The End...

Act Five, Scene One

1. Why do Lorenzo and Jessica remind each of the stories of classical lovers?
2. What are Portia’s feelings as she approaches the house?
3. What is the first argument to break out?
4. How do Gratiano and Bassanio try to justify parting with the rings, are they successful?
5. Was Bassanio right to give away the ring, give reasons for your thinking.
6. What effect do these arguments have on Antonio?
7. Portia and Nerissa have the rings. What does this prove to Antonio, Gratiano and each a  Bassanio?
8. How do Antonio, Lorenzo and Jessica benefit from news that Portia brings?

1. To show that, even though their stories may have some parallels they are not like them, and that they unlike the other couples, they will have a happy ending.
2. She is happy to be home after a job well done.
3. Nerissa notices that Gratiano’s ring is no longer on his finger.
4. They say it was to repay the judge and his clerk for a job well done and for saving Antonio's life, and of course their argument doesn't work.
5. Bassanio had no right to give away the ring, he had sworn to only to take off the ring when he no longer loves Portia. It was stupid of him to do that, he shouldn’t have even considered doing that, giving the ring away to anyone under any circumstance.
6. Antonio feels terrible because he is the cause for the arguments and is willing to put his life on the line again for their happiness.
7. They prove that they were the doctor and the clerk, and in a way they prove their loyalty to their husbands, their cunningness and their intelligence.
8. Portia revealed that Antonio’s ships have not sunk and they are in port and Lorenzo and Jessica will receive all of Shylock’s money and land once he dies.

Court Scene

Act Four, Scene One

1. What does the Duke believe Shylock intends to do? (Black Pg. 147, Blue Pg.85) 
2. What does Shylock intend to do?
3. Finish this quote that tells us why, ‘You’ll ask me why I r------- choose to have a w------ of carrion f-----, than to receive three thousand d-----. I’ll not answer that, but to say it is my h------, is it answered?’ (Black Pg. 149, Blue Pg.86) 
4. What two loopholes does Portia find in the wording of the contract? (Black Pg. 165-167, Blue Pg.95-96) 
5. Shylock now has to pay penalties. Complete this quotes that tell us what the penalties are: ‘I pardon thee thy l---- before thou ask it, For h---- thy w------, it is A------, the other h--- comes to the g------- state’ (Black Pg. 169, Blue Pg.97) 
6. Are the penalties fair? Why/why not.
7. How do Lorenzo and Jessica gain by the result?
8. What reward has Portia claimed and why is this significant?
9. Portia tells Shylock ‘The quality of mercy is not strained’. How does she try to persuade Shylock to show mercy, how much mercy is she willing to show him ((Black Pg. 157-159, Blue Pg.91-92) )

1. The Duke thinks that Shylock will let Antonio go.
2. Shylock intenes to get his pound of flesh.
3. ‘You’ll ask me why I rather choose to have a weight of carrion flesh, than to receive three thousand ducats. I’ll not answer that, but to say it is my humour, is it answered?’
4. There is no blood meached in the bond so Shylock can not spill a drop of his blood, Shylock will have exactly what was written in the bond. In the bond it says that he has to cut exactly one pound of flesh from Antonio.
5. ‘I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it, For half thy wealth, it is Antonio, the other half comes to the general state’
6. It’s not fair that Antonio makes Shylock become a Chistain
7. The money that was meant to go to Antonio will instead go to Lorenzo and Jessica.
8. Bassanio's ring, which she made him swear he would never take off, give away or lose.
9. Portia tries using Shylock's religion, mercy and more money to convince Shylock to change his mind but he still insists on having his pound of flesh, she shows him a lot of mercy before she turns around and uses it against him

Act Four, Scene Two

1. What invitation does Portia refuse and why?
2. What does Nerissa plan to get, why do you think this is important?
3. Do you admire Portia after these scenes, or do you find her actions cruel. Use examples to support your thinking. 

1. To have dinner with Antonio, Gratiano and Bassanio
2. Nerissa plans on getting her husbands ring as well also making his swear not to take it off, give it away or lose it, she like Portia is testing her husband loyalty to her.
3. I admire her loyalty to her husband and how she lets nothing stop her even being a woman and how they are supposed to act. I admire her intelligence that she shows in the court especially since she’s a woman and is often described as pretty and rich, and often women aren’t porterated as being very bright and often pushovers, even in today's society.

