ock? What kind of father? What good traits
had he?

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?

Give a brief account of the theater as Shakespeare knew it.

Into what four periods may we divide Shakespeare's work? (See Dowden's
_A Primer of Shakespeare_, or Stopford Brooke's _Primer of English
Literature_.)

Under which period does _The Merchant of Venice_ fall?

OUTLINE FOR THE STUDY OF AS YOU LIKE IT

I. Preparation

_As You Like It_ differs greatly from _The Merchant of Venice_ and
_Macbeth_ in its appeal to the mind. To the lover of literature it is
one of the most delight