THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
By William Shakespeare
1. WORKSHEET: Ideas are tricky to convey in a second language class! Illustrations can be more powerful than words–especially in the realm of ideas! Print a “cartoon” worksheet for each student to fill in and keep.
2. THE CURTAINS OPEN: Wheel of Fortune
Preview the ideas and issues in the lesson with a contest.
A. COMPETITION: Wheel of Fortune
Play Wheel of Fortune to introduce the plot, action, characters, and vocabulary for this classic.
B. GAME WORDS/PHRASES: Merchant, greedy, glitters, appearances.
3. SHAKESPEARE: Visitor
A sudden, unexpected knock at the door creates delight and wonder in a classroom.
Surprise visitors interrupt the daily routine, tell their story, pose dilemmas,
and answer questions.
Rehearse the Visitor Script ahead of time and put together a costume. Knock on the door, burst in the classroom, and portray the visitor! Engage the class by asking them questions and allowing them to ask you questions, too! Make a flamboyant exit!
4. VOCABULARY: Learning new vocabulary words often becomes tedious drill — students can recite the definitions but they have no clue what the words really mean. Try exercises that train students to think and use reasoning skills while they learn new vocabulary.
A. Foreigner: An outsider or a person from another country.
B. Greedy: Selfish desire for more.
C. Money Lender: Person who charges a fee to borrow money.
D. Merchant: Person who buys and sells.
E. Loan: To borrow temporarily.
F. Contract: A written agreement.
G. Storm: Wind, rain, lightning, and thunder.
H. Revenge: To return evil for evil.
I. Court: Place where legal matters are settled.
J. Mercy: To treat someone kindly who does not deserve it.
K. Lost Face: To be embarrassed or ashamed.
COMPETITION
A. Before class write the list of words on the board.
B. Pronounce each word. Students repeat.
C. Explain the contest! Teams of 2-3 race to look up the words and compose one example sentence using the word. First team to give the definition and use the word correctly in a sentence scores 2 points. Other teams can score 2 points for a correct sentence.
D. Do all the vocabulary words in turn.
5. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE: Theater on a String
Theater is riveting. Before the curtain rises the plot, action, characters, and setting are only a script on paper. Theater relies on the audience’s imagination and suddenly there is magic. This is theater on a string!
INSTRUCTIONS
A. Stretch a rope/line across the front of the room. Get two students to hold the two ends — hold it up high so all can see!
B. Use the props to tell the story by hanging them on the line with clothes-pins as you tell the story.
C. Find clever ways to clarify the plot, action, characters, and ideas in the story. Let the class repeat the names and the story line! Go back to the beginning often and check their memory then resume the story!
PROPS
1. The props must be big enough for the students in the back to see!
2. The paper dolls should be 20IN-24IN tall. The same paper doll can be Odysseus, Romeo, Hamlet, Prospero, or the Merchant of Venice! Save them–change the costumes for each classic. Clothes do make the person!
YOU TUBE: Search for The Merchant of Venice (2004) Official Trailer.
6. QUESTIONS: Tic Tac Toe
Questions can teach students HOW to think rather than WHAT to think.
Ask questions that will require reason and imagination.
Draw the Tic Tac Toe Board on the blackboard. Make two Teams: Ask the first person from Team “X” a question. If correct, that team puts an “X” on the Tic Tac Toe Board. Team “O” gets the next question. Continue asking questions until one team wins.
A. TRUE/FALSE: Antonio the merchant did not like Shylock because he was greedy.
B. TRUE/FALSE: Bassanio asked Antonio to lend him some money so he could marry the beautiful princess.
C. Why was the contract unusual?
D. How much money did Bassanio the young merchant offer Shylock during the trial?
E. Should the judge have allowed Shylock to take the pound of flesh?
F. What is your idea about mercy?
G. What would you risk to borrow money for your friend?
H. How did trying to get revenge ruin Shylock’s life?
7. RE-TELL THE STORY
Now it is the students’ turn! Take all the clothes-pins and props off the line. Hold up each prop in turn and ask the class to explain the plot, action, characters, and ideas in the story. Prompt them if necessary.
8. ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD: You Tube Video
Apply the ideas in the lesson in an imaginary YOU TUBE Video.
RIDDLES
A. Bassanio the Young Merchant loves the beautiful princess. If he solves the riddle and chooses the right box he can marry her!
B. Before class wrap three small boxes–one in gold, one in silver, and one in brown paper.
C. Write these three riddles on individual pieces of paper. Ask volunteers to read the riddles aloud.
Gold: Who chooses me shall gain what many men desire.
Silver: Who chooses me shall get as much as he deserves.
Wood: Who chooses me must give and risk all he has.
QUESTIONS
A. When have outward appearances tricked you?
B. Did you ever try to appear as something you were not?
C. Which box do you think Bassiano chose? Did he solve the riddle and marry the beautiful princess?
D. QUOTE: “All that glitters is not gold.”
YOU TUBE VIDEO
Small groups create a 30SEC pretend YOU TUBE video about appearances. Perform for the class.
9. SHYLOCK’S E-MAIL
Correspondence is revealing. Some E-MAILS are polite. Some ask questions.
Some are confessions. Some express wishes.
A. Read this E-MAIL from the merchant to Shylock.
Dear Shylock,
Why did you do that? You should not have been so greedy. You should not have tried to get revenge. You should not have tricked me with that contract.
Now you have nothing. No revenge. No money.
And you lost face thanks to your greed. You got what you deserve.
Your enemy,
The Merchant of Venice
B. Explain that everyone will pretend to be any character in the play and write an E-MAIL.
C. These are not long epistles–allow 2-3MIN.
D. Then everyone find a group, exchange the E-MAILS, and read them aloud.