Which Shakespearean heroine dies by eating fire?

• A. Desdemona
• B. Portia
• C. Ophelia
• D. Juliet

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is recognizing an unusual, dramatic death in a Shakespearean heroine and how that fate reflects her character. In the source this question draws from, the heroine associated with a fiery end—eating fire—is Portia. This choice stands out because the other options die in more familiar ways: Desdemona is murdered, Ophelia drowns, and Juliet dies by suicide with poison. The fiery death for Portia fits a portrayal where she embodies wit, resolve, and a fierce commitment to justice, making a burning demise a fitting, memorable end in that interpretation. Keep in mind that this specific death detail isn’t present in most standard texts, but the idea hinges on Portia being the one linked to a fiery fate in this context.