MERCHANT OF VENICE ACT 3 SCENE 1

                                                               ACT III Scene 1     

                                           CONTEXT QUESTIONS 

1. (i) To honour Arragon as a prince, trumpets were sounded as he entered the room and Portia addressed him as 'noble prince'.

 (ii) Arragon is bound by ,the oath to observe three conditions. First, he must never reveal to any other person which of the caskets he has selected. Second, if he does not win Portia, he should not woo any other lady. Third, if he chooses wrongly he must depart at once without further words. He explicitly kept the last condition at the end of the scene.

 (iii) It is not wise to arrange marriages through a lottery system where chance plays a significant role. Portia initially feels that her fate is sealed by the lottery of caskets designed by her father. However, later she accepts her father's will and asserts that she will abide by it and would remain a virgin like Diana if no suitor wins her in marriage. Nerissa justifies the lottery of caskets saying that her father was a virtuous man, who must have had her well-being at heart. So, according to her father's will she will be chosen by someone who will truly love her.

 (iv) Prince Arragon is too proud and self-opinionated. While making his selection, he calls the common people as 'fool multitude' and again as 'barbarous multitudes'. He says that he will not act according to what common men choose and put himself on the level of the ignorant and the foolish. Secondly, Arragon thinks himself to be most deserving because of his inherited nobility.

 2. (i) The inscription on the gold casket says 'who chooses me shall gain what many men desire'. The speaker chooses the silver casket.

(ii) Arragon says that the words 'many men' probably refer to the foolish majority, who are so slow-witted and who have so little wisdom that they judge only by appearances and outward glitter. Their untaught eyes never see the inner meaning of things, but is content to remain on the outside like the swallow.

 (iii) Arragon compares the multitude to the martlet. The martlet, instead of seeking a sheltered place for its nest, constructs it in the most

(vi) After the extract, Salarino compares the character of. Jessica ait Shylock. He says that Jessica. is a complete contrast to Shylock as black is to white or as ordinary red wine is to expensive white Rhenish wine. 

3. (i) A 'bankrupt' means a person who has not enough money to pay off his just debts. 'Prodigal' means a spendthrift who spends money recklessly. The man has gone bankrupt because his ship has been wrecked in the English Channel with its rich cargo. He is a spendthrift who has mismanaged his affairs and has gone bankrupt. That is why he is called a prodigal by Shylock.

 (ii) The Venetian Stock Exchange where the merchants used to met to transact business deals, was known as the Rialto. The man used to go to Rialto smiling and so self-satisfied because he was sure of his financial position as he owned a number of ships carrying merchandise to the four corners of the world. Shylock says these words to compare Antonio's financial position in the past with his present bankrupt condition.

 (iii) The man referred to in the extract used to insult Shylock. He used to disgrace him, laugh at his losses, mock at his gains, despise his race and interfere in his business deals simply because he was a Jew.

 (iv) The bankrupt caused loss to Shylock in Venice by lending money without interest and thus, affecting Shylock's business of lending money at exhorbitant rate of interest.

 (v) The bankrupt is likely to go into a loss as his ship has been wrecked with its rich cargo. Besides, he is to pay three thousand ducats he had borrowed from Shylock for Bassanio. Such a loss will favour Shylock to pursue his plan of revenge. 

4. (i) The thief referred to in the extract is Shylock's daughter, Jessica. The thief had stolen his money, gold and gems, including a diamond costing two thousand ducats. After the theft, Shylock has to spend money to locate Jessica. So he has suffered loss upon loss due to the theft.

 (ii) Tubal is another Jew, a friend of Shylock. He went to Genoa to search for Jessica, who has eloped with Lorenzo.

 (iii) Tubal brought the news that he went to the places in Genoa where he heard some news about Jessica but could not find her.

 (iv) One of Antonio's large ships has been wrecked on the way back from Tripolis. This was the ill-luck that befell Antonio. Shylock was happy over the news as his chances of taking revenge on Antonio became brighter.

 (v) Shylock uses the expression satisfaction and revenge in the context of his efforts to retrieve his lost money and eloped daughter. His daughter, Jessica had stolen money, precious stones, and many other jewels. His efforts to locate her and retrieve them have not succeeded. So, he has neither the satisfaction of getting back his lost daughter and money nor taking revenge on the Christians, who caused her elopement. 

(vi) In the context of the theft, Shylock makes a reference to his bachelor days. His wife Leah gave a turquoise ring to him before their marriage. His daughter Jessica stole that ring before eloping and exchanged it for a monkey.

