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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does Bassiano take out a loan from?

2. Who of the following is not a merchant in Venice?

3. What does Lorenzo say Shylock's only way to Heaven will be?

4. What does Antonio ask Bassanio about when they are left alone at the beginning of the play?

5. Where will Shylock be when his daughter attends the masquerade?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Antonio feel at the beginning of the play and why?

2. Why does Launcelot want to leave Shylock as his master?

3. What does Bassanio ask of Antonio when they first meet in this play and how does Antonio respond?

4. Why does Shylock say it is so brave of Antonio to guarantee a loan for Bassanio at this time?

5. Where is Shylock going on the night of the masquerade, and why?

6. Who asks to travel with Bassanio when he leaves Venice and why?

7. What does Jessica say she hopes will happen as her father leaves the house on the night of the masquerade?

8. What do Salarino and Gratiano say about love while they is waiting for Lorenzo to arrive at the masquerade?

9. What does the Moroccan prince look like when he is first seen on stage?

10. Who does Jessica want to marry, and why would her father oppose of this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is the theme of diversity shown in this play, and which characters are most affected by this?

Essay Topic 2

Nerissa is a minor character whose presence makes a big difference in the plot. How does she accomplish this? What are some ways that her presence, however brief, alters the outcome of the plot? What would have happened differently if Nerissa had not been in the play at all?

Essay Topic 3

Security and safety were two themes that are touched on a number of times throughout the course of this play. What are some of these instances, and how do they affect the characters in these scenes?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 700 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample