Gurukul Steps Coaching Institute
                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper 1

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:-

ANTONIO
In sooth, I know not why I am so sad:
It wearies me; you say it wearies you;
But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,
What stuff 'tis made of, whereof it is born,
I am to learn;
And such a want-wit sadness makes of me,
That I have much ado to know myself.
Question 1:-Where are Antonio and his friends? What does Antonio say about his
                     sadness?

Answer 1:- Antonio and his friends are in the street of Venice.
                  Antonio confesses to his friends Salarino and Salanio that he has been
                 suffering from a strange melancholy. He says that just as his friends are
                 worried about his sadness, he is also worried about it but he does not know the
                 cause of it. He does not know how he found it, got infected by it or came
                 across it. He also does not know of what his sadness is constituted of or from
                 where did it originate. He says that his sadness has made him so crazy that he
                  does not even know who he is.

Question 2:- Give the meaning of :-

(a) whereof it is born
(b) a want-wit
(c) That I have much ado to know my self:

Answer 2:-

(a) It has originated. Antonio wants top say that he does not know from where his
       melancholy has originated. Here he has personified melancholy saying he does
      not know ‘of what parents his melancholy is born’.

(b) A stupid fellow.
(c) Antonio means to say that his melancholy has made him such an ignorant person that he is finding it much difficult to understand his own-self.

Question 3:-What reason does Salarino give as the probable cause of Antonio’s
                     melancholy?

Answer 3:- Salarino says that it may be that Antonio must be worried about the safety of
                   his ships laden with rich merchandise sailing on the sea. The dangers that the
                   sea can cause to his ships could be the cause of  his sadness.

Question 4:-State in your own words the scene on the ocean as described by Salarino,
                    when Antonio’s ships were sailing.

Answer 4:Salarino compares the ships of Antonio laden with rich merchandise with
                swollen sails with gentlemen and rich citizens having bulging out tummies
                moving on the sea with an air of dignity, being bowed in respect by the smaller
               ships of minor merchants as they pass by them. He says that the Ships of
               Antonio were the pageant of the sea.

Question 5:- The play begins in an atmosphere of melancholy. Why do you think that
                    Antonio is presented as a melancholic character?

Answer 5:- The play begins in an atmosphere of melancholy. Through Antonio’s
                    melancholy Shakespeare wants to portray three things.
                    First, he has tried to justify the improbability of a rich merchant signing such
                    a fatal bond. By portraying him as a whimsical man, who is too bored with
                    life to care for the consequences of his actions.
                    Second, it is through Antonio’s nameless melancholy that Shakespeare has
                   created a tragic atmosphere, an atmosphere suitable for a comedy which
                   floats on the brink of tragedy.
                   Third, Antonio’s melancholy creates a sense of mystery for the audience.

                 

                                     Gurukul Steps Coaching Institute
                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper II

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:-


Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth,
The better part of my affections would
Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still
Plucking the grass, to know where sits the wind;
Peering in maps, for ports, and piers, and roads:
And every object that might make me fear(20)
Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt
Would make me sad.

Question 1:- Where would Salanio’s attention be if he had business ventures abroad?
                    Why would he be ‘Plucking the grass’? What else he would be doing in that
                    context?

Answer 1:- If he had business ventures abroad, the better parts of his thoughts would
                   have been with his hope of their safe arrival.
                   He would be ‘Plucking grass’ and throwing in the air to know the direction of
                  the blowing wind. We should not forget that during those days the
                  sophisticated gadgets were not available to help the navigators and thus they
                  had to rely on the crude methods such as Salanio mentions here.
                      In that context he would be looking over maps for ports and piers and
                      roads;  and every object that would make him afraid of misfortune to
                     his ships would make him sad.

Question 2:- What would make Salario fear some danger to his ventures? Give two
                     examples from the opening scene to show how some objects remind
                     Salario of the danger to the ships.

Answer 2:- While blowing his breath over his soup to cool it Salario would wonder if his
                    light breath could create such a storm in his soup, what damage would the
                    mighty winds do to his ships at the sea by creating a sea storm.
                    The storm created in the bowl of his broth by blowing of his breath to cool it
                    would remind Salario of the sea storm that could run his ship laden with rich
                    merchandise run aground lowering her high top sails lower than her hull to
                    sink.
                    Secondly, whenever Salario would go to church, and saw the holy building
                    of stone, he’d be thinking right away about dangerous rocks, which, touching
                    only his gentle vessel's side, would scatter all her spices across the water,
                    spreading his silk cargo across the roaring waters, and, in a word, one minute
                    worth this amount of money, would  be worth nothing.

Question 3:-Give the meaning of:-

(a) Plucking the grass to know where sits the wind
(b) Peering in maps for ports, and piers and roads

Answer 3:-

(a) Solanio means to say that if he had such business expeditions abroad, he should
      always be plucking the grass and throwing it up to see the direction of the wind.
      We should not forget that during those days when they did not have sophisticated
      naval gadgets it was very common for a country dweller to pluck a blade of grass,
      and hold it up in order to see from its movement the direction in which the wind
       was blowing.

(b) Solanio means to say that if he had such business expeditions abroad, he should
be peering into maps to study the sea-ports, harbors and channels and everything that might suggest disaster to his business ventures.

Question 4:- In spite of danger to his ships, why is Antonio not worried about his
                    financial security?

Answer 4:- In spite of danger to his ships, Antonio is not worried about his financial
                  security for neither his cargoes are all laden on one ship or going to one place
                   nor his estate is based on the earning of that present year.

Question 5:-What light does the opening scene throw on the dangers that the sea could
                     pose to the ships?

Answer 5:-The opening scene exposes the dangers that the sea could pose to the ships. It
                  tells the audience that the sea storm could run the ship laden with rich
                  merchandise run aground lowering her high top sails lower than her hull to
                 sink.
                 Secondly, the dangerous rocks in the sea which, touching only the gentle
                  vessel's side, would scatter all her spices across the water, spreading his silk
                  cargo across the roaring waters, and, in a word, one minute worth this amount
                  of money, would  be worth nothing.
                  Then there are shallow waters and quick sands that prove fatal to the ships.

Question 6: Where are the speakers? To whom is Solanio speaking? Who else is there
                     with him now?
Answer   6: The speakers are on the streets of Venice.
                    Solanio is speaking to Antonio, the wealthy merchant of Venice.
                    His friend Salario is also with him now.

Question 7: What is meant by venture? Explain the second and third lines of the extract.
Answer   7: Venture means trading expedition.
                    In second and third lines of the extract, Solanio means to say that if he had
                    such business operations pending, the greater part of his mind would always
                    be fixed on his dealings across the sea.

Question 8: Which three things would make him sad if he had ‘such ventures forth’?
Answer   8: If he had such ventures forth the direction of the wind, the location of his
                   ships and everything that might suggest disaster to his business ventures
                   would make him sad.

Question 9: Why is Solanio giving all these reasons and explanations?
Answer   9: Solanio is giving all these explanations to reason out the cause of the
                    melancholy of Antonio.

Question 10: What has the person spoken to have to say about his present mood?
Answer   10: The person spoken to is Antonio. He confesses to his friends Salarino and
                      Salanio that he has been suffering from a strange melancholy. He says that
                      just as his friends are worried about his sadness, he is also worried about it
                      but he does not know the cause of it. He does not know how he found it, got
                      infected by it or came across it. He also does not know of what his sadness
                      is constituted of or from where did it originate. He says that his sadness has
                      made him so crazy that he does not even know who he is.

Question 11: While writing the meanings of ‘argosies’, burghers, ‘signiors’ and
                      ‘traffickers’ write in what context have they been used.
Answer    11: According to a Greek legend, Argo was a ship built by Argus for Jason.
                      Jason reached Colchos after a long adventurous voyage. At Colchos, Medea
                      who had fallen in love with Jason, used her powers to get him the golden
                      fleece. She managed to get it after putting to sleep the dragon who had been
                      guarding the fleece. In the scene, Argosies refer to big merchant ships.
                      The word ‘signors’ means noblemen while the word ‘burghers’ refer to the
                       rich citizens. In the scene, Antonio’s argosies surpass other smaller ships
                       just as signors and burghers excel the poorer men in appearance and dress.

Question 12: What reason can you give for the mood of the person who is being
                      addressed?
Answer   12: The reason I find for Antonio’s present mood of sadness is that he is afraid
                       of losing Bassanio to Portia.
                       Moreover, it is through Antonio’s nameless melancholy that Shakespeare
                        has created a tragic atmosphere, and atmosphere suitable for a comedy
                        which floats on the brink of tragedy. It is also that Antonio’s melancholy
                        creates a sense of mystery for the audience.



                                Gurukul Steps Coaching Institute
                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper III

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:-



My wind, cooling my broth,
Would blow me to an ague, when I thought
What harm a wind too great might do at sea.(25)
I should not see the sandy hour-glass run,
But I should think of shallows and of flats;
And see my wealthy Andrew dock'd in sand,
Vailing her high-top lower than her ribs,
To kiss her burial

Question 1: - Where does this scene take place? Name the people who are present there.
                       In what mood is Salarino in this scene?

Answer 1: - This scene takes place in the street of Venice.
                     The people present there are Antonio, the rich merchant of Venice and his
                      two friends Salanio and Salarino.
                     Salarino is in a light talkative mood. He elaborates his mood in a lengthy
                     speech describing vividly a ship being tossed by the sea waves and getting
                   stuck in shallow waters or over turning after a collision with dangerous rocks.

Question 2:-What would the wind cooling the broth would remind Salarino of?

Answer 2:- Wind cooling the broth of Salarino would remind him of the the damage a
                   mighty wind might do at sea.

Question 3:- Give the meaning of:-

                     And see my wealthy Andrew dock'd in sand,
                     Vailing her high-top lower than her ribs,
                     To kiss her burial.

Answer 3:- Salario means to say while blowing his breath over his soup to cool it he
                   would wonder if his light breath could create such a storm in his soup, what
                   damage would the mighty winds do to his ships at the sea by creating a sea
                  storm. The storm created in the bowl of his broth by blowing of his breath to
                   cool it would remind Salario of the sea storm that could run his ship laden
                   with rich merchandise run aground lowering her high top sails lower than her
                    hull to sink.

Question 4:- What is the sandy hour glass? What would it remind Salarino of?

Answer 4:-‘Sandy hour class is referred to sand watch. It measured the passage of an
                   hour’s time. It had two connected vertical glass bulbs allowing a regulated
                   trickle of sand from the top to the bottom. The name hourglass comes from
                   historically common hour timing.
                   It would remind Salario of dangerous shallow waters and quicksands.

Question 5:- What is referred to ‘wealthy Andrew’? Why is it so referred?

Answer 5:-Wealthy Andrew is here referred to Salario’s big merchant ship. During those
                 days this name was applied to any big merchant ship. In 1596 the English
                 captured a Spanish in Cardiz. The ship was named Andrea. It ran aground
                 when it was being brought to England. Since then Andrew refers to a big cargo
                 ship.

Question 6:-When Salario would go to church what would he see? What would the scene
                    make him imagine?

Answer 6:- Whenever Salario would go to church, and saw the holy building
                    of stone, he’d be thinking right away about dangerous rocks, which, touching
                    only his gentle vessel's side, would scatter all her spices across the water,
                    spreading his silk cargo across the roaring waters, and, in a word, one minute
                    worth this amount of money, would  be worth nothing.
                 


                            Gurukul Steps Coaching Institute
                                           Merchant of Venice
                                           
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:-
SALERIO:
Shall I have the thought
To think on this; and shall I lack the thought
That such a thing, bechanc'd, would make me sad?

Question 1: Which three things are included in the speaker’s thought on behalf of his
                     melancholy friend?
Answer   1: The three things that are included in the speaker’s thought on behalf of his
                    friend are the wind storm, shallow water and dangerous rocks which could
                    damage his ships and make him bankrupt.
                    Wind cooling the broth of Salarino would remind him of the the damage a
                    mighty wind might do at sea.
                    Whenever he would see the sandy glass hour run, he would think of shallow
                    waters and quick sand which could prove fatal to his ships.
                    Whenever Salario would go to church, and saw the holy building
                    of stone, he’d be thinking right away about dangerous rocks, which, touching
                    only his gentle vessel's side, would scatter all her spices across the water,
                    spreading his silk cargo across the roaring waters, and, in a word, one minute
                    worth this amount of money, would  be worth nothing.

Question 2: Explain the given extract.
Answer   2: Salario means to say that if he thought of dangers at the sea to his argosies,
                   was it possible that he would not think that if such a thing happened it would
                   make him sad.

