Setting.—When and where are the events supposed to have taken place?
What, in the dress of the people and the customs of the time, shows that Shakespeare had England in mind?
How long a time is probably covered from the beginning to the end of the play? Where do the scenes follow one another without loss of time and where do they not?
Plot.—What are the two main stories in this play? What three minor stories are also part of the play?
How has Shakespeare made it seem probable that Antonio would ask a loan of an enemy like Shylock? that so strange a bond should be offered? that a sensible man like Antonio should sign it? that all his ships should be wrecked within three months? that the court should really consider taking the life of a noble citizen on such a pretext? and that a quibble like the failure to mention a drop of blood should be admitted?
Are there other improbabilities in the plot? If so, how has Shakespeare treated them? Is there any hint in the first act that the bond will be forfeited? Give the suggestions that prepare us for Antonio's plight in Act III. (I, 3, 47-48, 155-160; II, 8, 25-32, etc.)
Was it reasoning from the inscriptions, or was it simply chance, or was it the characters of the suitors, that led them to choose as they did? Discuss the questions.
Draw five parallel columns and place at the head the names of the five stories and episodes that are woven together in this play. Take each scene in turn and write under its proper head the main idea to show the progress of each story and its interrelation with the others.
| The Bond Story Antonio, Bassanio, Shylock | The Casket Story Portia, Bassanio | The Launcelot-Gobbo Episode Launcelot, Shylock, Jessica | The Lorenzo-Jessica Story Lorenzo, Shylock, Jessica | The Rings Episode Portia, Nerissa, Bassanio, Gratiano | ||
| Act I, | sc. 1 | Bassanio tells Antonio of his love for Portia | ||||
| sc. 2 | Conditions under which Portia may wed are related | |||||
| sc. 3 | To help Bassanio, Antonio binds himself to Shylock | |||||
| Act II, | sc. 1 | Morocco chooses and fails | ||||
| sc. 2 | Launcelot leaves Shylock for Bassanio | |||||
| sc. 3 | Jessica shows her intention to marry Lorenzo |