merchant of venice

Question 1

Act 3 scene 1.
Why Shylock wants pound of flesh.

Answer 1

'’If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge’’

Question 2

Act 3 scene 1.
Why does Shylock want such cruel revenge?

Answer 2

'’If you wrong us, shall we not revenge?’’

Question 3

Act 3 scene 1.
How did Shylock express shared humanity?

Answer 3

'’Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a jew hands, organs, dimensions..?’’

Question 4

Act 3 scene 1.
How did Antonio treat Shylock?

Answer 4

'’laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation’’

Question 5

Act 3 scene 1.
How will he react?

Answer 5

'’The villainy you teach me I will execute- and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction’’

Question 6

Act 3 scene 1.
We saw that Jessica betrayed Shylock. What did he wish when he realised his ducats and diamonds were stolen?

Answer 6

'’I would my daughter were dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear’’

Question 7

Act 4 scene 1.
What was the Dukes biased view of Shylock?

Answer 7

'’an inhuman wretch, uncapable of pity, and empty from any dram of mercy’’

Question 8

Act 4 scene 1.
Portia had a strong moral compass. What was her description of mercy?

Answer 8

'’The quality of mercy is not streained’’ ‘‘it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven’’

Question 9

Act 4 scene 1.
Shylock refused to be merciful, saying…

Answer 9

'’If you deny me, fie upon your law’’

Question 10

Act 4 scene 1.
Before the turning point, how did Portia allow Shylock to believe that he was entitled a pound of flesh?

Answer 10

'’the Jew shall have all justice’’

Question 11

Act 4 scene 1.
How did Portia suddenly turn the tables before the flesh was cut?

Answer 11

'’If thou dost shed one drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods are by the laws of Venice confiscate’’

Question 12

Act 4 scene 1 (side plot: the ring). Previously, how did Portia try to secure her love for Bassanio?

Answer 12

'’when this ring parts from this finger, then parts life from hence. O, then be bold to say Bassanios dead.’’

Question 13

Act 4 scene 1 (side plot: the ring).
How did Portia catch Bassanio off guard?

Answer 13

In disguise ‘‘I’ll take this ring from you’’ ‘‘And you in love shall not deny me this’’

Question 14

Theme: The Quality of Mercy

Answer 14

'’The quality of mercy is not strained’’

Question 15

Theme: The Quality of Mercy

Answer 15

'’It blesseth him that gives and him that takes’’

Question 16

Theme: Prejudice and Discrimination
How did Antonio admit to being prejudiced?

Answer 16

'’I am as like to call thee so again; To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too’’

Question 17

Theme: Prejudice and Discrimination
What did Shylock recognise that Christians taught him?

Answer 17

'’The villainy you teach me I will execute’’

Question 18

Theme: Prejudice and Discrimination
How did Shylock challenge common humanity?

Answer 18

'’Hath not a Jew eyes?’’

Question 19

Theme: Appearance vs. reality.
When a suitor picked the golden casket, what message was left for him?

Answer 19

'’All that glisters is not gold’’

Question 20

Theme: Appearance vs. reality.
What did Portia do to challenge this theme?

Answer 20

She disguised herself as a male lawyer and saved Antonio’s life.

Question 21

Portia.
Virtuous.

Answer 21

'’the quality of mercy is not strained’’

Question 22

Portia.
Clever.

Answer 22

'’If thou shed one drop of Christian blood, thy land and goods are by the laws of Venice confiscate’’

Question 23

Portia.
Untruthful.

Answer 23

'’My maid Nerissa and myself meantime will live as maids and widows’’

Question 24

Portia.
Loyal.

Answer 24

'’I cannot choose one nor refuse none’’

Question 25

Portia. Lack of emapthy.

Answer 25

''He shall have nothing but the penalty''

Question 26

Portia. Feminine strength.

Answer 26

not ''unlessoned, unschooled''

Question 27

Portia. How is she described as by Bassanio?

Answer 27

''she is fair, and- fairerthan that word- of wonderous virtues.'' ''sometimes from her eyes I did recieve fair speechless messages''

Question 28

Portia. Melancholic.

Answer 28

''My little body is aweary of this great world''

Question 29

Portia. How does she wish to be to please Bassanio?

Answer 29

''for you I would be trebled twenty times myself- a thousand times more fair, ten thousand times more rich''

Question 30

Shylock. Persecuted.

Answer 30

''You call me misbeliever, cut throat dog, and spit upon my Jewish gaberdine'' ''He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains''

Question 31

Shylock. Bloodthirsty

Answer 31

He wanted ''Three thousand ducats'' ''If you repay me not.. an equal pound of your fair flesh''

Question 32

Shylock. Overprotective father. How did Jessica express her hatred for Shylock?

Answer 32

''Our house is hell'' she is ''ashamed to be my father's child''

Question 33

Shylock. He wants revenge on Antonio. What would he do if he had the opportunity?

Answer 33

''If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him''

Question 34

Shylock. How did Antonio describe Shylock?

Answer 34

''A goodly apple rotten at the heart'' ''The devil can cite scripture for his purpose''

Question 35

Antonio. What is your first impression of him?

Answer 35

Melancholic: ''In sooth I know not why I am so sad''

Question 36

Antonio. What is your first impression of him?

Answer 36

Organised businessman: ''My ventures are not in one bottom trusted''

Question 37

Antonio. Melancholic.

Answer 37

''In sooth I know not why I am so sad'' ''a stage where every man must play a part and mine a sad one''

Question 38

Antonio. Generous.

Answer 38

''try what my credit in Venice can do''

Question 39

Antonio. Prejudiced.

Answer 39

''I am as like to call thee so again, to spit on thee so again, to spurn thee too''

Question 40

Antonio. By the end of the play, Antonio sees Shylock's perspective.

Answer 40

''His reason well I know. I oft delivered from his forfeitures many that have at times made moan to me''

Question 41

Antonio and Bassanio. at the beginning they had a strong caring friendship. Bassanio was introduced as Antonio's...

Answer 41

''most noble kinsman''

Question 42

Antonio and Bassanio. Bassanio was financially dependent on Antonio.

Answer 42

A: ''My purse, my person, my extremest means lie all unlocked to your occasions'' B: ''To you, Antonio, I owe the most in money and in love''

Question 43

Antonio and Bassanio. Bassanio feels guilt for letting Antonio almost die for him.

Answer 43

''The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones and all, ere thou shall lose for me one drop of blood''

Question 44

Antonio and Bassanio. What Solanio says re. Antonio and Bassanio.

Answer 44

''I think he only loves the world for him''