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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 is Nerissa disguised as while she is in Venice with Portia?

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

3. What does Nerissa plan to get from her husband before returning home with Portia?

4. What does Antonio receive after Shylock is accused of threatening his life?

5. What does Launcelot tell Jessica he is worried about her for?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why is Shylock denied the money that Antonio first offered him in lieu of the pound of flesh?

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

4. How does Antonio try to smooth things over when Portia hears that Bassanio gave his ring away?

5. How does a servant describe the young Venetian suitor who arrives to woo Portia?

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

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

8. What does Lorenzo praise Portia for after Bassanio leaves for Venice and how does Portia respond?

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

10. Why is Launcelot so worried about Jessica, and what does he think her only hope is?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The characters in this play all had their own goals and motivations. Select four characters and write about their main motivations and how this goal affects the characters around them.

Essay Topic 3

How does the relationship between Portia and Bassanio change throughout the course of the play and how do these changes affect the characters around them?

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This section contains 809 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample