The Merchant of Venice Notebook Check

Transcription

1 The Merchant of Venice Notebook Check 1. Anticipation Guide 2. Background Information 3. Characterization 4. Act I Reading Guide 5. Act II Reading Guide 6. Act III Reading Guide 7. Act IV Reading Guide 8. Act V Reading Guide 9. Choices and Results 10. Shylock s Revenge

2 Notebook Check 1: Anticipation Guide Create a concept map to explain the connection(s) between/among money, love, religion, law, marriage, justice, and mercy. Be specific in your explanations and provide examples when necessary. Love Money Religion Mercy Law Justice Marriage

3 Notebook Check 2: Background and Author Information The Play 1. Written between and, The Merchant of Venice is a about and, and, and most importantly, it tackles the between two religions. 2. Although The Merchant of Venice is classified as a comedy, the play's notable scenes are what it is mostly remembered for. 3. The play is known for and the famous " speech. 4. It is also known for speech about ". Historical Circumstances 5. In England, the official religion was and all other faiths were strongly. 6. The very few that were in England practiced their faith in secret and faced extreme prejudice as they did in the whole of Europe. 7. Jews in England were a target of and. 8. Throughout history, Jews have frequently been prevented from doing or -- so few money-making options were open to them. 9. They were, however, allowed to and charge interest on it, sometimes called. 10. were forbidden from charging interest by the New Testament and thought of usury as. 11. Public perception of the Jews was not helped by the fact that many Jews became rich through money lending, thus creating the impression that they were making money out of other people's. The Setting 12. Shakespeare set his play here because it is a and location.

4 13. Given the of Jews from England, it was also a place where the Jew, Shylock, could live. 14. Additionally, Venice is famous for and a likely setting for. 15. Venice: a. Associated with,, and. b. The "real" world where rule. c. are dominant. d. People in Venice are and. i. Shylock insists on a pound of Antonio's flesh as. 16. Belmont: a. Site of estate. b. Fairy-tale world associated with and. c. are dominant. d. People in Belmont are characterized by and. i. Portia offers her to Bassanio to. Influences and Inspiration 17. Part of the plot may have been inspired by a during that time. 18. In 1594,, the Queen's and a Portuguese Jew, was tried and executed for attempting to. 19. The case also inspired a wave of anti-jewish feeling in England. Religious References: Old vs. New Testament 20. Old Testament: a. b. / Retribution c. Letter of Law d. A Daniel come to judgment 21. New Testament: a. b. / Forgiveness c. Spirit of Law

5 d. Quality of Mercy is not strained Potential Conflict for Bassanio s Love Shylock s Conversion to Christianity 22. From point of view. a. Shylock cannot be without Christ. b. They are doing him a. 23. From point of view. a. Shylock is condemned to be. i. He cannot associate with. ii. The Christians. b. They are imposing a penalty losing all his money. Couples 24. a. Realistic couple- not just bond with father, must include love (excessive feeling but trying to maintain golden mean) 25. a. Sexual couple- bet stake down and protecting Nerissa s ring 26. a. Romantic couple- references to famous lovers

6 Notebook Check 3 Characterization Chart Character Description Shylock Portia Antonio Bassanio

7 Gratiano Jessica Lorenzo Nerissa

8 Launcelot Gobbo The Prince of Morocco The Prince of Arragon Salarino Solanio Salerio

9 The Duke of Venice Gobbo Tubal Doctor Bellario Balthazar Stephano Leonardo

10 Notebook Check 4 Act I Reading Guide Act I, scene i 1. How does Antonio feel as the scene opens? What explanations to Salerio and Solanio offer to account for his mood? How does Antonio respond? 2. What insight does Gratiano offer about how a person s appearance can be misleading? How do Lorenzo s Bassanio s comments on Gratiano force us to see him in another light? 3. What do we learn about Bassanio s financial state? Why does he need money? 4. How does Bassanio describe Portia? Are his motives for her hand love or money? 5. Why can t Antonio help Bassanio financially? How do they resolve to solve the issue? Act I, scene ii 1. Note Portia s first line. Whose line does this echo? 2. What is Portia s situation and why does she find it upsetting? How has her father helped create this situation? What does Nerissa say to try to console her? 3. The roll call of suitors gives us both a sense of Portia s status and an opportunity for Shakespeare to poke fun at other nationalities. How does he stereotype the various suitors for comic effect?

11 4. What is Nerissa s and Portia s opinion of Bassanio? Act I, scene iii 1. What are Bassanio and Shylock discussing? How is the issue settled? 2. Why will Shylock not dine with Bassanio? 3. What motivation does Shylock reveal in his aside? What do we learn about Antonio from this speech? 4. Shylock notes scripture to try to defend taking interest. In his aside to Bassanio, does Antonio characterize Shylock s reading of the story of Jacob? 5. What is the final agreement between Shylock and Antonio? Notebook Check 5 Act II Reading Guide Act II, scene i 1. What are the prominent personality qualities of Morocco? What happens to suitors who choose the wrong casket? Act II, scene ii 1. What is Lancelet pondering? What is his final decision? 2. How does Lancelet treat his father? Why is Bassanio hiring? Does Lancelet get the job?

