e 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 | | _The | _The | _The
| Bond | _The | Launcelot- | Lorenzo- | Rings
| Story_ | Casket | Gobbo | Jessica | Episode_
| Antonio, | Story_ | Episode_ | Story_ | Portia,
| Bassanio, | Portia, | Launcelot, | Lorenzo, | Nerissa,
| Shylock | Bassanio | Shylock, | Shylock, | Bassanio,
| | | Jessica | Jessica | Gratiano
---------------+-----------+-----------+------------+----------+-----------
Act I, sc. 1 |Bassanio | | | |
|tells | | | |
|Antonio of | | | |
|his love | | | |
|for Portia | | | |
| | | | |
sc. 2 | |Conditions | | |
| |under | | |
| |which | | |
| |Portia may | | |
| |wed are