Act 3

Act Three, Scene One

1. Why does Shylock assume Solanio and Salerio know that Jessica’s ran away?
2. Complete this quote to suggests Antonios second misfortune: 
3. Salerio: Do you ____ whether Antonio ____ had any ____ at sea or no? Shylock: There I have another ___ ______, a ________. (Black Pg. 95, Blue Pg.63)
4. Who has been looking for Lorenzo and Jessica? (Black Pg. 97, Blue Pg.64)
5. Where do Shylock and Tubal arrange to meet and with what purpose? ‘I will go Tubal, and meet me at our _________’ (Black Pg. 99, Blue Pg.66

1. Shylock assumes that Solanio and Salerio knew of Jessica’s plan to run away because they seemed to know a lot about her plan to run away. 
2. Do you hear whether Antonio have had any loss at sea or no? Shylock: There I have another bad match, a bankrupt 
3. Shylock has send Tubal to look for his daughter, the man she run away with, the money and jewels that she stole.
4. ‘I will go Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue’ to look at the contract/bond with Antonio.

Act Three, Scene Two

1. Why does Portia want Bassanio to delay his choice?
2. Complete this quote ‘I pray you _____, pause a ___ or two before you ______, for in choosing _____ I lose your company’ (Black Pg. 105, Blue Pg.66)
3. What makes Bassanio choose lead over the silver and gold caskets? Finish this quote, ‘Thou m_______ lead which rather threatenest than dost p_______ aught, thy p_______moves me more than e_________, and here choose I’ (Black Pg. 111, Blue Pg.69)
4. Complete Portia’s speech that tells us the expected roles of a woman in marriage. ‘Myself and what is ____, to you and ______is now _______’ (Black Pg. 113, Blue Pg.71)
5. What does the above quote mean?
6. What did Gratiano’s and Nerissa’s wish to marry depend on? (Black Pg. 116-7, Blue Pg.72-3)
7. How does Portia know that the letter contains bad news? (Black Pg. 119, Blue Pg.72-3)
8. What help does Portia offer straightaway? (Black Pg. 123, Blue Pg.76)
9. Why do we not expect this help to be successful?
10. Do you think Portia would still be in love with Bassanio if she knew he had lied about his wealth?

1. Portia wants Bassanio because she loves him and is worried that he may chose wrong and she won't be able to see him again.
2. ‘I pray you tarry, pause a day or two before you hazard, for in choosing wrong I lose your company’
3. ‘Thou meagre lead which rather threatenest than dost promise aught, thy paleness moves me more than eloquence, and here choose I’
4. ‘Myself and what is mine, to you and yours is now converted’
5. For a very long time women were objects, possessions of men, carrers of children and nothing more.
6. Gratiano would ask to marry Nerissa if Bassanio choose the correct casket which does happen.
7. Portia can tell that the letter contain bad news because Bassanio goes pale.
8. Portia offers to give Bassanio the money for his friend.
9. Shylock is intent to have his bond and really wants a pound of Antonio's flesh. 
10. Yes, she never cared about all her other suters even though they had lost of money, she loves Bassanio because he is kind and cares about others.

Act Three, Scene Three:

1. Antonio is now convinced that he knows the reason for Shylock’s insistence on claiming his bond. What is it, use quote from the text to support your answer.
2. Why can the Duke not ‘deny the course of law’ according to Antonio?
3. What does Antonio seem resigned to his fate. What two important realisations is this based on? Use lines 8, 21-24, 26-31 to help you.
4. Do you think Antonio’s feelings towards Bassanio have changed since the beginning, why?
5. Shylock refuses to consider the idea of Mercy, but demands Justice. Consider the following ideas:
6. Is mercy the same as forgiveness?
7. Is it easier to show mercy or look for revenge?
8. Is justice the same as fairness?
9. Is true justice possible in this case?

1. Because Antonio would help others with their bonds with Shylock and would help them if they needed money and wouldn't get anything in return.
2. Because if he can get off with this anyone can get off with anything.
3. That 
4. Yes at the beginning he had hope that Bassanio would be able to pay off all of his detes, but now Antonio just hopes that his friend will be there to see him die.
5. No you can show mercy to someone without forgiving them.
6. It is easier to look for revenge because showing mercy means showing kindness and that can be hard especially when you don’t like the person.
7. Depends on what side you are on and what situation is.
8. If the forfeit is met yes, if not no.

Act Three, Scene Four

1. What is Lorenzo’s opinion of Antonio?
2. What does Portia tell Lorenzo she intends to do?
3. What does she ask Lorenzo and Jessica to do for her and why?
4. Why does Portia think Antonio and Bassanio must be alike?
5. Why do Portia and Nerissa intend to travel dressed as men?
6. In A3S4 L 60-78, how does Portia describe the behaviour and attitudes of young men.
7. Does it seem likely that Portia is going to follow the expected  behaviour of a wife?

1. .
2. Portia and Narissa will go pray with nuns until their husbands returns.
3. She asks them to look after the house while they are away.
4. Portia thinks that Bassanio and Antonio must have be very alike because they are such close friends.
5. Because at the time women were not aloud to go to court and that's where they are going.
6. .
7. No, the expected behaviour of a wife would to be to just sit there and let her husband do everything.

