MOV Characters
Who is the merchant of Venice?
Antonio
What is the penalty if Antonio fails to repay Shylock's loan on time?
A pound of flesh
When was The Merchant of Venice written?
1596
What is satire?
A literary genre that uses humour, irony, or ridicule to criticize and expose human vices or societal issues
What technique is this? "Amplifying or overstating aspects of a subject to highlight its absurdity or flaws."
Exaggeration / Hyperbole
Portia dresses up as a male lawyer named...
Balthasar
How does Shylock react to the court’s final decision?
He accepts it reluctantly
What genre is The Merchant of Venice?
Tragicomedy
What is Juvenalian satire characterized by?
Dark and serious tone, often quite critical of its subjects
Explain "Parody"
Imitating the style, tone, or mannerisms of a particular work, genre, or individual for comic effect, often to critique or ridicule.
A comical, clownish figure who is especially adept at making puns, this character leaves Shylock’s service in order to work for Bassanio.
Launcelot Gobbo
How do Antonio’s ships play a critical role in the unfolding of the plot?
Antonio's ships, believed to be lost, cause his financial ruin, setting up the central conflict with Shylock. Their safe return at the end resolves the tension and restores his fortune.
What is usury and how is it related to The Merchant of Venice?
Usury is the practice of lending money for profit; in the play, it is significant because Jewish characters, such as Shylock, are moneylenders, which reflects the historical tension surrounding this practice.
Why is it important to understand when NOT to use satire in writing?
Satire can be misinterpreted and taken literally. It can also teeter on the edge of bullying (or intentionally bully) if it is misapplied. It can also make light of topics which, in some people's opinions, should be afforded more reverence.
What technique is used in the title of Jonathan Swift's essay A Modest Proposal?
Acceptable answers: either irony or understatement.
The language technique used in the title "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift is irony. The word "modest" suggests humility or a lack of extravagance, while "proposal" implies a suggestion or recommendation. However, the essay itself is anything but modest in its proposal—it satirically suggests that poor Irish families should sell their children as food to rich landlords as a solution to poverty and overpopulation. Thus, the title employs irony by presenting the horrific suggestion in a seemingly understated and reasonable manner.
A friend of Antonio, Bassanio, and Lorenzo who says the least lines.
Solanio
Who is the second suitor to choose a casket in an attempt to marry Portia?
The Prince of Arragon
In what ways does The Merchant of Venice reflect the economic practices and mercantile culture of Venice during the Renaissance?
The play reflects Venice’s status as a major trading hub, its complex legal system, the importance of maritime commerce, and the use of bonds and credit, which were central to its economy. It also displays the Christians' attitudes towards usury at that time.
Which Greek playwright wrote one of the first examples of satire?
Aristophanes
Give the example of the technique called "allegory" that is used in the revision booklet.
George Orwell’s book Animal Farm is an example of a story that is both satire and allegory. Animal Farm is a satire of totalitarianism and an allegory of the Russian Revolution. The plot follows animals on a farm who overthrow their human owner, Mr. Jones, but later face oppression under the pigs' rule. This parallels the rise of Stalinism, with characters symbolizing real historical figures.
Shylock's fellow Jew who warns him against seeking revenge on Antonio.
Tubal
What is inside the gold casket?
A skull with a scroll in its eye socket.
What role did anti-Semitic laws and sentiments play in Shakespeare's England, and how might they have influenced the portrayal of Shylock?
Anti-Semitic laws, including the expulsion of Jews from England in 1290 and their limited presence during Shakespeare's time, likely influenced the negative portrayal of Shylock and reflected societal prejudices.
What Latin phrase means “a medley of fruits” and is related to the development of the word "satire"?
Lanx satura
Explain the difference between sarcasm and irony, because the terms are often confused.
Sarcasm is a particular type of verbal irony characterized by its mocking or contemptuous tone, whereas irony encompasses a broader range of contrasts between appearance and reality or expectations and outcomes.
Key Differences: