The Merchant of Venice Brief Questions

Answer

The Merchant of Venice Brief Questions

What kind of play is “The Merchant of Venice?” ✪✪✪

Ans: A romantic comedy.

What is Belmont? ✪✪✪

Ans: A fictitious city in Venice, Italy.

How does Portia’s father condition her marriage?

Ans: The men must select one of three caskets: one made of gold, one of silver, and one of lead. One of the caskets contains a portrait of Portia, and whoever chooses it will marry her.

Which religion does Shylock follow in The Merchant of Venice? (NU. 2023)

Ans. Shylock is a Jew.

How is Shylock punished for his demands in court? (NU. 2023)

Ans. He loses his wealth and is forced to convert to Christianity.

What was inscribed on the silver casket?

Ans: “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.”

Which casket contained Portia’s picture?

Ans: Only the leaden casket contained Portia’s picture.

What was engraved on the leaden casket?

Ans: “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath”. 

What has been reported about to the ships of Antonio?

Ans: All ships of Antonio are reported to have been lost in the storm of the sea.

What is the “Trial Scene?” ✪✪✪

Ans: The trial scene is the critical perspective in the play. Antonio is trialled in the court of the Duke because he has failed to repay the debt which he had taken from Shylock. According to the condition, he can cut a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body.

Why was Portia compared to Daniel? (NU. 2022)

Ans. Portia was compared to Daniel because of her wisdom and fairness in the courtroom scene.

How did Antonio express his hatred towards Shylock? (NU. 2022)

Ans. Antonio expressed his hatred towards Shylock by calling him a dog in the public.

Why does the Duke delay the judgement in the Merchant of Venice? ✪✪✪ (NU. 2021)

Ans: The duke declares that he is waiting for a certain “Bellario, a learned doctor,” to arrive from Padua before he makes a final decision concerning this case.

What was inscribed on the golden casket? ✪✪✪ (NU. 2021)

Ans: “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.”

What does Portia (disguised as a doctor of Laws) speak about mercy? Or, what does the lawyer describe the quality of mercy?

Ans: Her speech extols the power of mercy, “an attribute to God Himself.”

Who is the hero of the play “The Merchant of Venice?”

Ans: Antonio. 

What is Shylock by religion?  (NU. 2023)

Ans: He is a Jew. 

“Give me my principals and let me go.” Who made this remark? ✪✪✪ (NU. 2018)

Ans: Shylock.

Why does Portia disguise herself as a lawyer? ✪✪✪ (NU. 2019; DU aff.- 2017)

Ans: Portia saves Antonio by disguising herself as a lawyer and defending him in court.

What happened to Shylock at the end of the suit? (NU. 2020, 23)

Ans: Shylock is left empty of his daughter, his property, and his religion.

Why does Shylock hate Antonio? ✪✪✪ (NU. 2020)

Ans: Shylock hates Antonio because he is a Christian and lends money to people without charging excessive interest.

Who is Bassanio? ✪✪✪ (NU. 2017)

Ans: Bassanio is the hero of the casket story. He is Antonio’s most intimate friend and Portia’s husband.

Why does Bassanio want to marry Portia? ✪✪✪ (NU. 2016)

Ans: To regain his fortune.

Who is Portia? ✪✪✪ (NU. 2017)

Ans. Portia is the central character of the play, The Merchant of Venice.

Who is actually Dr. Balthazar? 

Ans: The young Dr. Balthazar is no other than the young lady Portia, who comes to the court in the dress of a doctor of law. 

What is the agreement between Shylock and Antonio? ✪✪✪ (NU. 2021)

Ans. Shylock will pay Antonio three thousand ducats on condition that Shylock will take a pound of flesh from any part of Antonio’s body in case of his failure to repay the loan in time.

Why did Shylock break the agreement with Antonio? (NU. 2016, 18)

Ans. As it was impossible for Shylock to cut one pound of flesh, nor more or less, without shedding any blood, he broke the agreement with Antonio.