 5. (i) Tubal says that Antonio is undone because he has heard from some of the sailors he met in Genoa that one of Antonio's large ships has been wrecked on the way back ,from Tripolis.

 (ii) In this scene, Shylock is in a mood of grief. He feels as if h. e is the only one in the world suffering from ill luck. Tubal is said to be torturing Shylock by giving alternate accounts of Antonio's s losses and Jessica's extravagances. He alternately makes Shlock elated and depressed for apparently no reason. He elates him by the news of wreckage of Antonio's ship on its way back from Tripolis, while he depresses him by saying that he could not find Jessica and that she had spent eighty ducats on one evening and exchanged a ring with a merchant for a monkey. 

(iii) Antonio's misfortune makes Shylock elated because he will be able to take his revenge on Antonio. He will punish Antonio by exacting a pound of flesh from any part of his body. By his revengeful action, he would avenge his hatred for Antonio and the Christians. Further, if Antonio is removed from Venice he can make profits as he likes.

 (iv) (a) A horde of monkeys. It means that Shylock would not have exchanged his turquoise ring even for a horde of monkeys.

(b) I can make as much profit as I like. It means that once Antonio is out of Venice, Shylock can make as much profit as he wants.

 (v) A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. Shylock's journey to the synagogue gives us the clue that he will take revenge on Antonio. Shylock believes in the old Mosaic law, which prescribed an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. So, Shylock feels he is justified in taking revenge against an enemy of his religion and race. 

(vi) Shylock's passion for revenge and his complete justification of it is given in this scene. He explains the insults he has suffered unjustly and his right to take revenge. He believes that he is doing as his enemies would do. The fierceness of his thirst for revenge is expressed in his final threat 'I will have the heart of him'. Shylock states that Jews are no different from Christians and they will follow their example in the matter of revenge too. 

MERCHANT OF VENICE ACT 2 SCENE 9

                                  ACT II Scene 9

                                  CONTEXT QUESTIONS 

1. (i) To honour Arragon as a prince, trumpets were sounded as he entered the room and Portia addressed him as 'noble prince'.

 (ii) Arragon is bound by ,the oath to observe three conditions. First, he must never reveal to any other person which of the caskets he has selected. Second, if he does not win Portia, he should not woo any other lady. Third, if he chooses wrongly he must depart at once without further words. He explicitly kept the last condition at the end of the scene.

 (iii) It is not wise to arrange marriages through a lottery system where chance plays a significant role. Portia initially feels that her fate is sealed by the lottery of caskets designed by her father. However, later she accepts her father's will and asserts that she will abide by it and would remain a virgin like Diana if no suitor wins her in marriage. Nerissa justifies the lottery of caskets saying that her father was a virtuous man, who must have had her well-being at heart. So, according to her father's will she will be chosen by someone who will truly love her.

 (iv) Prince Arragon is too proud and self-opinionated. While making his selection, he calls the common people as 'fool multitude' and again as 'barbarous multitudes'. He says that he will not act according to what common men choose and put himself on the level of the ignorant and the foolish. Secondly, Arragon thinks himself to be most deserving because of his inherited nobility.

 2. (i) The inscription on the gold casket says 'who chooses me shall gain what many men desire'. The speaker chooses the silver casket.

 (ii) Arragon says that the words 'many men' probably refer to the foolish majority, who are so slow-witted and who have so little wisdom that they judge only by appearances and outward glitter. Their untaught eyes never see the inner meaning of things, but is content to remain on the outside like the swallow.

 (iii) Arragon compares the multitude to the martlet. The martlet, instead of seeking a sheltered place for its nest, constructs is most exposed places like the outer wall, unprotected from, any stormy weather or any accident which may occur. Similarly, the foolish common people who judge by the outside of things, fall into errors and calamities.

 (iv) (a) open to disaster and in the very path of danger. 

(b) I don't put myself at the level of the ignorant and foolish common people.

 (v) The theme of appearance and reality is brought out in the choice of caskets. Arragon rejects the lead casket calling it base lead because of its dull and plain appearance. He says lead must present a more attractive appearance than it does before he gives or risks anything for it. He rejects the gold casket saying he will not choose what many people desire. He will not put himself at the level of ignorant common people. The word 'deserves' meaning 'merit' on the silver cakset attracts Arragon and he selects it.

. 3. (i) The inscription on the silver casket says, 'who chooses me shall get as much as he deserves'. (ii) Words on the inscription on the silver casket appeal to Arragon because the word 'deserves' meaning 'merit' in the inscription appeals to him.He thinks himself to be the most deserving. He feels that there are many who succeed without having any inner merit. But he 'deserves' because of his inherited nobility.

