Merchant Of Venice Act 1

Question 1

Soliloquy

Answer 1

Speaking ones thoughts aloud

Question 2

Aside

Answer 2

A remark to the audience but not to the other characters

Question 3

Ducat

Answer 3

A good coin used for currency in Europe

Question 4

Very sad and worried about his merchant business because he has many ships

Answer 4

Antonio

Question 5

Friend of Antonio

Answer 5

Salarino/Solanio

Question 6

Doesn’t have enough money
Wants to woo Portia
People think highly of him

Answer 6

Bassanio

Question 7

Friends with Bassanio and Antonio

Rarely speaks because Gratiano speaks for him

Answer 7

Lorenzo

Question 8

Friends with Bassanio and Antonio

Talks too much

Answer 8

Gratiano

Question 9

Very beautiful and rich
Many suitors want her
Her dad died
Values humble men

Answer 9

Portia

Question 10

Waiting women of Portia
Kind of sassy and judgmental
Offers practical advice

Answer 10

Nerissa

Question 11

Jewish moneylander

Doesn’t like Antonio

Answer 11

Shylock

Question 12

When was Shakespeare born and died?

Answer 12

April 23rd, 1564 to 1616

Question 13

Two primary sources of information on Shakespeare?

Answer 13

Shakespeare’s work and various legal and church documents

Question 14

Shakespeare’s parent’ names?

Answer 14

John and Mary

Question 15

Why is the sketch of the Globe so important?

Answer 15

Only surviving rendering of the interior of an Elizabeth-era public theater

Question 16

When was the a globe built? When it burned down? When it closed?

Answer 16

Built in 1599, burned in 1613, closed in 1642

Question 17

When were the Jews expelled from England? When were they allowed to return?

Answer 17

Expelled in 1290, returned in 1656

Question 18

What did Jews work as?

Answer 18

Moneylanders and coin dealers

Question 19

Different levels of the stage?

Answer 19

4th: sound effects
3rd: musicians played
2nd: the balcony
1st: the open or inner stage

Question 20

What was the tiring house?

Answer 20

The backstage area for costume changes, makeup, etc

Question 21

When was the globe built that still stands today?

Answer 21

1997

Question 22

Who made the first theater and when?

Answer 22

James Burbage, one of Lord Chamberlan’s Men, made The Theatre in 1576

Question 23

5 Conventions of the theatre

Answer 23

Only male actors
Minimal scenery
Elaborate costumes
No lighting 
The audience, mostly men

Question 24

Usury

Answer 24

Lending money with high interest rates