indipendente che opera prevalentemente nel settore educativo.

Edisco

Flowbooks è innovazione didattica a portata di click