This GCSE English Literature quiz looks at themes in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. Any work of literature will deal with multiple themes. These can range from the obvious to the very subtle. Themes engage with and impact upon one another so that it can often be tricky to talk about a single theme in isolation. Setting, character, plot and dialogue all feed into the themes of a text. When you spot concepts and ideas arising in different parts of the texts, you are becoming aware of its themes. Different characters each make visible various aspects of a theme and comparing these is a useful method of analysis.
Pay attention to related ideas in order to follow the development of a theme over the course of a text.
[readmore]
When you write about themes, check whether your view at the beginning of a text matches the view you have at the end of a work. Have your ideas changed? If so, ask yourself exactly when and where in the text your views on a key theme began to change.
Authors communicate meaning to their readers through themes. Any ideas or issues raised can prompt the audience to reconsider beliefs or ways of looking at the world. If a text makes you think, the author has successfully encouraged you to engage with one or more of its themes. Your views might be similar to those of other readers or you might find that you disagree strongly with other readers (or even your teacher). Your response to a text will be deeply personal, which is inevitable when you bring your own thoughts, beliefs and experiences into consideration as you read.
Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice deals with themes of friendship, love, money, true wealth, exclusion and hatred, mercy, justice, and the differences between appearance and reality. These themes are interrelated and appear in different guises throughout the play. Although many of these themes seem obvious, try to be aware of the play’s subtext. This can be difficult in a play which deals with murder as a form of justice and payment in human flesh as a legitimate possibility. Perseverance is key!
Read the questions below and test your knowledge of the themes of The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare.
[/readmore]
1.
|
The Venetian Christians frequently direct abusive terms at Shylock. Their treatment of Shylock is related to which of the following themes? |
|
[ ] |
Justice |
[ ] |
Mercy |
[ ] |
Exclusion |
[ ] |
Deceptive appearances |
|
|
2.
|
Portia describes mercy as gentle. Which of the following episodes depicts mercy otherwise? |
|
[ ] |
Bassanio opening the correct casket |
[ ] |
Nerissa forgiving Graziano for giving away his ring |
[ ] |
Antonio agreeing to borrow money on Bassanio's behalf |
[ ] |
Shylock being compelled to become Christian |
|
|
3.
|
Which of the following is true? |
|
[ ] |
Portia's wealth is attractive to Bassanio, but Lorenzo is not concerned with Jessica's wealth |
[ ] |
Jessica's wealth is attractive to Lorenzo, but Bassanio is not concerned with Porita's wealth |
[ ] |
Both Lorenzo and Bassanio are affected by the wealth of the women they marry |
[ ] |
Neither Lorenzo nor Bassanio are interested in the wealth of the women they marry |
|
|
4.
|
Which of the following themes is NOT developed through the episode of the three caskets? |
|
[ ] |
The relationship between money and love |
[ ] |
Mercy and justice |
[ ] |
Prejudice and exclusion |
[ ] |
The difference between appearance and reality |
|
|
5.
|
In the court scene, what is contrasted with mercy? |
|
[ ] |
The law |
[ ] |
Forgiveness |
[ ] |
Deception |
[ ] |
Honour |
|
|
6.
|
When Bassanio gives away Portia's ring, his conflicting loyalties are exposed. This episode reflects which of the following themes? |
|
[ ] |
Money and true wealth |
[ ] |
Friendship and debt |
[ ] |
Mercy and justice |
[ ] |
None of the above |
|
|
7.
|
The winner of the challenge of the three caskets receives Portia as his reward, along with all of her father's wealth. What does this imply about Portia? |
|
[ ] |
No one would wish to marry her without her great wealth |
[ ] |
Portia is too young to make her own decisions |
[ ] |
Her father trusted her to make her own decisions because of her wisdom and courage |
[ ] |
Her father treats her as another of his possessions |
|
|
8.
