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The Merchant of Venice Study Guide
Pre-reading
Part I
What is justice? Define justice in your own words.
What is injustice (the opposite of justice)? Define injustice in your own words.
Part II
Read the scenarios and answer the questions. Adjust your definition of justice along the way, if
necessary.
Scenario 1
Vanessa and Charles were married for nine years, and now they are getting a divorce. Vanessa is a successful singer
who just made $5 million on her first album, released this year. The judge presiding over their divorce case ordered
that the $5 million be split equally, with Vanessa and Charles each receiving $2.5 million, since the money was
acquired during their marriage and is therefore considered joint earnings.
Is this scenario an example of justice or injustice? Why?
Scenario 2
Jake worked for a construction company for five years, but he was recently laid off because the company was losing
money due to the rough economy. Jake had always paid the mortgage for his home on-time when he was working,
but since he lost his job, he has not been able to pay the bank for the past six months. Today the bank director
forced Jake, his pregnant wife, and their one-year-old to vacate the house, leaving them homeless.
Is this scenario an example of justice or injustice? Why?
Scenario 3
Stella witnessed her brother Dante get shot and killed by a police officer. Dante was a convicted murderer on the
run from the police. Dante had a gun in his hand and took two shots at the police before he was gunned down. A
month later, Stella hid outside the officer’s house and shot him in the head when he came home.
Is this scenario an example of justice or injustice? Why?
Part III
Has your definition of justice changed? Why or why not? Rewrite your definition below if it is
different.
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The Merchant of Venice Study Guide
Act I
1. Why is Antonio so sad?
2. What kind of help does Bassanio need? Why is Antonio willing to risk so much to help
Bassanio?
3. How does Portia feel about Bassanio in comparison to her other suitors?
4. Why does Shylock hesitate to loan money to Bassanio?
5. Why is there animosity (hatred) between Antonio and Shylock?
Analyzing Justice
Write a paragraph for the following prompt:
Who has been unjust in his treatment of Shylock? In what ways has he been unjust? Explain.
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The Merchant of Venice Study Guide
Act II, Scenes i-iii
1. What chance is the Prince of Morocco planning to take at Portia’s house? What will happen if
he fails?
2. Why does Launcelot purposely confuse his father, Old Gobbo? What does the confusion
show about their father-son relationship?
3. What does Launcelot ask Bassanio? Why?
4. What does Gratiano ask of Bassanio, and why does Bassanio hesitate to grant his request?
5. What does Jessica ask Launcelot to do for her?
Analyzing Justice
Write a paragraph for the following prompt:
Do you think the lottery Portia’s father has designed for choosing her husband is just or unjust?
Explain why.
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The Merchant of Venice Study Guide
Act II, Scenes iv-ix
Relating to the Play
Write a paragraph for the following prompt:
Read the inscriptions that appear on each of Portia’s caskets. Which casket would you choose?
Why?
Gold: “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.”
Silver: “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.”
Lead: “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.”
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1. What do Lorenzo and Jessica plan to do? Why?
2. Are Lorenzo and Jessica successful in executing their plan or not? Why?
3. What is the outcome of the Prince of Morocco’s attempt to open the correct casket?
4. What is the outcome of the Prince of Arragon’s attempt to open the correct casket?
5. Is Shylock more concerned about his daughter or his money and jewels? Why?
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The Merchant of Venice Study Guide
Act III
1. What is the news about Antonio’s ships? Upon hearing the news, what does Shylock say he
intends to do?
2. What is the outcome of Bassanio’s attempt to open the correct casket?
3. What news does Bassanio receive while at Portia’s, and what does he decide to do?
4. What does Portia ask Lorenzo to do?
5. What does Portia plan to do, and why does she want only Nerissa to know about it?
Relating to the Play
Write a paragraph for the following prompt:
Explain how Shakespeare causes the audience to vacillate between sympathy and hatred for
Shylock. Do you feel pity or disdain for Shylock? Why do you feel this way?
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The Merchant of Venice Study Guide
Act IV
1. What reasons does Shylock give the Duke for demanding his bond?
2. Who is the “learned doctor” Doctor Bellario recommends in his letter? What does the
“learned doctor” ask Shylock to do?
3. What does Venetian law say about Shylock and Antonio’s bond?
4. How does the Portia interpret the wording of the bond? What does that lead Shylock to do?
5. What happens to Shylock as a result of the law, the Duke’s decision, and Antonio’s decision?
Analyzing Justice
A) Translate each line of the passage, which Portia speaks to Shylock before the court.
Original
…Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.
Translation
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The Merchant of Venice Study Guide
Act IV (continued)
Analyzing Justice (continued)
B) Using information from the passage and your own understanding, compare and contrast
justice and mercy.
Justice
Mercy
Both
C) Using information from the passage, your own understanding, and the Venn Diagram, write a
paragraph for the following prompt:
Scene I is called “A Court of Justice.” What is the role of justice in deciding Antonio’s fate and
Shylock’s fate? What is the role of mercy in deciding their fates?
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The Merchant of Venice Study Guide
Act V
1. What story do Portia and Nerissa lead Lorenzo and Jessica to believe about their absence?
2. Why do Portia and Nerissa want to keep their absence a secret from their husbands?
3. What is the purpose of Portia and Nerissa misleading their husbands about the rings?
4. What happy news comes to Antonio? What happy news comes to Jessica?
5. What is the last idea expressed in the play?
Post-reading
1. What is your definition of justice after reading the play?
2. How has the play influenced your understanding of justice and mercy?
3. If you were to change a specific event or events from the play, what would you change?
Why?