Question 3: What does his friend reply to this? Give three examples.
Answer   3:  His friend Antonio replied that the cause of his melancholy was not his
                    business venture because all his business enterprises were not risked in one
                    single ship, nor to any one place. His financial position did not depend upon
                    the business venture of the present year. Therefore it was not his
                    merchandise that made him sad.

Question 4: What contradiction do you find a little later in this scene which does not fit
                     one of the replies of the replies of the above friend.
Answer  4: To Solanio and Salario, Antonio told that his financial position did not depend
                   upon the business venture of the present year but later when Bassanio asked
                   him for financial assistance to enable him to go to Belmont to win Portia
                   through a lottery, he told Bassanio that he had no ready cash because all his
                   ships were at sea. This statement given to Bassanio was in contradiction to
                   the statement given to Solanio and Salario.

Question 5: How does he react to Solanio’s suggestion after this extract?
Answer   5: After this extract, when Solanio suggested that Antonio was sad because he
                   was in love, Antonio denied by reacting as ‘Fie Fie’.

Question 6: How does it reflect on the character of the person who is being addressed?
Answer   6: It shows that Antonio was a rich merchant having many shipping ventures at
                   sea. He was quite confident about his fortunes and their success. He is
                   prudent and fears no danger to his fortune.



                                Gurukul Steps Coaching Institute
                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper IV

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow: -

Not in love neither? Then let us say, you are sad,
Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easy(50)
For you to laugh, and leap, and say you are merry,
Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed Janus,
Nature hath fram'd strange fellows in her time:
Some that will evermore peep through their eyes,
And laugh, like parrots, at a bag-piper;(55)
And other of such vinegar aspect,
That they'll not show their teeth in way of smile,
Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable.

Question 1:- Who has just said that Antonio was in love? What was the reaction of
                     Antonio to that remark?

Answer 1:- Salanio had just said that Antonio was in love.
                   Antonio called his falling in love as non-sense.

Question 2:-Antony says that he is not sad because of love. What explanation does
                   Salarino give in the extract for Antonio’s sadness?

Answer 2:- Salarino says that if falling in love is not the cause of Antonio’s sadness then
                     it should be said that Antonio is sad because he is not happy. It is just as
                     easy to say one is happy because he is not sad.

Question 3:- What is meant by ‘two headed Janus’? Why is he referred to in the extract?

Answer 3:- Janus was the Roman God who was supposed to preside over gates and
                  doorways. He is always depicted with two heads, looking in the opposite
                  directions.
                  He is mentioned here simply with the idea that Nature creates two different
                  types of men, with different outlooks.

Question 4 :- Describe in your own words the two types of strange fellows who have
                     been framed by nature.

Answer 4: - There are two types of strange fellows framed by nature. Some are so merry
                    that they get such fat cheeks that their eyes are almost closed up and they
                    have difficulty in seeing through them. These people laugh like parrots if
                    they just hear a bagpipe being played
                    On the other hand there are fellows who have such a sour expression that
                    they will not open their lips in a smile even when the grave Nestor says that
                    the joke was good.

Question 5: -Who is Nestor? Why is he referred to in the extract?

Answer 5: - Nestor was a Greek warrior mentioned in the ‘Iliad’ of Homer, famous for
                    great age and wisdom.
                    He is mentioned here as a symbol of seriousness and gravity in general. Even
                    he would laugh at a certain jest, but the people of ‘vinegar aspect’ would
                    refuse to join in.

Question 6: - Give the meaning of
(a) And other of such vinegar aspect
(b) Though Nestor swear the jest was laughable

Answer: -
(a) This expression is still commonly used to describe a severe and gloomy expression of
      the countenance.

(b) Nestor He is mentioned here as a symbol of seriousness and gravity in general. Even
                    he would laugh at a certain jest, but the people of ‘vinegar aspect’ would
                    refuse to join in.

Question 7: - Why is a class of people compared to parrots?

Answer 7: - A class of people is compared to parrots because they indulge in shrill
                   screams of laughter.

Answer 8: - Who comes at the end of Salarino’s speech? Why does Salarino leave then?

Answer 8: - Bassanio, Lorenzo Gratiano come at the end of Salarino’s speech.
                    At the arrival of Bassanio and others, Salarino leaves because he knows that
                    Bassanio is more dear to Antonio than he himself is. That is why he says that
                    he is leaving him to a better company than him.



                                  Gurukul Steps Coaching Institute
                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper V

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow: -

Why should a man whose blood is warm within
Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster?
Sleep when he wakes? and creep into the jaundice
By being peevish? I tell thee what, Antonio,—
I love thee, and it is my love that speaks;—
There are a sort of men, whose visages
Do cream and mantle like a standing pond;
And do a wilful stillness entertain,
With purpose to be dress'd in an opinion
Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit;
As who should say, I am Sir Oracle,
And, when I ope my lips, let no dog bark!

Question 1: - Why is a young man compared to ‘grandsire cut in alabaster’? Under
                       What condition is he likely to be infected with jaundice?

Answer 1: - If a young man with warm blood in his veins who should be mirthful and
                   agile sits still and remains inactive he is just like a marble statue of an old
                   man, which remains inactive. ‘Grandsire cut in alabaster’ is marble statue of
                   an old man.
                   During those days it was believed that jaundice was caused by mental worry.
                   If a young man who should be agile remains grave, appears sleepy in his
                   waking hours would gradually work himself into a jaundiced or liverish state.

Question 2:-Give the meaning of:-
(a) Do cream and mantle like a standing pond
(b) Do a willful stillness entertain

Answer: -
(a) The figure is that of cream forming on top of milk, or green covering on top of still
      water in a pond. Similarly, certain men allow a grave look thus to form on their faces.

(c) There are people who deliberately assume a pose of silence.

Question 3: - What is said in the extract about the people who try to earn a reputation of
                       wisdom?

Answer 3:- There are certain type of men with their faces covered over with grave
                   expression just like a stagnant pool covered with slime. Such men maintain a
                   deliberate silence with an idea of earning a reputation for wisdom, serious
                     gravity and profound thought.

Question 4: -What is meant by ‘I am Sir Oracle’ and ‘let no dog bark’?

Answer 4: - An oracle in the old world was the inspired utterance of a priest, a direct
                   statement from God. It was received by all without question. Shakespeare
                   says that the class of men he is describing, with their pompous attitude,
                   expect every word they utter to be received with this kind of respect and let
                    not even the lowest dare to interrupt.

