Task 15 CLIL c) Create a webquest

The situation of Jews in the Shakespearean period

Without any doubts, the basic plot of “The Merchant of Venice” is anti-semitic. First of all, let’s make sure we know what “anti-semitic” word is. According to the Anti-Defamation League, the anti-semitism is “the behavior hostile towards Jews because they are Jewish”.

  Let’s find out information on the Internet!

Go to these websites to complete this net of tasks:

1:http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/dramamerchantvenice/0drama_merchant_contrev3.shtml

-          “Although Jesus Christ himself was born a Jew, there have been battles between Jews and Christians for 2000 years”. Why?

-          What happened with Jews when Shakespeare was writing?

-          Which persecution is been the worst in history?

   2:http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/society/city%20life/jews.html

-          When were the Jews deported to France? Under which King?

-          Who is Rodrigo López?

-          He was guilty or innocent? Taking into account the ending of Rodrigo’s story, can you find an anti-semitic sense in the history?

3: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Shylock

-          What does the word “Shylock” mean?

-          Is this formal language? Or informal?

4: watch the following video about Shylock’s speech in one of the film versions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAptUlnk1PQ

-          What is Shylock saying?

-          According to him, what is Antonio’s reason to despise him?

-          Can you find the connection to what we are discussing?

What about Jewish people in Venice? Go to the following address!

5: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Venice.html

-          Fill the gaps

While _____ did not settle in Venice until the 13th century, many Jewish ______ and _______ visited and worked in the city beginning with the 10th century.

-          What can you find in relation to the play in the previous sentence?

-          Name what was allowed to Jews and what was not.

-          What is the Guetto?

-          How is the situation of Jews nowadays in Venice?