1. In what city is The Merchant of Venice set? **Venice**
2. What is the profession of the play's protagonist? **Merchant**
3. What is the name of the merchant protagonist? **Antonio**
4. What goods and possessions does Antonio have bound up at sea? **His money**
5. Who comes to borrow money from Antonio? **Bassanio**
6. What is Bassanio's station in life? **A noble but untitled gentleman**
7. Why does Bassanio want to borrow money from Antonio? **To attend a merchant's marriage party in Belmont**
8. Who does Bassanio wish to woo at the party? **Portia**
9. What is special about Portia? **She is a rich heiress**
10. Since Antonio's money is bound up at sea, who does he suggest Bassanio go to for a loan? **Shylock**
11. What is Shylock's profession? **Moneylender**
12. What religious faith is Shylock? **Jewish**
13. What does Shylock demand as collateral if the loan is not repaid? **A pound of Antonio's flesh**
14. How much money and at what terms does Shylock agree to lend Bassanio? **3,000 ducats at no interest for three months**
15. How does Shylock describe Antonio in his aside to the audience? **He spits at him and calls him a Christian**
16. Which famous lines does Shylock deliver explaining his hatred of Antonio? **"He hath disgraced me and hindered me half a million...He lends out money gratis and brings down the rate of usance."**
17. True or False: Antonio is confident his ships will return before the loan is due. **True**
18. What critical news does Antonio receive just before the loan is due? **His ships have been lost at sea**
19. When the loan is not repaid, what does Shylock demand per their agreement? **His pound of flesh**
20. What famous speech does Portia deliver disguised as a doctor of law? **"The quality of mercy is not strain'd..."**
21. In the end, how is Shylock prevented from collecting the flesh? **By an ingenious legal loophole found by Portia: he loses his right to any collateral when he tries to take more than he is owed.**
22. As further punishment for his attempted extraction, what is taken from Shylock against his will? **His wealth and conversion to Christianity**
23. In addition to Portia, what other character serves to ingeniously save Antonio's life? **Nerissa disguised as a clerk**
24. What subplots involve tricks played by Portia and Nerissa on their husbands? **They switch rings with their husbands to test their fidelity**
25. Which famous suitor does Portia reject due to his inability to solve the riddle of the caskets? **The Prince of Morocco**
26. Which casket does Morocco choose and what does he find inside? **The gold casket, containing a skull**
27. Which famous suitor does Portia also reject due to failing the casket test? **The Prince of Aragon**
28. Which casket does Aragon choose and what does he find inside? **The silver casket, containing an insult**
29. Which Venetian merchant correctly solves Portia's casket riddle? **Bassanio**
30. Which casket does Bassanio choose and what does he find inside? **The lead casket, containing Portia's portrait**
31. Where does most of the action between Shylock and Antonio take place? **The court of Venice**
32. What judge presides over Shylock's case against Antonio? **The Duke of Venice, disguised as Portia in a wig**
33. Which character is consistently shown to hate Shylock and instigates a mob against him? **Gratiano**
34. Which close friends of Antonio volunteer to help save his life before Portia'sarrival? **Bassanio and Gratiano**
35. What family member of Shylock's sides against him in court? **His daughter Jessica**
36. What famous line does Antonio say to Shylock as he is forced to convert? **"Hath not a Jew eyes.., and if you prick us do we not bleed?"**
37. True or False: Bassanio is upset his ring is stolen by Portia in their game. **False, he laughs it off**
38. What excuse does each wife give her husband for stealing his ring? **They saved the other from drowning**
39. Whose ring does each wife actually steal? **Each other's**
40. At the very end, how are the wives' tricks revealed? **Nerissa and Portia have the stolen rings**
41. What city does Shylock live in? **Venice**
42. What is Shylock's profession and moneylending reputation? **Usury and a notorious moneylender**
43. What biblical tribe is Shylock part of? **Hebrew/Jew**
44. Who does Shylock hate and frequently berate? **Antonio**
45. How much does Shylock lend to Bassanio and Antonio? **3,000 ducats**
46. At what terms does Shylock lend the money? **To be paid back in 3 months with no interest**
47. What collateral does Shylock demand if the loan is unpaid? **A pound of Antonio's flesh**
48. What does Shylock hope to accomplish by demanding Antonio's flesh? **Harm to his enemy Antonio**
49. What famous speech does Portia make about mercy vs. law during Shylock's trial? **The "quality of mercy" speech**
50. How is Shylock prevented from collecting Antonio's flesh according to Venetian law? **He is only entitled to the principal, not any collateral**
51. What is further taken from Shylock as punishment by the court? **His wealth and conversion to Christianity**
52. Who also helps save Antonio disguised as a judge's clerk? **Nerissa**
53. What is Portia's home called where she awaits suitors? **Belmont**
54. What riddle do suitors have to solve to win Portia's hand? **The riddle of the caskets**
55. Which suitor chooses the gold casket but finds a skull? **Prince of Morocco**
56. Which suitor takes the silver casket with an insult? **Prince of Aragon**
57. Who solves the riddle by selecting lead with Portia's portrait? **Bassanio**
58. Which character loyally serves and advises Portia? **Nerissa**
59. How do Portia and Nerissa trick their husbands? **Swap rings and pretend to rescue each other**
60. Which character is shown as a cunning villain? **Shylock**
61. What religious minority group is Shylock a part of? **Jews**
62. Who serves as the Duke dispensing Venetian justice? **Portia in disguise**
63. Where is most of the play set? **Venice and surrounding areas**
64. What profession is the title character? **Merchant**
65. What is the name of the merchant protagonist? **Antonio**
66. Who comes begging for a loan from Antonio? **Bassanio**
67. Why does Bassanio need the loan? **To woo Portia**
68. Who does Antonio suggest Bassanio get the loan from? **The moneylender Shylock**
69. At what interest rate does Shylock agree to lend? **No interest for 3 months**
70. What does Shylock demand as collateral if the loan is unpaid? **A pound of Antonio's flesh**
71. When Antonio's ships sink, how does he feel about losing his life? **Calm and philosophical**
72. Which character saves Antonio's life through legal trickery? **Portia disguised as a judge**
73. True or False: Bassanio passes Portia's test of the caskets. **True**
74. Which suitor chooses the gold casket but finds a skull? **Morocco**
75. Which suitor picks the silver casket containing an insult? **Aragon**
76. Which character is consistently mean and hostile to Shylock? **Gratiano**
77. Which of Shylock's lines is particularly memorable? **"I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes..."**
78. Where is Jessica seen flirting with and eventually eloping with? **Lorenzo**
79. True or False: Nerissa and Portia deceive their husbands by stealing each other's rings. **True**
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