the merchant of venice essay questions and answers

Merchant of Venice

By william shakespeare, merchant of venice study guide.

The Merchant of Venice was first printed in 1600 in quarto, of which nineteen copies survive. This was followed by a 1619 printing, and later an inclusion in the First Folio in 1623. The play was written shortly after Christopher Marlowe's immensely popular Jew of Malta (1589), a play wherein a Jew named Barabas plays a greatly exaggerated villain. The portrayal of Shakespeare's Jew was and remained comic until the late 1700s at which time he was first played as a true villain. In 1814 Shylock 's role was depicted as a character to be pitied, and in 1879 he was first portrayed as a tragic character. Subsequent interpretations have varied greatly over the years, but since World War II he has most often been conceived of as tragic.

The Merchant of Venice has been described as a great commentary on the nature of racial and religious interactions. The title itself is misleading, and is often misconstrued as a reference to Shylock, the Jew. However, in reality it describes the merchant Antonio . This ambiguity and misinterpretation has not surprisingly led scholars to continue hotly debating whether Shakespeare meant to be anti-Semitic or critical of anti-Semitism. His depiction of Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, causes the audience to both hate and pity the man, and has left critics wondering what Shakespeare was really trying to achieve.

The choice of Venice can hardly have been arbitrary. The Venice of Shakespeare's day was renowned for its wealth and diversity of cultures, for it was a cosmopolitan market where Eastern goods made their way into the West. Since Shakespeare's interactions with Jews in England would have been limited, if at all, Venice provided him with the example of tolerance and heterogeneity that he needed.

It is interesting to note that the Christians are portrayed as being an incredibly tight, commonly bound group. Antonio rushes to grant Bassanio a loan, even though it will bankrupt him. A similar example occurs later when Graziano asks Bassanio for a favor, which is granted before Bassanio even knows exactly what Graziano is asking for. However, this central community of Christians, with all of its virtue and decency, is immediately subverted by the prodigal loss of the money by Bassanio. While it may be virtuous for Antonio to give all he has to his friend, it is clear to the audience that it is foolish for him to give to a friend who will gamble it away.

In addition, the Christian's generosity and friendship is further undermined by the racism so apparent in their actions. Antonio is proud of the fact that he kicks and spits upon Shylock, while Portia is overjoyed when the black Prince of Morocco fails to choose the correct casket, saying, "Let all of his complexion choose me so" (2.7.79). The Christian ideals are not only undermined by this racism, this inherent distaste for anyone different from themselves, but also by their hypocrisy with respect to slavery. When the Christians exhort Shylock to release Antonio, he asks them why Antonio should be treated differently from their slaves, considering that he was bought by Shylock via the contract. Shakespeare thus plants doubt as to whether the Christians' kindness to each other is in fact as great a virtue as it would at first appear.

The nature of the religious differences has a profound impact on the way the Christians and the Jews live their lives. For Shylock, absolute adherence to the law is necessary, as evidenced by his reliance on contracts. In addition, money and possessions are things which he feels he must defend. Rather than try to increase his wealth, he struggles merely to maintain it. This economic conservatism contrasts starkly with the aristocratic, gambling nature of Bassanio and the others. The characteristic generosity of the Christians is a very aristocratic trait, based on an ideology which forces gentlemen to ignore practical monetary concerns. Thus Bassanio can truly say, "all the wealth I had ran in my veins" (3.2.253-254).

Perhaps the moment of strongest contrast between Shylock and the Christians' ideals concerns the contract of a pound of flesh. Shylock directly links money and flesh as being equal, something which any Christian would consider taboo. Antonio is unable to see this link, thinking instead that the contract is some form of game for Shylock. He makes the crucial mistake of believing that the contract cannot be for real, and that Shylock must somehow have grown "kind."

There is a division between the Christian portrayal of Shylock and the words and actions of Shylock himself which cannot be overlooked. The Christians are convinced that he can only think of money, whereas Shylock actually presents a very different, even sentimental outlook. Solanio claims that Shylock ran through the street crying out for his daughter and ducats in the same breath, yet there is no evidence of this when Shylock himself appears. Later, when his daughter, Jessica , exchanges a turquoise ring for a monkey, Shylock is not upset about the monetary loss of the ring, but rather the sentimental value it held for him.

Most of Shakespeare's comedies return to the first city in which they are set. However, this type of ending is uniquely absent in The Merchant of Venice. The final scene moves away from the abandonment of Shylock in Venice, shifting instead to Belmont. Belmont, however, is not nearly as idyllic as it appears throughout the play. Indeed, it represents wealth derived from inheritance, built on the merchandising of Venice, and is therefore a paradise founded on the despised trade it claims to hate. Ending the play in Belmont serves to remind the audience that the play can be viewed as anything but a comedy, and that in fact it is in many ways a tragedy.

Merchant of Venice Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Merchant of Venice is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Explain Portias tactics. Why does she appear to support Shylock at first?

When Portia arrives in court, she asks, "Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?" (4.1.169). Indeed, given the confusion so many people have with the title, it is often this very question which is asked. Scholars have tried to attribute her...

Describe merchant of venice as romantic comedy

While the story hits upon the tragic element of despair, The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, is a comedy because lovers are separated, characters are in disguise, and the story has a happy ending.

ACT III SCENE 3: What do you think Shylock means when he says, “it is my humour”?

This could be defined as "this is what I feel like doing".

Study Guide for Merchant of Venice

Merchant of Venice study guide contains a biography of William Shakespeare, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Merchant of Venice
• Merchant of Venice Summary
• Merchant of Venice Video
• Character List

Essays for Merchant of Venice

Merchant of Venice literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Merchant of Venice.

• The Victorious Woman in Measure for Measure and The Merchant of Venice
• Father-Daughter Relationships in The Merchant of Venice
• Mercy and the Masquerade: Trial and Performance in The Merchant of Venice
• Christianity and Judaism in The Merchant of Venice: Imperfect Faith
• The Anti-Semitic Question in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

Lesson Plan for Merchant of Venice

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Merchant of Venice
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Merchant of Venice Bibliography

E-Text of Merchant of Venice

Merchant of Venice E-Text contains the full text of Merchant of Venice

• List of Characters

Wikipedia Entries for Merchant of Venice

• Introduction
• Plot summary
• Earlier sources
• Date and text

The Merchant of Venice

42 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Act Summaries & Analyses

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

What role does blood play as a symbol in the text? How do characters like Shylock think of blood compared to how Christian noblemen think of it? As a concept, how does blood unite humanity? How does it divide it?

How do you view Bassanio’s courtship of Portia? Clearly, it financially benefits him to marry her. Moreover, doing so will help his best friend Antonio . Do you think Bassanio has true affection for Portia? What about Portia for Bassanio? Is the relationship entirely transactional or perhaps somewhere in-between?

What is the broader thematic relevance of the three caskets? And how do deceptive appearances play into the behavior of the Christian noblemen? Are their appeals to Christian mercy truly Christian or merely self-serving?

Related Titles

By William Shakespeare

All's Well That Ends Well

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Antony and Cleopatra

As You Like It

Henry IV, Part 1

Henry IV, Part 2

Henry VI, Part 1

Henry VI, Part 3

Julius Caesar

Love's Labour's Lost

Measure For Measure

Much Ado About Nothing

Featured Collections

Appearance Versus Reality

View Collection

Elizabethan Era

Forgiveness

Required Reading Lists

Shakespeare

Tragic Plays

1. Shakespeare ( AQA GCSE English Literature )

Revision note.

The Merchant of Venice question is part of Paper 1, Section A of your GCSE. For this, you are required to write one essay-length answer to one set question. This can seem daunting at first, but this page contains some helpful information, and links to more detailed revision note pages, that will enable you to aim for the highest grade. This page includes:

• A summary of The Merchant of Venice
• A brief overview of what is required in the exam

The Merchant of Venice characters

The Merchant of Venice context

The Merchant of Venice themes

The Merchant of Venice quotes

Top tips for the highest grade

The Merchant of Venice summary

The Merchant of Venice was written by William Shakespeare during the late 16th century. It depicts the story of Antonio, a merchant from Venice, who fails to repay a substantial loan borrowed from a Jewish moneylender named Shylock.

It is classified as a comedy and is similar to other romantic comedies by Shakespeare. The play is largely known for its dramatic scenes and for the character of Shylock. Shylock is renowned for demanding a "pound of flesh" as retribution. The play also includes two famous speeches: one from Shylock about the nature of humanity and Portia's speech on mercy. It contains many of the typical conventions of comedy such as marriage, misconception, and disguise and gender. For more on the conventions of tragedy, see The Merchant of Venice: Writer’s Methods and Techniques page. 

The play is about Antonio, a merchant, who owes money to Shylock, a vindictive moneylender. Antonio borrows the sum on behalf of his friend, Bassanio, to woo and marry a woman named Portia. After Antonio's trading ships sink, he cannot repay the debt, prompting Shylock to demand a pound of flesh as per their agreement. However, Portia, disguised as a man, intervenes during the trial and saves Antonio. As a result, Shylock is instructed to convert to Christianity and Antonio recovers his wealth from his sunken ships. For a more detailed summary, please see The Merchant of Venice: Plot Summary page . 

How is The Merchant of Venice assessed in the exam?

• Your GCSE Paper 1 requires you to answer two questions in 1hr 45min. That means you have approximately 52 minutes to plan, write and check your Merchant of Venice essay
• Paper 1 is worth 64 marks and accounts for 40% of your overall GCSE grade
• The Merchant of Venice essay is worth 34 marks in total, because it also includes 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar
• Section A of Paper 1 contains The Merchant of Venice question and you are required to answer the one available question on the play
• Your question will also include a printed extract of about 25 lines from the play
• It is a closed-book exam, which means you will not have access to a copy of the text (other than the printed extract) in your exam
• The question will require you to analyse and write in detail about an aspect of The Merchant of Venice
• Your answer will need to address both the extract from the play that you will be given, and the play as a whole

For a much more detailed guide on answering The Merchant of Venice question, please see our revision notes on How to Answer the Shakespeare Essay Question .

The characters you should focus on when revising The Merchant of Venice are:

When considering a Shakespeare play or any other text, it is crucial to remember that characters are intentionally crafted by the writer to serve a specific purpose. In many cases, these characters embody certain concepts or beliefs, and the writer, such as Shakespeare, uses them to reflect on and examine these ideas. For more details on how Shakespeare uses his characters in The Merchant of Venice, please see The Merchant of Venice: Characters revision notes page. 

Understanding what context actually is can be tricky at GCSE. Examiners understand context not as historical information, or biographical facts about a writer, but as the ideas and perspectives explored by a writer through their text. Therefore, The Merchant of Venice context you should explore in your essay response is not information about medieval Italy, or facts about William Shakespeare, but ideas about:

• Prejudice and intolerance
• Love and friendship in the Elizabethan era
• Wealth and power

Lots of these ideas and perspectives are universal, so your own opinions of them are valid and will be rewarded in an exam. For a detailed breakdown of the contextual topics listed above, see The Merchant of Venice: Context page. 

Understanding the themes that Shakespeare explores in The Merchant of Venice is one of the best approaches any student can take when revising the play. This is because to get the highest mark on your exam, you need to take what examiners call a “conceptualised approach”: a detailed and perceptive exploration of Shakespeare’s ideas and intentions. The main themes explored by Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice are:

• Justice and mercy
• Love and friendship

Shakespeare explores numerous other themes in The Merchant of Venice beyond those mentioned above and you are encouraged to examine these themes too. However, the above list makes a great place to start and detailed breakdowns of each of these themes can be found on The Merchant of Venice: Themes page.  

Although you are given credit for including quotations from The Merchant of Venice in your answer, it is not a requirement of the exam. In fact, examiners say that “references” to the rest of the play are just as valid as direct quotations: this is when students pinpoint individual moments in the play, rather than quoting what the characters say. In order to select references really successfully, it is extremely important that you know the play itself very well, including the order of the events that take place in the play. This detailed act-by-act breakdown of the plot will help you to revise the chronology of The Merchant of Venice.

However, it can also be useful to revise a few – very well selected –  quotations from the play that can be used in a variety of essays on different themes and characters. Luckily, we have made that selection for you! For a ‘translation’ and detailed analysis of each of these quotations, see The Merchant of Venice: Key Quotations page.

Please see our revision pages on the Shakespeare exam for guides on:

• Structuring The Merchant of Venice essay
• The Merchant of Venice methods and techniques
• How to include context in The Merchant of Venice essay
• Understanding The Merchant of Venice mark scheme
• A Shakespeare model answer

The Merchant of Venice Topics for Students of the Literature Class

“The Merchant of Venice” is one of the most influential plays of William Shakespeare from the 16th century. The main theme reveals society’s problem of antisemitism based on the conflict between Christians and the Jewish community. Therefore, there are many other no-less-sharp issues such as obedience to parents, the marriage of convenience, love, betrayal, and friendship.

Due to the play’s popularity, students are usually overwhelmed with the selection process of topics of “The Merchant of Venice.” Meanwhile, in the next list, prepared by our English essay writer , you will find 45 great ideas for topics based on this play.

