Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Name:____TeachersCopy______
WilliamShakespeare
MASTERPROSESTUDYQUESTIONS
ACTI
1.
Whatimportantbackgroundinformationisestablishedinthefirstscene?
2.
3.
Antonio&Bassanioaregoodfriends;bothseeeachotherasgoodpeople.
Antonio$istiedupatsea
Antonioissad=noone,includinghimself,knowswhy
BassaniowantsPortiashandinmarriage
Bassanioisindebt&needsAntonioshelp
AntoniowillhavetoguaranteealoanforBassanio
DoesShakespeareintendtheaudiencetoviewBassanioasaspendthriftandagolddigger?
Asaspendthriftmismanageshisfinances&spendsmorethanhehas(1.1:123130)wantstocutbackonhisspending
habits&paybackhisdebts.
p13
willingtopayback?
Why,inSceneII,isPortiainsuchamelancholymood?
Dislikesallthesuitorsthathavethusfarcomeforherhand
Worriesaboutgettingstuckwithsomeoneshedislikes
4.
WhydoesShakespeareusethewordchoosesoofteninthesecondscene?
ToemphasizePortiaslackofchoice&thechoosingoftheproperbox
p191.21925,30311
fathersdemands
5.
HowisPortiacharacterizedinSceneII?
selfconfidence
funny
honest/blunt
picky
loyaltofatherswishes
mean/critical
6.
InSceneII,whydoPortiaandNerissareviewthesuitorswhohavecometocourtPortia?
forfun
todeterminewhatPortiathinksofeach
seechoice/makeBassanioseemlikethebestchoice
TheMerchantofVenice
Name:____TeachersCopy______
WilliamShakespeare
7.
HowdoShylocksfirstwordsinSceneIIIhelptocharacterizehim?
solelyconcernedwithmoney
p251.3.1
Threethousandducats,well
8.
WhatisthepointofShylockscommentsaboutAntoniosships?
OnemusttakeintoaccountthatAntoniosinvestmentsareallatsea&assuchtheycanbedeemeduncertainshipscan
sink;piratescanattack;therecanbeastorm
1.31526
foreshadowingpotentialtroubleofassets
9.
WhydoesShylockrefusetoeatwithAntonio?
HeisJewish&AntonioisChristianfollowdifferentdietarylaws(Kosher)
Neitherlikestheother
Onlybusiness
10.
WhatisthepurposeofShylocksasideasAntonioapproachesinSceneIII?
11.
WhatisironicaboutShylocksreferenceinSceneIIItofeedinghisgrudgetowardAntonio,and
thengreetingAntoniobysayingthathewasthelastmanintheirmouths?(1.357)
12.
1.33749
Torevealhistrueintentionstotheaudiencewantstofinallygettheupperhand&settlehisancientgrudge
foreshadowing
1.344
evilofShylockscharacter(feedinghisgrudge)
wantstochewhimup&spithimouthaveAntonioathismercysoastosatisfyhishate&desireforrevenge
wasjusttalkingaboutgettingbackathim
(incidental/unexpected)
HowdoesShylockdefendhispracticeofcharginginterestonloans?
storyfromtheBiblere:Jacob&thespottedsheepexpandingyourworth;profitisablessingaslongasyoudontsealto
getit
1.36977
(moneylending..increasedinterest)
TheMerchantofVenice
Name:____TeachersCopy______
WilliamShakespeare
13.
Apartfromthematterofusury,whydoesShylockbearsuchhatredforAntonio?
AntonioisChristian
Antoniobelittles&insultshim
14.
HowdoesAntonioreacttoShylocksexpressionofhisresentment?(Shylock1.32427)
15.
CantheaudiencebelieveShylockwhenhesayshewouldofferthehandoffriendshipto
Antonio?
16.
WhydoesAntonioagreetothetermsofthemerrybondthatis,toforfeitonepoundof
fleshifhefailstorepaytheborrowedmoneyontime?
17.
sayshewoulddo&sayallthosethingsagain(1.3.2829)
herejectshimwillcontinuetobeenemies
No,wehaveheardhisaside&knowheisscheming
Hisshipsareduebackin2months,onefullmonthbeforetheloanmustbepaidanticipatestheirsafearrival&areturn
of3timestheamountoftheloanfromhisinvestments
1.34450&1.35558
WhatdoesBassaniosreluctancetoallowAntoniotoagreetoShylocksbondrevealabout
him?
