Study Questions &
Essay Topics
Study Questions
1. Discuss Shylock’s
dramatic function in The Merchant of Venice. What do critics mean
when they suggest that Shylock is “too large” for the play? Does
he fulfill or exceed his role?
2. In the end,
how comic is The Merchant of Venice? Does the final act succeed
in restoring comedy to the play?
3. Discuss the
relationship between Jessica and Shylock. Are we meant to sympathize
with the moneylender’s daughter? Does Shakespeare seem ambivalent
in his portrayal of Jessica?
Suggested Essay Topics
1. Discuss the relationship between
Antonio and Bassanio. What does their friendship reveal about their
characters?
2. Examine Shylock’s rhetoric.
Pay special attention to the quality of his language—his use of
metaphor and repetition, for instance. How do his speeches reflect
his character as a whole?
3. Compare and contrast Venice
and Belmont. What is the significance of these distinct settings
in the play?
4. Analyze the way that time
passes in The Merchant of Venice, paying special
attention to conflicts between time in Venice and Belmont. Are there
any inconsistencies, and if so, how does the play handle them?
5. To what extent is Shylock
defined by his Jewishness? To what extent is he defined by his profession?
6. Discuss Portia’s character.
How does she compare to the men around her? Is Bassanio a worthy
husband for her?
7. Discuss how the trial scene
reveals a conflict between justice and mercy. Is the conflict resolved?
If so, how?