“The Merchant of Venice” essay questions to explore

• Who is Shylock? Is he a victim, a villain, or a product of his circumstances?
• What is the significance of the courtroom scene and Portia’s role as the disguised lawyer?
• How does the theme of appearance in contrast to reality play out in Shakespeare’s masterpiece?
• What can you say about the concept of friendship in the play? How would you describe the bond between Antonio and Bassanio?
• How do money and wealth shape the characters’ actions and motivations?
• How does Shakespeare use humor to balance the serious themes in the play?
• What can you say about the role of fate and chance in the play? How do the characters make their choices?
• What is the role of power dynamics in the relationships between male and female characters?
• How does the theme of love, both romantic and platonic, drive the actions of the characters in the play?
• What can you say about the theme of sacrifice and its various manifestations in the play?

Ultimate “The Merchant of Venice” topics

• Why did Shakespeare use the stories from inmates at a women’s prison and interweave them into the play?
• The central Shylock-Antonio conflict in “The Merchant of Venice.”
• Why is “The Merchant of Venice” called a comedy?
• How does Shakespeare use figurative language to infer the personalities of characters?
• Is Shylock a villain or a hero taking revenge because of how he’s been treated?
• Does the film of Michael Radford depict the play’s original meaning intended by Shakespeare?
• My favorite character from Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice.”
• The main characters from “Othello” and “Merchant of Venice”: the differences and similarities between them.
• Has the court system of the 16th century outlived its usefulness? Discuss discretion in the court in “The Merchant of Venice.”
• George Eliot’s novel “Silas Marner” and Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice”: compare the views of relationships and money.
• Analyze the animal metaphors Shakespeare used in the play “The Merchant of Venice” and how they make the context broader and more significant.
• Analyze how Shakespeare depicted religion in “The Merchant of Venice” compared to “Richard III.”
• The dramatic purpose of “The Merchant of Venice.”
• The types of love described in “The Merchant of Venice”: the love between father and child, romantic love, and love of money. Which type is strongest?
• Whether the climax in “The Merchant of Venice” is determined by emotional or mathematical means with text integration.

“The Merchant of Venice” persuasive essay topics

• The relevance of “The Merchant of Venice” in today’s society.
• Is there a connection between the red hats Jewish people of Venice need to wear and the stars that Nazis established for Jewish people to wear in the ghetto for recognition during WWII?
• “The Merchant of Venice” depicted Shylock’s conversion to Christianity as essentially forced. Was it his protest against religious discrimination?
• Is the economic role of women in “The Merchant of Venice” a detraction?
• Compare the historical figure and Shylock from “The Merchant of Venice.” Discuss how both figures play on each side of their own ambiguous reputations.
• Is Shylock the victim of an unfair justice system or an unrelenting individual that demands a pound of flesh when Antonio can’t repay his loan?
• Compare the key characters of Drummond and Shylock from “Inherit the Wind” and “The Merchant of Venice.”
• Are Antonio and Bassanio in “The Merchant of Venice” homosexual?
• How is “The Merchant of Venice” connected with Judith Butler’s Performative Acts and Gender Constitution article?
• Use “Comedy and Tragedy” by David L. Simpson of DePaul University and “The Comedy and Tragedy Pages” by Lisa Schnell of the University of Vermont to identify the genre of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice.”
• Bassanio’s reasoning breaks the typical gender performance for males.
• Gender roles in the play “The Merchant of Venice.”
• The play adaptation to the movie (2004) and two significant differences filmmakers made.
• Were the conflicts described in the play reflecting the rise or fall of Venetian society in the 16th century?
• Is the love of money in “The Merchant of Venice” considered as addiction?

“The Merchant of Venice” essay topics portia

• Portia’s portrayal as an embodiment of feminism in the 16th century in Venice.
• How do you understand Portia’s quote: “The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven”?
• The connection between each suitor’s reasoning for the casket selection with quotes from Judith Butler’s “Performative Acts and Gender Constitution.”
• The role of the women in Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice.” How are they portrayed in relation to their male counterparts?
• How does Portia outshine the men in the play?
• How were Portia’s suitors represented? Why, considering the historical moment, did Shakespeare show Spaniard and Moore in such a negative side?
• Portia, Nerissa, and Jessica are all cross-dressed, but for different reasons. What are these reasons, and why?
• What is the role of Portia in the play? Is she a strong, independent, and intelligent woman?
• What’s the difference between the Jewish daughter Jessica and Christian daughter Portia?
• Portia compared with the Renaissance ideal of the woman.
• The comparison of the power of love and friendship between “The Merchant of Venice” and “The Winter’s Tale.” What does Portia appreciate most?
• Portia as the embodiment of fairness and justice in “The Merchant of Venice.”
• Rewrite the story of “The Merchant of Venice” from Portia’s point of view.
• The nature and effect of Portia’s ruling passions. Was she ruled by justice or evil motives?
• The effect of betrayal on Portia’s spirit. Did she forgive Bassanio?

