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The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice. William Shakespeare. Setting: Venice. Northern coast of Italy Grand Canal Transportation Glass - jewelry Flooding Cuisine. Author: William Shakespeare. 1564-1616 (52 years old) Plays have endured 398 years – 4 centuries Stratford-upon-Avon, England

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The Merchant of Venice

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  1. The Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare

  2. Setting: Venice • Northern coast of Italy • Grand Canal • Transportation • Glass - jewelry • Flooding • Cuisine

  3. Author: William Shakespeare • 1564-1616 (52 years old) • Plays have endured 398 years – 4 centuries • Stratford-upon-Avon, England • Schooling – quit at 14, never went to college • Married Anne Hathaway • 18 years old • 37 plays • Tragedy, comedy, history

  4. Did he really exist? • Only “official” document is his will – different signatures • Shakespeare …Shakspere … Shakspeare …Shackspeare … • Lack of education

  5. The Globe Theatre • London, England – still in use today • Rebuilt (1994) • No props, scenery, curtains, etc. • Men played female roles • Seating arrangements • Groundlings • Middle class • Wealthy

  6. Language and Humor • Fancy, complex language – for entertainment • Word play (think Yoda from Star Wars) • Language was not all understood by people in Shakespeare’s time either • 90% of words/phrases still in use • Pomp and circumstance…eaten out of house and home…neither rhyme nor reason…method to the madness…a sorry sight

  7. Vocabulary terms • Prologue: • Introduction, tells the reader what to expect • Stage Direction: • Indicates movement, position, tone • Monologue: • Extended speech by a single character • Dialogue: • Conversation between characters • Soliloquy/aside: • Character is speaking to himself or directly to the audience • Dialect: • Specialized language for a specific purpose • Dramatic irony: • The audience knows more than the characters/actors do

  8. Main Characters • Shylock • Lender; charges high interest rates; agrees to lend money to Antonio but threatens to take “a pound of his flesh” if he cannot repay the loan • Antonio • A merchant; usually lends out money without charging interest but needs to borrow from Shylock for his good friend Bassanio

  9. Main Characters • Bassanio • Loves Portia, but has to prove himself worthy by identifying a casket with her picture enclosed; gets Antonio into trouble with Shylock • Portia • A wealthy and smart heiress; wants to marry Bassanio, but her father (who passed away) left a “riddle” behind to determine who will marry her

  10. Main Characters • Jessica • Shylock’s daughter, runs away • Lorenzo • In love with Jessica and eventually elopes with her • Gratiano • Close friend of Bassanio, falls in love with Nerissa • Nerissa • Portia’s servant; she and Portia disguise themselves during Antonio’s trial

  11. Themes and Symbols • Themes: • Prejudice • Law and mercy • Revenge • Greed/generosity • Symbols: • The three caskets • Pound of flesh • Rings

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