After you are done with first part, get with a partner and answer the following questions. Please list who your partner is. Your answers need to be in complete sentences and a reflection of what you and your partner discussed. PROVIDE AT LEAST A PARAGRAPH PER ASNWER.
1.) The play opens with Antonio, the merchant, admitting that he is sad, but not knowing why. Think of times when you’ve been sad. Have you always understood exactly why, or has your sadness sometimes seemed strange to you? Explain.
2.) In Shakespeare’s time, lending money for interest was called “usury” and was generally considered immoral. How have attitudes changed since then?
3.) Think of the recent banking crisis and the state of today’s economy. Do you think it’s all right to lend someone a large amount of money based on their word and reputation even though they may not have any concrete evidence of being able to pay you back?
4.) This play includes romantic love stories and also ethnic and religious conflict. How well do you expect these elements to blend?
PLEASE POST ANSWERS AS A COMMENT TO THIS POST. DUE AT END OF CLASS OF PERIOD.
