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This senior high school English Literature quiz about The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare gives you an opportunity to test your skills in using evidence in support of a point. When making a point about a text, you can strengthen your argument by quoting or referring explicitly to specific parts of the text. Having illustrated your point, don’t forget to follow up your quotation with an explanation, too!
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How to use evidence to support a point:
There are three primary methods of using evidence in support of a point when writing about a text: by paraphrasing, by quoting single words or short phrases, or by quoting longer sections of text.
Paraphrasing is one of the most useful methods and is very often neglected. It is, however, an essential skill. Paraphrasing clearly demonstrates your knowledge of the text and can be more elegant than quoting multiple words or very long passages.
When you wish to draw attention to a specific language choice, the best option is often to quote single words or short phrases. Remember that it is also possible to mix paraphrase and quotation in the same sentence. This is almost always better than writing long unwieldy sentences full of multiple quotations.
The final possibility is to quote a full sentence or more. This choice can be best when the phrase on its own makes no sense or because you would like to discuss the longer quotation in close detail.
Remember: you do not normally need to use quotation marks if you are using a single word which is not especially significant in itself. If you are using an exact phrase or sentence from the text, however, remember to put quotation marks around it.
See how you do with this quiz on using evidence effectively from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.
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1.
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"I hold the world but as the world, Graziano — / A stage where every man must play a part. / And mine a sad one." - Antonio |
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| [ ] |
Antonio describes the world as a stage and his part as a sad one |
| [ ] |
Antonio says that the world is a stage where every man must play a part |
| [ ] |
Antonio describes his life as a role and the world as "a stage where every man must play a part" |
| [ ] |
Antonio describes his life as a role and the "world" as a "stage" where "every man" must play a "part" |
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2.
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"Would scatter all her spices on the stream, / Enrobe the roaring waters with my silks." - Salerio |
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| [ ] |
"Scatter", "spices" and "silks" alliterate |
| [ ] |
Salerio is worried that his ships will "scatter" |
| [ ] |
Salerio talks about luxury goods such as "spices" and "silks" |
| [ ] |
Salerio's use of language, especially "spices", "enrobed" and "silk", highlights the luxurious nature of Venetian trade |
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3.
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"Well, tell me now what lady is the same / To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage." - Antonio |
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| [ ] |
Bassanio worships Portia and believes that she is holy, which is why he keeps his pilgrimage "secret" |
| [ ] |
Antonio hints that he is excited to hear the gossip about the "secret" "pilgrimage" Bassanio made to see a "lady" |
| [ ] |
By using the word "pilgrimage", Antonio implies that Bassanio worships the lady |
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The "secret pilgrimage" Bassanio "swore" was only a "secret" from Portia |
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4.
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"But stop my house's ears — I mean my casements." - Shylock |
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Shylock wishes the noise of the world would "stop" |
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The "casements" are "my house's ears", in Shylock's view |
| [ ] |
Shylock wishes to shut out the noisy revelry of Venice and believes he can protect his home through closing the "casements" |
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Shylock wishes to shut out the noisy revelry of Venice and believes he can protect his home through closing the windows |
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5.
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"My eye shall be the stream / And wat'ry deathbed for him." - Portia |
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Portia is concerned that her eye will make a stream, giving Bassanio a wat'ry deathbed |
| [ ] |
If Bassanio fails, Portia predicts she will shed enough tears to give him a wat'ry deathbed |
| [ ] |
If Bassanio fails, Portia predicts she will shed enough tears to give him a "wat'ry deathbed" |
| [ ] |
Portia is concerned that her eye will make a "stream", which will give Bassanio a "wat'ry deathbed" |
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6.
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"Here is a letter, lady, / The paper as the body of my friend, / And every word in it a gaping wound." - Bassanio |
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Bassanio believes the letter is a "body" |
| [ ] |
The gaping wound refers to Antonio's "sufferings" and to his friend's sufferings on his behalf |
| [ ] |
The "gaping wound" refers to Antonio's mental sufferings, Bassanio's sufferings on his behalf and to the mortal forfeit he must pay Shylock |
| [ ] |
The gaping would refers to Antonio's mental sufferings, Bassanio's sufferings on his behalf and to the mortal forfeit he must pay Shylock |
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7.
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"We all expect a gentle answer, Jew." - The Duke |
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The Christians of Venice do not behave as if they expect "gentleness" from Jews |
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Shylock refuses to give a gentle answer even though the "Duke" "expects" one |
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"We all expect a gentle answer" is the Duke attempting to sound friendly |
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By using the word "expect", the Duke attempts to coerce Shylock |
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8.
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"By my soul I swear / There is no power in the tongue of man / To alter me." - Shylock |
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Shylock's reference to the "tongue of man" reminds the audience of the physical nature of his revenge |
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Shylock's reference to the "tongue" of man is surprising |
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Shylock's reference to the tongue of man is ironic because words will alter him |
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Shylock's assertion that the tongue of man will not alter him is revealed to be incorrect |
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9.
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"Let not that doctor e'er come near my house / Since he hath got the jewel that I loved." - Portia |
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Portia refers to Bassanio as a "jewel that she loved", depicting him as a possession |
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Portia refers to Bassanio as a "jewel" that she loved, depicting him to a valued possession |
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Portia refers to Bassanio as the jewel that I loved |
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Bassanio is Portia's valued possession, the "jewel that she loved" |
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10.
