THE MERCHANT of VENICE

Multiple Choice Quiz• 1. What reason does Antonio give for being sad in the opening scene of

the play?

• (A) He stands to lose a fortune in his present business ventures.

• (B) He owes a fantastic sum of money to Shylock.

• (C) He gives no reason.

• (D) The woman he loves does not return his feelings.

• 2. Which of the following is not a reason Shylock gives for hating Antonio?

• (A) Antonio is in love with Shylock’s daughter, Jessica.

• (B) Antonio has insulted Shylock in the past.

• (C) Antonio lends money without interest, which damages Shylock’s business.

• (D) Antonio hates Jews.

• 3. Why does the prince of Morocco fear that Portia will dislike him?

• (A) He is a braggart.

• (B) He has a dark complexion.

• (C) He recently proved a coward in battle.

• (D) His clothes are flamboyant.

4. What act does Jessica believe will solve the misery of life with Shylock?

• (A) Becoming a more devout Jew

• (B) Ensuring that Shylock loses his bond to Antonio

• (C) Locking herself in her room

• (D) Marrying Lorenzo

5. How does Portia react to the prince of Morocco’s failure as a suitor?

• (A) She prays that no one with such dark skin ever wins her hand.

• (B) She is relieved because the quick-tempered prince would not have made a stable husband.

• (C) She is sad to lose such a wealthy suitor.

• (D) She laughs at his foolishness and sends him away.

6. What course of action does Portia suggest when she learns that Shylock wishes to collect his pound of flesh?

• (A) That Bassanio and his men disguise themselves and usher Antonio a safe distance away from Venice

• (B) That the matter be dealt with in a court of law

• (C) That Jessica plead with her father for mercy

• (D) That the bond be paid many times over

7. In court, how does Antonio react to Shylock’s insistence on collecting his pound of flesh?

• (A) He weeps openly.

• (B) He vows that he will meet Shylock’s hatred with patience.

• (C) He curses Shylock’s vengefulness.

• (D) He makes an impassioned plea to the court to intervene on his behalf.

• 8. What loophole in Shylock’s bond allows Portia to stop him from taking a pound of Antonio’s flesh?

• (A) Jewish law prohibits Shylock from practicing his trade on the Sabbath.

• (B) Shylock is entitled only to flesh, but not blood.

• (C) Shylock forgot to sign the bond.

• (D) There is no hard evidence that Antonio’s ships have sunk, and that he cannot pay the bond.

9. What words does Shylock utter after accepting the court’s sentence?

• (A) A pox upon Venice

• (B) These are most unlawful laws

• (C) Forgive me my sins

• (D) I am not well

10. What news does Antonio receive at the play’s end?

• (A) Shylock has killed himself.

• (B) Some of the ships he supposed were lost have arrived in port.

• (C) The duke of Venice has changed his mind and finds Antonio guilty of forfeiture of Shylock’s bond.

• (D) His long lost brother has been found.

1 C Gives no reason

2 A Antonio is not in love with Jessica3 B He has a dark complexion

4 D Marrying Lorenzo

5 A prays no one with a dark skin will ever ask for her hand.

6 D the bond be paid many times over

7 B he vows to meet Shylock with patience

8 B Shylock is entitled to flesh no blood

9 D I am not well

10 B His ships have arrived in port

Merchant of Venice• Plot• Context• Dramatic techniques• Characters• Setting• Themes & Setting

PLOT CONTEXTDRAMATICTECHNIQUES

CHARACTERS SETTING THEMES & SYMBOLISM

PLOTWrite in 8 bullet points the plot of Merchant of Venice.You could start with and end with:• Bassanio asks his friend Antonio for money to woo a rich lady in Belmont.• • • • • • • The group are reunited in Belmont. Bassanio and Antonio learn of the plot and

Antonio hears that his ships have returned safely home.

PLOT• Bassanio asks his friend Antonio for money to woo a rich lady in Belmont• Antonio gets the money from Shylock, a Jewish Money lender entering into a contract or

bond, to take his flesh if the money is not repaid on time.• Portia from Belmont has been bound to a marriage casket challenge. She is faced with

suitors from around the world. The Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Arragon fail this challenge.

• Shylock’s daughter Jessica is in love with a Christian, Lorenzo. She leaves her father taking his money and treasures to be with Lorenzo

• Shylock’s servant Gobbo also wants to leave Shylock. After being reunited with his father, Old Gobbo, he goes to work for Bassanio.

• Bassanio travels to Belmont. He wins the marriage challenge and Portia’s love. Meanwhile Gratiano and Portia’s servant, Nerissa have also fallen in love.

• Portia hears of Antonio’s bond and travels to Venice to represent Antonio in court. She is in disguise with Nerissa. She wins, leaving Shylock forced to become Christian and giving his money to Jessica and Lorenzo. He is broken.

• The group are reunited in Belmont. Bassanio and Antonio learn of the plot and Antonio hears that his ships have returned safely home.

CONTEXTLook at the following phrases and explain how they relate to the context of the play in 1596:

Jewish/Christian Venice Status of Women

Nationalities Money lending Dense imagery in language(clue: theatre)

Violence on stage Happy ending

DRAMATIC TECHNIQUES DefinitionsDramatic Device/Technique Definition

The character speaks to himself so that the audience can hear

The audience and/or characters know something that another character does not

The regular rhythmic pattern of Shakespeare’s language to make lines easy to remember. When this pattern is broken, it has a ‘shock’ or surprising effect on the audience – a signal to take notice of what was happening.

Coming onto or leaving to stage at dramatic moments

Dramatic moments building tension through shouting or violence.

Creating pictures with words for the audience

Putting opposites next to and close to each other for clear, vivid effects

To show a state of mind that refuses to change or think differently by saying the same thing many times.

Sets of words on similar themes or groups

CHARACTERS Which words apply to which character? Give evidence.

• Vengeful• Eloquent• Intelligent• Reckless• Melancholic• Privileged• Clownish• Persecuted• Defiant• Self-interested

• Benevolent• Cruel• Loyal• Hypocritical• Dutiful• Alienated• Insulting• Crude

SETTINGVenice Belmont

THEMESFind a quote for each of the following themes/motifs:Dehumanisation Duty of daughters to fathersRole of Venice as a centre of trade and justiceRevenge and mercyReligious difference and abuse