Questions from Shakespeare MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Questions from Shakespeare - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is 'merciful'

Key Points

• The given lines are said by Portia to Shylock.
• Why, this bond is forfeit;
  And lawfully by this the Jew may claim
  A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
  Nearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful:
  Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.
• Let's see the meanings of the given words-
  • Merciful- Showing or giving mercy
  • Cruel- able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
  • Evil- Morally bad or wrong
  • Chicken-hearted- easily frightened; cowardly.

Hence, the correct answer is Option 1.

The correct answer is 'Bassanio'

Key Points

• The given lines are said by 'Bassanio'.
• The Merchant of Venice Act IV (Court Scene)
  • In a court in Venice, the Duke expresses his regret that Antonio is ‘come to answer’ such an ‘inhumane wretch’ but Antonio says he understands that ‘no lawful means’ will help him escape. Bassanio offers to pay Shylock double the amount he lent to Antonio but Shylock refuses and claims that he just wants justice.
  • The Duke announces that he has sent for ‘Bellario, a learned doctor, to judge the case. Nerissa, disguised as male lawyer’s clerk, arrives and gives a letter to the Duke. The letter says that Bellario is too sick to come, but that he is sending a ‘young doctor of Rome’ called Balthasar to oversee the trial. Portia then arrives, disguised as Balthasar. She delivers a speech on how mercy cannot be forced before stating that ‘there is no power in Venice’ which will be able to override Shylock’s bond and Shylock is delighted. However, Portia then draws attention to the fact that there is no mention of blood in the bond and that if Shylock causes Antonio to lose even ‘one drop of Christian blood’ then his ‘lands and goods’ will be confiscated by the state of Venice. Shylock realises that it will be impossible to take the flesh without blood and offers to ‘let the Christian go’ if he receives money instead. Portia refuses this deal and declares that Shylock can have his bond or nothing else.
  • Shylock realizes that he has been defeated and wishes to leave, but Portia won't let him go. She announces that ‘in the laws of Venice’ if any alien? is proved to have tried to kill one of its citizens then their goods will be seized and one half will be given to the victim and the other half will go to ‘the privy coffer of the state’. Moreover, the Duke will decide if the offender lives or dies. The Duke of Venice declares that he will let Shylock live but that half of his wealth must be given to Antonio and the other half will go to the state. Antonio says if Shylock converts to Christianity and leaves his wealth to Jessica and Lorenzo when he dies, then he can keep his half. Shylock agrees and departs.
  • The Duke asks ‘Balthasar’ to join him for dinner, but Portia refuses. The Duke tells Antonio that he must reward ‘Balthasar’, but Portia refuses all money, asking for Bassanio's ring as a reward instead. Bassanio does not recognize Portia and refuses to hand it over telling ‘Balthasar’ that it was a gift that he vowed never to ‘sell, nor give, nor lose’. Antonio then persuades Bassanio to give ‘Balthasar’ the ring.
• The meaning of the given lines in the question is given in the last lines hence, from this we can say that the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information

• The exact lines-
  • PORTIA
    • I see, sir, you are liberal in offers
      You taught me first to beg, and now methinks
      You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd.
  • BASSANIO
    • ​Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife;
      And when she put it on, she made me vow
      That I should neither sell nor give nor lose it.

The correct answer is 'The Merchant of Venice'.

Key Points

• The line "It blesseth him that gives and him that takes" occurs in the play "The Merchant of Venice".
• Let's look at some lines of the play:
  • "The quality of mercy is not strained.
    It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
    Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
    It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
    'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes..."
• "The quality of mercy" is a speech given by Portia in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (Act 4, Scene 1).
• In the speech, Portia, disguised as a lawyer, begs Shylock to show mercy to Antonio.
• The speech extols the power of mercy, "an attribute to God Himself."
• Therefore, as per the points mentioned above, we find that the correct answer is Option 4.
  ​

Correct Answer: The Merchant of Venice.

The correct answer is 'Brutus'.

Key Points

• The Merchant of Venice is a 16th-century play written by William Shakespeare in which a merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. It is believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599.
• Antonio, an antisemitic merchant, takes a loan from the Jew Shylock to help his friend court, Portia. Antonio can't repay the loan, and without mercy, Shylock demands a pound of his flesh. The heiress Portia, now the wife of Antonio's friend, dresses like a lawyer and saves Antonio. 
• The character 'Brutus' was not part of 'The Merchant of Venice'.
• Therefore, as per the points mentioned above, we find that the correct answer is Option 4.
  ​

Correct Answer: Brutus.