Deal with “The Merchant of Venice” paper topics easily

Analyses of William Shakespeare’s plays, such as “The Merchant of Venice,” could be difficult even for an academic experienced with his literary compositions. Plays written in the English language in the 16th century could be perceived incorrectly by the modern reader. Therefore, those who study literature and Shakespeare’s works sometimes need to get professional help. This is especially true when selecting from a wide range of topics for “The Merchant of Venice” essay.

Visiting the EssayShark service, you can always be confident that you will find not only topics to write about “The Merchant of Venice,” but other beneficial information as well. Students often develop more splendid ideas on studying when reading our informative blog and improving their knowledge in various disciplines. Mostly, students find bigger advantages when they order custom papers on multiple subjects, including literature. Request write my essay online help right now.

Photo by MAO YUQING from Unsplash

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

What our customers say

Our website uses secure cookies. More details

Get professional help from best writers right from your phone

Grab our 3 e-books bundle for $27 FREE

Exam-style questions for Merchant of Venice - AQA

Part of English Literature The Merchant of Venice

For AQA , The Merchant of Venice is examined in Paper 2 of your English Literature exam.

You will be asked to write in detail about an extract from the play and then write about the play as a whole.

Assessment objectives (AQA)

Your exam response will be marked using Assessment Objectives (AOs).

The ones for these questions are below.

Looking at the extract

As part of your answer you will need to analyse Shakespeare’s use of language, structure and form in a given extract.

What could you write about these lines from the extract when discussing prejudice and intolerance?

For suff’rance is the badge of all our tribe.

“Suffrance” means to tolerate something and not to object. Shylock says that Jewish people – his “tribe” – have always had to tolerate abuse. It is so common they don’t even complain about it.

Shylock uses a metaphor to say that suffrance is like a "badge" - an identifying feature of Jewish people. This shows how much prejudice and intolerance there is against Jewish people in Venice.

You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog.

This is an antisemitic close antisemitism Antisemitism is a type of prejudice or discrimination towards Jews individually or as a group. It is based on unfounded stereotypes that target Jews as a people or their religious practices and beliefs. insult from a Christian character. Antonio believes in Jesus Christ as the son of God, as told in the New Testament of the Bible. Shylock does not believe in this. Antonio considers Shylock’s views to be wrong rather than just different - and insults him because of it.

You, that did void your rheum upon my beard, And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur.

Antonio treats Shylock as less than human. He spits at him and kicks him like an unwanted dog.

Look at the extract again.

How does Shylock say he behaves, or is expected to behave, in his interactions with Antonio?

Shylock says that he reacts to Antonio’s insults with “a patient shrug”.

He asks if he should gratefully “bend low” when Antonio asks him for money.

He asks if he should speak to Antonio with “bated breath” and “whisp’ring humbleness”.

Characters in The Merchant of Venice - AQA

• count 2 of 5

Themes in The Merchant of Venice - AQA

• count 3 of 5

Language, structure and form in The Merchant of Venice - AQA

• count 4 of 5

Discussion Questions for Middle and High School Students: The Merchant of Venice

    1. Discuss the relationship between Antonio and Bassanio. What does their friendship reveal about their characters?

    2. Examine Shylock’s rhetoric. Pay special attention to the quality of his language—his use of metaphor and repetition, for instance. How do his speeches reflect his character as a whole?

    3. Discuss the relationship between Jessica and Shylock. Are we meant to sympathize with the moneylender’s daughter? Does Shakespeare seem ambivalent in his portrayal of Jessica?

    4. Compare and contrast Venice and Belmont. What is the significance of these distinct settings in the play?

    5. Analyze the way that time passes in The Merchant of Venice, paying special attention to conflicts between time in Venice and Belmont. Are there any inconsistencies, and, if so, how does the play handle them?

    6. To what extent is Shylock defined by his Jewishness? To what extent is he defined by his profession?

    7. Discuss Portia’s character. How does she compare to the men around her? Is Bassanio a worthy husband for her?

    8. All three women in the play (Portia, Nerissa, and Jessica) disguise themselves as men for specific reasons. What does each of their disguises accomplish? Could they have chosen another female disguise to reach their goal, or not?

