Think you’ve got your head wrapped around The Merchant of Venice? Put your knowledge to
the test. Good luck — the Stickman is counting on you!
Q. Why does Shylock hate Antonio?
Because Antonio stole away his daughter
Because Antonio is an anti-Semite
Because Antonio egged his house (no, he didn’t actually see him do it, but he just knows it was him)
Because Antonio lost him a lot of money
Q. Where does Bassanio get the money to pay off Antonio’s debt?
He gets it from Portia
He steals it
He finds a sack stuffed with bills. Don’t call it a plot device, just call it good fortune.
He wins it gambling
Q. Why does no one recognize Portia at Antonio’s trial?
She is hiding
She has put on a ton of weight, her wrinkles are getting out of control, and she’s dealing with a severe case of adult acne
She is disguised as a man
No one there knows what she looks like
Q. What does Portia accuse Shylock of doing?
Falsifying charges
Laundering money
Having an incredibly offensive hairdo
Conspiring to kill a Venetian
Kidnapping her
Q. What does Antonio promise as a guarantee that Bassanio will be faithful to Portia?
A pound of his flesh
His soul
A ring
His lucky elephant’s foot