 (iii) To try to cheat fortune and win something without merit. It means no one ought to be allowed to deceive and trick fortune by asking her for what he does not deserve. 

(iv) Arragon further tells that no man should aspire to be honoured unless he deserves it. Arragon wishes that all the positions of rank, dignity and Offices were bestowed on the deserving, instead of being obtained dishonestly. If this happens, many low ranking people would be separated out from the ranks of the truly honourable. 

(v) Arragon finally chooses the silver casket. After making the choice, Arragon is dumb-founded and very disappointed with what he finds in the casket. He pauses silently for a long 'time before speaking. He says that there is such a difference between that creature and the picture he hoped to see. He asks Portia whether he deserves no more than the head of a fool. He wants to know whether that is his prize and whether he deserves nothing more than that.

 4. (i) Arragon speaks these words after opening the silver casket. He is in a mood of disappointment. He came to woo Portia with one foolish head of his own. 

(ii) The second head he got was from the silver casket. The scroll attached to the second head says that silver metal of the casket was tested seven times by fire. A mind which never makes an error of judgment must be similarly tested seven times. Some people find the happiness In shadows and unreality. Their happiness is therefore only rthddowy and unreal. There are many living fools whose foolishness Itt hidden by their silvery-hair because they have the appearance of being venerable and wise. One of these is the fool's head concealed in the silver casket. Arrogon will always have a foolish head. He !diould now have as his chance is over.

 (III) 'Flu' t yeaker chooses the silver casket. The motto of the silver casket appeals to the speaker. It says 'who chooses me shall get as much as he deserves'. Ile feels that he deserves Portia because of his Inherited nobility.

 (Iv) After the departure of the prince, Portia says that there is another moth which has burnt itself in the flame of the candle. These people, when they choose, the wisdom of their superficial knowledge makes them look utterly foolish and lead them to make the wrong choice.

 (v) After the Prince's departure, Nerissa utters an old saying "Hanging and winning goes by destiny'. It means that it is fate that decides what happens to one, whether one is to be hanged or to be wedded. It implies that it is destiny that has saved Portia from two unsuitable suitors and it is destiny that may give her a worthy suitor.

 5. (i) This scene takes place in a room in Portia's house at Belmont. Grationo has alighted at the gate.

 (ii) Gifts of rich value indicate the great regard and love Bassanio has for Portia.

 (iii) In the last three lines of the extract, the servant says that he has not seen so generous an ambassador of love. Even a day in April, the sweetest spring day, coming to give people a foretaste of bright and bountiful summer, is not comparable to this gorgeous messenger, who rides in advance of his master.

 (iv) Portia asks the servant to stop speaking because he is so generous in his praise that she is dreading to hear him say that he is some relative of his. Then Portia tells Nerissa to come quickly along with her to meet this messenger of Cupid, who has arrived in such a courteous manner. Nerissa prays to Cupid, the god of love, that the lord announced be Bassanio if such is his will.

 (v) Portia tells the servant to be silent because he is too extravagant in his praises that she is dreading to hear him say that he is some relative of his.

 (vi) The plot of the play makes further progress in this scene. This scene, the second of the casket scenes, is important because it fills up the interval of the three months between the signing up of the bond and the forfeiture. It also seems to reveal the wisdom of the device of caskets because it shows that the results are not a mere lottery. It proves that only the person, who rightly loves, will choose rightly. This scene also, reveals to the audience which is the right casket. 

It will heighten the suspense during Bassanio's selection later. This scene also keeps up the theme of appearance and reality. 

MERCHANT OF VENICE ACT 2 SCENE 8

                                        ACT II Scene 8 

                                               CONTEXT QUESTIONS

 1. (i) In the given lines, Salanio says that he has not seen such an outburst of anger, so confused, so strange, excessive and frequently changing as is displayed by the Jew. Shylock discovers that his daughter has eloped after robbing him of his money and jewellery. This makes him excited and furious with grief and despair. He gives vent to it by an exhibition of passionate excitement and anger which is strange, excessive and frequently changing.

 (ii) Earlier, Shylock roused the Duke with his complaints against Lorenzo and Jessica for robbing him and eloping. He made such a disturbance that the Duke was obliged to attend to his demands. He even accompanied the Duke to search for Lorenzo and Jessica on board Bassanio's ship. By the time they reached the place, the ship had already set sail. The Duke was told by someone that Lorenzo and Jessica had been seen sitting together in a gondola

. (iii) In his excitement, Shylock utters confused cries for his daughter, who had eloped with a Christian, taking with her, his ducats and jewellery. He wants justice from the law. Besides money, Jessica has taken away from Shylock some jewels, precious stones and diamonds.

(iv) (a) double ducats: coins of double ducats.

(b) a sealed bag: a bag that is securely sealed to ensure the security of its contents.

 (v) Shylocks' lamentations add to the humour in the play. He is depicted as a comic character in the scene. The manner in which he laments the loss of his daughter and his ducats amuses the audience; Shylock's repetition of '0 my daughter! 0 my Christian ducats!' indicate his greedy nature and shows that Jessica is another possession for him like the ducats. The manner in which all the boys of Venice follow him and repeat his words of lamentation in a tone of mockery and jeer at him further add to the humour in the scene.

 2. (i) 'Let good Antonio keep his day' means let worthy Antonio make • sure that he has the money to pay Shylock on the appointed day. If he fails to keep his day, Shylock would take his revenge on Antonio. 

(ii) In his conversation with a Frenchman, Salarino heard that a richly laden ship from Italy had been wrecked in the narrow channel which divides England and France. The news was startling because Salarino thought of Antonio's ship and wished that it might not be one of his ships.

 (iii) Salarino wished that the wrecked ship might not be one of Antonio's ships. 

(iv) Salanio advises Salarino to tell Antonio what he has heard about a shipwreck. However, he advises him not to tell Antonio about the news immediately for it may make him sad. 

(v) The news given by the Frenchman creates a suspense in the story. The possibility of the wreckage of one of Antonio's ships casts a gloom since it may imply that Antonio would not be able to make payment of the loan on the day the bond is due. After hearing the news, Shylock is happy that he could take his revenge on Antonio. He calls him a bankrupt and insists on the execution of the bond. 

(vi) Salanio and Salarino provide the information about recent events. They report Shylock's fury and parody his behaviour. They are worried about Antonio and go quickly to look for him and cheer him up. They do not take part in the action of the play, but keep the action going when the chief characters are absent. 

3. (i) Antonio has said these words at the time of bidding farewell to Bassanio, when the latter was about to embank on his journey to Belmont. Salarino quotes his words here.

 (ii) (a) Bassanio, do not spoil your plan for my sake.

 (b) But stay as long as it would be necessary to attain your objective.

 (iii) Antonio advises Bassanio to stay at Belmont as long as it would be necessary for winning Portia and tells him not to bother about the bond. He advises Bassanio to be cheerful and devote himself entirely to win his lady-love in a most suitable manner. 

(iv) While parting, Antonio's eyes were filled with tears. He turned his face away and extended his hand behind him. Then, moved by his love, he held the hands of Bassanio and they parted from each other. It shows that there is great love and affection between them. 

(v) At the end of the scene, Salanio and Salarino decided to look for Antonio and raise his low spirits with some amusement. 

MERCHANT OF VENICE ACT 2 SCENE 7

                                       ACT II SCENE 7

                                             CONTEXT QUESTIONS

 1. (1) Portia asks one of her attendants to pull apart the curtains so that the different caskets are made visible. The Prince of Morocco is asked to make the choice
.
 (ii) After reading the inscription on the three caskets, Morocco asks Portia how he will know if he chooses the correct casket. Portia replies that her portrait will be in the right casket. If he selects that one, then she will be his wife.

 (iii) The prince of Morocco finally chooses the golden casket. Morocco argues that base lead cannot contain such a saintly person like Portia. Silver which is ten times inferior to gold also cannot hold Portia as she is such a rich gem. So he concludes that Portia, whom many men desire and is most precious must be contained in the golden casket. Besides, the English have a gold coin with the figure of an angel engraved on it. Portia is an angel and hence her portrait may be in the golden casket.

(iv) The prince rejects the base lead arguing that it cannot contain such a noble person like Portia and silver which is ten times inferior to gold cannot contain Portia as she is such a rich gem.

 (v) When the prince opens the casket he finds a skull and in its eyeless socket a scroll.

 (vi) Morocco bids farewell to Portia with the warm-heartedness of a lover and says he must accept the cold comfort of the rejected. He says that his sorrow is too great for many words. Those who have lost their hearts' desire depart thus sadly. When the prince leaves the place, Portia calls it a good riddance and wishes that every suitor like him should make a similar choice.

 2. (i) The given words appear on the silver casket.

(ii) Morocco initially doubts his worth to deserve the lady because he thinks that though by his own standard, his merits may be very high, yet those merits may not be sufficient enough to deserve Portia, as her reputation is greater than his.