The correct answer is 'play of Comedy written by Shakespeare'

Key Points

• Twelfth Night, or What You Will is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. 
• The play centers on the twins' Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck.

Hence, the correct answer is Option 1.

The correct answer is 'The Merchant of Venice'.

Key Points

• The line "It blesseth him that gives and him that takes" occurs in the play "The Merchant of Venice".
• Let's look at some lines of the play:
  • "The quality of mercy is not strained.
    It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
    Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
    It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
    'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes..."
• "The quality of mercy" is a speech given by Portia in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (Act 4, Scene 1).
• In the speech, Portia, disguised as a lawyer, begs Shylock to show mercy to Antonio.
• The speech extols the power of mercy, "an attribute to God Himself."
• Therefore, as per the points mentioned above, we find that the correct answer is Option 4.
  ​

Correct Answer: The Merchant of Venice.

The correct answer is 'Brutus'.

Key Points

• The Merchant of Venice is a 16th-century play written by William Shakespeare in which a merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. It is believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599.
• Antonio, an antisemitic merchant, takes a loan from the Jew Shylock to help his friend court, Portia. Antonio can't repay the loan, and without mercy, Shylock demands a pound of his flesh. The heiress Portia, now the wife of Antonio's friend, dresses like a lawyer and saves Antonio. 
• The character 'Brutus' was not part of 'The Merchant of Venice'.
• Therefore, as per the points mentioned above, we find that the correct answer is Option 4.
  ​

Correct Answer: Brutus.

The correct answer is 'Antonio'

Key Points

• The lines are taken from the William Shakespeare's drama 'The Merchant of Venice'.
• According to given lines, Antonio was asking for the judgement from the court.
• The lines were like this-
  • Most heartily I do beseech the court
    To give the judgment.

So the correct answer is 'Antonio' i.e. Option 1.

The correct answer is 'Portia'

Key Points

• The lines are taken from William Shakespeare's drama 'The Merchant of Venice'.
• The given lines are said by the Portia in Court Scene.
• The lines were like this-
  • The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
    It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
    Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
    It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
    'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
    The throned monarch better than his crown;

So the correct answer is Option 1.

The correct answer is 'Bassanio'

Key Points

• The given lines are said by 'Bassanio'.
• The Merchant of Venice Act IV (Court Scene)
  • In a court in Venice, the Duke expresses his regret that Antonio is ‘come to answer’ such an ‘inhumane wretch’ but Antonio says he understands that ‘no lawful means’ will help him escape. Bassanio offers to pay Shylock double the amount he lent to Antonio but Shylock refuses and claims that he just wants justice.
  • The Duke announces that he has sent for ‘Bellario, a learned doctor, to judge the case. Nerissa, disguised as male lawyer’s clerk, arrives and gives a letter to the Duke. The letter says that Bellario is too sick to come, but that he is sending a ‘young doctor of Rome’ called Balthasar to oversee the trial. Portia then arrives, disguised as Balthasar. She delivers a speech on how mercy cannot be forced before stating that ‘there is no power in Venice’ which will be able to override Shylock’s bond and Shylock is delighted. However, Portia then draws attention to the fact that there is no mention of blood in the bond and that if Shylock causes Antonio to lose even ‘one drop of Christian blood’ then his ‘lands and goods’ will be confiscated by the state of Venice. Shylock realises that it will be impossible to take the flesh without blood and offers to ‘let the Christian go’ if he receives money instead. Portia refuses this deal and declares that Shylock can have his bond or nothing else.
  • Shylock realizes that he has been defeated and wishes to leave, but Portia won't let him go. She announces that ‘in the laws of Venice’ if any alien? is proved to have tried to kill one of its citizens then their goods will be seized and one half will be given to the victim and the other half will go to ‘the privy coffer of the state’. Moreover, the Duke will decide if the offender lives or dies. The Duke of Venice declares that he will let Shylock live but that half of his wealth must be given to Antonio and the other half will go to the state. Antonio says if Shylock converts to Christianity and leaves his wealth to Jessica and Lorenzo when he dies, then he can keep his half. Shylock agrees and departs.
  • The Duke asks ‘Balthasar’ to join him for dinner, but Portia refuses. The Duke tells Antonio that he must reward ‘Balthasar’, but Portia refuses all money, asking for Bassanio's ring as a reward instead. Bassanio does not recognize Portia and refuses to hand it over telling ‘Balthasar’ that it was a gift that he vowed never to ‘sell, nor give, nor lose’. Antonio then persuades Bassanio to give ‘Balthasar’ the ring.
• The meaning of the given lines in the question is given in the last lines hence, from this we can say that the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information

