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List the characters and describe them Name of Main Characters Shylock Description A Jewish moneylender in Venice. Angered by his mistreatment at the hands of Venices Christians, particularly Antonio, Shylock schemes to eke out his revenge by ruthlessly demanding as payment a pound of Antonios flesh. A wealthy heiress from Belmont. Portias beauty is matched only by her intelligence. Bound by a clause in her fathers will that forces her to marry whichever suitor chooses correctly among three caskets, Portia is nonetheless able to marry her true love, Bassanio. The merchant whose love for his friend Bassanio prompts him to sign Shylocks contract and almost lose his life A gentleman of Venice. Bassanios love for the wealthy Portia leads him to borrow money from Shylock with Antonio as his guarantor. An ineffectual businessman, Bassanio proves himself a worthy suitor, correctly identifying the casket that contains Portias portrait. A friend of Bassanios who accompanies him to Belmont. While Bassanio courts Portia, Gratiano falls in love with and eventually weds Portias lady-in-waiting, Nerissa. Although she is Shylocks daughter, Jessica hates life in her fathers house, and elopes with the young Christian gentleman, Lorenzo. A friend of Bassanio and Antonio, Lorenzo is in love with Shylocks daughter, Jessica. He schemes to help Jessica escape from her fathers house, and he eventually elopes with her to Belmont.
Portia
Antonio
Bassanio
Gratiano
Jessica
Lorenzo
Nerissa - Portias lady-in-waiting and confidante. She marries Gratiano and escorts Portia on Portias trip to Venice by disguising herself as her law clerk. LauncelotGobbo - Bassanios servant. A comical, clownish figure who is especially adept at making puns, Launcelot leaves Shylocks service in order to work for Bassanio.
The prince of Morocco - A Moorish prince who seeks Portias hand in marriage. Certain that the caskets reflect Portias beauty and stature, the prince of Morocco picks the gold chest, which proves to be incorrect. The prince of Arragon - An arrogant Spanish nobleman who also attempts to win Portias hand by picking a casket. He picks the silver casket, which gives him a message calling him an idiot instead of Portias hand. Salarino - A Venetian gentleman, and friend to Antonio, Bassanio, and Lorenzo. Solanio - A Venetian gentleman, and frequent counterpart to Salarino. The duke of Venice - The ruler of Venice, who presides over Antonios trial. Although a powerful man, the dukes state is built on respect for the law, and he is unable to help Antonio. Old Gobbo - Launcelots father, also a servant in Venice. Tubal - A Jew in Venice, and one of Shylocks friends. Doctor Bellario - A wealthy Paduan lawyer and Portias cousin. Doctor Bellario never appears in the play, but he gives Portias servant the letters of introduction needed for her to make her appearance in court. Balthasar - Portias servant, whom she dispatches to get the appropriate materials from Doctor Bellario. 3. List five new words you learned in the book. Write down their dictionary pronunciation and meaning. Gild |g ld|- (verb) To cover with or as if with a thin layer of gold Misconstrue |misk n stro | - (verb) interpret (something, esp. a person's words or actions) wrongly Importunate |im prch nit| - (adjective) persistent, esp. to the point of annoyance or intrusion Contrive |k n tr v| - (verb) create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill and artifice stratagem | strat j m| - (noun) a plan or scheme, esp. one used to outwit an opponent or achieve an end 7. Where did the story take place? The book takes place in Venice, Italy, and Belmont, the site of Portias estate. Shakespeare does not identify the precise location of Belmont, but the stage directions refer to it as being on the Continent (Europe). Presumably, Belmont is not far from Venice. Venice (Venezia) is in northeastern Italy on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. In late medieval and early Renaissance times, Venice was one of Europes greatest centers of commerce. COMPREHENSION: 2 points each [6pts] 13. What kind of book is this? List three evidences of this. It is a fictional playwright. There are scenes and acts to decide what the how the actors are going to be acting the story. Furthermore, there are also notes on which characters would enter at which time to show that it would be a play. Also, this story is not real and thus its fictional. 17. Tell in your own words the beginning of the book Antonio, a Venetian merchant, complains to his friends, Salarino and Solanio, that a sadness has overtaken him and dulled his faculties, although he is at a loss to explain why. Salarino and Solanio suggest that his sadness must be due to his commercial investments, for Antonio has
dispatched several trade ships to various ports. Salarino says it is impossible for Antonio not to feel sad at the thought of the perilous ocean sinking his entire investment, but Antonio assures his friends that his business ventures do not depend on the safe passage of any one ship. Solanio then declares that Antonio must be in love, but Antonio dismisses the suggestion.
The three men encounter Bassanio, Antonios kinsman, walking with two friends named Lorenzo and Gratiano. Salarino and Solanio bid Antonio farewell and depart. When Gratiano notices Antonios unhappiness and suggests that the merchant worries too much about business, Antonio responds that he is but a player on a stage, destined to play a sad par. t Gratiano warns Antonio against becoming the type of man who affects a solemn demeanor in order to gain a wise reputation, then he takes his leave with Lorenzo. Bassanio jokes that Gratiano has terribly little to say, claiming that his friends wise remarks prove as elusive as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff. Antonio asks Bassanio to tell him about the clandestine love that Bassanio is harboring. In reply, Bassanio admits that although he already owes Antonio a substantial sum of money from his earlier, more extravagant days, he has fallen in love with Portia, a rich heiress from Belmont, and hopes to win her heart by holding his own with her other wealthy and powerful suitors. In order to woo Portia, however, Bassanio says he needs to borrow more money from Antonio. Antonio replies that he cannot give Bassanio another loan, as all his money is tied up in his present business ventures, but offers to guarantee any loan Bassanio can round up.
20. What did the title have to do with the book? Antonio is the title character in Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice, he is the merchant that the story is talking about. Furthermore, there are two merchants in the play, which immediately creates "confusion" or ambiguity. There is Antonio, a merchant and friend of a man named Bassanio, and Shylock, a Jewish merchant. Antonio is also hated by Shylock, constant scolding of him as a Jew. In the story, he is bound by a bond that forces him to give up a pound of flesh should he not be able to return three thousand ducats to Shylock. Either Antonio or Shylock might be the title character of the play, so from the start we dont get a real sense of who the main character is. This provides questions such as: Do we know is that ambiguity will be a central point of this play. Who does Shakespeare side with? Does he take a side? Who is his protagonist? This questions the feelings we should have for Shylock. Although he is wicked hearted and cruel, it is due to him being hated for being a Jew and being discriminated by Christians. APPLICATION: 3 points each [9 pts] 24. Did this book give you any new ideas about yourself? Why? Yes. I realised that I should be more merciful and forgiving to the people around me. This story shows that hating people and bottling up your emotions is bad. This causes Shylock to be angry enough to think of taking a pound of flesh from his enemy Antonio, which would kill him. We should not follow his bad example and be able to forgive others and be merciful to them. On the other hand, we also should not treat others badly, knowing that they would always forgive you. In the story, Antonio accepts that he keeps scolding and mocking Shylock for being a Jew, discriminating him. This makes him hated by Shylock.
27. What lesson did you learn from the story? I have learnt the importance of mercy and the divine quality of it. The conflict between Shylock and the Christian characters comes to a head over the issue of mercy. The other characters acknowledge that the law is on Shylocks side, but they all expect him to show mercy, which he refuses to do. When, during the trial, Shylock asks Portia what could possibly compel him to be merciful, Portias long reply, beginning with the words, The quality of mercy is not strained, clarifies what is at stake in the argument. Human beings should be merciful because God is merciful: mercy is an attribute of God himself and therefore greater than power, majesty, or law. I now understand the power of mercy and why we should always practice it. 32. What changes would have to be made if the book occurred 200 years ago? The story happened when Venice was focusing on trade and exports for its economy which meant that there would be merchants such as Antonio. Therefore, his gold and money would be on other ships, explaining why he was worried about losing his property. However, 200 years from now, Venice became a major agricultural and industrial exporter. Thus, there would be less focus on merchanting and trading and this would affect the whole storyline. Antonio might have another job and not have to agree to bond with Shylock.