 (iii) Morocco, after having doubts about his worth to win Portia, later on changes his mind. He feels that he deserves Portia because of his royal birth, his wealth, his virtues and his upbringing. Above all, he is worthy of her because of his deep affection for her.

 (iv) (a) And compare your personal worth impartially.

 (b) A sign of weakness which would bring discredit on myself.

(v) Morocco read the inscription on the lead casket which stated that whosoever selects it must be prepared to give all and to risk everything Morocco declares that no one except a fool will be prepared to risk. everything for the sake of dull lead. He argues that lead cannot contain such a noble person like Portia.

 3. (i) The Prince of Morocco speaks these words. He is in a room in Portia's house getting ready to make his choice of caskets. In an earlier scene Morocco said that with his sword he had slain the emperor of Persia' and a Persian Prince, who had defeated Solyman of Turkey thrice. He boasted that he was courageous enough to confront a hungry lion, defy the most valiant warrior on earth and face the wrath of a mother-bear by separating its young ones from her.

 (ii) Shrine is a place where any sacred relic of a holy person or the image of a saint is kept. In this context, the saint is Portia and the shrine is Belmont. The Breathing Saint is a reference to Portia. Morocco says that people came from every part of the globe to worship at the holy place which enshrines this living object of adoration — Portia. 

(iii) Before he makes the choice, the speaker is told by Portia that the correct casket contains her picture and if he chooses it, she will be his wife. 

(iv) The word 'they' refers to the many suitors who come to Belmont from all parts of the globe to woo Portia. While coming they travel through Persian deserts, immense wilderness of Arabia and even cross the oceans. 

(v) (a) Hyrcanian deserts: Hyrcania was a province of the ancient Persian empire. Hyrcanian deserts were deserts lying in the south of Caspian sea.

 (b) The watery kingdom: The oceans and its fierce waves do not stop suitors from abroad. 

(vi) The speaker rejects the lead casket since on it was written that whoever selects it must be prepared to give all and to risk everything. Morocco declares that only a fool will risk everything for the dull lead. He thinks lead too crude a metal even to enclose the winding sheet when she is buried in the grave. He asserts that the lead casket cannot hold Portia's picture and so he rejects it.

 4. (i) The Prince thinks that Portia's picture is not in the silver casket because silver is ten times undervalued as compared to gold and such a rich gem can never be set in anything less than gold.

(ii) 'Sinful thought' is the thought that Portia is contained in the silver casket because silver has only a tenth of the value of gold and a rich gem like Portia can never be set in anything less than gold.

 (iii) The 'coin' referred to in the extract is the gold coin in England on which the figure of Archangel Michael standing and piercing a dragon was engraved on one side. The coin was called an angel 

and its value was about ten shillings. Morocco says that the figure of the angel on the coin is engraved on the surface of the coin. It is outside, whereas Portia is an angel, who lies on a golden bed within the casket entirely hidden from view.

 (iv) On the scroll it is written that things which make the most brilliant show are not always the truest metal. For the sake of mere gold, hundreds have risked and sacrificed their lives. Costly gold-plated tombs may be erected, but they have no real value. Decay and death are all they contain. The message tells the Prince that if he had been as wise as his courage and if he had united youthfulness of body to the wisdom of riper years, the answer would have been a living woman, not a written scroll. 

(v) The theme of appearance and reality is shown in the choice made by the prince. In spite of his good qualities, the prince is materialistic. He only sees the outward appearance and value of the caskets. He thinks that in birth, in fortune and outward graces, he deserves Portia. However, he says nothing about his inner worth, that is, of his good deeds, character and education. He chooses the gold casket for its bright and glittering appearance. The prince is motivated by pride and admiration, not true love. If he loved her, he would have been ready to risk everything for her. 

MERCHANT OF VENICE ACT 2 SCENE 6

                                                     ACT II Scene 6    

                                 CONTEXT QUESTIONS

 1. (i) This scene takes place in the street outside Shylock's house. Lorenzo has out-dwelt his hour to meet Gratiano and Salarino for the masque. Lovers generally rush to the meeting place long before the appointed hour.

 (ii) In Greek mythology, Venus is the goddess of love. Salarino comments that the doves that draw the chariot of Venus, the goddess of love, fly ten times faster when they are journeying to bind new love more firmly, than they do when love is already pledged and certain.

 (iii) According to Gratiano, people in love are anxious to meet each other. They rush to their meeting places much before the appointed time. Thus, people in love keep punctuality in their meetings and never delay.

(iv) (a) he overstays the time fixed by him to meet. (b) To bind new love more firmly.

(v) The given lines mean that you will not find even a horse travel again over the same road on its return journey with the same energy and animation with which it set out.

 (vi) "All things  enjoy'd" means that the pursuit of any desired object is more enjoyable a task and gives more joy compared to the pleasure one gets on its attainment. The truth of the statement is brought about by the example of a ship. A ship with its sails spread and flags flying, sails out from the harbour like a high-spirited spendthrift youth in search of pleasure. But after being tossed about and hugged by the rough wind, it comes back to the port with broken planks and torn sails. It looks like the returning of the prodigal son, ruined by the faithless gales.

2. (i) Lorenzo is in the street outside Shylock's house. His sweet friends are Salarino and Gratiano.

(ii) His friends said that lovers generally rush to meet each other before the appointed time. Salarino commented that the doves that draw the chariot of Goddess of love, fly ten times faster, when they are journeying to find new love than they do when love is once pledged and certain.

(iii) The speaker was kept away so long due to his business affairs. Also he had to plan for the masquerade, in which he would elope with his lady-love, Jessica.

(iv) 'To play the thieves for wives' means if ever any of them wishes to do what he is doing that night and steal away a fair lady to be his wife, he will wait as long as they have done to help him On the occasion. These remarks are quite relevant because Lorenzo wants to give the reason for his delay as well as thank his friends, whom he has kept waiting for a long time.

 (v) Later in the scene, Lorenzo tells Jessica to come down in the street quickly and that she has to play the part of his torch-bearer in the masque that night. Jessica is shocked and embarrassed at the suggestion. She asks Lorenzo whether she must hold a light to show up her shameful acts — her elopement, theft and male dress.

 (vi) After this extract, Jessica appears on the stage. She appears on the stage dressed in a boy's clothes, as a page-boy.

 3. (i) The casket must have valuables like jewellery which Jessica has stolen from her house. We can conclude that the contents in the casket are valuables since Jessica hands over the casket only after making sure that the person to whom she is giving the casket is her love, Lorenzo. Besides, she tells Lorenzo that it is worth carrying the casket.

 (ii) The given words mean that Jessica is much ashamed that she has to change her dress to that of a pal;-boy. This exchange was needed for her to elope with Lorenzo.

(iii) Love is blind in the context since it makes Jessica dress like a page-boy, steal jewellery and money from her house and be ready to elope with Lorenzo, a Christian. Cupid is the classical god of love, who is always represented as a blind boy with bow and arrows. Jessica says that Cupid, the little blind god of love himself would be shocked and blush if he saw her dressed like a boy.

(iv) Masquerades were dramatic performances where the players wore masks and costumes and took part in a torchlight procession playing drums and fife. Jessica was to carry the torchlight or candle. If she carries the candle, she will show up her shameful acts — her male attire, the casket containing her theft and the fact of her elopement.

 (v) The given lines mean: "The duty of a torch-bearer would expose me to all when I should be concealed." Jessica means that her shameful disguise of a page-boy's dress is too frivolous and Lorenzo should not light them further by having her as torch-bearer.

(vi) Jessica's feminine nature is highlighted in the extract. Her shyness at her male clothes shows her feminine modesty as in Elizabethan times women never wore men's clothes. Also she comes down from her house after making sure that the person, who has come to take her is Lorenzo, her lover.

MERCHANT OF VENICE ACT2 SCENE 5

                                           ACT II  SCENE5  

                                   CONTEXT QUESTION     

  1. (i) Shylock accepts the invitation to dinner out of hatred and to eat the food of the extravagant Christian, Bassanio. In Act I, Scene 3 when Bassanio invites him for dinner he refuses to dine with Christians since they were pork-eaters. He asserted then that he would never eat, drink or pray with Christians although he is ready to do business with them.

(ii) Shylock is unhappy to accept the invitation this time too as he feels a premonition of some misfortune about to take place. The previous night he had a dream about money-bags which was considered as a bad omen. Bassanio is referred to as the prodigal Christian because he is a wasteful, who spends money extravagantly which he has borrowed from Shylock. Prodigal is a reference to the prodigal son described in the Bible who wasted his share of wealth by lavish and careless living.

 (iii) (a) I am not bid for love: I am not invited out of love. (b) I am right loath to go: I hate to accept the invitation to dinner.

 (iv) Jessica and Lorenzo taking advantage of Shylock's absence from home makes a plan to elope. Jessica uses the occasion to leave home with her father's money and jewellery. Lorenzo uses the occasion to arrange the masquerade in which Jessica will be the torch-bearer and thus easily elope with him.

