THE PLAYWRIGHT
Do a little research on William
Shakespeare:
 Who is he?
 What are some of his
works?
 Why do we read his works?
SETTING
Describe the society of Venice.
How is this different from Belmont?
Who are the Jewish people?
What is the conflict between Jews
and Christians?
CHARACTERS
TEMASEK JUNIOR COLLEGE
INTEGRATED PROGRAMME
YEAR 2
For each of the following
characters, note their occupation
and relationship with one another.
Write down 3 adjectives to describe
their character:







Antonio
Bassanio
Shylock
Jessica
Portia
Nerissa
Gratiano
A reading guide to
THE
MERCHANT
OF VENICE
MAIN PLOT LINES
THEMES
1. Why does Antonio borrow
money from Shylock?
As you read the play, pay close
attention to the following themes:
2. What is Portia’s predicament?
3. What is Jessica’s predicament?
4. Why do Antonio and Shylock
face off in court in Act 4?
 Friendship and kinship
 Courtship and love
 Prejudice and discrimination
(religion, gender)
 Revenge, mercy and justice
5. How does Portia ‘save the day’?
YOUR REFLECTIONS
6. What happens to Shylock at the
end of the play?
Do you think Shylock deserves his fate
at the end?
Do you think Shakespeare is antiSemitic?
“The quality of
mercy is not
strain’d, It
droppeth as the
gentle rain from
heaven, Upon the
place beneath. It is
twice blest: It
blesseth him that
gives, and him
that takes.”
~ Portia, Act 4 Sc1 ll.182-185 ~