The Merchant of Venice Test | Shakespeare

Answer: Antonio

Antonio is a merchant who is best friends with Bassanio. He appears to be a true and dedicated friend.

Answer: Bassanio

Bassanio seems to want to marry Portia for her money only early in the play. However, as the play progresses, his love seems to deepen.

Answer: Gratiano

Gratiano and Nerissa made a deal that if Bassanio should choose the right casket, they would be married.

Answer: Lorenzo

Jessica runs away from home, dressed as a torchbearer at a masque, and marries Lorenzo.

Answer: Usurer

Shylock is a usurer or moneylender. He lends money and charges interest on it.

Answer: Jewish

Shylock is hated by almost every character because he is a Jew and a moneylender (see above). Jews were mistreated in the 16th century.

Answer: 3000 ducats

Antonio borrows 3000 ducats from Shylock. He gives this money to Bassanio to suit Portia with.

Answer: flesh

Shylock would be allowed to cut off a piece of flesh from anywhere on Antonio's body.

Answer: monkey

Tubal tells Shylock about this and he is outraged.

Answer: Duke of Saxony

The Duke of Saxony's nephew is a suitor, but not the duke himself. Portia dislikes all her suitors for various reasons, including arrogance and drunkenness.

Answer: bronze

The lead casket is the winning one. The lottery of the casket is that a suitor must choose a casket. If he chooses the right one (lead), he may marry Portia. Bassanio chooses the leaden casket.

Answer: "to bait fish withal"

SALARINO: Why, I am sure, if he forfeit, thou wilt not take
his flesh: what's that good for?
SHYLOCK: To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else,it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; and what's his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs,dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with
the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means,warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian,
what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I
will better the instruction.

Answer: Give all his money to Antonio

Although the law calls for him to give half of his money to the state and half to the person he threatened, Antonio says that, instead, he will only have his share until Shylock dies, at which time it will be given to Shylock's daughter and her husband.

The Duke allows him to keep the money that should have gone to the state, on condition that he become a Christian and leave all his estate (not just Antonio's due half) to Jessica and Lorenzo when he dies.

Answer: Balthazar

She appears at the court and saves Antonio by pointing out flaws in Shylock's contract. (see below)

Answer: Must not injure Antonio

Since his contract was flawed and Shylock had sharpened his knife and pointed it at Antonio, he was condemned of threatening a Venetian (since he was a Jew, he wasn't considered a Venetian citizen).

Answer: Tubal

Tubal tells Shylock about Antonio not being able to pay the bond, and his daughter's actions in Genoa.

Answer: 4

Shylock is furious when he hears this.

Answer: Silver

The Gold states, "Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire."
The Silver states, "Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves." The Lead states, "Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath."

Answer: False

Launcelot, a character there for comedy, leaves Shylock to work for Bassanio.

Answer: Frankfurt

Again, Tubal is talking to Shylock about Jessica.