Act Three, Scene Five

1. In his jokey conversation with Jessica, why is Launcelot against the conversion of Jews to Christianity?
2. What is Jessica’s opinion of Portia?

1. Because then all the Jews turned Christianity then they would all be eating pigs which in turn would raise the price of them.
2. She thinks that Bassanio is very fortunate to have Portia as his wife, that he has heaven on earth.

Three Powerful Caskets

Act Two, Scene One

1. This scene opens with the words ‘Mislike me not for my complexion’ Why does the Prince think Portia will have a problem with his complexion?
2. In Act 1 if  Antonio loses his gamble, he must forfeit a pound of flesh. What must Portia’s suitors give up if they fail to win her? A2S1 Line 37-42
3. Portia tells the Prince of Morocco- ‘Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair as any comer I have looked on yet for my affection’ What does this mean? (if you’re unsure check sparknotes translation)
4. Shylock practices ‘usury’. Explain this in your own words? 
5. Why do Shylock and Antonio hate each other?

1. Because at this point in time white people where very racist and Portia white and he has dark skin.
2. If the princes decide to take the challenge to win Portia's heart and do not succeed they cannot marry another woman ever.
3.  She doesn't care about the colour of his skin and he has a much of a chance to marry him as every other suitor.
4. Usury is when you lend out money and get interest on the money you lent back.
5. Shylock and Antonio hate each other because they practice different religions, which means they have different values, and Antonio has not been very polite to Shylock. 

Incision: When you make a sharp cut in something or someone.
Renowned: Someone is good at something and well known of it.
Casket: A small box that houses valuables.
Fiend: A person who is wicked or cruel. Also a person interested in something or enjoys doing.
Impertinent: Being rude or unrespectful/person.
Tedious: If something is tedious it is boring or frustrating.
Prodigal: When someone does lots of bad things then goes away and comes back a better person.
Garnish: Salad or herbs used to decorate cooked or prepared food.

First Impressions

Act One, Scene One:

1. Antonio is depressed without knowing why. What two possible reasons do his friends suggest?
2. Do you think Gratiano’s contributions help Antonio’s mood?
3. What are your first impressions of Bassanio?
4. Is he in love?
5. Why does he need to borrow money again now

1. That he is in love and that he is worried about his ships because all his money is on them.
2. No, it made it worse. He put Antonio down and made fun of him.
3. He is not the brightest as he manged to spend all of his money partying, but he seems to be a good guy. 
4. He is thinks he's in love with Portia who is beautiful, rich and kind.
5. He need the money so that he can travel and win Partia's heart.

Act One, Scene One:

1. How do Portia’s first words compare with Antonio’s?
2. What is the reason for her mood?
3. Do you think Nerissa is a help to her?
4. Sum up, in a word or a short phrase, Portia’s attitude to her suitors so far

1. They are both feeling miserable, thought Portia knows why she is so but Antonio does not.
2. She is going to have to marry some dude but she can't chose who due to her father's will.
3. Yes, she tried cheering Portia up and at the end she was successful by mentioning Bassanio.
4. Absolutely desusted about them all but Bassanio.

Act One, Scene Three:

1. Shylock is a moneylender. Does he seem eager to do business with Bassanio? How do you know?
2. Which does Shylock think is safe, his business or Antonio’s? Why?
3. Why doesn’t Shylock want to dine with Bassanio and Antonio?
4. What strict principal of his is Antonio breaking to help Bassanio?
5. Shylock tells a bible story to prove that the taking of profit is blessed, as long as thieving is not involved. Does he convince Antonio? Give evidence.
6. Shylock accuses Antonio of a whole catalogue of nastiness. How does Antonio answer the charges?
7. How does Bassanio react to the proposed bond?

1. Yes, he is eager, he says he will take the bond.
2. Because the sea is unpredictable and dangerous so he could loss everything at any time, but Shylock gets his money though interest which is more secure.
3. Because they may serve pork and as a Jew he believes that god put the devil into pigs, but since the others are Christians they do eat pigs.
4. The principal of taking money and giving back interest.
5. He does not, Antonio says to Shylock that 'This was a venture sir, that Jacob served for, a thing not in his power to bring to pass' or that is in gods doing not Jacobs. 
6. Antonio admits it and even says that he will do it again.
7. He doesn't want Antonio to take the bond and risk his for him.

Character Map 

Definitions

Venture: something new and risky. 

Vessel: ship or big boat.

Signior:

Mortifying: embarrass or shame someone.

Profound: Intense, deep understanding of something. 

Exhortation: Make someone do something.

Virtuous: Doing and thinking what is morally right.

Squandered: