This is the story of Bassanio who is desperately in need of money to court Portia, a wealthy heiress who lives in the city of Belmont. Bassanio asks his friend Antonio, a Venetian merchant for a loan Antonio at the moment has all his money invested and he is forced to borrow from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. Shylock gives him the money but if Antonio doesn’t repay in the fixed date, he demands a pound of the merchant’s flesh.
The text is complete in its original version and has several simple, clear notes together with a rich historical context. All the activities aim to offer students a practical critical approach by capturing the distinctive qualities of the play.