TrulycaresaboutAntonioasafriend&doesntwanthimtoputhimselfatrisk
18.
Asfarasplotdevelopmentisconcerned,whatistheimportanceofAntoniosagreeingto
Shylocksbond?
Itiseasiertoholdsomeonetothetermsofanagreementwhenthepersonwillinglyconsentedtoit
Foreshadowssomethingiwlllikelygowrong(risingaction)
TheMerchantofVenice
Name:____TeachersCopy______
WilliamShakespeare
ACTII
19.
HowdoesthescenebetweenPortiaandthePrinceofMoroccofurtherPortias
characterization?
thattoherlooksarenotenoughdoesntjudgesomeonebasedonthat
sayshehasagoodachanceasany
valuesapersonscharacter
20.
WhydoesShakespearesplittheepisodeofthePrinceofMoroccoschoiceintotwoscenes?
tobuildsuspense(ie,willhepicktherightbox)
todevelopothercharacters&plotlines2.2Lancelot,Gobbo;2.3Jessica&letter;2.4Lorenzosplan;
2.5Shylockgoingtoparty;2.6Jessicaescaping&Bassanio&GratianoleavingforBelmont
21.
WhatisthefunctionofLauncelotGobboinSceneII?
22.
comedicrelief
furthervillanizesShylock
buildupneededtohimleavingShylocksservice&askingtobeinBassaniosservice
WhatnewelementofplotisaddedtotheplayinSceneIII?
Jessica&Lorenzosforbiddenlove
23.
WhatisLauncelotsfunctioninthissubplot?
24.
HowdoesJessicaslettertoLorenzoinSceneIVsetupfurtherexposition?(developingplot)
agobetweencharactersmessengerinformerconfidant
theirplantoescapeJessicawillsneakoutofherhomedisguisedasapageboy&willactasLorenzostorchbearerforthe
partywillalsostealmoney&jewelsfromherdad
2.42932
TheMerchantofVenice
Name:____TeachersCopy______
WilliamShakespeare
25.
WhyisShylockreluctanttosupwithBassanio?
(2.5)
knowheisonlybeinginvitedtobeflattered(softenedup)2.514
hadadreamofmoneybagstohimabadomenthatthingsarenotgoinghiswayrightnow2.519
26.
WhatisironicaboutShylocksleavinghiskeyswithhisdaughter?2.513
hetoldhertolockeverythingupsohewillneedhertolethimbackinbutshewillbegone
shetakesallthatisvaluablesoreallythereisnopointinlockingupgoesagainsttheproverbhequotes,Fastbind,fast
find2.554(lockthingsup&youwillgettokeepthem)=becausehehaslockedhisdaughterupshewantstoleavehim
27.
WhatdoesShylocksattitudetowardmusicrevealabouthim?
heisaveryserious&soberindividualwhodoesntliketohavefunorenjoylife.
2.53035
28.
WhyisShylockgladtoseeLauncelotleavehishouseholdtogotoworkforBassanio?
29.
ShouldJessicaberegardedasathieffortakingmoneywithherwhensheelopeswith
Lorenzo?(opinionated)
saysheeatstoomuch,isveryslowwhenheworks&sleepsalldaylikeacat
2.54750
2.6
30.
AsSceneVIcloses,whydoesAntonioannouncethattherewillbenomasquethatnight?
thewindwasblowingtherightwaysosBassanio&Gratianohadtotakeadvantage&setsaidforBelmontimmediately
2.66567
TheMerchantofVenice
Name:____TeachersCopy______
WilliamShakespeare
31.
WhatisthedramaticfunctionofSceneVII?
suspense&conclusionofthePrinceofMoroccoschanceatwinningPortiashand
message=cantjudgepeople/situationsbyfirstimpressionsortheirexterior
revealsPortiastruefeelingstowardshimprejudice
2.7
32.
WhydoesthePrinceofMoroccochoosethegoldcasketovertheothers?
thinksthatitsmessageappliestoPortiabecausesheiswhatmanymendesireasisshownbythemanysuitorswhohave
comefromallovertheworldforherleadistoobase(2.74950)silverlessvaluablethangold(2.75355)
2.73741
33.
Whatisthelessontheprincediscoversinsidethegoldbox?
allthatglittersisnotgold
menselltheirsoulsbasedonappearances
sometimesthatwhichglittersactuallycontainsworms
shouldhavebeenmorewisethanbold
worthismorethanexteriorbasedappearancescanbedeceiving
2.76573
34.
WhatisthedramaticpurposeoftheconversationbetweenSalerioandSolanioinSceneVIII?
35.
toinformusthatShylockhasrealizedJessicaisgone&figurestheyleftonBassaniosshiphoweverDukediscovered
theyleftinagondola
Shylockisdemandingjusticeveryupsetallhismoneyisgone,feelsdeceived
thataVenetianshiploadedwithcargowaswreckedintheEnglishChannelpossiblybelongstoAntonio
2.875
WhydidntShakespearestageShylocksreactiontohisdaughterselopementratherthan
havingSolanioreportit?(speculation)
36.
HowdoesShakespearetaketheopportunitytosatirizeSpain,Englandsrival,inthescene
withthePrinceofArragon?
(satirize=ridicule)
makesafooloutofthePrinceofArragononeshouldntgetmorethanonedeserves,havingearneditnowSpainhas
gottenthingsbybeingcorrupt,notbymeritmanywhogaveorderswillnowtakethem
2.9
TheMerchantofVenice
Name:____TeachersCopy______
WilliamShakespeare
37.
WhatdoestheservantsannouncementofthenextsuitorattheendofActIIleadthe
audiencetoexpect?
thatthisyoungVenetiansuitorisnootherthanBassaniothathewillbesuccessfulinwinningthelotteryforPortia
ACTIII
38.
HowdoSolanioandSalerioprovedramaticallyusefulagaininSceneI?
SolanioconfirmsthatAntoniohaslosthisshipsthiswillbankrupthim
makeShylockfacethetruththathehadtohaveknownhowunhappyJessicawas
ledtheq.whichgetsShylocktoconfirmhewillenforcetheclause
39.
WhatistheeffectofShylockslongIamaJewspeechinthefirstscene?
toexemplifytheprejudiceJewsfacedinElizabethantimesthatJewsarehumansjustasChristiansare
thatonegetsthesamereactiononereceivesifaJewwrongaChristian,thelatterwantsrevenge&sothevillainyhe
hasbeentaughtbythem,hewillnowuseonthem
40.
HowdoesShakespearekeepfrommakingShylockintotoosympatheticacharacterinSceneI?
still,ifnotmorethanever,outforrevenge&punishmentnomercy
caresmoreabouthislostjewels&$thanhisdaughter
41.
Whatistheprevailingmoodasthesceneends?
oneofanger,maliciousness,revenge,evil
feelsorryforAntonio
42.
WhatisthedramaticimportanceofSceneII?
BassaniogetsPortia&shecouldntbehappier
GratianorevealinghelovesNerissa&viceversawillalsomarry
findoutwhathappenedtoAntoniosship&Shylocksintention
TheMerchantofVenice
Name:____TeachersCopy______
WilliamShakespeare
43.
ComparethemoodofSceneIIwithSceneI.
joy,relief,happiness,goodfortune
44.
WhatisthethemeofBassanioslongspeechbeforehemakeshischoiceofthecaskets?
nottojudgeabookbyitscoveroftenoneistrickedwithfalseappearancessin&evilnesscanattempttomakeitself
lookgoodsomehow
45.
HowdoesSceneIIhelptodevelopBassanioscharacter?
seethathemustdesirePortiaformorethanherlooks&wealth
extremelyloyal
honest
46.
HowisourunderstandingofPortiaincreasedinSceneII?
trulycaresforBassanio
selfless
giving
47.
WhatisthedramaticfunctionofSceneIII?
againshowsShylockcantbeswayed
thatAntonioacceptshisfate&willnottrytoreasonwithShylockanymore
48.
WhycantheDukedonothingtopreventShylocksclaiminghisbond?
wouldthreatenthesecurityofallforeignmerchantsinVenice&thatshowthecitymakesmoneyifthegovernment
disregardsthelaw,itwillbediscredited
TheMerchantofVenice
Name:____TeachersCopy______
WilliamShakespeare
49.
