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The Merchant of Venice - Setting
What is the significance of the Rialto?

The Merchant of Venice - Setting

This Literature quiz is called 'The Merchant of Venice - Setting' and it has been written by teachers to help you if you are studying the subject at senior high school. Playing educational quizzes is one of the most efficienct ways to learn if you are in the 11th or 12th grade - aged 16 to 18.

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This senior high school English Literature quiz takes a look at setting in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. The setting of any fictional work includes its location and the time in which its events take place. In addition to the events explicitly depicted by a play, there will be events occurring in the background to which characters might allude.

1.
When is the play set?
During the Roman Empire
During the 13th century
During the time the play was written
In an imagined future
The play is set in Renaissance Venice, the time of its setting is contemporary with Shakespeare's own
2.
What is the role of the sea in the play?
The sea brings both fortune and misfortune to the inhabitants of the city
The sea represents the love between Bassanio and Portia
The tides of the sea represent the rapid spread of news through the city
The sea is only relevant as the setting for the destruction of Antonio's ships
The sea is where Antonio and his merchant friends have made their fortunes, but it is also responsible for the devastating loss of his ships
3.
Venice is a masculine environment of trade and law. How is Portia enabled to take part in this world?
Through disguise
Through persuasion
Through her great wealth
Through her beauty
The only way in which Portia can take part in this world is through disguising herself as a man. A learned doctor (in this case, an expert in law) of the time could only be a man. This means that in the original performances of the play, when women could not be actors, a boy actor would play Portia disguising himself as a man!
4.
What characterizes Venice's relationship with the rest of the world?
Violence and coercion
Reluctant and suspicious diplomacy
Widespread trade with the far-flung corners of the world
Venice cuts itself off from the rest of the world
Venice relied entirely on trade and capitalized on its easy access to the Mediterranean to engage in trade with countries across the known world, becoming an important center for trade between East and West
5.
As Shylock leaves his house, he instructs his daughter to lock up his house, saying, "Do as I bid you. Shut doors after you. / Fast bind, fast find —". What impression does this give of his house?
The rhyme of "bind" and "find" emphasizes the coziness and safety of the home
The binding of the house represents Shylock's wish to bind Antonio
The house is depicted as a place of wealth and generosity
The house resembles a casket of treasure
Jessica breaks Shylock's trust not only by abandoning their home, but also by leaving with jewels and gold. She thieves treacherously, in his eyes, from the inside, when he has entrusted her with the keys and safekeeping of the home
6.
What is the significance of the Rialto?
This is where justice is dealt
This is where news is exchanged
This is where marriages are agreed
None of the above
Shylock asks at two points in the play for the news from the Rialto, which is a bridge in Venice. This is also the site where Antonio shows great disrespect to Shylock by spitting on him in public
7.
Belmont is associated with which of the following?
Caskets of ducats and jewels
Sorrow
Darkness
Music
Music plays while Bassanio makes his decision and is playing once again in Act Five, when the characters return to Belmont. Belmont is a place of solace, grandeur and pleasure
8.
How might the Venice of the play be best described?
Wealthy, dominated by commerce, ruled by law
Wealthy, dominated by renegade traders, lawless
Poor, dominated by trade, suspicious of law
Poor, dominated by agriculture, law-abiding
The plot of The Merchant of Venice revolves around trade, money and exchange. These activities, which bring great wealth to the city, depend on strict adherence to the law
9.
How does Jessica describe her home?
As grand
As dark
As hell
As quiet
Jessica's unhappiness is apparent in her desperation to leave home, to keep her plans secret from her father and especially in her description of home as a "hell". Shylock describes his home as "sober" in contrast to the foolishness of revelers in the streets
10.
The Merchant of Venice is set in the city of Venice and in which of the following?
Belmont
The Rialto
Florence
London
Belmont is Portia's home
Author:  Sheri Smith

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