Merchant of Venice Act 1 & 2

Antonio is a merchant in _____________.

How does Shakespeare describe Venice with visual imagery given his sociocultural context?

• a busy trading seaport

• a fantastical, idyllic spot

• an evil, depraved hellhole

• an exotic tourist destination

Why is Antonio sad?

• Antonio is sad because he doesn’t know why he is sad; his sadness is a mystery.

• Antonio is sad because he is single and lonely.

• Antonio is sad because he isn’t as successful as he wants to be.

• Antonio is sad because he loves Bassanio but can’t marry him.

It is ironic that Antonio is sad for all of these reasons except which? Which of these statements isn’t true?

• Antonio is sad despite being a close, special friend with Bassanio.

• Antonio is sad despite being good colleagues and friends with Shylock.

• Antonio is sad despite being having many supportive friends.

• Antonio is sad despite being rich and successful.

Antonio is a foil to his friends in all of the following ways except which?

• Antonio is melancholic while his friends are cheerful.

• Antonio is successful while his friends are less successful.

• Antonio is unsupportive of his friends while his friends are supportive of him.

• Antonio wears black while his friends wear colorful clothing.

What figurative language device does Bassanio use to convince Antonio to loan him more money? He

compares making or borrowing money to archery using what?

• metaphor

• hyperbole

• paradox

• understatement

____________ is the practice of lending money with interest.

Bassanio describes Portia in all of the following ways except which?

• He says that she is beautiful.

• He says that she is desperate.

• He says that she is intelligent.

• He says that she is rich.

Portia lives in _____________.

Using figurative language, Antonio calls Shylock all of the following except which?

• a devil who uses Scripture to justify evil

• a good apple that is rotten inside

• a liar who looks honest

• an overbearing father