|
"The quality of mercy is not strained. / It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven." These famous lines are Portia's response to which question of Shylock's? |
|
[ ] |
"Wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice?" |
[ ] |
"Hates any man the thing he would not kill?" |
[ ] |
"On what compulsion must I?" |
[ ] |
"If you prick us do we not bleed?" |
|
|
9.
|
The Merchant of Venice explores many forms of love. Which one of the following is NOT one of these? |
|
[ ] |
Love of country |
[ ] |
Familial love |
[ ] |
Romantic love |
[ ] |
Love of material goods |
|
|
10.
|
"To you, Antonio, / I owe the most in money and in love." Which of the following is true of this statement? |
|
[ ] |
This is an example of how the play denigrates the wealthy |
[ ] |
This is an example of how the play presents wealth as destroying love |
[ ] |
This is an example of how the play presents love and wealth as at odds with one another |
[ ] |
This is an example of how the play presents love and wealth as inextricably intertwined |
|
|
1.
|
The Venetian Christians frequently direct abusive terms at Shylock. Their treatment of Shylock is related to which of the following themes? |
|
[ ] |
Justice |
[ ] |
Mercy |
[x] |
Exclusion |
[ ] |
Deceptive appearances |
|
|
2.
|
Portia describes mercy as gentle. Which of the following episodes depicts mercy otherwise? |
|
[ ] |
Bassanio opening the correct casket |
[ ] |
Nerissa forgiving Graziano for giving away his ring |
[ ] |
Antonio agreeing to borrow money on Bassanio's behalf |
[x] |
Shylock being compelled to become Christian |
|
|
3.
|
Which of the following is true? |
|
[ ] |
Portia's wealth is attractive to Bassanio, but Lorenzo is not concerned with Jessica's wealth |
[ ] |
Jessica's wealth is attractive to Lorenzo, but Bassanio is not concerned with Porita's wealth |
[x] |
Both Lorenzo and Bassanio are affected by the wealth of the women they marry |
[ ] |
Neither Lorenzo nor Bassanio are interested in the wealth of the women they marry |
|
|
4.
|
Which of the following themes is NOT developed through the episode of the three caskets? |
|
[ ] |
The relationship between money and love |
[x] |
Mercy and justice |
[ ] |
Prejudice and exclusion |
[ ] |
The difference between appearance and reality |
|
|
5.
|
In the court scene, what is contrasted with mercy? |
|
[x] |
The law |
[ ] |
Forgiveness |
[ ] |
Deception |
[ ] |
Honour |
|
|
6.
|
When Bassanio gives away Portia's ring, his conflicting loyalties are exposed. This episode reflects which of the following themes? |
|
[ ] |
Money and true wealth |
[x] |
Friendship and debt |
[ ] |
Mercy and justice |
[ ] |
None of the above |
|
|
7.
|
The winner of the challenge of the three caskets receives Portia as his reward, along with all of her father's wealth. What does this imply about Portia? |
|
[ ] |
No one would wish to marry her without her great wealth |
[ ] |
Portia is too young to make her own decisions |
[ ] |
Her father trusted her to make her own decisions because of her wisdom and courage |
[x] |
Her father treats her as another of his possessions |
|
|
8.
|
"The quality of mercy is not strained. / It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven." These famous lines are Portia's response to which question of Shylock's? |
|
[ ] |
"Wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice?" |
[ ] |
"Hates any man the thing he would not kill?" |
[x] |
"On what compulsion must I?" |
[ ] |
"If you prick us do we not bleed?" |
|
|
9.
|
The Merchant of Venice explores many forms of love. Which one of the following is NOT one of these? |
|
[x] |
Love of country |
[ ] |
Familial love |
[ ] |
Romantic love |
[ ] |
Love of material goods |
|
|
10.
|
"To you, Antonio, / I owe the most in money and in love." Which of the following is true of this statement? |
|
[ ] |
This is an example of how the play denigrates the wealthy |
[ ] |
This is an example of how the play presents wealth as destroying love |
[ ] |
This is an example of how the play presents love and wealth as at odds with one another |
[x] |
This is an example of how the play presents love and wealth as inextricably intertwined |
|
|