Question 5: -What advice does Gratiano give to Antonio at the end of his speech?
Answer 5: - At the end of his speech Gratiano advices Antonio that he should not use
                    melancholy as a bait to earn valueless opinion of the mob that he is wise,
                    serious, grave and is in profound thoughts.
                 
                Gurukul Steps Coaching Institute
                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper
SALERIO:
I would have stay'd till I had made you merry,
If worthier friends had not prevented me.

Question 1: Whom does Salerio want to feel merry and why?
Answer   1: Salario wanted Antonio to be merry because He was very popular amongst
                    his friends and therefore his friends wanted him to be merry.

Question 2: Who are worthier friends? How does Salerio refer to one of them
                    particularly?
Answer   2: Bassanio, Lorenzo and Gratiano are ‘worthier friends’.
                   Salario refers to Bassanio in particular by saying that Bassanio’s company
                  alone was enough to make him merry. Therefore he says that worthier friends
                  had  prevented him from making his effort of making Antonio happy.

Question 3: How has Salario been trying to cheer his friend up? (You must include Janus,
                    parrots and Nestor)
Answer   3:  To cheer his friend Antonio up, Salario swears by Janus the Roman two
                     headed God who was supposed to preside over gates and door ways that
                     nature has made some strange type of men. Some are always looking out
                     from eyes half closed with laughter, and laugh like parrots if they but hear a
                     bagpipe being played. While there were others with such sour expression
                     that they would not open their lips in smile when even the grave Nestor said
                     that a laugh was good.

Question 4: How does this particular friend feel about Salerio and Solanio?
Answer   4: This particular friend Bassanio felt that Salerio and Solanio  had become
                    strangers to him.

Question 5: On what note do they part? Whom do they leave behind?
Answer   5: Salario and Solanio parted with the note that they should find leisure hour to
                    wait upon Bassanio.
                    They left behind Bassanio, Gratiano and Lorenzo.

Question 6: When do the others promise to meet?
Answer   6: The others promised to meet at the dinner time.

Question 7: What expression of the merchant of Venice is so evident that one of his
                    ‘worthier friends’ comment on it. What does he say?
Answer   7: The expression of Antonio’s sadness was so evident that one of his ‘worthier
                    friends’ commented on it,
                    He told Antonio that he did not look well. He said that Antonio was too
                    much wrapped up in worldly affairs. He suggested that people lose all when
                    they incur so much anxiety over business. He said that Antonio was
                    strangely changed.

                                  Gurukul Steps Coaching Institute
                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow: -
GRATIANO:
I tell thee what, Antonio,—
I love thee, and it is my love that speaks;—
There are a sort of men, whose visages
Do cream and mantle like a standing pond;
And do a wilful stillness entertain

Question 1: What has Antonio earlier said to make Gratiano comment like this?
Answer 1: Earlier Antonio had said that he regarded the world merely as a stage on which
                 every man has a part to play and his part was a sad one.

Question 2: How is Gratiano different from Antonio?
Answer   2: Gratiano is different from Antonio because as Antonio is grave and has a
                   melancholic nature, Gratiano’s talkative nature is his most striking trait.
                   According to Bassanio, Gratiano speaks ‘an infinite deal of nothing’. His
                  witty and outspoke remarks relieve the tension when the atmosphere is grave.
                 Shakespeare portrays his as an impulsive speaker who utters daring things
                 under cover of jesting.

Question 3: What does the speaker have to say about the warm blooded young man?
Answer   3: The speaker says that why should a warm blooded young man sit like a statue
                   of an old man cut in alabaster. Why should he be sleepy in waking hours and
                  fret himself into an attack of biliousness by ill-temper?


Question 4: What does he say about his own heart and liver?
Answer   4: About his own hear and liver, Gratiano says that he would prefer his liver
                   heat with wine than his heart cool with mortifying groans.
                   Between the lines he meant to say that he would prefer heating his body with
                   wine than cool his spirits with mortifying groans.

Question 5: Explain the given extract and state the reason for such behavior?
Answer   5: In the given extract, Gratiano tells Antonio that he loved Antonio and it was
                    his love that made him speak that there are certain type of men whose faces
                    are covered with grave expression just as a stagnant pool is covered with
                    slime and other things. Such people maintain a deliberate silence with the
                    idea of earning reputation for wisdom, serious gravity and profound thought.
                    The reason for such behavior is that Gratiano was a jovial man. Whenever
                    Antonio was sad he used to cheer him up. He ridiculed men who were too
                    serious and solemn and pretended to be the most wise men, wanting all
                    others to become silent when they were about to open their mouth to speak.

Question 6: How does Gratiano sarcastically sum up the behavior of this kind of men?
Answer   6: Gratiano sums up the behavior of such men by saying that such men compare
                    themselves to Sir Oracle and their utterance was a direct statement from
                    God. It should be received by all without question and such men compare
                    others as low in respect as dogs and therefore when they speak let not even
                    the lowest dare to speak.

Question 7: Whom should call whom ‘fools’ and what should be the consequence?
Answer   7: The people who heard those who had gained the reputation of being wise by
                    saying nothing, would call them fools.
                    The consequence would be that the people who had gained the reputation of
                    being wise by saying nothing would almost bring damnation or divine
                    punishment on those who heard them, because those who heard them would
                    call them fools and according to Holy Bible it is said that the man who calls
                    his brother a fool is in danger of condemnation.

Question 8: What parting advise does he give to Antonio?
Answer   8: The parting advice which Gratiano give to Antonio was that he should not
                    use melancholy as bait in order to catch such a cheap fish as popularity.

                                  Gurukul Steps Coaching Institute
                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper VI
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow: -
Bassanio:
                 Gratiano speaks infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice. His
                 reasons are as two grains of wheat in two bushels of chaff, you shall seek them
                 all day ere you find them; And when you find them, they are not worth the
                 search.
Antonio:
                 Well; tell me now, what lady is the same to whom you swore a secret
                 pilgrimage, That you today promised me of?
Bassanio:
                 It’s not unknown to you, Antonio, How much I have disabled my estate, By
                something showing a more swelling port than my faint means would grant
                continuance;

Question 1: -Explain Bassanio’s comment on Gratiano’s talk.
Answer   1: - In this extract Bassaniuo dismisses Gratiano saying that Gratiano speaks a
                     vast amount of nonsense and that his reasons are not of much value when
                     one has discovered them.

Question 2: - In what sense has the word ‘Pilgrimage’ been used in the above dialogue?
Answer   2: - In the above dialogue, the word ‘Pilgrimage’ has been used as a ‘trip’.
                      Antonio asks Bassanio to , tell him about the lady, the one he swore to
                      make a secret trip to, and the one he had  promised to tell Antonio about.

Question 3: - To which place had Bassanio sworn a secret pilgrimage and what is the
                      outcome of his pilgrimage?
Answer   3: - Bassanio had sworn a secret pilgrimage to Belmont. The outcome of his
                      pilgrimage was that he was able to win the hand of fair Portia, which
                      fetched him not only a good and intelligent wife but also a huge wealth.

Question 4: -What light does Bassanio’s reply to Antonio’s question throw on Bassanio’s
                     character?
Answer   4: - Bassanio’s reply to Antonio’s question shows that Bassanio was a
                      spendthrift young gallant who lived a life of luxury beyond his means. He
                      seems to be a reckless adventurer taking undue advantage of Antonio’s love
                      and generosity.

Question 5: - Explain the phrase ‘swelling port’.
Answer   5: - By using the word ‘swelling port’ Bassanio means to say ‘a puffed up
                      appearance’. He says that he had spent his means by keeping a puffed up
                      appearance than his modest income did allow him.

                              Gurukul Steps Coaching Institute
                                           Merchant of Venice
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow: -
BASSANIO:
And from your love I have a warranty
To unburthen all my plots and purposes,
How to get clear of all the debts I owe.

Question 1: Where are the speakers? Who else had already made their appearances?
                    Write in two sentences What Bassanio is going to ask Antonio?
Answer   1: The speakers are at a street in Venice.
                    Salario, Solanio, Gratiano, Lorenzo had already made their appearences.
                    Bassanio is going to ask for a loan of three thousand ducats from Antonio.
                    He is going to ask for this loan in order to furnish himself to go to Belmont
                    in order to win Portia.

Question 2: What is Bassanio’s financial and emotional condition now? Who or what
                    has caused this?
Answer   2:  Bassanio had he had wasted all his money by putting on a fancier
               appearance than his small funds could support. He had also confessed that
               he owed Antonio the most in money and friendship. Therefore his
               financial condition was that of a bankrupt.
               His emotional condition was like the prodigal son of Christ’s parable,
               who after having spent all his inheritance went repentantly back to his
               father’s house, where he was welcomed with much rejoicing. Bassanio too
               asked for a chance to redeem himself.
               His spendthrift attitude had caused this.

Question 3: Just before Bassanio started speaking, two persons had left the stage.
                    What did one of them say about ‘silence’?
Answer   3: Just before Bassanio started to speak, Gratiano and Lorenzo had left.
                         One of them had advised Antonio that he should not use silence as bait in
                         order to catch such a cheap fish as popularity.

Question 4: What had Bassanio to comment upon that person?
Answer   4: Bassanio commented that Gratiano gives out much idle talk, more than any
                   man in Venice. His speech consists of about two grains of good sense hidden
                   in two bushels of nonsense. You may search all day till you find them, and
                   when you do find them, you discover that they were not worth the search.

Question 5: Give an example of the love that Antonio and Bassanio share?
Answer   5: Antonio loves Bassanio so much that he is ready to give Bassanio all he has,
                    provided it is respectful. He has a soft corner for his friend though he is
                    spendthrift and has squandered away the former’s loan. He is ready to stand
                    surety for a loan since he knows no one will risk money for this extravagant
                     man.
                     In the beginning, Bassanio appears to be a fair weather friend who always
                     asks Antonio for money. But later his depth and sincerity come to the fore.
                     He tries to dissuade Antonio from the terrible bond. He almost forgets his
                     wife in the vehemence of his protestations of love for Antonio.

Question 6: On what condition would Antonio help his friend and how?
Answer   6: Antonio would help his friend Bassanio on a condition that his demand was
                    respectful, with a respectful intention, for a respectful purpose.
              He would help Bassanio financially and personally with his uttermost means,




                             Gurukul Steps Coaching Institute
                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper VII

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow: -

I urge this childhood proof,
Because what follows is pure innocence.
I owe you much; and, like a wilful youth,
That which I owe is lost: but if you please
To shoot another arrow that self way
Which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt,
As I will watch the aim, or to find both,
Or bring your latter hazard back again,
And thankfully rest debtor for the first.

Question 1: -Where are Bassanio and Antonio? What has Antonio said earlier in
                      reply to which Bassanio speaks these words?

Answer 1: - Bassanio and Antonio are in the street of Venice.
                    Earlier Antonio had asked Bassanio to reveal to him all his schemes and
                    intentions by means of which he hoped to get clear of all the debts of
                   Antonio. Antonio had also promised that if the schemes of Bassanio lay
                   within the limits, which men might regard honorable he would make his
                   extremest  means open to Bassanio’s every need.



Question 2:-Explain the following:-
                     
‘Or bring your latter hazard back again,
And thankfully rest debtor for the first.’

Answer 2: - In these lines Bassanio means to say that if his scheme worked he’ll bring
                    Antonio’s second loan back again and just owe him thankfully for the
                    first.

Question 3: -What confession has Bassanio made to Antonio earlier about his
                     financial position? How can you conclude that Bassanio is spendthrift?

Answer 3: - Earlier Bassanio had confessed to Antonio that he had wasted all his
                    money by putting on a fancier appearance than his small funds could
                    Support. He had also confessed that he owed Antonio the most in money
                    and friendship.
                    I can conclude that Bassanio is a spendthrift for he himself confessed that
                    he has a reckless and something ‘too prodigal’ behavior which has made
                    him bankrupt.

Question 4: - What experience of his school days does Bassanio relate to justify his
                      plan for repaying the loan?

       Answer 4: - During school days, when Bassanio lost one arrow, he shot another one
                           of identical length in the identical direction and with more thoughtful
                           observation he found the one he lost, and by risking both, he often found
                           both. Bassanio gives this childhood experience to Antonio to justify his
                           plan for repaying the loan.

Question 5:- How does Bassanio propose to pay back his previous loan as well as the
                     present loan?

Answer 5: - Bassanio wanted to marry Portia a rich heiress of Belmont. By marrying her
                    he would become the master of her riches and thus he would be able to pay
                    back his previous loan and present loan. If in case he failed to pay back his
                    previous loan he would definitely repay his present loan and remain
                    thankfully indebted for his previous loan.