HowdoesSceneIVhelptohumanizePortia?
beingcompletelyselfless&puttingbothBassanio&Antoniobeforeherself
50.
HowdoesPortiaexplainherdeparturefromBelmonttoLorenzo?
sayssheisgoingtoliveinaconventuntilBassanioreturnssaysshehaspromisedtoliveinprayer&thought
51.
WhatisthedramaticpurposeofSceneV?
furtherexemplifyingPortiasuprightcharacter
interactionbetweenJessica&Lorenzo
comedicrelief:exchangebetweenLorenzo&Lancelot
Jessicaworriesthatthesinsofherfatherwillfallonher
ACTIV:
52.
WhatappealdoestheDukeofVenicemaketoShylockasthetrialopens?
thatheandothersthinkthatShylockisonlypretendingtobecrueltomakeapointbutatthelastmomenthewontgo
throughwithit
askshimtoshowmercy
tryingtoappealtoanyhumangenerosity&gentlenessinhim
53.
HowdoesShylockrespondtothisappeal?
saysnohewillhavehisbond
threatensthecitysfreedom
saysheneedstogivenoreasonwhyhejustfeelsit
54.
HowdoesAntoniobehaveinthefaceofthefatewhichseemsabouttobefallhim?
acceptsit,askseveryonetostoparguingwithShylockbecausethereisnoreasoningwithhim
courageous
TheMerchantofVenice
Name:____TeachersCopy______
WilliamShakespeare
55.
IsmoneythemostimportantthingintheworldtoShylock?
56.
nobecauseheturnsdownBassaniosoffertopayhimdoubletheamountheloaned
WhatistheeffectofShakespearesdelayingPortiasentranceintothetrialscene?
audiencessympathyforAntoniobuildshatredforShylock
57.
DescribetheunfoldingofPortiasargumentinthetrial.
58.
atfirstshemakesitseemlikesheissidingwithShylock&thatshewillallowhimtocutapoundoffleshfromAntonio
butthensaysthatthereisnoallowanceinthecontractforadropofbloodShylockseesnowaytocutapoundofflesh
withoutsheddingblood
agreestotakehis$butthenshechargeshimwithattemptedmurder
WhenShylockrelentsandsayshewilltakethemoneyinsteadofthepoundofflesh,whyishe
denied?
heischargedwithattemptedmurderpunishment=ofhiswealthgoestowhohetriedtokill;theothertothestate
59.
HowdoesShakespearebringthetrialscenefullcircle?
(tablesturned)
Antonioisfree,unharmed,showsmercytoShylock(doesntwant$)BUT(1)S=Christo.(2)putLorenzo&Jessicainhis
inheritance
Shylocktricked,forcedtobemerfiul&atthehandsofmercyhimself
DukesayshewillonlyfineShylock(mercy)
60.
WhatkindofmercydoesthecourtshowShylock?
willonlyissuehimafineratherthantakeof$&goods
10
TheMerchantofVenice
Name:____TeachersCopy______
WilliamShakespeare
61.
62.
HowwouldtheaudienceofShakespearesdayhaveregardedShylocksforcedconversion?
(opinionatedlikelygood,justified,redeeminghim)
WhydoesntShakespeareendActIVwithShylocksexitfromthecourtindefeat?
needstocontinuewiththemarriageplots
ACTV
63.
WhatisthemoodasActVopens?
64.
pleasantJessica&Lorenzodiscussinfamousloverswholosttheirlove,experiencedunrequitedlove,orlovethatwasnt
allowedtobe
Inwhatothersceneintheplaydoesmusicplayasimportantarole?
whenPortiawantsmusicplayedasBassaniopickshisbox(3.2)
65.
HowistheringplotinActVenhancedbydramaticirony?
(audienceknowsmorethancharacters)
drawnoutinacomedicwaybyPortia&Nerissamaketheirhusbandssuffer&begbeforerevealingthetruthtoensure
theynevermakesuchamistakeagain
66.
Howistheintrigueoftheringsfinallyresolved?
Portia&Nerissarevealthattheyhavetherings&explainthetruthofwhathappened
11