Is the title a good one or a poor one and why?
I think that the title fits the text, and thus it is a good one. The main character is Antonio and thus the term, merchant of Venice, which is what Antonio does, is very suitable for the text as it clearly tell us who is the main focus of the story. Furthermore, it allows us to link the title to the story and know that there would be a very good or very bad ending in the end for the merchant of venice.
Did you like the way the story ended? Why or why not?
I do not like the way the story ended. This is because it sounded too like a dream, whereby the good wins everything. Furthermore, everything works out in the end and everyone lives happily ever after except for the bad guy. I think that this is not a good ending as it is a typical fairy tale ending and I do not think that the good always wins the bad, and everything suddenly falls in place for all the good guys. For example, the ships returned after Antonio left the court without giving a pound of flesh, and managing to convert Shylock into a Christian. Thus I do not like the story's ending.
Which character in the book would you choose for a friend? Why?
I would choose Antonio as a friend. Antonio was willing to sacrifice his own life for his friend's true love. To me that is the best quality a friend can ever have. Furthermore, Antonio is always willing to help despite all circumstances. This is something I admire about Antonio and I think that he would make a great friend if I was his friend. Thus I think I would choose Antonio as he is caring, kind and respects his friends as much as he respects his life.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Synthesis
What part would you change in the story, and why?
I would change the part where Shylock gets away with such a heavy punishment. I think that he should get a lighter punishment, still having the power as the evil character of the story. This story seems too much like a fairy tale. Thus I would change the story such that both Antonio and Shylock gets away scot-free, and thus both of them carry on living their separate lives through their different measures.
However, I think that Shylock should be more promoted in the story as he is to me, a main character in the story. Thus I think he should be more promoted and should be more evil in the story, so as to create the effect that there are both extremes of good and bad.
The climax of any book or story is the exciting or interesting part. Tell what you think is the climax of the book and why.
I think that the climax is the part where Bassonia picks which chest he wants. In the end after analysis he picked the correct one. I think this is the climax because it fills the reader with suspense. At the same time, Portia is also filled with suspense as she wants to know whether she gets the love of her life. Thus this makes the story more interesting from our point of view as it allows us to be filled with suspense and think ahead of the story to imagine the outcome.
Identify one problem in the book and give an alternate solution one not given by the author.
One problem in the book is that Shylock wanted to get a pound of flesh from Antonio. Another solution is that Antonio realises that he cannot get even a drop of blood, and he accepts three times the amount of money and both of them leave, happily.
I would change the part where Shylock gets away with such a heavy punishment. I think that he should get a lighter punishment, still having the power as the evil character of the story. This story seems too much like a fairy tale. Thus I would change the story such that both Antonio and Shylock gets away scot-free, and thus both of them carry on living their separate lives through their different measures.
However, I think that Shylock should be more promoted in the story as he is to me, a main character in the story. Thus I think he should be more promoted and should be more evil in the story, so as to create the effect that there are both extremes of good and bad.
The climax of any book or story is the exciting or interesting part. Tell what you think is the climax of the book and why.
I think that the climax is the part where Bassonia picks which chest he wants. In the end after analysis he picked the correct one. I think this is the climax because it fills the reader with suspense. At the same time, Portia is also filled with suspense as she wants to know whether she gets the love of her life. Thus this makes the story more interesting from our point of view as it allows us to be filled with suspense and think ahead of the story to imagine the outcome.
Identify one problem in the book and give an alternate solution one not given by the author.
One problem in the book is that Shylock wanted to get a pound of flesh from Antonio. Another solution is that Antonio realises that he cannot get even a drop of blood, and he accepts three times the amount of money and both of them leave, happily.
Analysis
If your story happened in a foreign land, compare that country to Singapore.
Singapore would be much cleaner. With much less risks of goods being destroyed as a result of air transport, there would be less lost of goods through ships and sea. There would be less loaning from each other with unreasonable demands as a result of not returning as there would be banks that could be easily accessed to retrieve or borrow money. Thus if the story was written in Singapore, it would be a completely different scenario and there would be no interesting parts in the new story.
Write a different ending to the book. Tell why you changed it.
In the end, Portia, although she loves Bassanio very much, decided to leave him as he did not keep his promise of forever keeping the ring in his hand as a symbol that they would always be together. I changed it this way because then it would have a tragic ending where it suits the middle part of the book where it states that the ring would be a symbol whereby he have to always keep on.
