Show:
The Merchant of Venice - Act 1
Characters
The Merchant of Venice - Act 2
Vocab
The Merchant of Venice - Act 3
100

What 3 reasons do Salerio and Solanio suggest for Antonio's sadness?

Ships at sea, in love, not happy

100

What does Portia disguise herself as in the courtroom

A young male lawyer (a "doctor of law"), named Balthazar.

100
Why does Launcelot want to leave Shylock's service? What reason does he give his father?
He is a Jew and Launcelot's name will be spoilt if he remains with him.
Tells his father that he is being ill-treated and starved by Shylock.
100

Antisemitism

Hatred of Jews

100

"There I have another bad match: a bankrupt, a prodigal, who dare scarce show his head on the Rialto, a beggar that was used to come so smug upon the mart."

Who is Shylock referring to?

Antonio

200

What are the terms of Shylock's bond? How does he convince Bassanio that he does not have any ulterior motives?

3000 ducats for 3 months, or a pound of flesh to be given.

Flesh of humans is not profitable.

200

Which character dresses as a law clerk and helps Portia in the courtroom?

Nerissa

200
How does Jessica describe her home? Explain the metaphor she uses.
Calls her house hell. She compares it to hell because of Shylock's strict regard for seriousness and sobriety. He does not like any form of merriment or enjoyment and Jessica finds his rules suffocating.
200

Empathy

is the ability to understand and share the feelings, thoughts, and perspectives of another person.

200

What prized possession of Shylock's has Jessica spent in Genoa?

She traded Leah's ring - it belonged to his dead wife.
300

What reasons does Shylock give for hating Antonio?

He is a Christian.

He lends out money gratis.

He insults Shylock in public.

300

Which character leaves Shylock's service to become Bassanio's servant?

Launcelot Gobbo

300

Who is the second person to choose a casket? What casket does he choose and what is the result?

Prince of Arragon chooses the silver casket because he thinks he deserves Portia. It is incorrect.

300

Volta

A volta is the Italian term for the "turn" in the argument or mood of a sonnet .

300

Tubal: Antonio as I heard in Genoa - ... hath an argosy cast away coming from Tripolis.

Shylock: I thank God. I thank God. Is it true, is it true?

What new does Tubal bring?

One of Antonio's ships from Tripoli has been shipwrecked.

400

Why does Shylock lend money to Antonio despite the ill treatment he has received from him? What does he tell Antonio and what does he think in his mind?

Sees an opportunity to take revenge.

Tells Antonio that he wants to forget the past and be his friend.

Actually, he intends to incorporate a clause in the contract which will allow him to take a pound of Antonio's flesh if the money is not repaid on time.

400

Which character gives up a wedding ring to thank the "lawyer" Balthazar?

Bassanio

400
Why does Bassanio hesitate to allow Gratiano to accompany him to Belmont? What does Gratiano promise to do?
Gratiano is too rude and out-spoken. His behaviour might be misconstrued by the elegant society in Belmont. Bassanio might be judged by Gratiano's behaviour and therefore lose his chance with Portia.
Gratiano promises to behave better and with more propriety.
400

Petrarchan sonnet

is a 14-line poem that divides into two distinct parts: an eight-line octave followed by a six-line sestet.

400

Why does Portia send Balthazar with a letter to Padua?

She needs to arrange to get a letter and lawyer's clothes from her cousin, Dr Bellario so that she can appear in court for Antonio's trial.

500

Give a brief character sketch of Antonio and Bassanio.

Antonio - gullible, loyal friend, racist, stubborn, overconfident

Bassanio - loyal friend, cynical, spendthrift, foolish

500

What is the name of Portia's famous speech?


quality of mercy

500

Who is Morocco and what does he request of Portia? What is her response?

An African prince who has come to try to win Portia's hand in marriage by attempting the casket test.

Asks her not to judge him by the colour of his skin.

She reassures him that she will consider him in the same way she does all her other suitors.

500

Iambic Pentameter

Iambic pentameter is the most common metrical pattern in English poetry, especially in sonnets, and is the rhythm Shakespeare used for most of his plays and sonnets.

one unstressed followed by one stressed(da-DUM).

500

Tubal: Antonio as I heard in Genoa - ... hath an argosy cast away coming from Tripolis.

Shylock: I thank God. I thank God. Is it true, is it true?

Account for Shylock's reaction to the news.

Shylock is delighted at the news because he is hoping that Antonio won't be able to repay him so that he can get the pound of flesh.