    9. Discuss how the trial scene reveals a conflict between justice and mercy. Is the conflict resolved? If so, how?

    10. In one respect, The Merchant of Venice is a play about bonds and debts. What kinds of bonds are there between characters? What debts are incurred? Cite specific examples—from monetary exchanges to the debt incurred by oaths and promises.

    11. Look at Act 3, Scene 2, especially lines 73–185. Find specific examples in which the language of commerce is used to describe the value of exchange of love. Discuss why you think Shakespeare chose the imagery of commerce as the major poetic device in this scene.

    12. Discuss Shylock’s dramatic function in The Merchant of Venice . What do critics mean when they suggest that Shylock is “too large” for the play? Does he fulfill or exceed his role?

    13. In the end, how comic is The Merchant of Venice ? Does the final act succeed in restoring comedy to the play?

The 39 Steps

June 22 - October 5, 2024

Randall L. Jones Theatre

June 17 - September 5, 2024

Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre

Much Ado About Nothing

June 21 - October 5, 2024

RADA 2024 Production

July 30-August 3, 2024

Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre

The Taming of the Shrew

June 19 - September 7, 2024

July 12 - October 5, 2024

The Winter's Tale

June 18 - September 6, 2024

The Mountaintop

July 13 - October 5, 2024

Orator Institute of English

Search this blog, short questions and answers on the merchant of venice.

The Merchant of Venice  is a 16th-century play written by  William Shakespeare  in which a merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender,  Shylock . It is believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599. Short Questions on The Merchant of Venice are asked in academic like CBSE, ICSE, UP Board and other State Boards as well as in graduation and post graduation . Here, we will learn 26 short questions and their answers on the Merchant of Venice .

1. How “The Merchant of Venice ” is a romantic comedy?

The Merchant of Venice  is a  romantic comedy  because it is rich in romantic elements like the events;  lottery of caskets ,  great and gripping trial scene ,  young maiden acts as a lawyer and becomes the savior of virtue in trouble , and  lyrical poetic  beauty in the last scene.

2. How “The Merchant of Venice ” is a tragic comedy?

The Merchant of Venice  is  mingling of comic and tragic elements  like  happy ending  for Antonio, Bassanio, Portia and Jessica but  tragic end  for the Shylock.

3. Who is the real merchant of Venice Antonio or Shylock?

The  real merchant of the Venice  is  Antonio  because in the opening scene of the play he is  presented as rich merchant  that his  rich ventures ,  tossing on the oceans . He has  worldwide trade  but Shylock is only cruel money lender and usurer not a merchant.

4. What is the significance of the title The Merchant of Venice ?

The  title  of the play  The Merchant of Venice  is  significant  because it represents the  Antonio  who is real merchant of Venice . He has  pivotal role in the plot  that the bond story, trail scene has direct relation and casket story is also indirectly  related to Antonio.

5. What are the main and sub plots in the play?

In the play  The Merchant of Venice  the  main plot  is the  bond story  and other  sub plots  are the  casket story, Lorenzo and Jessica episode  and the  story of ring .

6. Who is Portia in the drama The Merchant of Venice ?

Portia  a  beautiful lady  is the  rich heiress  of Belmont .  Bassanio’s beloved  and later they married. She is  witty, humorous and modest  character. She saves the life of Antonio from the knife of Shylock in trials. She disguised herself as a lawyer and defends Antonio.

7. What do you know about Shylock in The Merchant of Venice ?

Shylock  is  rich Jew  and  money lender . He is the  father of Jessica . He is  hypocrite, cunning, blood-thirsty and vindictive . His passion for  money  and  revenge  are leading traits. He is criticized by Christian characters throughout the play.

8. What justification do Salerio and Solanio propose for Antonio’s sadness?

According to them, Antonio melancholic attitude suggests that his money is tied up in his ships, which are sailing on dangerous seas. Solanio predicts that he is in love.

9. What mocking suggestion does Gratiano present Antonio?

Gratiano tells Antonio don't be sad about worldly affairs.

10. Describe the character Shylock?

He was Jewish moneylender in Venice . He gives money to the people and demands great interest . He is cruel and greedy. He demands one pound flesh of Antonio if he is unable to pay back the dues. He is forced to convert into Christianity at the end of the play.

11. What are the views on so-called wise people according to Gratiano?

According to Gratiano, wise men are silent and stern. They're only considered wise because they don't say anything.

Idioms and Phrases From A to Z for Your Exams.

Important 50 One Word Substitution Questions for Your Exams.

He was the friend of Antonio who requested Antonio to borrow 3000 ducats so that he can make his appearance better and ask Portia to marry him. At start, he wanted to marry Portia for her money but eventually he loved her.

13.   What is Antonio actual Cause of Sadness?

In Act I, Scene 1, we are told that even Antonio doesn't know why he's feeling sad. Everyone assumes he's worried about the safety of his ships, but he claims the ships are not the reason for his depression.

14. What are the reasons for Portia sadness during selection?

She was sad because of her father casket game. She didn't want to choose her husband in this way. She wanted liberty in choosing her life partner. She was also tired of constant arrivals of suitors.

15. Who are tubal and Chus?

Tubal and Chus are Lorenzo's Jewish friends . and Tubal is one of Shylock's good friends and Chus is among his fellow Jews.

16. What is Gratiano's philosophy to overcome sadness?

Gratiano told Antonio that life has a short period so he should be happy and have some fun.

17. In the story Merchant of Venice, what was written in the letter that made Bassanio turn pale?

Salerio hands Bassanio a letter from Antonio. Bassanio turns pale at the news that Antonio has lost his fortune and his ships, and he asks Salerio if it is true that all of Antonio's ventures have failed.

18. Themes of the play 'Merchant of Venice '?

There are many themes in the play but love, hatred, mercy, and prejudice are the vital themes.

19. Illustrate the Caskets trial?

The Prince of Morocco comes and first chooses gold and gets a death skull. After that Prince of Aragon gets the picture of an idiot. When Bassanio comes, he chooses lead casket and wins her hand.

20. How does Shakespeare portray of Portia's generous nature?

Portia has a good idea of what she is going to do before the trial of Shylock . She gives Shylock the chance to concede his bond on Antonio before disaster befalls him. She offers Shylock compensation for a loan but Shylock refuses.

21. What does Salarino think Antonio's sadness is about?

Salarino thinks Antonio’s sadness is about “ Worry over his ships ”.

22. What does Solanio think Antonio's sadness is about?

Solanio thinks Antonio’s sadness is about Love .

23. How is Bassanio related to Antonio?

Bassanio is his cousin .

24. What does Antonio compare life on this earth to?

Antonio compares his life with “A staged play”.

25. Who is the lover of Jessica?

Lorenzo is her lover and she is the daughter of Shylock. She hates her father. She eloped with Lorenzo and married to him.

26. What do you know about Gratiano?

He loves Nerissa who is the maid of Portia. He goes to Belmont with Bassanio.

Blog By- Zuba'r Saifi

• Privacy Policy

Class 7 :: English Literature :: The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare (Mulberry)

The Merchant of Venice

 by William Shakespeare

1. When we think of 'famous friends', what are some of the names that come to mind?

a. Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn

b. Archie and Jughead

c. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley .

d. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson .

2. Why do you think friends are important?

a. We can share our ups and downs with friends.

b. We can help and get help from friends when in need .

c. We can enrich and help to grow each other in the journey of life .

Making Connections

Quick answers

1. Answer the following questions in not more than a sentence.

a. How much money does Bassanio ask Shylock, and for how long?

= Bassanio asks Shylock three thousand ducats for three months.

b. What is the penalty that Shylock asks for in the bond?

= Shylock asks for a penalty of a pound of Antonio's flesh to be cut off from whatever part of his body Shylock choose.

c. Who does Bassanio marry? Where does she live?

= Bassanio marries Portia, a wealthy heiress from Belmont.

d. What happens to Antonio's ships?

= All of Antonio's ships met with misfortune.

e. Why can't the Duke deny Shylock Antonio's pound of flesh?

= The Duke can't deny Shylock Antonio's pound of flesh because changing the law would harm trade in Venice.

Reference to context

2. "You shall not sign such a bond for my sake. I'd rather do without the money."

a. Who says these words and to whom?

= Bassanio says these words to his friend Antonio.

b. Why is the bond being signed?

= The bond is being signed to borrow three thousand ducats for three months from Shylock. As Bassanio needed the money to woo his lady Portia.

c. What are the terms of the bond?

= The term of the bond is that if they do not repay Shylock on the stipulated day, he would cut off a pound of flesh from Antonio's body whatever part he choose.

3. "Also, you must cut off exactly one pound of flesh - neither more nor less by a hair's weight..."

a. Who says this and to whom?

