The Merchant Of Venice Questions...
The Merchant of Venice
Act 1; Scene 3
1st day
“They would be better if well followed.”
(i) Where does this line occur?
(ii) What should be followed and why?
“ I may neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I dislike—so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father. Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none?”
(i) Where does this line occur?
(ii) When is it said and to whom?
(iii) What does the speaker want to mean here?
“Your father was ever virtuous, and holy men at their death have good inspirations. Therefore the lottery that he hath devised in these three chests of gold, silver, and lead, whereof who chooses his meaning chooses you, will no doubt never be chosen by any rightly but one who shall rightly love. But what warmth is there in your affection towards any of these princely suitors that are already come?”
(i) Where does this line exist?
(ii) Whose father is referred to here?
(iii) What are the chests that the speaker speaks of?
(iv) What is the system of lottery?
2nd day
“I pray thee, overname them. And as thou namest them, I will describe them. And according to my description, level at my affection.”
(i) Who is Portia?
(ii) Where do you find this line?
(iii) Whom does the speaker say so?
(iv) What does the speaker wants to mean here?
“ I had rather be married to a death’s-head with a bone in his mouth than to either of these. God defend me from these two!”
(i) Who is Portia?
(ii) When is it said and to whom?
(iii) Who are referred to here as ‘ether of these’?
(iv) Why do you think does the speaker say so?
“ I should marry twenty husbands. If he would despise me I would forgive him, for if he love me to madness I shall never requite him.”
(i) Whom does the speaker say so and whom?
(ii) What do you mean by ‘twenty husband'?
“If he should offer to choose and choose the right casket, you should refuse to perform your father’s will if you should refuse to accept him.”
(i) Who is Nerissa?
(ii) When does the speaker say so and to whom?
(iii) What does the speaker wants to mean here?
3rd day
“If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chaste as Diana unless I be obtained by the manner of my father’s will. I am glad this parcel of wooers are so reasonable, for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence. And I pray God grant them a fair departure.”
(i) Where do these lines exist??
(ii) Who are called the parcel of wooers?
(iii) Why are they so called?
(iv) Who is Sibylla?
(v) What does Portia want to mean by ‘fair departure’?
(vi) What is Portia’s father’s will?
“True, madam. He, of all the men that ever my foolish eyes looked upon, was the best deserving a fair lady.”
(i) Who is Nerissa?
(ii) When does the speaker say so?
(iii) Whom does the speaker suggest?
(iv) Why does the speaker say so?
4th day
Act 1 Scene 3
“ For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound.”
(i) Who is Bassanio?
(ii) When does Bassanio say the cottage words and to whom?
(iii) Where will Antonio bound?
Act II: Scene 9
1. “Behold, there stand the caskets, noble Prince.
If you choose that wherein I am contained,
Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized.
But if you fail, without more speech, my lord,
You must be gone from hence immediately.”
i. What do you mean by ‘nuptial rites’?
ii. Whom does the speaker say so?
iii. When is it said?
iv. What does the speaker want to mean here?
2. “What many men desire”—that “many” may be meant
By the fool multitude that choose by show,
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach;
Which pries not to the' interior, but like the martlet
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
Even in the force and road of casualty.
I will not choose what many men desire
Because I will not jump with common spirits”
i. What do you mean by ‘the fool multitude’?
ii. What idea do you get when he says ‘I will not jump with common spirits ’?
iii. What do you mean by ‘ common spirits ’?
3. “To offend and judge are distinct offices
And of opposed natures.”
i. Whom does Portia say so and when?
ii. What does the speaker want to mean here?
4. “The ancient saying is no heresy.
Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.”
i. Who is Nerissa?
ii. What does the speaker wants to mean here?
5. “No more, I pray thee. I am half afeard
Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee,
Thou spend’st such high-day wit in praising him.—
Come, come, Nerissa, for I long to see
Quick Cupid’s post that comes so mannerly.”
i. What do you mean by cupid post?
ii. Where does these line occurs?
Act III : Scene 2
1. “I pray you, tarry; pause a day or two
Before you hazard; for, in choosing wrong,”
i. Whom does Portia suggest?
ii. What do you mean by tarry?
iii. What does Portia want’s to suggest?
2. “To the sea-monster: I stand for sacrifice;
The rest aloof are the Dardanian wives,
With bleared visage, come forth to view
The issue of the exploit. Go, Hercules!
Live thou, I live: with much, much more dismay
I view the fight than thou that mak’st the fray.”
i. Where does this line occur?
ii. What do you mean by the reference of the Dardanian wives?
3. “So may the outward shows be least
themselves:
The world is still deceived with ornament.
In law, What plea so tainted and corrupt,
But, being season’d with a gracious voice,
Obscurs the show of evil? In religion,
What damned error, but some sober brow”
i. Where does this line occur?
