| What emotion is Antonio feeling in the first scene? | Sadness |
| Who offers to play the fool to cheer Antonio up? | Gratiano |
| Who is described as having reasons as “two grains of wheat hid in two busshles of Chaff”? | Gratiano |
| How does Bassanio plan to clear his debts? | By marrying the heiress Portia. |
| Where is Antonio’s money in the beginning of the play? | “Out at sea” |
| What animal does Portia say the Neopolitan Prince is obsessed with? | His horse |
| What doesn’t Portia like about County Palatine? | He never smiles or laughs |
| What doesn’t Portia like about Mosieur Le Bon? | He was always showing off |
| Why is Portia unable to offer an opinion about the English Barron Falconbridge? | They don’t speak the same language |
| What languages does Portia speak? | Italian, French, and Latin |
| Where does Portia jokingly say Falconbridge got his jacket, tights, and hat respectively? | Jacket in Italy, Tights in France, Hat in Germany |
| What does Portia say about the Scottish Lord? | He is very forgiving |
| What doesn’t Portia like about the German Duke of Saxony’s nephew? | He is a drunk |
| Who is the one suitor Portia doesn’t criticize? | Bassiano |
| What is the amount and time limit on Shylock’s loan to Bassiano | 3000 Ducats for 3 months |
| Where are Antonio’s ships bound for? | Tripole, the Indies, Mexico, England |
| Why does Shylock turn down Bassanio’s dinner invitation | He won’t be near pork |
| What is the main reason that Shylock initially hates Antonio? | Antonio lends money without interest |
| How does Shylock defend taking interest for loans? | Using a bible story about Jacob raising lambs for his Uncle |
| What is the interest rate on Bassanio’s loan | Nothing |
| What does the Prince of Morocco’s ask Portia not to hold against him? | His dark skin color |
| What must Portia’s suitors pledge to do before they try the casket game? | Never marry if they are to loose the challenge |
| Whose service is Lancelot trying to escape from? | Shylock’s |
| What is Lancelot’s last name? | Gobbo |
| When tricking to his father, what does Lancelot pretend his title is? | Master |
| What is the name of Old Gobbo’s horse? | Dobbin |
| Who becomes Lancelot’s new master | Bassiano |
| What does Jessica give Lancelot as he leaves their family’s service? | A letter for Lorenzo |
| What does Jessica wear as a disguise? | A page’s uniform |
| Why does Shylock feel that ill things are brewing? | He dreams of money bags |
| According to Salarino, how much faster do “Venus’ pidgeons” fly (how much faster does time mover for young lovers)? | 10 times |
| What kind of party does Shylock attend, during which, Jessica escapes? | A masquerade |
| What do each of the caskets say? | Gold-get what many men want, Silver-get what you deserve, Lead-risk all you have |
| What is inside the correct casket? | Portia’s picture |
| Which casket does the King of Morocco chose? | Gold |
| Why does the King of Morocco choose the gold casket? | “All men want Portia” |
| What is inside the golden casket? | A skull with a scroll in the eyesocket |
| What bird does the Prince of Arragon liken those who would choose the gold casket to? | The Marlin (Martlet) |
| Which casket does the Prince of Arragon choose? | Silver |
| What is inside the silver casket? | A picture of a “blinking idiot” (a fool) |
| What does Salarino do when Shylock accuses him of being a part of the plot of his daughter running away? | He doesn’t deny it |
| How many ducats does Shylock accuse Antonio of costing him? | Half a million |
| How much did one of the diamonds coast Shylock in Frankfurt? | 2000 ducats |
| What is Shylock’s reaction to hearing that another one of Antonio’s ships wrecked (this one from Tripolis) | He was happy. |
| How much did Jessica spend in Genoa in one night? | 80 Ducats |
| What did Jessica trade a turquoise ring for? | A monkey |
| How long does Portia ask Bassiano to stay in her palace. | “A month or two” |
| Which casket does Bassiano choose? | Lead |
| Why does Bassiano choose the lead casket? | Because he feels it is humble |
| What does Portia say will happen if Bassiano looses the ring? | Their marriage will be doomed. |
| What ancient hero does Gratiano compare himself and Bassiano to? | Jason |
| Who has tried to persuade Shylock not to follow up on his deal with Antonio? | 20 Merchants, the Duke of Venice, and the highest ranking nobles |
| How much does Portia say she’d be willing to pay to save Antonio | 12,000 Ducats |
| Why does Antonio believe that Shylock hates him? | He paid the debts of others who borrowed from Shylock |
| Who does Portia place in charge of her estate until Bassiano returns? | Lorenzo |
| Where does Portia claim she and Nerissa will spend their time waiting for the return of their husbands? | A monastery 2 miles away |
| Who does Jessica ask Balthazar to give a letter to? | Her cousin Bellario |
| What is Bellario’s proffesion | He is a lawyer |
| How far does Portia want to travel that day in order to catch up with Bassanio in Venice? | 20 miles |
| What does Lancelot tell Jessica her one hope of not going to Hell is? | If Shylock isn’t her true father |
| What does everyone at the trial think Shylock is doing? | Faking cruelty |
| Why does Shylock say he is refusing the 3000 ducats? | He feels like it. |
| According to Bassanio, what doesn’t every offence start as? | Hate |
| How much does Bassiano offer Shylock | 6000 ducats |
| Shylock says he won’t accept money, even how many times more than Bassanio’s offer? | Six times (36000 Ducats) |
| The Duke has the power to dismiss the court on that day, provided who doesn’t arrive? | Bellario |
| Where does Ballario send a letter from? | Padua |
| What is Nerissa disguised as? | A lawyer’s clerk |
| No metal could be half as sharp as Shylock’s what? | Hatred (envy?) |
| According to Gratiano, what was Shylock’s soul in a past life? | A wolf |
| According to Gratiano, what did Shylock do in his previous life? | Slaughter humans |
| Bellario’s letter introduces informs the group of the arrival of who? | Portia disguised as a lawyer |
| What name does Portia go by as a lawyer? | Balthazar |
| According to Portia, mercy is a what? | Double blessing |
| Why can’t the duke act above the law to save Antonio | It will set a bad precedent |
| Who biblical character does Shylock compare Portia/Balthazar to after she says that the Duke can not act in this case? | Daniel |
| What weapon does Shylock plan to remove his pound of flesh with | A knife |
| Who does Shylock refuse to have on hand to try and save Antonio after his flesh has been removed? | A Surgeon |
| Where does Gratiano wish Nerissa was? | In heaven |
| What biblical character’s decedents would Shylock have rathered Jessica marry than Lorenzo? | Barabbas |
| What substance can Shylock not remove from Antonio’s body along with the flesh | Blood |
| Under Venetian Law, what will happen if one drop of Antonio’s blood is shed | Shylock’s property and land will be seized by the state |
| After seeing the impossibility of cutting Antonio without shedding his blood, what does Shylock offer? | To accept the 9000 ducat deal |
| Why can’t Shylock accept the money? | He publicly turned it down |
| What does Portia classify Shylock as in order to get him arrested for conspiring to kill a Venetian citizen? | An alien |
| What does the Duke do to Shylock after he is accused of trying to kill Antonio? | Pardons him |
| What are Antonio’s demands that Shylock must meet | Shylock must convert to Christianity, and leave his property to Lorenzo and Jessica |
| For Portia/Balthazar, what was the pay for her services? | A job well done |
| What token does Portia ask of Antonio? | His gloves |
| What token does Portia ask of Bassanio | The ring she gave him |
| Where do Antonio and Bassiano go the morning after the trial? | Belmont |
| How much sooner will Nerissa and Portia return to Belmont than their husbands? | 1 day |
| Who mounted the Trojan Wall | Troilus |
| Who saw the lion’s shadow? | Thisbe |
| Who begged her lover to return to Carthage | Dido |
| Who gathered magic herbs to rejuvenate Aeson? | Medea |
| Who is returning to Belmont with Portia | Her maid (Nerissa) and a holy Hermit |
| Who does Lorenzo tell Stefano to bring outside to greet their master? | Musicians |
| Where does Portia see a light burning? | Her Hall |
| Why does Portia think the nightengale sounds so beautiful | It sings in the quite of the night |
| How does Lorenzo recognise Portia upon her return | By her voice |
| What does Bassiano muse that he should have done in order to be able to convince his wife he lost the ring defending it? | Cut off his left hand |
| How many of Antonio’s ships returned to port at the end of the play | 3 |
Merchant of Venice Questions
July 6, 2019