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"The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark / When neither is attended." - Portia |
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| [ ] |
Portia believes that "larks" only sing "sweetly" when someone is listening |
| [ ] |
Portia implies that only an audience can give value or worth to a performance |
| [ ] |
Portia hints that only an "audience" can find a crow's voice sweet |
| [ ] |
Portia argues that crows sing "sweetly" |
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1.
|
"I hold the world but as the world, Graziano — / A stage where every man must play a part. / And mine a sad one." - Antonio |
|
| [ ] |
Antonio describes the world as a stage and his part as a sad one |
| [ ] |
Antonio says that the world is a stage where every man must play a part |
| [x] |
Antonio describes his life as a role and the world as "a stage where every man must play a part" |
| [ ] |
Antonio describes his life as a role and the "world" as a "stage" where "every man" must play a "part" |
|
|
|
2.
|
"Would scatter all her spices on the stream, / Enrobe the roaring waters with my silks." - Salerio |
|
| [ ] |
"Scatter", "spices" and "silks" alliterate |
| [ ] |
Salerio is worried that his ships will "scatter" |
| [ ] |
Salerio talks about luxury goods such as "spices" and "silks" |
| [x] |
Salerio's use of language, especially "spices", "enrobed" and "silk", highlights the luxurious nature of Venetian trade |
|
|
|
3.
|
"Well, tell me now what lady is the same / To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage." - Antonio |
|
| [ ] |
Bassanio worships Portia and believes that she is holy, which is why he keeps his pilgrimage "secret" |
| [ ] |
Antonio hints that he is excited to hear the gossip about the "secret" "pilgrimage" Bassanio made to see a "lady" |
| [x] |
By using the word "pilgrimage", Antonio implies that Bassanio worships the lady |
| [ ] |
The "secret pilgrimage" Bassanio "swore" was only a "secret" from Portia |
|
|
|
4.
|
"But stop my house's ears — I mean my casements." - Shylock |
|
| [ ] |
Shylock wishes the noise of the world would "stop" |
| [ ] |
The "casements" are "my house's ears", in Shylock's view |
| [ ] |
Shylock wishes to shut out the noisy revelry of Venice and believes he can protect his home through closing the "casements" |
| [x] |
Shylock wishes to shut out the noisy revelry of Venice and believes he can protect his home through closing the windows |
|
|
|
5.
|
"My eye shall be the stream / And wat'ry deathbed for him." - Portia |
|
| [ ] |
Portia is concerned that her eye will make a stream, giving Bassanio a wat'ry deathbed |
| [ ] |
If Bassanio fails, Portia predicts she will shed enough tears to give him a wat'ry deathbed |
| [x] |
If Bassanio fails, Portia predicts she will shed enough tears to give him a "wat'ry deathbed" |
| [ ] |
Portia is concerned that her eye will make a "stream", which will give Bassanio a "wat'ry deathbed" |
|
|
|
6.
|
"Here is a letter, lady, / The paper as the body of my friend, / And every word in it a gaping wound." - Bassanio |
|
| [ ] |
Bassanio believes the letter is a "body" |
| [ ] |
The gaping wound refers to Antonio's "sufferings" and to his friend's sufferings on his behalf |
| [x] |
The "gaping wound" refers to Antonio's mental sufferings, Bassanio's sufferings on his behalf and to the mortal forfeit he must pay Shylock |
| [ ] |
The gaping would refers to Antonio's mental sufferings, Bassanio's sufferings on his behalf and to the mortal forfeit he must pay Shylock |
|
|
|
7.
|
"We all expect a gentle answer, Jew." - The Duke |
|
| [ ] |
The Christians of Venice do not behave as if they expect "gentleness" from Jews |
| [ ] |
Shylock refuses to give a gentle answer even though the "Duke" "expects" one |
| [ ] |
"We all expect a gentle answer" is the Duke attempting to sound friendly |
| [x] |
By using the word "expect", the Duke attempts to coerce Shylock |
|
|
|
8.
|
"By my soul I swear / There is no power in the tongue of man / To alter me." - Shylock |
|
| [x] |
Shylock's reference to the "tongue of man" reminds the audience of the physical nature of his revenge |
| [ ] |
Shylock's reference to the "tongue" of man is surprising |
| [ ] |
Shylock's reference to the tongue of man is ironic because words will alter him |
| [ ] |
Shylock's assertion that the tongue of man will not alter him is revealed to be incorrect |
|
|
|
9.
|
"Let not that doctor e'er come near my house / Since he hath got the jewel that I loved." - Portia |
|
| [ ] |
Portia refers to Bassanio as a "jewel that she loved", depicting him as a possession |
| [x] |
Portia refers to Bassanio as a "jewel" that she loved, depicting him to a valued possession |
| [ ] |
Portia refers to Bassanio as the jewel that I loved |
| [ ] |
Bassanio is Portia's valued possession, the "jewel that she loved" |
|
|
|
10.
|
"The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark / When neither is attended." - Portia |
|
| [ ] |
Portia believes that "larks" only sing "sweetly" when someone is listening |
| [x] |
Portia implies that only an audience can give value or worth to a performance |
| [ ] |
Portia hints that only an "audience" can find a crow's voice sweet |
| [ ] |
Portia argues that crows sing "sweetly" |
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|