Answer:- What Bassanio is saying is that what we see on the outside, particularly on the outside of something that has been made deliberately showy and gaudy may not at all reflect the inside of someone or something. People decorate themselves to look better and more interesting or richer than what they really are.
1. “How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false
As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins
The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars;
Who, inward search’d, have livers white as milk;”
i. Where do these lines exist?
Answer:- This line exists in the drama The Merchant of Venice at Belmond (A room in Porta’s house).
ii. Who said the cotted words to whom?
Answer:- Bassanio said the cotted words to Portia.
iii. What does the speaker want to mean here?
Answer:- What the speaker wants to mean here is that how many cowards, whose hearts are as unreliable as a stairway built of sand nevertheless (yet) put on a brave appearance as the ancient heroes like Hercules and stem-faced Mars and by the line ‘inward search’d, have levers white as milk;’ means the liver is as the seat of courage regarded by the Elizabethans; hence “white -livered was to be a coward.”
2. “To be the dowry of a second head,
The skull that bred them in the sepulchre.
Thus ornament is but the guiled shore
To a most dangerous sea; the beauteous scarf”
i. When does the speaker say so?
Answer:- When Bassanio was being going to be choose the casket, before that in the conversation he said this.
ii. What do these line wants to suggest?
Answer:- This line suggests that outward adornment is always deceptive. It is like the attractive but treacherous sea-shore that leads people into perilous waters.
3. “How all the other passions fleet to air,
As doubtful thoughts, and rash-embraced despair,
And shuddering fear, and green-eyed jealousy!
O love, be moderate; allay thy ecstasy;
In measure rain thy joy; scant this excess!
I feel too much thy blessing; make it less,
For fear I surfeit!”
i. When does Portia said this to herself?
Answer:- When Bassanio said that he chooses the joy be the consequence! Then it is said by Portia to herself.
ii. What does she want to mean here?
Answer:- She means that now, all the other emotions such as doubtful thoughts, rash despair, shuddering fear and green-eyed jealousy are flying away. She must moderate her love and restrain her ecstasy. She must rejoice within good measure and not too much. She feels to overjoyed. She must be less joyous for that she is afraid that She is excessively elated.
4. “Exceed account; but the full sum of me
Is sum of something; which, to term in gross,
Is an unlesson’d girl, unschool’d, unpractised,
Happy in this, she is not yet so old
But she may learn; happier than this,
She is not bred so dull but she can learn;”
i. When does Portia say so and to whom?
Answer:-
ii. What does the speaker want’s to mean here?
Answer:-
5. “I did my lord;
And I have reason for it. Signior Antonio
Commends him to you.”
i. Where do you find this line?
Answer:- This line is found in the story The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare in Belmont (At Portia’s house).
ii. Who is Salerio?
Answer:- Salerio is a well-connected merchant of Venice, and a friend of Antonio and Bassanio. But here he is a messenger of Antonio from Venice.
iii. What was Antonio’s message?
Answer:- In the letter, Antonio writes that all of his ships are lost, and that Shylock plans to collect his pound of flesh. He wishes only to see Bassanio before he dies.
6. “I would you had won the fleece that he hath lost!”
i. Why does the speaker say so?
Answer:- Salerio said this because Bassanio had won all the wealth that Antonio had lost. Antonio will be going to sacrifices his life for Bassanio’s love.
ii. What does the speaker wants to suggest/ mean here?
Answer:- What the speaker wants to mean here is that Salerio wish that Bassanio had won enough to replace what Antonio has lost.
7. “The paper as the body of my friend,
And every word in it a gaping wound,
Issuing life-blood.- But is it true, Salerio?”
i. Where does this line exist?
Answer:- This line exists in the drama The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare in Belmont.
ii. What does the speaker want to mean here?
Answer:- What the speaker wants to mean here is that the paper is like the body of my friend, And every word in it, a gaping wound Bleeding heavily.
iii. What does the phrase ‘wound Issuing life-blood’ mean?
Answer:-
8.
“When I was with him, I have heard him swear
To Tubal and to Chus, his
countrymen,
That he would rather have
Antonio’s flesh
Than twenty times the value
of the sum
That he did owe him. And I
know, my lord,
If law, authority, and power
deny not,
It will go hard with poor
Antonio.”
i. Where does this line exist?
Answer:- This line exists in the drama The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare in Belmont.
ii. Who is Jessica?
Answer:- Jessica is the daughter of Shylock.
iii. Whom does the speaker say so and when?
Answer:- The speaker said this to Portia and Bassanio.
This was said when Bassanio heard about the ship loss of Antonio.
iv. What does the speaker want to mean here?
Answer:- What the speaker wants to mean here is that she heard Shylock to talk to Tubal that he did always seem way more interested in getting Antonio's flesh than getting his money back. This isn't going to go well for Antonio.
9. “O love, dispatch all business, and be gone!”
i. Who is Portia?