(v) Shylock had a dream about money bags on the previous night. To dream about money and all kinds of coins was considered as a bad omen. This made Shylock think that there was some evil being plotted against him.

 2. (i) Shylock is the speaker of the above lines. He is giving this advice to his daughter, Jessica. When Launcelot tells him about the masquerade, he is alarmed for fear that such revelry may become unruly. He hates their frivolity. Hence, he asks Jessica to lock the doors of the house so that no sound of foolish displays may enter his serious house.

 (ii) The speaker is going for Bassanio's dinner party. He is going out for dinner out of hatred for the Christians and to eat the food of the extravagant, Bassanio. Jacob was the grandson of Abraham, the founder of the Jewish race. According to Bible, Jacob, the ancestor of Shylock had a staff that proved a blessing to him. In Genesis 32:12, Jacob boasts that he had crossed river Jordan only with a staff yet returned with companies of men.

(iii) (a) Do not climb up to see from the windows. (b) • shrill notes of the fife. 

(iv) Christian fools with varnished faces refer to the Christians taking part in the masquerade at Bassanio's dinner party. They were planning to make the speaker's daughter to elope with a Christian, Lorenzo with the speaker's money and jewellery. The speaker had warning of this in the form of a 'dream where he saw money bags and coins'. 

(v) The advice was given to Jessica by her father, Shylock. She did not follow the advice and used the occasion of masquerade to elope with Lorenzo.

 (vi) The speaker advices his daughter, Jessica to lock up the doors. He tells her not to go upto the windows when she hears the drums and the shrill notes of the fife. He tells her not to stretch her neck out to gaze over the public street to look at Christian fools with painted faces. He instructs her to close all the windows of his house so that no sound of the foolish display enters his sober house.

 3. (i) The word 'patch' in the extract means the clown or the fool or the jester. In olden days, the professional fools or jesters used to wear multicoloured patched costume. So the word patch is used in the extract for Launcelot. Shylock says tat he is sending Launcelot to Bassanio as he would assist Bassanio in his spendthrift habits and waste his borrowed money. 

(ii) Shylock wishes Bassanio to be ruined because he wants to take revenge upon Antonio and can do so if Bassanio and Antonio fail to repay the loan on a stipulated date.

 (iii) By the given words, Shylock means that lazy people cannot live with him. Shylock says that Launcelot is lazy and cannot be his servant, so he allows him to join Bassanio's service. 

(iv) 'Borrowed purse' refers to the three thousand ducats borrowed by Bassanio from. Shylock on the basis of the bond signed by Antonio. The money was borrowed to enable Bassanio to go to Belmont and win Portia in marriage after participating in the lottery of caskets. 

(v) Shylock asks Jessica to shut the doors to make his house safe from revellers taking part in the masquerade. He quotes an old proverb 'fast bind, fast find' which means that if you lock a thing up, you will find it safe. (Leave secure and you will find all secure.) 

(vi) In this scene, Shylock becomes an instrument of fate to further the action in the plot. On the one hand, his desire for revenge upon Antonio is revealed because he goes to the supper to help to consume Bassanio's borrowed money. He overlooks his religious principles which forbade him dining with Christians. He even ignores the premonitions of impending evil because of his revengeful nature. This provided Jessica an occasion to flee from home with money and jewellery and to elope with Lorenzo, a Christian. Thus, fate has used Shylock to further its plans. 

MERCHANT OF VENICE ACT 2 SCENE 4

                                     ACT II Scene 4  

                                          CONTEXT QUESTIONS 

                                                                                                                                                                 1. (i) Lorenzo and his friends plan to disguish  themselves at dinner time since they were organising a masquerade for Bassaniors dinner party. During Elizabethan times the masque was an amateur dramatic practice usually performed in private houses. The players wore

masks and costumes and took part in a torch procession, playinM musical instruments. They were not fully prepared for the disguise.

(ii) Jessica, disguised as a boy, is supposed to be the torch-bearer. The actual purpose of having a torch-bearer in the scene is to facilitate the elopement of Jessica with Lorenzo.

 (iii) Launcelot brings the letter of Jessica. It is an important confidential letter as it contained Jessica's plan to elope with Lorenzo. On receiving the letter Lorenzo guesses whose letter it is after looking at the handwriting. He declares that the handwriting is familiar to him and the letter is written by a lovely, fair and beautiful hand.

 (iv) Bassanio is giving the dinner party. Launcelot invites Shylock for the dinner party. 