                               






                                 Gurukul Steps Coaching Institute
                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow: -
BASSANIO:
In Belmont is a lady richly left,
And she is fair, and, fairer than that word,
Of wondrous virtues.

Question 1: Name the lady and her maid-in-waiting. Which three qualities of hers are
                    described here?
Answer   1: The lady is Portia and Nerissa is her maid-in-waiting.
                    The three qualities of Portia described here are that she is rich, fair and
                     Virtuous.

Question 2: How is Bassanio so hopeful of winning her?
Answer   2: Bassanio was so confident of winning Portia’s love because when Portia’s
                   father was alive and Bassanio used to visit him in the company of Marquis of
                   Montferrat, he used to receive fair speechless messages of love from Portia.

Question 3: With whom is the lady compared to and how?
Answer   3: Portia is compare to Portia who was Cato’s daughter and Brutus’ wife.
              Cato was a famous Roman scholar and orator.
              Brutus was the chief conspirator and assassin of Julius Caesar.
              Cato had a daughter named Portia who was not only very beautiful but
              was also very resourceful. She was married to Brutus.
              They are mentioned here because of two reasons. Firstly, it is to
               compare the virtues of Portia of Belmont to Portia who was Cato’s
               daughter and Brutus’ wife. Secondly, it shows Shakespeare’s interest
               in Roman history, and particularly so in the case of all that pertained to
               Julius Caesar.

.

Question 4: How does Belmont become Colchis strand? Write in detail.
Answer   4: We find the reference of ‘Colchis Strand’ in a famous of legend of ancient
               Greece. A celebrated hero called Jason, with his companions went on a
               Perilous voyage to Colchisin the black sea, in search of this fabulous golden
               fleece.
               Bassanio compares the suitors from all over the world coming to Belmont
               to win the hand of Portia just as Jason went in search of ‘golden fleece’ to
               Colchis strand.
               Here Colchis  is a metaphor for Belmont.

Question 5: What does Bassanio want from Antonio and Why?
Answer   5: Bassanio wanted a sum of three thousand Ducats from Antonio to furnish
                    himself to go to Belmont to win fair Portia.

Question 6: There are three points in Antonio’s reply. Write about them.
Answer   6: There were three points in Antonio’s reply. He explained to Bassanio that
                    all his money was tied up in many trading ventures and that all his ships
                    were at sea. He would nevertheless, help Bassanio by standing surety for
                    him if the latter could borrow the money from someone else.
               

                                 Gurukul Steps Coaching Institute
                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper VIII

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow: -

Sometimes from her eyes
I did receive fair speechless messages:
Her name is Portia; nothing undervalued(170)
To Cato's daughter, Brutus' Portia.
Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth;
For the four winds blow in from every coast
Renowned suitors, and her sunny locks
Hang on her temples like a golden fleece;(175)
Which makes her seat of Belmont, Colchos' strand,
And many Jasons come in quest of her.

Question 1: -What is meant by, ‘fair speechless messages’ and ‘nothing
                      undervalued’?

Answer    1: - ‘Fair speechless messages’ means silent glances which revealed that
                        Portia also loved Bassanio.
                       ‘Nothing undervalued’ means in no way inferior ‘ Bassanio means to
                        say that his Portia was in no way inferior to famous historical character
                        ‘Portia’ who was Cato’s daughter and Brutus’ wife.

Question 2: - Who are Cato and Brutus? Why are they referred to here?

Answer    2: - Cato was a famous Roman scholar and orator.
                       Brutus was the chief conspirator and assassin of Julius Caesar.
                       Cato had a daughter named Portia who was not only very beautiful but
                       was also very resourceful. She was married to Brutus.
                       They are mentioned here because of two reasons. Firstly, it is to
                        compare the virtues of Portia of Belmont to Portia who was Cato’s
                        daughter and Brutus’ wife. Secondly, it shows Shakespeare’s interest
                       in Roman history, and particularly so in the case of all that pertained to
                       Julius Caesar.

Question 3: -What evidence is there in the passage to show that Portia’s fame had
                      spread throughout the world?

Answer   3: - The reference to the number of suitors from far and wide, who admire
                      her and are eager to marry her convince us that her fame had spread
                      throughout the world.
Question 4:- Explain in your own words the meaning and the significance of the
                     ‘golden fleece which Jason sought in Colchos.

Answer 4:- We find the reference of ‘Golden Fleece’ in a famous of legend of ancient
                   Greece where it is referred to the fleece of winged ram, Chrysomalios. A
                   celebrated hero cassed Jason, with his companions went on a perilous
                   voyage to Colchisin the black sea, in search of this fabulous golden
                   fleece.
                   Bassanio compares the suitors from all over the world coming to Belmont
                   to win the hand of Portia just as Jason went in search of ‘golden fleece’
                   Here golden fleece is a metaphor for Portia.

Question 5: - Describe briefly the first impression the audience have of Portia in the
                      opening scene.

Answer 5:- Portia, the heroine of the play is introduced to the audience in the opening
                   scene. As per the description of Portia given to Antonio by Bassanio, the
                   audience gets an impression that the beauty of Portia is beyond
                   description, rich and a virtuous lady.


                                 Gurukul Steps Coaching Institute
                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper IX

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow: -
ANTONIO:
Thou know'st that all my fortunes are at sea;
Neither have I money, nor commodity
To raise a present sum: therefore go forth,
Try what my credit can in Venice do;
That shall be rack'd, even to the uttermost,
To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia.
Go, presently inquire, and so will I,
Where money is; and I no question make,
To have it of my trust, or for my sake.

Question 1: - Why is Antonio unable to help Bassanio at once?

Answer 1: - Antonio was unable to help Bassanio at once because he had no ready
                   cash at that time as his business ventures were still at sea.

Question 2: - ‘To raise a present sum’. How much was this sum? Why was it required
                       urgently?

Answer 2: - The present sum was ‘Three thousand ducats’.
                     It was required urgently so as to equip Bassanio suitably for his
                     expedition to Belmont and take up the ‘lottery of caskets’ and win
                     Portia.

Question 3: -What does Antonio instruct Bassanio to do in this regard?
Answer 3: - In this regard Antonio instructs Bassanio to take loan using Antonio’s
                    name for credit.

