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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. Who does Portia leave in charge of her house when she leaves?

2. Who announces to Lorenzo that Bassanio is expected home soon?

3. What does Portia make Lorenzo and Jessica promise when she returns from Venice?

4. Where have some of Antonio's ships sunk?

5. Who takes the disguised Nerissa to Shylock's house to collect his deed?

Short Essay Questions

1. What announcement does Gratiano make after Bassanio chooses the correct casket?

2. What does Shylock refuse to allow in the courtroom as Antonio gives his pound of flesh, and why?

3. What is found in the silver casket and how does the Prince respond to this?

4. Where does Shylock want to search for his daughter, and why is he not able to?

5. What does Shylock tell Solanio and Salarino he will do with the pound of flesh he gets from Antonio, and why?

6. What does Lorenzo ask Jessica about Portia, and how does she respond?

7. Who is Shylock forced to deed his property to, and why is Portia so happy about this?

8. What does Nerissa plan to get from her husband before returning to Belmont with Portia?

9. What does Portia tell Nerissa after they leave Belmont?

10. Why are Salarino and Solanio so worried about Antonio when Shylock realizes his daughter has run away?

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

Betrayal is a theme introduced near the very beginning of this play. How does this constant stream of betrayal affect the outcome of the plot and which characters are most affected by it?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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This section contains 783 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample