2. Setting/background Characters Conflicts Plot Beginning Rising
The basic
elements (要素)
of a play
Beginning
Rising
Climax/peak
Outcome

3. background
be set in
Location:
Venice, Italy
Historical period:
the Renaissance
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4. a rich businessman,
warm-hearted and generous
a rich and beautiful lady,
brave and smart
A’s best friend and
P’s lover, poor
A’s enemy, a greedy and
cruel businessman

5. Conflict:
Shylock vs Antonio
the devil vs the good
Beginning:
In order to help his best friend Bassanio marry Portia, Antonio borrowed 3,000 ducats from Shylock on condition that if A wouldn’t pack back the debt in 3 months, he would pay with a pound of flesh .

6. Rising: On the day when B married P, they received a letter from A and were informed that his ships were lost on the sea and he couldn’t pack back the money. S would demand the pound of flesh.
It was time that the judgement came.
At the court…

7. Antonio
Portia
the accused
Shylock
the lawyer
the accuser

8. What are the words that appear most frequently ,who stressed them and
what do they stand for ?
Duke and Portia
mercy
To save Antonio---
kindness
Shylock
Pound of flesh
To kill Antonio---
revenge

9. Theme:
mercy vs revenge
Symbol:
the pound of flesh

10. To have mercy on Antonio.
Careful reading
Scene 1
1.What does the Duke ask Shylock to do ?
2.What is Shylock’s reply?
To have mercy on Antonio.
He demands his pound of flesh.
3.What does Bassanio offer?
He offeres six thousands ducats for the three thousand that Antonio borrowed.
4.What is Shylock’s reply?
He still demands his pound of flesh.

11. 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 judgment.
C. he trusted the laws of Venice and refused to change his mind.

12. It seems that the Duke at the court supported ___________.
A. Portia  　　
B. Antonio  　
C. Shylock 　　
D. none of them

13. Strongly ask for _________ again.
Scene 2
Portia’s performances and Shylock's reactions
still ask for________
Feel very ________
Strongly ask for _________ again.
Feel very _____ and prepare to _______
First try to persuade Shylock_________
Then pretend not to agree to change_____
And then try to persuade Shylock_________
Finally allow Shylock to__________

14. Balance is another symbol in the play. What does it mean?
1.A common balance is to weigh things you buy.
The good go into the right scale while the weight goes into the left scale.

15. 2.Portia makes it clear that Shylock can only
take exactly one pound of flesh from Antonio.
3.The deeper meaning of balance is to find justice at the court.

16. I’ll pay him back with all my heart.
(1) Figurative meaning: I am very sincere and grateful to pay you back all the money.
(2)Literal meaning:
I will pay you back by giving my own life.

17. Portia allows Shylock to take the pound of flesh.

18. Bassanio takes Antonio in his arms and says goodbye.

19. What will happen next?
Climax

20. Read the play, pay attention to the three “waits” :
Scene 3
Read the play, pay attention to the three “waits” :
The first wait : It’s the turning point of the trial . Portia raises an impossible task. What is it?
The second wait : It gives Shylock a stronger hit. What is it?
The third wait : It leads to Shylock’s final lose. What is it?

21. How does Antonio show his mercy to Shylock?

22. Mercy versus Revenge
What would you do if you were in a situation where your worst enemy
were in your power ?

23. Why did Portia have to act as a boy?
1.Women were not allowed to do such super jobs during this period.
2.The Renaissance demanded the right of women.

24. Homework
Choose one of the scenes and choose your
partners; your script can be both an original
or an adapted one; practice and act it out.