Question 4: - Give the meaning of: -
(a) That shall be rack’d, even to the uttermost
(b) To have it of my trust or for my sake

Answer 4: -
(a) Here Antonio means to say that Bassanio should stretch Antonio’s credit in the market
      to its uttermost limits to raise a loan for himself.

(b) Here Antonio means to say that he will not object but give his consent that Bassanio
      may borrow the money on his account or in his name.

Question 5:-In the opening scene, the theme of romance and love is introduced. How is
                    this scene linked to the Bond story?

Answer 5: - In this scene Bassanio’s need for money and Antonio’s assurance that he can
                    borrow money in his name, originates the main plot of the play, i.e. the
                    ‘Bond Story’

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                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow: -
PORTIA:
Good sentences, and well pronounced.
NERISSA:
They would be better, if well followed.

Question 1: Where are the speakers? Introduce them separately.
Answer   1: The speakers are in a hall of Portia’s palace in Belmont.
                    The first speaker is Portia, the rich mistress of an estate and a virtuous lady
                    who is no less than Portia the Cato’s daughter and Brutus’ wife. She is an
                    ideal combination of intellect and romance. The suitors from all over the
                    world want to win her as their wife but she loves Bassanio. She can choose
                    her husband only according to the lottery designed by her father. She is a
                    generous lady who is essentially feminine.
                    The second speaker is Nerissa who is a close confident of Portia. She is a
                    lady-in-waiting. She is a lady with a sharp tongue and has a true sense of
                    humor. She makes an excellent foil for Portia. She is happy in Portia’s
                    happiness and feels distressed when Portia is troubled.

Question 2: On what note does the scene open? What similarity can be found with its
                    opening with that of the previous one?
Answer   2: This scene opens with a note of melancholy.
                    Portia’s feeling of ‘weariness’ links up the scene with the previous scene
                    where in a similar way Antonio complains of sadness. However Portia’s
                    sadness is that of a young vivacious girl who wants to get married to a man
                    of her own choice but is hampered by the will of her dead father while there
                    is no specific reason given for Antonio’s sadness. The previous scene
                    introduced us to two min characters Antonio and Bassanio while this scene
                    introduces us to the heroine of the play.

Question 3: What has Nerissa just uttered to make Portia comment so?
Answer   3: On responding to Portia’s complaint of being weary of the world, Nerissa
                   had said that if Portia had miseries as abundant as her good fortunes were, she
                   would not have been weary of this world. Those who have excess of anything
                   suffer as much as those who have nothing. Hence middle position is the only
                   happy position. It is no small happiness to be removed from wealth and
                   poverty. Those who have too much of the good things of the world are likely
                   to become prematurely old because they indulge in them in excess. But those
                   who have moderate wealth and just enough are likely to live longer and have
                   a happier life. This utterance of Nerissa made Portia comment so.

Question 4: Give the meaning of ‘mean’, ‘surfeit’, ‘superfluity’, and ‘competency’ as
                    they are used in the text.
Answer   4:
(a) Mean: This is a typical example of Elizabethan with when humor was derived from the use of words similar in form but different in meaning. In the first case mean means ‘poor or slight’ and secondly ‘moderate or sufficient amount’.

(b) Surfeit: Have excess of

(c) Superfluity: Having too much or wastefulness

(d) Competency: Just enough


Question 5: What do the remarks of both the ladies in the extract mean?
Answer  5: When Portia remarked that Nerissa had expressed her sentiments excellently,
                   Nerissa commented that the worth of her maxims can only be gained if they
                   were put into practice.

Question 6: What is the bone of contention? How does Portia see it?
Answer 6: The bone of contention was the lottery devised by Portia’s father through
                  which Portia was to choose her husband. Portia’s dilemma was that because of
                   her father’s will, she could neither choose the one who she liked or reject the
                   one who she disliked. This made her weary of this world.


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                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow: -
PORTIA:
I can easier teach twenty what were good to
be done, than be one of the twenty to follow mine own(15)
teaching. The brain may devise laws for the blood; but a
hot temper leaps o'er a cold decree:

Question 1: What is the backdrop of the scene?
Answer   1: In this scene we are introduced to the heroine, Portia, in her home at
                    Belmont. She is seen to be doubtful concerning her future, owing to the
                    strange provisions of her father’s will to the manner in which she is to be
                    won by the suitor who chooses correctly between the three caskets. Her
                   clever and witty maid Nerissa reasons out the situation with her and tries to
                    comfort her.

Question 2: What has Portia just said about ‘chaples’ and ‘churches’.
Answer   2: Chapel is a church which can accommodate a small number of worshippers.
                    Portia says that if it were as easy to follow out moral ideal as it is merely to
                     know about it, then there would be so many worshippers that all the small
                     chapels would have to be replaced by big churches.

Question 3: Who is a ‘good divine’? What does divine mean? Why is he good?
Answer   3: ‘Good divine’ is a good preacher.
                    Divine means priest or a preacher.
                    He is good because he practices what he preaches.

Question 4: Explain: ‘The brain…..cold decree’.
Answer   4: In this speech Portia means to say that The brain may come up with
                    laws to control society, but one hot temper jumps over a cold law.

Question 5: Give the meaning of :
(a) Brain: power of reasoning
(b) Blood: Passion
(c) Hot temper: Hot passion
(d) Cold decree: Good advice or law

Question 6: Which example does Portia go on to prove her statement? Write in detail.
Answer   6: To prove her statement Portia gives the example ‘hare and meshes’. She
                   typifies madness as a young man, wisdom as an old man and the law or rule
                  formed by reason is compared to a fence or a barrier which confines the
                   individual within limits. She says that youth is as agile and active as a hare
                  while old age is as feeble and slow as lame. Therefore the rule formed by
                   wisdom to check the recklessness of youth is violated by the young age.

Question 7: How does she react to the word choose? Explain the pun on the word ‘will’.
Answer   7: On reacting to the word choose she sighs and says that the word ‘choose’
                    was not for her. she could neither choose the man she liked to be her husband
                    nor refuse the man she disliked. In this manner the desires of a living
                   daughter were checked by the will of a dead father.
                   There is a pun on the word ‘will’. In Portia’s case it stands for her desire but
                    in her father’s case it stands for the testament of will.


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                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow: -
PORTIA:
I pray thee, over-name them; and as thou namest
them I will describe them; and according to my description
level at my affection
NERISSA:
First, there is the Neapolitan prince.

