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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the Moroccan want Portia to judge him by?

2. What does Lorenzo say he will be doing on the night of the masquerade?

3. Who does Shylock's daughter want to marry?

4. Why does Bassanio need to borrow something from Antonio at the beginning of the book?

5. What is Jessica so annoyed about when she arrives at the masquerade?

Short Essay Questions

1. What must a suitor do in order to win Portia's hand in marriage?

2. What does Gratiano say about Jessica after speaking with her for a time?

3. What does Shylock ask for if Antonio defaults on the loan for Bassanio?

4. What is Jessica so ashamed of herself for?

5. How did Portia feel when the Prince of Morocco chose the wrong Casket?

6. What does the Moroccan prince think is causing Portia's reserved and quiet reaction to him?

7. What does Bassanio ask of Antonio when they first meet in this play and how does Antonio respond?

8. What does Jessica ask Launcelot to do before he leaves Venice?

9. How does Jessica look when she arrives at the masquerade?

10. How does Antonio feel at the beginning of the play and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Which character do you relate with the most in this play? Why is this? How does this character change throughout the play?

Essay Topic 2

Nerissa is a minor character whose presence makes a big difference in the plot. How does she accomplish this? What are some ways that her presence, however brief, alters the outcome of the plot? What would have happened differently if Nerissa had not been in the play at all?

Essay Topic 3

Portia and Nerissa both have similar relationships with their husbands, but there are some notable differences. Please compare and contrast these relationships and explain how they affected the other characters around them.

(see the answer keys)

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