Tell five ways the main character is like you
To me, Antonio is the main character.
He is like me because:
1. He values friendship very much.
2. He sometimes take unnecessary risks.
3. He is Christian.
4. He is not very rich nor is he very poor.
5. He would do anything for someone who is very close to him.
Singapore would be much cleaner. With much less risks of goods being destroyed as a result of air transport, there would be less lost of goods through ships and sea. There would be less loaning from each other with unreasonable demands as a result of not returning as there would be banks that could be easily accessed to retrieve or borrow money. Thus if the story was written in Singapore, it would be a completely different scenario and there would be no interesting parts in the new story.
Write a different ending to the book. Tell why you changed it.
In the end, Portia, although she loves Bassanio very much, decided to leave him as he did not keep his promise of forever keeping the ring in his hand as a symbol that they would always be together. I changed it this way because then it would have a tragic ending where it suits the middle part of the book where it states that the ring would be a symbol whereby he have to always keep on.
Tell five ways the main character is like you
To me, Antonio is the main character.
He is like me because:
1. He values friendship very much.
2. He sometimes take unnecessary risks.
3. He is Christian.
4. He is not very rich nor is he very poor.
5. He would do anything for someone who is very close to him.
Application
Did this book remind you of anything that has happened to you? What? Why?
Yes. There was once I did not pay the money I borrowed in time and in the end my friend made me pay twice the original amount. This is the same as Antonio being unable to pay the debt in time, resulting in a heavy consequence. Thus I think that the book made me remember this happening of when I did not pay the money I owed my friend and it resulted in a consequence, paying double the amount.
What lesson did you learn from the story?
I learnt that friendship is more important than money. However, you should not put yourself on the line as it might result in yourself getting hurt. Furthermore, I learnt that sometimes in life you got to make tough decisions. However, if you make the wise decision, it will be the right one.
Pretend you are one of the characters in the book. Write a diary about the happenings in your life for two consecutive days.
Dear diary,
Today I found out that my ships have sank in the sea. How am I going to pay off the debt now? I should never had made that promise to give up a pound of my flesh! This would mean that I would probably die! I don't know if my ships really sank, but the deadline is tomorrow, how am I going to get the money before tomorrow? I think this is the end for me, I would not survive a pound of flesh missing from me! Just hope that a miracle would happen I would suddenly be able to pay off the debt, or I would be able to get off scot-free! God please help me!
Antonio.
Dear diary,
Today, Shylock came requesting for my payment. He would be taking it to the court. I know that the court wants me to not receive this punishment, but they have to abide by the laws! I wonder what is going to happen to me! I really hope that a miracle would happen! However, I know it is impossible. What could possibly help me overcome this ordeal? God please help me! Save me from that menacing, flesh-thirsty Shylock!
Antonio.
Yes. There was once I did not pay the money I borrowed in time and in the end my friend made me pay twice the original amount. This is the same as Antonio being unable to pay the debt in time, resulting in a heavy consequence. Thus I think that the book made me remember this happening of when I did not pay the money I owed my friend and it resulted in a consequence, paying double the amount.
What lesson did you learn from the story?
I learnt that friendship is more important than money. However, you should not put yourself on the line as it might result in yourself getting hurt. Furthermore, I learnt that sometimes in life you got to make tough decisions. However, if you make the wise decision, it will be the right one.
Pretend you are one of the characters in the book. Write a diary about the happenings in your life for two consecutive days.
Dear diary,
Today I found out that my ships have sank in the sea. How am I going to pay off the debt now? I should never had made that promise to give up a pound of my flesh! This would mean that I would probably die! I don't know if my ships really sank, but the deadline is tomorrow, how am I going to get the money before tomorrow? I think this is the end for me, I would not survive a pound of flesh missing from me! Just hope that a miracle would happen I would suddenly be able to pay off the debt, or I would be able to get off scot-free! God please help me!
Antonio.
Dear diary,
Today, Shylock came requesting for my payment. He would be taking it to the court. I know that the court wants me to not receive this punishment, but they have to abide by the laws! I wonder what is going to happen to me! I really hope that a miracle would happen! However, I know it is impossible. What could possibly help me overcome this ordeal? God please help me! Save me from that menacing, flesh-thirsty Shylock!
Antonio.
Comprehension
Did anyone in the book do something you did not like? Why?
Yes. The person is Shylock. Even though he is disrespected by a lot of Christians, the part where he tries to take a pound of flesh is not right. Furthermore, he is very cruel in the story and he paid the price for it.
Moreover, I think that revenge was all he had in mind, since he was rich. Thus making Shylock the evil person in the story. He is evil in a sense that he wants to kill Antonio by not allowing a doctor to come and heal his wound, to prevent Antonio from dying. Thus I do not like Shylock and his actions as his actions are cruel and he is evil.
If you could continue the story, what events would you include? Why?
I would include that Antonio becomes Bassanio's god-brother. This is because Antonio did so much for Bassanio which he treated as someone so close to him and he would sacrifice himself for Bassanio. Thus I think that there should be a happy ending, letting Antonio become Bassanio's god-brother and live together.
Tell in your own words the beginning of the book
The beginning of the book is Antonio being upset, but cannot explain why. His friends suggest that he is in love or is worried about his ships out in the ocean, but he ignores those thoughts as he thinks it is not true. Next, Bassanio comes and requests for a loan from Antonio to seek his love. However, Antonio's ships have not came back, thus he did not have the money to loan Bassanio. Thus, they go and get a loan from Shylock, who offers to give the loan in exchange that if the sum is not paid back in three months, he gets a pound of Antonio's flesh. They agree.
Yes. The person is Shylock. Even though he is disrespected by a lot of Christians, the part where he tries to take a pound of flesh is not right. Furthermore, he is very cruel in the story and he paid the price for it.
Moreover, I think that revenge was all he had in mind, since he was rich. Thus making Shylock the evil person in the story. He is evil in a sense that he wants to kill Antonio by not allowing a doctor to come and heal his wound, to prevent Antonio from dying. Thus I do not like Shylock and his actions as his actions are cruel and he is evil.
If you could continue the story, what events would you include? Why?
I would include that Antonio becomes Bassanio's god-brother. This is because Antonio did so much for Bassanio which he treated as someone so close to him and he would sacrifice himself for Bassanio. Thus I think that there should be a happy ending, letting Antonio become Bassanio's god-brother and live together.
Tell in your own words the beginning of the book
The beginning of the book is Antonio being upset, but cannot explain why. His friends suggest that he is in love or is worried about his ships out in the ocean, but he ignores those thoughts as he thinks it is not true. Next, Bassanio comes and requests for a loan from Antonio to seek his love. However, Antonio's ships have not came back, thus he did not have the money to loan Bassanio. Thus, they go and get a loan from Shylock, who offers to give the loan in exchange that if the sum is not paid back in three months, he gets a pound of Antonio's flesh. They agree.
Knowledge
List the characters and describe them:
1. The duke of venice
Strong upholder of venetian law.
2. The prince of Morocco
a suitor to Portia
3. The prince of Arragon
a suitor to Portia
4. Bassanio
an Italian lord, suitor to Portia
5. Antonio
a merchant of Venice
6. Solanio
gentlemen of Venice, and companions with Bassanio
7. Gratiano
gentlemen of Venice, and companions with Bassanio
8. Lorenzo
gentlemen of Venice, and companions with Bassanio
9. Shylock
the rich Jew, and father of Jessica
10. Tubal
a Jew, Shylock's friend
11. Portia
the rich Italian lady
12. Nerissa
Portia's waiting-gentlewoman
13. Jessica
daughter to Shylock
14. Gobbo
an old man, father to Lancelot
15. Lancelot Gobbo
the clown
16. Stephano
a messenger
17. Salerio
a messenger from Venice
18. Leonardo
one of Bassanio's servants
19. Balthazar
member of Portia's household
20. Servingman
member of Portia's household
21. Messenger
member of Portia's household
What other books has the author written?