[12pts]
35. Pick one of the main characters. Think of a shape that fits that person's traits. Draw the shape. Then describe the character inside the shape. Afterwards complete a paragraph explaining in detail the reason for your choice.
This diamond represents Shylock, one of the main characters hearts. The sharp edges show how his heart is very sharp also as he keeps thinking of getting revenge with those who have ridiculed him. This hatred of other Christians makes him vindictive and even attempts to take a pound of flesh from Antonio showing his cruel and vengeful nature. Also, diamonds are hard and this also represents Shylocks heart for being hard and cold, not even showing mercy to Antonio even after others expect him to show it.
39. Find one word that describes a character in your book very well. Give five reasons for your choice of words. I choose the word vindictive. Shylock shows a strong desire for revenge to Antonio for treating him like a dog due to him being a Jew. His desire for revenge goes to the extent of wanting to kill him under the bond that they make. Should Antonio fail to return three thousand ducats to Shylock, he would be able to take a pound of flesh from him. Even asked to show mercy, he stills to carry on and kill Antonio. Shylock argues that Jews are humans and calls his quest for vengeance the product of lessons taught to him by the cruelty of Venetian citizens. 40. In a good paragraph, state the main idea of the book. A main idea of the book is hatred as a cyclical phenomenon. Throughout the play, Shylock claims that he is simply applying the lessons taught to him by his Christian neighbors; this claim becomes an integral part of both his character and his argument in court. In Shylocks very first appearance, as he conspires to harm Antonio, his entire plan seems to be born of the insults and injuries Antonio has inflicted upon him in the past. As the play continues, and Shylock unveils more of his reasoning, the same idea rears its head over and over he is simply applying what years of abuse have taught him. Responding to Salarinos query of what good the pound of flesh will do him, Shylock responds, The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction (III.i.6061). Not all of Shylocks actions can be blamed on poor teachings, and one could argue that Antonio understands his own culpability in his near execution. With the trials conclusion, Antonio demands that Shylock convert to Christianity, but inflicts no other punishment, despite the threats of fellow Christians like Gratiano. Antonio does not, as he has in the past, kick or spit on Shylock. Antonio, as well as the duke, effectively ends the conflict by starving it of the injustices it needs to continue.
Antonio. Shylock is on the verge of cutting into Antonio when Portia suddenly reminds him that the bond stipulates a pound of flesh only, and makes no allowances for blood. She urges Shylock to continue collecting his pound of flesh, but reminds him that if a drop of blood is spilled, then he will be guilty of conspiring against the life of a Venetian citizen and all his lands and goods will be confiscated by the state. In the end, Shylock loses everything and converts to Christianity. This Act and Scene is the climax because it shows how Shylock refuses to show mercy, a main theme of the book and also how Portia intelligently turns the tables on Shylock and saves Antonio. This also provides conflict from the readers point of view, providing more depth to this scene. Many readers find it difficult to rejoice in Portias victory. Ultimately, Shylocks pursuit of a strict letter-of-the-law brand of justice, which makes no allowance for anything that even approaches compassion, undoes him. He proves blind to everything other than the stipulations of his bond, refusing even to summon a doctor to attend to Antonios wounds. But we may feel that the punishment Portia exacts is too heavy. Perhaps the courts verdict fits Shylocks crimes, but the court indulges in an equally literal and severe reading of the law in order to effect the same vicious end: the utter annihilation of a human being. 57. Identify one problem in the book and give an alternate solution one not given by the author. The main problem is Antonio deciding to borrow three thousand ducats for Bassanio to woo Portia from Shylock. He insists that Shylock lend him the money as an enemy due to the fact that Shylock does not charge interest for the loan. Therefore, Shylock wants a pound of flesh if Antonio does not return the money owed. This creates the whole story. However, if Antonio had just borrowed money from a fellow Christian or from a bank, this problem would not occur.