Unit 1: Shakespeare Speaks
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Session 5
William Shakespeare's daughter learns an important lesson when she buys a cheap gold ring... and we look at idioms and phrases relating to appearance.
Session 5 score
0 / 17
- 0 / 5Activity 1
- 0 / 6Activity 2
- 0 / 6Activity 3
Activity 1
Gold, silver or lead?
Is it real gold?
William Shakespeare’s daughter gets a shock when her finger turns green - and Will takes the opportunity to teach her a valuable life lesson.
To do
Watch the video. It's about 4 minutes long. While you watch, choose the best summary of the story (the answer's under the video - no cheating!).
A) Shakespeare’s daughter gets a bargain
B) Appearances can be deceiving
C) Shakespeare buys his daughter a present
Watch the video and complete the activity
Narrator
It was a sunny afternoon. William Shakespeare is working on his play The Merchant of Venice. His daughter comes to see him.
Daughter
Father, look at my new ring! Isn't it lovely, gold and shiny…
Will
Dear daughter, it is very beautiful. Where did you get such a pretty thing?
Daughter
From the market. It was much cheaper than the gold merchant!
Will
Is it real gold?
Daughter
Yes, of course!
Will
So, my dear daughter, why is your finger green?
Daughter
Oohhhh!
Will
My dear daughter, you have a lot to learn… sit with me while I work. The Merchant of Venice. The Prince of Morocco wants to marry the beautiful Portia. But first, he must choose between three boxes: one made of gold, the second of silver, and the third, of cheap lead. Only one of the boxes contains a picture of Portia, and if the Prince chooses the wrong one, he cannot marry her. So, dear daughter, which box does he choose?
Daughter
The gold box! Is it real gold?
Will
He chooses the gold box indeed, and indeed it is real gold. The Prince believes that only the most beautiful box can hold the painting of the beautiful Portia. But in fact, it holds not a picture, but a scroll with these words: All that glisters is not gold…
Robert Harley as The Prince of Morocco
All that glisters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told:
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold:
Daughter
He thought that because the box is beautiful on the outside, something beautiful must be inside… he was wrong.
Narrator
We'll leave them there for now. The Merchant of Venice is a play about money, money, money, and the phrase all that glisters is not gold warns us not to be fooled by people or things that look good - because they might not be as good as they look on the surface! In modern English, the word glisters is often changed to glistens or glitters.
Clip 1
Well that car looks fantastic, but all that glitters is not gold. Check the engine before you buy it.
Daughter
Oh father, will you buy me a real gold ring? Pleeeeeaase?
Will
Hmmm… to buy, or not to buy: that is the question.
Answer
The best summary for this episode is B) Appearances can be deceiving. Shakespeare’s daughter and the Prince of Morocco both learn that just because something looks valuable, it doesn’t mean that it really is.
Option A) Shakespeare’s daughter gets a bargain - is not correct because the ring isn't real gold, so it wasn’t a bargain!
Option C) Shakespeare buys his daughter a present - is wrong. Will hasn’t yet agreed to buy her a ring! Maybe he will, maybe he won’t…
To do
Now let's look more closely at the video. Have a go at this quiz to find out how well you understood. Watch the episode again first if you want.
Gold, silver or lead?
5 Questions
Are you gold standard... or are you just cheap metal? Try this true / false quiz to find out.
Help
Activity
Are you gold standard... or are you just cheap metal? Try this true / false quiz to find out.
Hint
Where did she buy the ring?Help
Activity
Are you gold standard... or are you just cheap metal? Try this true / false quiz to find out.
Hint
A person who is naïve lacks wisdom or experience.Help
Activity
Are you gold standard... or are you just cheap metal? Try this true / false quiz to find out.
Hint
Think about what Daughter says about the ring, and which box she is attracted to.Help
Activity
Are you gold standard... or are you just cheap metal? Try this true / false quiz to find out.
Hint
Would Portia fit inside a box?Help
Activity
Are you gold standard... or are you just cheap metal? Try this true / false quiz to find out.
Hint
What is inside the box he chooses?Question 1 of 5
True
False
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
Gold, silver or lead?
5 Questions
Are you gold standard... or are you just cheap metal? Try this true / false quiz to find out.
Help
Activity
Are you gold standard... or are you just cheap metal? Try this true / false quiz to find out.
Hint
Where did she buy the ring?Question 1 of 5
Help
Activity
Are you gold standard... or are you just cheap metal? Try this true / false quiz to find out.
Hint
A person who is naïve lacks wisdom or experience.Question 2 of 5
Help
Activity
Are you gold standard... or are you just cheap metal? Try this true / false quiz to find out.
Hint
Think about what Daughter says about the ring, and which box she is attracted to.Question 3 of 5
Help
Activity
Are you gold standard... or are you just cheap metal? Try this true / false quiz to find out.
Hint
Would Portia fit inside a box?Question 4 of 5
Help
Activity
Are you gold standard... or are you just cheap metal? Try this true / false quiz to find out.
Hint
What is inside the box he chooses?Question 5 of 5
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
How did you do?
4-5 correct - solid gold!
2-3 correct - sterling silver
0-1 correct - cheap lead
Next
Go to the next page to find out more about the meaning and use of the phrase All that glitters is not gold.
Session Vocabulary
For more great Shakespeare content, visit our partnerThe OU
For teachers:
lesson plan and worksheets for All that glisters is not gold
Eight Vocabulary Activities for the classroom__________________
All that glisters is not gold
Meaning
The phrase all that glisters is not gold warns us not to be fooled by people or things that look good - because they might not be as good as they look on the surface!Example sentence
Well that car looks fantastic, but all that glitters is not gold. Check the engine before you buy it.Note
In modern English, the word glisters is often changed to glistens or glitters.____________________
Extra vocabulary
don’t judge a book by its cover
you shouldn’t judge the value of something or someone based on their appearancelooks can be deceiving
people and things are often different from how they appearbeauty is only skin deep
a person’s character is more important than their appearanceevery cloud has a silver lining
there’s a positive side to every sad or difficult situationas good as gold
very, very goodworth its weight in gold
very useful or valuable____________________
Find out more
Shakespeare Speaks is a co-production between:
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