Answer:- Portia is a female protagonist of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. A rich, beautiful, intelligent heiress of Belmont.
ii. Whom does Portia say so and when?
Answer:- Portia said this to Bassanio when she heard the letter of Antonio.
iii. In which context does the speaker say so?
Answer:- In the drama The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare the speaker said this.
Act IV Scene:-1
1. “I am sorry for thee: thou art come to answer
A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch
Uncapable of pity, void and empty
From any dram of mercy.”
i. Where do you find this line?
ii. Whom does the duke say so?
iii. What does the duke want to mean here?
2. “This is no answer, thou unfeeling man,
To excuse the current of thy cruelty.”
i. Who is Bassanio?
ii. When does Bassanio say so?
iii. What does it mean?
3. “I pray you, think you question with the Jew:
You may as well go stand upon the beach,
And bid the main flood bate his usual height;
You may as well use question with the wolf,
Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb;
You may as well forbid the mountain pines
To wag their high tops and to make no noise,
When they are fretten with the gusts of heaven;
You may as well do anything most hard,
As seek to soften that,—than which what’s harder?—
His Jewish heart: therefore, I do beseech you,
Make no more offers, use no farther means,
But with all brief and plain conveniency
Let me have judgment and the Jew his will.”
i. Where do this line occur?
ii. When does Antonio say all this?
iii. What does the speaker want to suggest?
4. “The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,
Is dearly bought; 'tis mine and I will have it.
If you deny me, fie upon your law!
There is no force in the decrees of Venice.
I stand for judgment: answer, shall I have it?”
i. What attitude did you found in Shylock Speech?
ii. When does Shylock say this?
iii. What type of man is Shylock?
5. “Bring us the letter; call the messenger.”
i. Who is the duke preferred to here?
ii. Which letter has been brought in?
iii. When does the messenger came and what object(aim)?
Act IV : Scene 2
Scene 2 Venice. A street
Enter Portia and Nerissa, disguised as before
1. Portia
That cannot be:
His ring I do accept most thankfully;
And so, I pray you, tell him: furthermore,
I pray you, show my young old Shylock’s house.
i. Where do you find this line?
Answer:- This line is found in the story The Merchant of Venice, in a street of Venice.
ii. When is this said?
Answer:- This is said by Portia when Gratiano went to her to give the ring which was given by Bassanio and to invite her for dinner to Antonio’s house.
iii. Which ring is referred to here?
Answer:- The ring was “The wedding ring” that Portia gives Bassanio to seal their love in marriage and that Portia in disguised wants to take as a sign of love. The ring seems to represent Portia's submission to Bassanio
iv. Why do you think did not Portia accept the invitation?
Answer:- Portia did not accept Bassanio's request to have dinner with him by saying “That cannot be”. Portia tells Gratiano that it is not possible for her to accept Bassanio's request to come for dinner. She says so because she is in the disguise of a lawyer and did not want Bassanio to know her identity at this stage. Secondly, she wants to return to Belmont before the arrival of her husband.
Act V : Scene 1
1.
“Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud,
Which is the hot condition of their blood,
If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound,
Or any air of music touch their ears,
You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, 85
Their savage eyes turned to a modest gaze
By the sweet power of music. Therefore the poet
Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and
floods,
Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage, 90
But music for the time doth change his nature.
The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils;
The motions of his spirit are dull as night, 95
And his affections dark as Erebus.
Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music.”
i. Explain these lines after the text.
Answer:- Lorenzo gives the example to Jessica that the wild, wandering herd, or a bunch of untrained young horses, running around, bellowing and neighing loudly, as they naturally do. If they happen to hear a trumpet play or any music, she would see them all stand still and their savage eyes would be turned into a modest gaze by the sweet power of music. That's why the Roman poet Ovid wrote that the musician Orpheus made trees, stones, and bodies of water follow him, because there's nothing hard or strong enough not to be changed by music. Any man who is not himself musical and is not moved by harmonious, sweet sounds is prone to commit treason, make tricky plots, and steal things. His spirit is dull and he has an affinity for things dark as hell. Don't trust a man like that. Listen to the music.
2.
“So doth the greater glory dim the less.
A substitute shines brightly as a king
Until a king be by, and then his state
Empties itself as doth an inland brook 105
Into the main of waters. Music, hark!”
i. When does the speaker say so and to whom?
Answer:- The speaker said this to Nerissa. This is said when Portia was talking with Jessica about the glory of the candles in her palace.
ii. What does the speaker want to mean here?
Answer:- What the speaker wants to mean here is that how the greater glory dims lesser glory. A substitute shines as brightly as a king until a king is nearby, and then he's outshined. Listen, there's music.
3.
“Nothing is good, I see, without respect.
Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day.”
i. Explain these lines.
Answer:- These lines means that nothing is good in itself unless it is affected by circumstances. Also, Portia said that the music which was playing in the night sounds better if it is played in the day time.
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