TheMerchantofVenice

Name:____TeachersCopy______

WilliamShakespeare

MASTERPROSESTUDYQUESTIONS

ACTI

1.

Whatimportantbackgroundinformationisestablishedinthefirstscene?

2.

3.

Antonio&Bassanioaregoodfriends;bothseeeachotherasgoodpeople.
Antonio$istiedupatsea
Antonioissad=noone,includinghimself,knowswhy
BassaniowantsPortiashandinmarriage
Bassanioisindebt&needsAntonioshelp
AntoniowillhavetoguaranteealoanforBassanio

DoesShakespeareintendtheaudiencetoviewBassanioasaspendthriftandagolddigger?

Asaspendthriftmismanageshisfinances&spendsmorethanhehas(1.1:123130)wantstocutbackonhisspending
habits&paybackhisdebts.
p13

willingtopayback?

Why,inSceneII,isPortiainsuchamelancholymood?

Dislikesallthesuitorsthathavethusfarcomeforherhand
Worriesaboutgettingstuckwithsomeoneshedislikes

4.

WhydoesShakespeareusethewordchoosesoofteninthesecondscene?

ToemphasizePortiaslackofchoice&thechoosingoftheproperbox
p191.21925,30311
fathersdemands

5.

HowisPortiacharacterizedinSceneII?

selfconfidence
funny

honest/blunt

picky
loyaltofatherswishes
mean/critical

6.

InSceneII,whydoPortiaandNerissareviewthesuitorswhohavecometocourtPortia?

forfun
todeterminewhatPortiathinksofeach
seechoice/makeBassanioseemlikethebestchoice

TheMerchantofVenice

Name:____TeachersCopy______

WilliamShakespeare

7.

HowdoShylocksfirstwordsinSceneIIIhelptocharacterizehim?

solelyconcernedwithmoney
p251.3.1

Threethousandducats,well

8.

WhatisthepointofShylockscommentsaboutAntoniosships?

OnemusttakeintoaccountthatAntoniosinvestmentsareallatsea&assuchtheycanbedeemeduncertainshipscan
sink;piratescanattack;therecanbeastorm
1.31526

foreshadowingpotentialtroubleofassets

9.

WhydoesShylockrefusetoeatwithAntonio?

HeisJewish&AntonioisChristianfollowdifferentdietarylaws(Kosher)
Neitherlikestheother
Onlybusiness

10.

WhatisthepurposeofShylocksasideasAntonioapproachesinSceneIII?

11.

WhatisironicaboutShylocksreferenceinSceneIIItofeedinghisgrudgetowardAntonio,and
thengreetingAntoniobysayingthathewasthelastmanintheirmouths?(1.357)

12.

1.33749
Torevealhistrueintentionstotheaudiencewantstofinallygettheupperhand&settlehisancientgrudge
foreshadowing

1.344

evilofShylockscharacter(feedinghisgrudge)
wantstochewhimup&spithimouthaveAntonioathismercysoastosatisfyhishate&desireforrevenge
wasjusttalkingaboutgettingbackathim
(incidental/unexpected)

HowdoesShylockdefendhispracticeofcharginginterestonloans?
storyfromtheBiblere:Jacob&thespottedsheepexpandingyourworth;profitisablessingaslongasyoudontsealto
getit
1.36977
(moneylending..increasedinterest)

TheMerchantofVenice

Name:____TeachersCopy______

WilliamShakespeare

13.

Apartfromthematterofusury,whydoesShylockbearsuchhatredforAntonio?

AntonioisChristian
Antoniobelittles&insultshim

14.

HowdoesAntonioreacttoShylocksexpressionofhisresentment?(Shylock1.32427)

15.

CantheaudiencebelieveShylockwhenhesayshewouldofferthehandoffriendshipto
Antonio?

16.

WhydoesAntonioagreetothetermsofthemerrybondthatis,toforfeitonepoundof
fleshifhefailstorepaytheborrowedmoneyontime?

