Casket

A small chest or box. In The Merchant of Venice, the gold, silver and lead caskets test Portia’s suitors’ judgement.

A small chest. Portia’s suitors must choose between gold, silver and lead caskets; the one containing her portrait identifies the successful suitor.

Venice is the setting for trade, debt and the law; Belmont is Portia’s household, where suitors face the casket test and marriages are arranged. These are contrasting worlds, but Belmont is not free from restrictions: Portia must obey her dead father’s instructions about whom she can marry. As the play develops, characters, money, letters and promises move between the two settings.

A small chest or box. In The Merchant of Venice, suitors choose between three caskets to try to win Portia’s hand in marriage.

Connect language to dramatic methods, such as the repeated casket tests, the parallel couples, disguise and dramatic irony.

Either question: explain how a dramatic choice creates meaning. Jessica appearing above Lorenzo, the opening of a casket and the reporting of grief offstage are all useful evidence, not just plot details.

Either question: connect context directly to the marriage being discussed—for example, paternal authority to Portia's casket test—not to unrelated facts about Shakespeare's life.

A small chest or box. In The Merchant of Venice, the choice between gold, silver and lead caskets determines who may marry Portia.

A small chest or box. Portia’s suitors must choose between gold, silver and lead caskets to determine who may marry her.

In Belmont, the wealthy heiress Portia must marry whichever suitor passes her late father’s casket test. Bassanio connects these worlds: he needs money from Venice to pursue marriage in Belmont.

A small chest or box. In The Merchant of Venice, the three caskets test Portia’s suitors; Jessica also carries away a casket containing valuables.

A small chest. In The Merchant of Venice, the gold, silver and lead caskets test the judgement of Portia's suitors.

A small chest or box. Portia's suitors must choose between gold, silver and lead caskets to find her portrait.

In Belmont, Bassanio hopes to marry the wealthy Portia, but must first pass the casket test imposed by her dead father.

A small chest or box. In The Merchant of Venice, Portia’s suitors choose between gold, silver and lead caskets; Jessica also carries away a casket containing valuables.

A short ornamental chest. Portia's suitors must choose between gold, silver and lead caskets to win the right to marry her.

A small chest. In The Merchant of Venice, Portia's suitors must choose between gold, silver and lead caskets to determine who may marry her.

A small chest or box. In The Merchant of Venice, choosing the casket containing Portia’s portrait determines who may marry her.

A small chest or box. Portia’s suitors must choose between gold, silver and lead caskets; the one containing her portrait identifies the successful suitor.

In Belmont, Portia cannot simply choose her husband. Her dead father’s will requires suitors to select one of three caskets, made of gold, silver and lead. Whoever chooses the casket containing her portrait wins her hand.

A small chest or box for valuables. In The Merchant of Venice, the three caskets test Portia’s suitors, while Jessica uses another casket to carry stolen wealth.

Definition

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AQA GCSE English Literature · 8702

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Edexcel GCSE English Literature · 1ET0

OCR GCSE English Literature · J352

Eduqas GCSE English Literature · C720