By what traits do you distinguish Salanio, Salarino, and Salerio, or do you think that they lack individuality? Do Gratiano and Lorenzo have distinctive traits?
What evidence have we that Jessica was an attractive girl? What were her surroundings, her companions, her employments, so far as we can judge? What effect would such conditions naturally have upon a girl?
Compare Shylock with Isaac of York; Jessica with Rebecca.
How was Antonio regarded by Bassanio and his friends? by Shylock? by the Duke? What traits of character does he show in what he says and does?
What anxiety have we reason to believe Antonio had for Bassanio? What hints do we get of Bassanio's previous actions and employments? What idea do we get of Bassanio's ideals from his words and acts? What impression of his character do we get from the devotion of Portia and Antonio to him?
What successive impressions do we get of Portia from what Bassanio says of her in I, 1? from her conversation with Nerissa in I, 2? from her manner and language toward the unsuccessful suitors? from her bearing toward Bassanio? from her planning to relieve Antonio and the successful carrying out of her plans? and lastly from her part in the ring episode?
Form.—What is the meter of the play? Name several variations from the normal line, in number of syllables, position of the accented syllables, and in the position of the pauses.
Find several passages that are worth memorizing because of their thought (for example, III, 2, 73-107), others like V, 1, 54-65, because of poetic fancy.
Distinguish between tragedy and comedy and tell how this play should be classified. How is this play like Shakespeare's latest plays, the Romances? (See Merchant of Venice, p. 14.)
The Life and Character of the Author.—What few facts about Shakespeare's life have been established beyond doubt? What others have we good reason to infer?