= Portia in disguise of Dr. Balthazar, says this to Shylock.

b. What does the bond not include?

= The bond does not include the fact that Shylock can take even one drop of Antonio's blood. He can only take one pound of flesh from his body.

c. What is the penalty if more than one pound is cut?

= If more than one pound is cut, Shylock will also be killed.

4. "... you take my life when you take the means whereby I live."

a. Who is taking away the speaker's meaning of living?

= The state and administration of Venice is taking away the speaker's meaning of living.

b. To whom is the speaker making an appeal?

= The speaker is making an appeal to the Duke.

c. Why is the speaker being punished?

= The speaker is being punished as he, being a foreigner, indirectly tried to seek the life of a citizen i.e. Antonio.

Read, reflect and write

5. Why does Shylock disliked Antonio?

= Shylock dislikes Antonio because he lends out money free of interest and brings down the rates for all of them moneylenders in Venice. He also betrays Shylock in public, where all merchants gather, criticizing his bargains and his fairly-gained profit, which Antonio calls interest.

6. Antonio willingly sings a bond, putting his own life at risk for his friend. Why isn't he worried about the risk?

= Antonio willingly signs a bond, putting his own life at risk for his friend. He isn't worried about the risk as he had confident that his ships would return in time and he loved his friend more than anything else. He wanted to lend for his friend anyway.

7. Does Shylock deserve to be punished? Give reasons for your answer.

= Shylock is a wicked moneylender. He levies high rates of interest on the money he lends to others. If we take this for granted anyway, but he can not ask for a pound of flesh from anywhere of Antonio's body. He actually wants to kill Antonio. He wants to take revenge on Antonio.

He wants to pour out all his grudges against Antonio. This is totally inhuman. Portia wanted to pay six or nine thousand ducats in return of three thousand ducats. But Shylock stick to his bond. He is in the inebriation of killing Antonio. He deserves to be punished to make his realise how offensive he is.

8. The theme of a story or a play is often a life lesson, moral or message about human nature. What is the theme of Portia's speech which meant to convince Shylock not to take the pound of flesh?

= The theme of Portia's speech is mercy. She delivered the speech to convince Shylock not to take the pound of flesh from Antonio's body. According to Portia, Mercy is a quality that cannot be forced. It must fall as gently and naturally as the rain falls on the earth below it.

Mercy is doubly blessed because it blesses the one who shows mercy as well as the one who receives it. It is one of the qualities of God himself, and human beings come closest to God when they show it. That's why she prayed mercy from Shylock for Antonio.

9. Describe the quality of mercy in your own words. Have you ever shown mercy? When and on whom?

= According to me, mercy is the most jovial thing in this world. We are the children of God. This resolves all the problems of this world, this is the way which leads us to peace and happiness. 

I have shown mercy. One fine day, I was going to some far way station by train. We were waiting in the station and waiting for the train to come. And by the way, I have a purse and I always have some amount of money in it. Then at a time, I took it in my hand for some reason. Suddenly, a street children came and snatched it and ran very fast. Then all the passengers present there rushed behind him and caught him. They brought him to us. We took the purse from him. All suggested to call the rail police and hand him over to them. Then I took pity on him and told them not to do so. Then I gave the child some money and told him to buy some food for him.

10. Extended writing : Describe the characters of Portia and Shylock. How does Portia ensure that Shylock gets caught in his own trap?

= Shylock is a wicked man. He always seeks opportunity to make money. He hold grudge against Antonio and tried to kill him indirectly. He took advantage of the situation and cunningly signed the bond by Antonio. 

On the other hand, Portia is beautiful and wealthy heiress from Belmont. She is beautiful and intelligent. She is humane and compassionate. She immediately felt pity for her husband's friend. She was ready to pay six or nine thousand ducats to save Antonio. She is smart. She quickly decided to go to Dr. Bellario along with Nerissa and went to the courtroom in the Duke's palace. 

She first gave Shylock an opportunity to mercy Antonio. But Antonio was not a good soul. Then she decided to paly foul to him . She found the fact that there was no reference of even a drop of blood in the bond. She used that point to save Antonio from Shylock's trap and punished him too.

About the author/playwright :

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was a playwright and poet whose popularity has not only survived but grown over centuries. He grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and is known as the 'Bard of Avon'. Apart from thirty-eight plays, Shakespeare penned 154 sonnets, two narrative poems and other forms of poetry. His plays have been translated into several languages and are still performed all over the world.

You Might Like

#buttons=(ok, go it) #days=(20), contact form.