• The exact lines-
  • PORTIA
    • I see, sir, you are liberal in offers
      You taught me first to beg, and now methinks
      You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd.
  • BASSANIO
    • ​Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife;
      And when she put it on, she made me vow
      That I should neither sell nor give nor lose it.

The correct answer is option 2) i.e. 'Julius Caesar’ and ‘Antony and Cleopatra’.

Key Points 

• William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. 
• His early plays were mainly comedies and histories and these works remain regarded as some of the best work produced in these genres.
• His well-known historical plays are Julius Caesar, King John and Antony and Cleopatra.
• Hence, option 2 is the correct answer.

Hint 

• The Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing are Shakespearean comedies.
• Othello and Macbeth are Shakespearean tragedies.
• Hamlet and King Lear Shakespearean tragedies.

Additional Information 

• He was born and brought up in Stratford-upon-Avon.
• There is no authentic documentation of his early life.
• He married Anne Hathaway in 1582 and moved to London in 1586 to become an actor, poet, dramatist and theatre manager. 
• He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon".
• He wrote about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and two long narrative poems.
• He then wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, considered some of the finest works in the English language.
• In his last phase, he wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances like Romeo and Juliet.
• The dominant theme in A Midsummer Night's Dream is love, a subject to which Shakespeare returns constantly in his comedies.
• Shakespeare explores how people tend to fall in love with those who appear beautiful to them.

The correct answer is option 2) i.e. "1586".

Key Points 

• William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. 
• He was born and brought up in Stratford-upon-Avon.
• There is no authentic documentation of his early life.
• He married Anne Hathaway in 1582 and moved to London in 1586 to become an actor, poet, dramatist and theatre manager. 
• Hence, option 2 is the correct answer.

Additional Information 

• He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon".
• He wrote about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and two long narrative poems.
• His early plays were mainly comedies and histories and these works remain regarded as some of the best work produced in these genres.
• His well-known comedies are A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing.
• He then wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, considered some of the finest works in the English language.
• In his last phase, he wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances like Romeo and Juliet.

The correct answer is option 2) i.e. "1564".

Key Points 

• William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. 
• He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, where he was baptised on 26 April 1564.
• His date of birth is unknown, but is traditionally observed on 23 April, 1564.
• Hence, option 2 is the correct answer.

Additional Information 

• He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon".
• He wrote about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and two long narrative poems.
• His early plays were mainly comedies and histories and these works remain regarded as some of the best work produced in these genres.
• He then wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, considered some of the finest works in the English language.
• In his last phase, he wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances like Romeo and Juliet.

The correct answer is 'merciful'

Key Points

• The given lines are said by Portia to Shylock.
• Why, this bond is forfeit;
  And lawfully by this the Jew may claim
  A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
  Nearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful:
  Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.
• Let's see the meanings of the given words-
  • Merciful- Showing or giving mercy
  • Cruel- able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
  • Evil- Morally bad or wrong
  • Chicken-hearted- easily frightened; cowardly.

Hence, the correct answer is Option 1.

The correct answer is 'The Merchant of Venice'.

Key Points

• The line "It blesseth him that gives and him that takes" occurs in the play "The Merchant of Venice".
• Let's look at some lines of the play:
  • "The quality of mercy is not strained.
    It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
    Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
    It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
    'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes..."
• "The quality of mercy" is a speech given by Portia in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (Act 4, Scene 1).
• In the speech, Portia, disguised as a lawyer, begs Shylock to show mercy to Antonio.
• The speech extols the power of mercy, "an attribute to God Himself."
• Therefore, as per the points mentioned above, we find that the correct answer is Option 4.
  ​

Correct Answer: The Merchant of Venice.