12 3. What does Lancelet say about Fortune? Where else does this issue come up in the play? 4. Where is Bassanio going? Why? Why does he not want to take Gratiano? Act II, scene iii 1. What does Jessica ask Lancelet to do? What is her plan? How is her situation similar to Lancelet s? (Look back to his speech from the last scene.) Act II, scene iv 1. What are the plans of Lorenzo and his friends? 2. What does Jessica say in her letter? 3. What message is Lancelet bringing to Shylock? Act II, scene v 1. How does Shylock feel about the invitation to the masque? 2. How does Shylock feel about Lancelet working for Bassanio? Act II, scene vi 1. What are Lorenzo and Gratiano suggesting about love in their comments? 2. How does Jessica escape? What does she bring with her?

13 Act II, scene vii 1. Note the materials and messages of the three caskets. Which do you think the right suitor should choose? 2. What casket does Morocco choose? Why does he decide it is the correct one? 3. What message does the casket contain? 4. How does Portia feel about Morocco s failure? Act II, scene viii 1. What do we learn from Salerio and Salarino about Shylock s response to Jessica s flight? 2. How do Salerio and Salarino feel about Shylock? Do they seem to share the same feelings? 3. What was Antonio s reaction to Bassanio s departure? Act II, scene ix 1. What casket does Arragon choose? Why does he decide it is the correct one? 2. What message does the second casket contain?

14 3. What information does the messenger bring? What is Portia s response to the news? Notebook Check 6 Act III Reading Guide Act III, scene i 1. What news do Solanio and Salarino bring? 2. What is Shylock s mood as he enters? Why? 3. Look closely at Shylock s monologue on What is his argument? Does it justify his feelings and actions? 4. What news does Tubal bring about Jessica? 5. What motive for wanting Antonio dead does Shylock reveal at the end of the scene? Act III, scene ii 1. How are things going between Portia and Bassanio? How do we know? 2. What casket does Bassanio choose? What is his reasoning for that choice? 3. How does the inscription on the casket describe Bassanio? 4. How does Portia describe herself in her speech ? What does she give Antonio as a symbol of her devotion? What does she say about it? 5. Who else is getting married? 6. What news is contained in Antonio s letter? What is Shylock demanding? 7. How does Portia respond to the situation?

15 8. Look closely at Antonio s letter. What does it suggest about his feelings for about his situation and his feelings for Antonio? Act III, scene iii 1. What is Shylock s state of mind in this scene? What lines suggest that? 2. How does Antonio account for Shylock s insistence on collecting his bond. 3. How does Antonio feel about his prospects at the scene s end? Act III, scene iv 1. What does Portia tell Lorenzo that she and Nerissa are going to do? 2. What does Portia send Balthazar to do? 3. What plan does Portia share with Nerissa? Act III, scene v 1. Pay attention to the language and see if you can pick up on the jokes! 2. What issue of religious salvation is raised in this scene? How does this apply to Jessica? Notebook Check 7 Act IV Reading Guide Act IV, scene i 1. What do we learn that the Duke has tried to do? 2. Why does Shylock refuse to show mercy? How does he justify his stance? 3. Why does Antonio say he is ready to die?

16 4. What information is contained in Bellario s letter? 5. Why does Portia (as Balthazar) assert that Shylock must show mercy? How does he respond? 6. What offers are made to Shylock to get him to spare Antonio? How are they received? 7. What does Antonio s speech as he faces the prospect of Shylock s knife tell you about his character? 8. How do Bassanio and Gratiano react to the looming prospect of Antonio s demise? 9. How does Portia (as Balthazar) use the law to turn the tables on Shylock? 10. What does the Duke decree should happen to Shylock? Why? What happens to Shylock s estate? 11. What does Portia ask Bassanio for as payment for her services. What is his initial response? What makes him change his mind? Act IV, scene ii 1. What does Gratiano bring to Portia (Balthazar.) 2. What does Nerissa plan on getting from Gratiano? What does Portia s comment suggest about men?

17 Notebook Check 8 Act V Reading Guide Act V, scene i 1. Lorenzo and Jessica allude to a number of famous lovers. How does their tone seem loving or antagonistic? 2. What do Lorenzo s comments about music and the stars suggest about human nature? What does he imply about Jessica? How does this compare to Shylock s comments about the Christian masques in II.v.? 3. How do the women manipulate the absence of their husband s rings? How is the issue resolved?

18 Notebook Check 9 Choices Choice Order Result Do you agree?/what would you do? Bassanio chooses the lead chest. Bassanio and Gratiano choose to give their rings to the lawyer/clerk. Morocco chooses the gold chest. Antonio chooses to help Bassanio by agreeing to the pound of flesh bond. Arragon chooses the silver chest. Portia chooses to go to the court disguised as a lawyer. Shylock chooses to accept the duke s judgment. Jessica chooses to run away.

19 Notebook Check 10 Shylock s Revenge Task: List some of the reasons Shylock gives in Act III, Scene 1, lines for wanting revenge on Antonio. Then in the table below decide whether or not these reasons are justified and explain your responses Are these reasons justified? Explain. Yes No