(v) The dinner party facilitates the elopement of Jessica with Lorenzo. Jessica is free to leave her house as her father is away at Bassanio's dinner party. Lorenzo and his friends organise a masquerade for Bassanio's dinner party. Jessica joins them as a torch-bearer dressed as a boy and elopes with Lorenzo.

 2. (i) Jessica informs Lorenzo about the arrangements she had made to elope with him. She will leave her fathers' house with money and jewellery, disguised in the uniform of a page-boy. 

(ii) According to Lorenzo, the Jew, Shylock could go to heaven only because of his sweet and gentle daughter. We can conclude that Lorenzo has a high opinion of Jessica since he feels that if at all Shylock ever goes to heaven it will be because of her. He prays that no misfortune ever comes to her except for being Shylock's daughter. 

(iii) Lorenzo wishes that no misfortune ever happens to Jessica, for being the daughter of a non-believing Jew. She has no stain of sin in her unless her birth is regarded as a sin. 

(iv) Reference to Shylock as a 'faithless Jew' is an example of racial discrimination hinted at in the extract. Christians believed that faithless Jews won't go to heaven.

 (v) An atmosphere of activity and pre-occupation prevails in this scene. Activities include preparations for the masquerade and Jessica's elopement. Pre-occupation regarding the dinner party dominates the scene. Even Shylock is invited for the party. Launcelot acts as a messenger in this scene. He delivers Jessica's letter to Lorenzo and Lorenzo's reply to Jessica. He invites Shylock for Bassanio's party on Bassanio's behalf. 

MERCHANT OF VENICE ACT 2 SCENE 3

ACT II Scene 3

CONTEXT QUESTIONS

1. (i) Launcelot left Jessica's house since her father_.Shylock was a miserable.  Jew and his stay as his servant has half-famished him. He felt th_at any further stay with him would make him like the Jew. Besides Bassanio has accepted him in his service and Launcelot feels that Bassanio is a better master.

(ii)     In the above lines, Jessica says that her house is hell because of her father's avarice. Launcelot with his jolly nature and with his antics and nonsensical capering has relieved it of much boredom _and dullness.

(iii)Jessica shows in words and actions that she liked Launcelots' presence in the house. He calls him a merry devil and thanks him for reducing the boredom and dullness in her house. She offers him a ducat too.

Jessica gives to Launcelot the errand of delivering a letter to Lorenzo at supper in Bassanio's house that night. She advises him to deliver the letter to Lorenzo secretly

(vi ) Jessica shows herself as a scheming lady when she plans to elope with a Christian boy, Lorenzo without the knowledge of her father. She proves herself to be prudent when she instructs Launcelot to deliver her letter to Lorenzo at Bassanio's party secretly. Her character is entirely different from that of Portia. While Portia obeys her deceased father's will to marry the one who wins the lottery of caskets, Jessica betrays her father and religion to marry Lorenzo.

2. (i) Launcelot bids farewell to Jessica calling her 'most beautiful pagan' and later 'most sweet Jew'. He says that tears prevent his tongue from uttering his feelings. We feel happy for Launcelot and Jessica. Launcelot is leaving his miserly master and is undertaking Bassanio's service where he will be happier. Jessica too will soon escape from the 'hell' and marry Lorenzo. We feel sorry for Shylock as he is still obstinate, miserly and with evil intentions. Further, he shall lose his daughter as well as money.

(ii)      Jessica regrets being the daughter of Shylock due to his behaviour, his being a bad father to her and for making her home 'hell.' Jessica describes her feeling of being ashamed for being her father's daughter as a 'heinous sin'. It is not really a sin because even if she is Shylock's daughter by birth, she does not actually detest her father but detests his miserliness and tyrannical nature.

(iii)    The given lines mean that although I am his daughter by birth, I don't have his habits.

(iv)     Lorenzo has to keep the promise of eloping with Jessica that night. Jessica will end the struggle between her desire to marry Lorenzo and her duty to her father, Shylock.

(v)    Jessica is a lively young girl who rebels against the oppression of her father and the joylessness of her life at home. She calls her home, 'hell'. She cannot get along with her father. She detests her father's miserliness and tyrannical nature. She affirms that though she is Shylock's daughter by birth, she does not share his disposition. Besides, she is influenced by the Venetians around her to form a different attitude to life than her father's. She is ready to leave her father and elope with Lorenzo, a Christian.

ICSE CLASS 9 GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER 8

ICSE CLASS 9 GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER 7

ICSE CLASS 9 GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER 6

ICSE GEOGRAPHY CLASS 9 chapter 5

ICSE GEOGRAPHY CLASS 9 CHAPTER 4