This GCSE English Literature play takes a look at character in The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare. William Shakespeare’s play, The Merchant of Venice, brings together the merchant of the title, Antonio, with the Jewish moneylender, Shylock. These two characters resemble one another in many ways, especially in their isolation. Antonio begins the play sad and weary, despite being surrounded by friends, while Shylock’s isolation derives from his status as an outsider in Venetian society and is further increased through his abandonment by his daughter and his servant.
In addition to these two main characters, the play focusses on the courtship and marriage of Bassanio and Portia, the parallel marriage between Nerissa and Graziano and the secret elopement of Jessica and Lorenzo.
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These marriages comment upon the financial agreement and conflict at the heart of the play.
Drama allows us to understand a character through their speech, their actions and interactions with other characters. Staging a play also gives scope to the director to characterise through costume and to actors through gesture. Watching a production of a play can be a good way to see how its characters have been interpreted by others. When reading The Merchant of Venice, pay close attention to asides and to private dialogues where you can learn what characters might be thinking and what their motivations are. Do characters present different accounts of their thoughts and decisions to different people? Shylock, for example, guards his thoughts from Antonio and Bassanio, and is more likely to reveal himself to his friend Tubal or to his daughter. She, however, is guarded with him, entrusting her plans and wishes to Lancelot, her servant. Portia’s wide learning and careful logic can only be given public expression when she puts on a disguise. The prevalence of secrecy, hiddenness and disguise in this play encourages us to look below the surface to discover its meaning.
Answer the questions below to see how well you understand the characters in Shakespeare's play.
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1.
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Which one of the following most accurately describes Bassanio? |
|
[ ] |
Loyal |
[ ] |
Self-sacrificial |
[ ] |
Independently wealthy |
[ ] |
Careful |
|
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2.
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Antonio is a respected, successful merchant. Which of the following behaviours is at odds with his gentle — and genteel — demeanour? |
|
[ ] |
His insistence upon loaning money without charging interest |
[ ] |
His treatment of Shylock in public |
[ ] |
His fondness for his young friend |
[ ] |
His refusal to be cheered at the beginning of the play |
|
|
3.
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"If I catch him once upon the hip / I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him." How does Shylock's aside in Act One, Scene Three, characterise him? |
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[ ] |
As thoughtful |
[ ] |
As generous |
[ ] |
As greedy |
[ ] |
As vengeful |
|
|
4.
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"Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none?" What does Portia's complaint about her father's provision for his estate demonstrate about her character? |
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[ ] |
She wishes for control over her own actions but remains obedient |
[ ] |
She is grateful that her father planned a clever lottery to decide her future |
[ ] |
She wishes for control over her own actions and decides not to follow her father's orders |
[ ] |
She wishes never to marry |
|
|
5.
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Why does Jessica feel ashamed during her elopement with Lorenzo? |
|
[ ] |
She is abandoning her faith |
[ ] |
She is dressed as a boy |
[ ] |
She is abandoning her father |
[ ] |
She has taken some of her father's riches |
|
|
6.
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What does Portia's trick with the ring achieve? |
|
[ ] |
She makes Bassanio confront his conflicted loyalties |
[ ] |
She gains greater respect from Bassanio |
[ ] |
She gains the gratitude of Antonio |
[ ] |
All of the above |
|
|
7.
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"All debts are cleared between you and I if I might but see you at my death. Notwithstanding, use your pleasure. If your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter." What does Antonio's letter tell us about his relationship to Bassanio? |
|
[ ] |
He believes that Bassanio will come to see him merely from a sense of duty |
[ ] |
He believes he has been abandoned and expects never to see Bassanio again |
[ ] |
He believes that Bassanio is emotionally indebted to him |
[ ] |
He believes that Bassanio owes him no loyalty |
|
|
8.
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How does Lorenzo typically address Jessica? |
|
[ ] |
With irony |
[ ] |
With terms of endearment |
[ ] |
With sarcasm |
[ ] |
He does not speak to her |
|
|
9.
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Which of the following is true of Nerissa? |
|
[ ] |
She explains to Portia how she might save Antonio |
[ ] |
She is typically silent |
[ ] |
She is able to lecture Portia gently |
[ ] |
She is fearful of Portia |
|
|
10.
|
How does Shylock describe his offer to lend money without charging interest? |
|
[ ] |
As sensible |
[ ] |
As extravagant |
[ ] |
As genteel |
[ ] |
As kind |
|
|
1.
|
Which one of the following most accurately describes Bassanio? |
|
[x] |
Loyal |
[ ] |
Self-sacrificial |
[ ] |
Independently wealthy |
[ ] |
Careful |
|
|
2.
|
Antonio is a respected, successful merchant. Which of the following behaviours is at odds with his gentle — and genteel — demeanour? |
|
[ ] |
His insistence upon loaning money without charging interest |
[x] |
His treatment of Shylock in public |
[ ] |
His fondness for his young friend |
[ ] |
His refusal to be cheered at the beginning of the play |
|
|
3.
|
"If I catch him once upon the hip / I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him." How does Shylock's aside in Act One, Scene Three, characterise him? |
|
[ ] |
As thoughtful |
[ ] |
As generous |
[ ] |
As greedy |
[x] |
As vengeful |
|
|
4.
|
"Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none?" What does Portia's complaint about her father's provision for his estate demonstrate about her character? |
|
[x] |
She wishes for control over her own actions but remains obedient |
[ ] |
She is grateful that her father planned a clever lottery to decide her future |
[ ] |
She wishes for control over her own actions and decides not to follow her father's orders |
[ ] |
She wishes never to marry |
|
|
5.
|
Why does Jessica feel ashamed during her elopement with Lorenzo? |
|
[ ] |
She is abandoning her faith |
[x] |
She is dressed as a boy |
[ ] |
She is abandoning her father |
[ ] |
She has taken some of her father's riches |
|
|
6.
|
What does Portia's trick with the ring achieve? |
|
[ ] |
She makes Bassanio confront his conflicted loyalties |
[ ] |
She gains greater respect from Bassanio |
[ ] |
She gains the gratitude of Antonio |
[x] |
All of the above |
|
|
7.
|
"All debts are cleared between you and I if I might but see you at my death. Notwithstanding, use your pleasure. If your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter." What does Antonio's letter tell us about his relationship to Bassanio? |
|
[ ] |
He believes that Bassanio will come to see him merely from a sense of duty |
[ ] |
He believes he has been abandoned and expects never to see Bassanio again |
[x] |
He believes that Bassanio is emotionally indebted to him |
[ ] |
He believes that Bassanio owes him no loyalty |
|
|
8.
|
How does Lorenzo typically address Jessica? |
|
[ ] |
With irony |
[x] |
With terms of endearment |
[ ] |
With sarcasm |
[ ] |
He does not speak to her |
|
|
9.
|
Which of the following is true of Nerissa? |
|
[ ] |
She explains to Portia how she might save Antonio |
[ ] |
She is typically silent |
[x] |
She is able to lecture Portia gently |
[ ] |
She is fearful of Portia |
|
|
10.
|
How does Shylock describe his offer to lend money without charging interest? |
|
[ ] |
As sensible |
[ ] |
As extravagant |
[ ] |
As genteel |
[x] |
As kind |
|
|