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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 Antonio compare life on this earth to?

2. Why does Gratiano say Jessica is not a true Jew?

3. What is Shylock worried will happen during the masquerade?

4. What does Salarino think Antonio's sadness is about?

5. What is Antony concerned about at the beginning of the play?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Shylock say it is so brave of Antonio to guarantee a loan for Bassanio at this time?

3. Where is Shylock going on the night of the masquerade, and why?

4. What does Launcelot do when he sees his father on the streets?

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

6. What is Jessica so ashamed of herself for?

7. Why does Gratiano decide to not attend the masquerade he has been looking forward to?

8. How has Portia felt about some of her past suitors?

9. What is Portia so upset about when she is first seen in this book?

10. What does Portia say to the Moroccan prince when he asks her to judge him by his beauty?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Valor was a theme of this play that is very important to many of the characters involved. Where does this theme of valor present itself and how do these occurrences affect the characters involved in those scenes?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the term of a "pound of flesh" and what significance it plays in this story-line. Where does it appear, and which characters are most affected by it?

Essay Topic 3

How were the roles of women different in the time of this play than they are now, and how does the theme of gender roles present itself in the text?

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This section contains 713 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample