AMerchant of Venice
Act I and II Study Questions
Act I, Scene I - Venice
Vocabulary
ague – a fever and shaking caused by an illness; a fi t
argosies – large merchant ships
gaged – pledged; bound to
gear – an affair, event
gudgeon – an easily caught fi sh
portly – filled; fat
presages – foretells
signiors – rich, powerful men; a term of respect
1. Antonio, the merchant of the title, is sad but tells us he does not know why. What two
reasons do his friends offer for Antonio’s sadness, and what is his response?
2. Upon the entrance of Bassinio and his companions, the friendship motif is raised in a
backhanded fashion by Solanio and Salerio. What is the main point of their comments?
3. In Antonio’s comment about the world being a stage, how does he explain his sadness?
4. A major theme, the relationship between money and love, is first raised by Bassanio
in the line which begins, “I owe the most, in money and in love…” What is Bassanio’s
point in this comment?
5. What is Bassanio’s plan for getting money to pay off his debts? What is Antonio’s
response?
Act I, Scene II - Belmont
Vocabulary
appropriation – an assumption
ere – before
rhenish – a type of German wine
superfluity – excessiveness; having too much
surfeit – overindulgence
vilely – detestably, disgustingly, horridly
1. Nerissa’s idea of happiness is similar to that of the ancient Greeks. According to Nerissa,
where does happiness lie?
2. What is the meaning of Portia’s comment about the brain devising laws for the blood?
3. Why can Portia not choose her own husband?
4. In her assessment of suitors, what qualities of mind and spirit does Portia show?
5. Near the end of the scene, Nerissa tells us that the suitors have decided to return home
without choosing a casket. Why?
6. Which former visitor to her father’s palace does Portia remember as a praiseworthy,
prospective suitor? What does her comment, “I remember him well, and I remember
him worthy of thy praise,” foreshadow?
Act I, Scene III - Venice
Vocabulary
eanlings – lambs, kids
fulsome – lustful
imputation – negative charges, incriminations
publican – a tax collector
squandered – scattered
1. Is Shylock’s refusal to have dinner with Antonio and Bassanio based on religious or
societal grounds?
2. In the aside that follows, what do we learn of Shylock’s real feelings toward Antonio?
For what three reasons does he feel this way?
3. When Shylock makes the following comments, what is his meaning?
“If I can catch him once upon the hip,
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.”
4. What is Antonio’s meaning in the following passage?
“Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow
By taking nor by giving of excess…”
Why is Antonio’s position on lending money different from that of Shylock?
5. As Antonio presses for Shylock’s answer, Shylock reveals what he considers are some
insults he has received from the hand of Antonio. What are they?
6. What is Antonio’s response to Shylock?
7. How can we account for Antonio’s generosity concerning Bassanio, but his discourteous
behavior toward Shylock?
8. Shylock rejects Antonio’s notion that he views Antonio as an enemy. Shylock says he
will lend the money out of friendship, without charging any interest. What bond does
Shylock propose that Antonio fulfill if the loan is not paid in ninety days? In what spirit
does he claim he makes this proposal?
9. What is Antonio’s reaction? Bassanio’s reaction?
10. What does Shylock say in response to Bassanio’s objection to the bond?
11. Why is the following line an example of an ellipsis?
“My ships come home a month before the day.”
Act II, Scene I - Belmont
Vocabulary
livery – a uniform, clothing
valiant – brave
1. Of what condition does Portia inform the Prince of Morocco, and what is his response?
Act II, Scene II - Venice
Vocabulary
allay – to relieve
cater-cousins – not great friends
cudgel – a club
demurely – shyly
ergo – therefore
frutify – certify
sand-blind – dim-sighted
sonties – saints
1. By what decision is Launcelot Gobbo torn? Which way is his conscience pulling him?
2. Usually servants and other lower-class people are comic figures in a Shakespearean play.
Their language is always in prose, not verse; frequently they muddle their words and
engage in word play and puns. Does Launcelot Gobbo seem to fi t this picture?
3. As father and son speak to Bassanio, Bassanio becomes exasperated. What makes this
scene comic?
4. What are some malaprops you note in Old Gobbo’s comments?
5. When Gratiano asks Bassanio if he may accompany him to Belmont, what is Bassanio’s
response?
Act II, Scene III - Shylock’s house, Venice
Vocabulary
(No Vocabulary)
1. A frequent subplot in comedies has is that of lovers who defy a parent and elope. What
further twist to this subplot is there in Jessica’s proposed elopement?
2. In this regard, contrast Portia and Jessica. Why do you suppose Shakespeare’s audience
would not have thought less of Jessica?
Act II, Scene IV - Venice
Vocabulary
(No Vocabulary)
1. The conversation at the opening of this scene seems to make little sense until we learn
that the young men are preparing for a masque. What is a masque, and what do they
need a torchbearer for?
2. What further action do we learn Jessica plans to take when she leaves her father’s house?
What is Lorenzo’s reaction to this news?
3. In what two senses may we take Lorenzo’s comment that tonight Jessica will be his
torchbearer?
Act II, Scene V - Shylock’s house, Venice
Vocabulary
fife – a type of flute
foppery – silliness
gormandise – to eat greedily
masque – a masquerade, costume party
prodigal – extremely wasteful
1. Who is “the prodigal Christian,” and why does Shylock accept a dinner invitation that
he has previously declined?
2. What sense of foreboding does Shylock have about leaving the house?
3. What final instructions does Shylock give Jessica? How do these comments seem to aid in
justifying Jessica’s behavior and decision?
4. What message does Launcelot pass to Jessica?
Act II, Scene VI - Shylock’s house, Venice
Vocabulary
abode – a delay
scarfed – decorated with
untread – retrace
1. From the window, Jessica throws the casket to Lorenzo; it contains Shylock’s wealth. As she
does, she says that she is glad it is night because she is ashamed of her exchange:
“But love is blind and lovers cannot see
The pretty follies that themselves commit…”
What becomes clear only in the last line of that speech? To what exchange is she referring?
Act II, Scene VII –Belmont
Vocabulary
cerecloth – a cloth used in embalming
immured – imprisoned
1. The Prince chooses the gold casket. What is the message he receives?
Act II, Scene VIII - Venice
Vocabulary
amorous – devoted
miscarried – failed; wrecked
1. Why do Shylock and the Duke, the chief legal official, go to search Bassanio’s ship?
2. Shylock’s reaction to his daughter’s elopement is probably a comical scene for the
Elizabethans. How does he behave?
3. What ominous comment does Solanio make about this development and how it will
affect Antonio?
4. In this regard, what news has Salerio heard that worries him? Why?
5. How is the bond of friendship, love, and money further developed in this scene?
Act II, Scene IX - Belmont
Vocabulary
alighted – dismounted
anon – immediately
chaff – straw
commends – compliments
courteous breath – flattery
injunctions – commands, directions
martlet – a type of bird
merit – excellence
new-varnish’d – glossed over
pries – investigates
solemnized – performed
1. We finally learn all three conditions that a suitor agrees to when he makes a choice of caskets.
What are these three conditions?
2. What is Arragon’s choice? What does he find in the casket, and how does he seem to
Respond?
3. What news does the servant girl bring, and what is Portia’s witty response?