17.

sayshewoulddo&sayallthosethingsagain(1.3.2829)
herejectshimwillcontinuetobeenemies

No,wehaveheardhisaside&knowheisscheming

Hisshipsareduebackin2months,onefullmonthbeforetheloanmustbepaidanticipatestheirsafearrival&areturn
of3timestheamountoftheloanfromhisinvestments
1.34450&1.35558

WhatdoesBassaniosreluctancetoallowAntoniotoagreetoShylocksbondrevealabout
him?
TrulycaresaboutAntonioasafriend&doesntwanthimtoputhimselfatrisk

18.

Asfarasplotdevelopmentisconcerned,whatistheimportanceofAntoniosagreeingto
Shylocksbond?

Itiseasiertoholdsomeonetothetermsofanagreementwhenthepersonwillinglyconsentedtoit
Foreshadowssomethingiwlllikelygowrong(risingaction)

TheMerchantofVenice

Name:____TeachersCopy______

WilliamShakespeare

ACTII

19.

HowdoesthescenebetweenPortiaandthePrinceofMoroccofurtherPortias
characterization?

thattoherlooksarenotenoughdoesntjudgesomeonebasedonthat
sayshehasagoodachanceasany
valuesapersonscharacter

20.

WhydoesShakespearesplittheepisodeofthePrinceofMoroccoschoiceintotwoscenes?

tobuildsuspense(ie,willhepicktherightbox)
todevelopothercharacters&plotlines2.2Lancelot,Gobbo;2.3Jessica&letter;2.4Lorenzosplan;
2.5Shylockgoingtoparty;2.6Jessicaescaping&Bassanio&GratianoleavingforBelmont

21.

WhatisthefunctionofLauncelotGobboinSceneII?

22.

comedicrelief
furthervillanizesShylock
buildupneededtohimleavingShylocksservice&askingtobeinBassaniosservice

WhatnewelementofplotisaddedtotheplayinSceneIII?
Jessica&Lorenzosforbiddenlove

23.

WhatisLauncelotsfunctioninthissubplot?

24.

HowdoesJessicaslettertoLorenzoinSceneIVsetupfurtherexposition?(developingplot)

agobetweencharactersmessengerinformerconfidant

theirplantoescapeJessicawillsneakoutofherhomedisguisedasapageboy&willactasLorenzostorchbearerforthe
partywillalsostealmoney&jewelsfromherdad
2.42932

TheMerchantofVenice

Name:____TeachersCopy______

WilliamShakespeare

25.

WhyisShylockreluctanttosupwithBassanio?

(2.5)

knowheisonlybeinginvitedtobeflattered(softenedup)2.514
hadadreamofmoneybagstohimabadomenthatthingsarenotgoinghiswayrightnow2.519

26.

WhatisironicaboutShylocksleavinghiskeyswithhisdaughter?2.513

hetoldhertolockeverythingupsohewillneedhertolethimbackinbutshewillbegone
shetakesallthatisvaluablesoreallythereisnopointinlockingupgoesagainsttheproverbhequotes,Fastbind,fast
find2.554(lockthingsup&youwillgettokeepthem)=becausehehaslockedhisdaughterupshewantstoleavehim

27.

WhatdoesShylocksattitudetowardmusicrevealabouthim?

heisaveryserious&soberindividualwhodoesntliketohavefunorenjoylife.
2.53035

28.

WhyisShylockgladtoseeLauncelotleavehishouseholdtogotoworkforBassanio?

29.

ShouldJessicaberegardedasathieffortakingmoneywithherwhensheelopeswith
Lorenzo?(opinionated)

saysheeatstoomuch,isveryslowwhenheworks&sleepsalldaylikeacat
2.54750

2.6

30.

AsSceneVIcloses,whydoesAntonioannouncethattherewillbenomasquethatnight?

thewindwasblowingtherightwaysosBassanio&Gratianohadtotakeadvantage&setsaidforBelmontimmediately
2.66567

TheMerchantofVenice

Name:____TeachersCopy______

WilliamShakespeare

31.

WhatisthedramaticfunctionofSceneVII?

suspense&conclusionofthePrinceofMoroccoschanceatwinningPortiashand
message=cantjudgepeople/situationsbyfirstimpressionsortheirexterior
revealsPortiastruefeelingstowardshimprejudice
2.7

32.

WhydoesthePrinceofMoroccochoosethegoldcasketovertheothers?

thinksthatitsmessageappliestoPortiabecausesheiswhatmanymendesireasisshownbythemanysuitorswhohave
comefromallovertheworldforherleadistoobase(2.74950)silverlessvaluablethangold(2.75355)
2.73741

33.

Whatisthelessontheprincediscoversinsidethegoldbox?

allthatglittersisnotgold
menselltheirsoulsbasedonappearances
sometimesthatwhichglittersactuallycontainsworms
shouldhavebeenmorewisethanbold
worthismorethanexteriorbasedappearancescanbedeceiving
2.76573

34.

WhatisthedramaticpurposeoftheconversationbetweenSalerioandSolanioinSceneVIII?

35.

toinformusthatShylockhasrealizedJessicaisgone&figurestheyleftonBassaniosshiphoweverDukediscovered
theyleftinagondola
Shylockisdemandingjusticeveryupsetallhismoneyisgone,feelsdeceived
thataVenetianshiploadedwithcargowaswreckedintheEnglishChannelpossiblybelongstoAntonio
2.875

WhydidntShakespearestageShylocksreactiontohisdaughterselopementratherthan
havingSolanioreportit?(speculation)

36.

HowdoesShakespearetaketheopportunitytosatirizeSpain,Englandsrival,inthescene
withthePrinceofArragon?

(satirize=ridicule)

makesafooloutofthePrinceofArragononeshouldntgetmorethanonedeserves,havingearneditnowSpainhas

gottenthingsbybeingcorrupt,notbymeritmanywhogaveorderswillnowtakethem

2.9

TheMerchantofVenice

Name:____TeachersCopy______

WilliamShakespeare

37.

WhatdoestheservantsannouncementofthenextsuitorattheendofActIIleadthe
audiencetoexpect?

thatthisyoungVenetiansuitorisnootherthanBassaniothathewillbesuccessfulinwinningthelotteryforPortia

ACTIII

38.

HowdoSolanioandSalerioprovedramaticallyusefulagaininSceneI?

SolanioconfirmsthatAntoniohaslosthisshipsthiswillbankrupthim
makeShylockfacethetruththathehadtohaveknownhowunhappyJessicawas
ledtheq.whichgetsShylocktoconfirmhewillenforcetheclause

39.

WhatistheeffectofShylockslongIamaJewspeechinthefirstscene?

toexemplifytheprejudiceJewsfacedinElizabethantimesthatJewsarehumansjustasChristiansare
thatonegetsthesamereactiononereceivesifaJewwrongaChristian,thelatterwantsrevenge&sothevillainyhe
hasbeentaughtbythem,hewillnowuseonthem

40.

HowdoesShakespearekeepfrommakingShylockintotoosympatheticacharacterinSceneI?

still,ifnotmorethanever,outforrevenge&punishmentnomercy
caresmoreabouthislostjewels&$thanhisdaughter

41.

Whatistheprevailingmoodasthesceneends?

oneofanger,maliciousness,revenge,evil
feelsorryforAntonio

42.

WhatisthedramaticimportanceofSceneII?

BassaniogetsPortia&shecouldntbehappier
GratianorevealinghelovesNerissa&viceversawillalsomarry
findoutwhathappenedtoAntoniosship&Shylocksintention

TheMerchantofVenice

Name:____TeachersCopy______

WilliamShakespeare

43.

ComparethemoodofSceneIIwithSceneI.
joy,relief,happiness,goodfortune

44.

WhatisthethemeofBassanioslongspeechbeforehemakeshischoiceofthecaskets?

nottojudgeabookbyitscoveroftenoneistrickedwithfalseappearancessin&evilnesscanattempttomakeitself
lookgoodsomehow

45.

HowdoesSceneIIhelptodevelopBassanioscharacter?

seethathemustdesirePortiaformorethanherlooks&wealth
extremelyloyal
honest

46.

HowisourunderstandingofPortiaincreasedinSceneII?

trulycaresforBassanio
selfless
giving

47.

WhatisthedramaticfunctionofSceneIII?

againshowsShylockcantbeswayed
thatAntonioacceptshisfate&willnottrytoreasonwithShylockanymore

48.

WhycantheDukedonothingtopreventShylocksclaiminghisbond?

wouldthreatenthesecurityofallforeignmerchantsinVenice&thatshowthecitymakesmoneyifthegovernment
disregardsthelaw,itwillbediscredited

TheMerchantofVenice

Name:____TeachersCopy______

WilliamShakespeare

49.

HowdoesSceneIVhelptohumanizePortia?

beingcompletelyselfless&puttingbothBassanio&Antoniobeforeherself

50.

HowdoesPortiaexplainherdeparturefromBelmonttoLorenzo?

sayssheisgoingtoliveinaconventuntilBassanioreturnssaysshehaspromisedtoliveinprayer&thought

51.

WhatisthedramaticpurposeofSceneV?

furtherexemplifyingPortiasuprightcharacter
interactionbetweenJessica&Lorenzo
comedicrelief:exchangebetweenLorenzo&Lancelot
Jessicaworriesthatthesinsofherfatherwillfallonher

ACTIV:

52.

WhatappealdoestheDukeofVenicemaketoShylockasthetrialopens?

thatheandothersthinkthatShylockisonlypretendingtobecrueltomakeapointbutatthelastmomenthewontgo
throughwithit
askshimtoshowmercy
tryingtoappealtoanyhumangenerosity&gentlenessinhim

53.

HowdoesShylockrespondtothisappeal?

saysnohewillhavehisbond
threatensthecitysfreedom
saysheneedstogivenoreasonwhyhejustfeelsit

54.

HowdoesAntoniobehaveinthefaceofthefatewhichseemsabouttobefallhim?

acceptsit,askseveryonetostoparguingwithShylockbecausethereisnoreasoningwithhim
courageous

TheMerchantofVenice

Name:____TeachersCopy______

WilliamShakespeare

55.

IsmoneythemostimportantthingintheworldtoShylock?

56.

nobecauseheturnsdownBassaniosoffertopayhimdoubletheamountheloaned

WhatistheeffectofShakespearesdelayingPortiasentranceintothetrialscene?
audiencessympathyforAntoniobuildshatredforShylock

57.

DescribetheunfoldingofPortiasargumentinthetrial.

58.

atfirstshemakesitseemlikesheissidingwithShylock&thatshewillallowhimtocutapoundoffleshfromAntonio
butthensaysthatthereisnoallowanceinthecontractforadropofbloodShylockseesnowaytocutapoundofflesh
withoutsheddingblood
agreestotakehis$butthenshechargeshimwithattemptedmurder

WhenShylockrelentsandsayshewilltakethemoneyinsteadofthepoundofflesh,whyishe
denied?
heischargedwithattemptedmurderpunishment=ofhiswealthgoestowhohetriedtokill;theothertothestate

59.

HowdoesShakespearebringthetrialscenefullcircle?

(tablesturned)

Antonioisfree,unharmed,showsmercytoShylock(doesntwant$)BUT(1)S=Christo.(2)putLorenzo&Jessicainhis

inheritance

Shylocktricked,forcedtobemerfiul&atthehandsofmercyhimself

DukesayshewillonlyfineShylock(mercy)

60.

WhatkindofmercydoesthecourtshowShylock?
willonlyissuehimafineratherthantakeof$&goods

10

TheMerchantofVenice

Name:____TeachersCopy______

WilliamShakespeare

61.

62.

HowwouldtheaudienceofShakespearesdayhaveregardedShylocksforcedconversion?

(opinionatedlikelygood,justified,redeeminghim)

WhydoesntShakespeareendActIVwithShylocksexitfromthecourtindefeat?
needstocontinuewiththemarriageplots

ACTV

63.
WhatisthemoodasActVopens?

64.

pleasantJessica&Lorenzodiscussinfamousloverswholosttheirlove,experiencedunrequitedlove,orlovethatwasnt
allowedtobe

Inwhatothersceneintheplaydoesmusicplayasimportantarole?
whenPortiawantsmusicplayedasBassaniopickshisbox(3.2)

65.

HowistheringplotinActVenhancedbydramaticirony?

(audienceknowsmorethancharacters)

drawnoutinacomedicwaybyPortia&Nerissamaketheirhusbandssuffer&begbeforerevealingthetruthtoensure

theynevermakesuchamistakeagain

66.

Howistheintrigueoftheringsfinallyresolved?

Portia&Nerissarevealthattheyhavetherings&explainthetruthofwhathappened

11