Lesson 3 Week 15 V5

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Shakespeare

Week 15 Lesson 3

V5 

Mevrouw Plazier 

Today's plan 

• do you remember the characters? (5 min.)
• short recap of what we saw so far in the film (10 min.)
• let's take a look at one more fragment (15 min.)
• film  (20 min.)

• At the end of this class, you will better understand the "pound of flesh" scene. 

Christian Venice 

Jewish Venice 

Belmont

Jessica

Shylock

Portia

Bassanio

Antonio

Lorenzo

Nerissa

Gratiano

Basssanio 

Gratiano

Antonio

Lorenzo

Launcelot

Salerio

Solanio

Portia

Nerissa

Jessica

short recap of the film

-Where are we in the play? What was the last scene we have seen in the film?

- At the beginning of the film, what is mentioned about the Jews and where they lived in Venice?

- What about the caskets? Has Nerissa already found a suitor?

- What is Jessica's plan?

- At the moment, are you on Bassanio's side or Antonio's side?

What does the pound of flesh symbolize in Act 1 Scene 4?

The pound of flesh scene 

• probably the most pivotal scene in the entire play. 
•  characters: Portia & Nerissa - Antonio, Bassanio, Gratiano - Shylock 
• Why is Shylock so angry here? 
• This scene contains logic and a lot of rhetorical questions that are used by the characters to argue for their case. 
• Shylock says: why do some people love pigs or cats? We don't know. There is not an answer for that. Some people just want a pound of flesh and again they just want it and there is not a particular reason. 

The pound of flesh scene

• What stands out when you read lines 8-9 & 15-17? 

•  In the second part of this scene, Shylock uses the Venetian law to support his case.
• Which two things does he compare here? (final 4 lines). 
• Shylock says: we have agreed upon a law and if you (Christians) deny me the flesh, you are disregarding your own law. What could be the danger in this? 

The pound of flesh scene

In the final part of this scene, Portia is speaking. 

Do you recognize the same repetition here as in the beginning?

Portia talks about mercy and its quality and how those who show mercy can become like god. 

 What does Portia want to achieve by talking about mercy to Shylock? 

Finally, we get to Portia telling Shylock: "This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; the words  expressly are pound of flesh."

What do the rings symbolize in the Merchant of Venice?