Comedies
- All's Well That Ends Well ‡
- As You Like It
- The Comedy of Errors
- Love's Labour's Lost
- Measure for Measure ‡
- The Merchant of Venice
- The Merry Wives of Windsor
- A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Much Ado About Nothing
- Pericles, Prince of Tyre *†
- The Taming of the Shrew
- The Tempest *
- Twelfth Night
- The Two Gentlemen of Verona
- The Two Noble Kinsmen *†
- The Winter's Tale *
Poems
- Shakespeare's sonnets
- Venus and Adonis
- The Rape of Lucrece
- The Passionate Pilgrim[nb 5]
- The Phoenix and the Turtle
- A Lover's Complaint
Histories
- King John
- Richard II
- Henry IV, Part 1
- Henry IV, Part 2
- Henry V
- Henry VI, Part 1 †
- Henry VI, Part 2
- Henry VI, Part 3
- Richard III
- Henry VIII †
Tragedies
- Romeo and Juliet
- Coriolanus
- Titus Andronicus †
- Timon of Athens †
- Julius Caesar
- Macbeth †
- Hamlet
- Troilus and Cressida ‡
- King Lear
- Othello
- Antony and Cleopatra
- Cymbeline *
- Poems
- Shakespeare's sonnets
- Venus and Adonis
- The Rape of Lucrece
- The Passionate Pilgrim[nb 5]
- The Phoenix and the Turtle
- A Lover's Complaint
Lost plays
- Love's Labour's Won
- The History of Cardenio †
Apocrypha
- Arden of Faversham
- The Birth of Merlin
- Edward III
- Locrine
- The London Prodigal
- The Puritan
- The Second Maiden's Tragedy
- Sir John Oldcastle
- Thomas Lord Cromwell
- A Yorkshire Tragedy
- Sir Thomas More
What is the time period in which the books happens?
1596 - 1598
1. The duke of venice
Strong upholder of venetian law.
2. The prince of Morocco
a suitor to Portia
3. The prince of Arragon
a suitor to Portia
4. Bassanio
an Italian lord, suitor to Portia
5. Antonio
a merchant of Venice
6. Solanio
gentlemen of Venice, and companions with Bassanio
7. Gratiano
gentlemen of Venice, and companions with Bassanio
8. Lorenzo
gentlemen of Venice, and companions with Bassanio
9. Shylock
the rich Jew, and father of Jessica
10. Tubal
a Jew, Shylock's friend
11. Portia
the rich Italian lady
12. Nerissa
Portia's waiting-gentlewoman
13. Jessica
daughter to Shylock
14. Gobbo
an old man, father to Lancelot
15. Lancelot Gobbo
the clown
16. Stephano
a messenger
17. Salerio
a messenger from Venice
18. Leonardo
one of Bassanio's servants
19. Balthazar
member of Portia's household
20. Servingman
member of Portia's household
21. Messenger
member of Portia's household
What other books has the author written?
Comedies
- All's Well That Ends Well ‡
- As You Like It
- The Comedy of Errors
- Love's Labour's Lost
- Measure for Measure ‡
- The Merchant of Venice
- The Merry Wives of Windsor
- A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Much Ado About Nothing
- Pericles, Prince of Tyre *†
- The Taming of the Shrew
- The Tempest *
- Twelfth Night
- The Two Gentlemen of Verona
- The Two Noble Kinsmen *†
- The Winter's Tale *
Poems
- Shakespeare's sonnets
- Venus and Adonis
- The Rape of Lucrece
- The Passionate Pilgrim[nb 5]
- The Phoenix and the Turtle
- A Lover's Complaint
Histories
- King John
- Richard II
- Henry IV, Part 1
- Henry IV, Part 2
- Henry V
- Henry VI, Part 1 †
- Henry VI, Part 2
- Henry VI, Part 3
- Richard III
- Henry VIII †
Tragedies
- Romeo and Juliet
- Coriolanus
- Titus Andronicus †
- Timon of Athens †
- Julius Caesar
- Macbeth †
- Hamlet
- Troilus and Cressida ‡
- King Lear
- Othello
- Antony and Cleopatra
- Cymbeline *
- Poems
- Shakespeare's sonnets
- Venus and Adonis
- The Rape of Lucrece
- The Passionate Pilgrim[nb 5]
- The Phoenix and the Turtle
- A Lover's Complaint
Lost plays
- Love's Labour's Won
- The History of Cardenio †
Apocrypha
- Arden of Faversham
- The Birth of Merlin
- Edward III
- Locrine
- The London Prodigal
- The Puritan
- The Second Maiden's Tragedy
- Sir John Oldcastle
- Thomas Lord Cromwell
- A Yorkshire Tragedy
- Sir Thomas More
What is the time period in which the books happens?
1596 - 1598
Monday, June 27, 2011
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