Question 1: What change in Portia’s mood can be found now?
Answer   1: We find a great change in Portia’s mood now. Instead of being a daughter
                   complaining against her father’s will she has now become a dutiful daughter
                  who is determined to marry according to the wishes of her dead father.
                  She no longer is in a pensive mood but her wit and sense of humor is clearly
                  brought out in her criticisms of her various suitors.

Question 2: What do over-name and ‘level’ mean? How is Nerissa responsible in
                    changing Portia’s mood?
Answer 2: ‘Over-name’ means name them one by one and ‘level’ means guess.
                  When Neriss found Portia in a state of melancholy she tried to soothe her
                  troubled mind by pointing out that Portia had every reason to be happy
                  because of her good fortune. She then explained to Portia why she must obey
                  her father’s will by saying

                          ‘Your father was ever virtuous; and holy men at their
                           death have good inspirations;’

Question 3: How does Portia describe the gentleman in the extract? From where has he
                   come?
Answer   3: Portia said that Neapolitan prince was just like a wild horse himself. He did
                    nothing but talk of his horse and made it a great part of his own qualification
                    that he could shoe his own horse. Portia said that she feared that his mother
                    must have had a love affair with a black-smith.

Question 4: Who is the second one to be described and how?
Answer   4: The second one to be described was County Palatine. Portia described him as
                    a person who was always angry and frowned as if he meant to say that he did
                    not care if Portia wanted him or not. He listened to jovial stories without a
                    smile. Portia feared that he would become a sad philosopher when he grew
                    old because he was unusually gloomy in his young age. She said that she
                    should rather marry a skull with a bone in his mouth than either of those two.

Question 5: Explain the gentle satire and humor in the description of the Frenchman.
Answer   5: The description of Monsieur Le Bon which Portia gives of this character is a
                    satire on the traditional, affected, vivacious Frenchman. She said that since
                    he was a creation of God so he should be accepted as a man because it was a
                    sin to ridicule others but he was more attached to his horse than Neapolitan
                    prince. He had a worse angry look which outdid the Count. He had every
                    man’s fault but he himself was no man at all. If a thrush sang he would start
                    dancing. He was so energetic that he could not keep quiet. He would draw
                    his sword and fence with his own shadow. If she married him it would be as
                    if she was married to twenty husbands.


                               Gurukul Steps Coaching Institute
                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow: -
NERISSA:
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.

Question 1: Who is ‘he’? How does Portia feel towards him?
Answer   1: He is the young German, the Duke of Saxony's nephew.
                 Portia described him saying that he was very bad in the morning when he was
                 sober and still worse in the afternoon when he was drunk. When at his best, he
                 was a miserable type of a man and when he was at his worst he was no better
                 than a beast.

Question 2: What do Nerissa’s words imply?
Answer   2: Nerissa’s words implied that if he volunteered to choose and chose the right
                   casket, Portia would be refusing to honor her father’s will if she did not
                   accept him.

Question 3: What does Portia jokingly suggest in order to get rid of this man? Which
                    word does she use for him?
Answer   3: In order to get rid of him Portia jokingly suggested that she should place a
                   large glass of Rhine wine on the wrong casket, as long as that temptation was
                   outside, he would chose it. She said that she would do anything rather to be
                   married to a drunkard.
                   The word that Portia used for him was ‘sponge’.

Question 4: What are the difficulties between Portia and the Englishman?
Answer   4: The difficulties between Portia and the Englishman were of communication.
                    Portia said nothing to him because he did not understood her nor she did
                    understand him. He spoke neither Latin, French nor Italian and Portia did not
                    have the knowledge of English.

Question 5: How is Portia’s description of Falconbridge a good humored satire on typical
                   Englishmen of the time?
Answer   5: Portia’s description of Falconbridge, the young English Baron is a good
                   humored satire on the typical travelled Englishman of the time. Shakespeare
                   intends to show a certain sturdy national spirit of independence in the young
                  man who had never troubled to learn the language of other people. The
                 description of the mixed nature of his dress is a shaft at the expense of of the
                 young men of fashion in England who were imitating continental fashions in
                 dress.

Question 6: What has been mentioned earlier to show that there is a bond between the
                    Frenchman and the Scotsman?
Answer   6: The countries of Scotland and France had both been at war with England for
                    hundreds of years, and had frequently entered into alliance with each other
                    against England. To show that there was a bond between Frenchman and
                    Scotsman, Portia had said that Frenchman and Scotsman had submitted to
                     the blow of Englishman without having the spirit to return it.

Question 7: What quality of Portia is revealed from all these descriptions?
Answer   7: The wit and humor of Portia is revealed from all these descriptions.




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                                           Merchant of Venice
                                              Test paper X

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow: -
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?
Question 1: - What has Portia just said in response to which Nerissa speaks these words?
Answer   1: - In this scene, Portia is seen to be doubtful concerning her future, owing to
                     the strange provisions of her father’s will as to the manner in which she is to
                     be won by the suitor who chooses correctly between the three caskets. She
                     complains that she can neither choose the person she liked nor reject the
                     person she disliked. In this manner the will of a living daughter curbed by
                     the will of a dead father. In response of her complaint, Nerissa speaks these
                    words.

Question 2: -Describe the lottery referred to in the extract.
Answer   2: -According to the lottery devised by Portia’s father, each suitor had to choose
                     amongst the three caskets of gold, silver and lead and the one guided by the
                     meaning of the posy associated with it chooses the casket containing the
                      portrait of Portia will win Portia’s hand.

Question  3: - Give the reactions of Portia as well as Nerissa to the lottery.
Answer    3: - Portia complains that because of the lottery she could neither choose the
                     one she liked nor reject the one she disliked. In this way the will of a living
                     daughter curbed by the will of dead father.
                     Nerissa on the other hand does not agree to the reaction of Portia but says
                     that Portia’s father was ever a holy man and such men at their time of death
                     have good inspirations; so the lottery which her father  had planned would
                     only be correctly won by the person who truly loved Portia.

Question 4: - Give the meaning of: -
                           ‘never be chosen by any rightly, but who shall rightly love’
Answer    4: - In this sentence, Nerissa means to say that the lottery shall only be won by
                      the person who should love u truly.

Question 5: - Portia is melancholic in the beginning of the scene as it was the case with
                     Antonio in the previous scene. What is the difference between Antonio’s
                     melancholy and that of Portia?
Answer  5: - Portia is melancholic because she can not choose her love Bassanio as her
                    husband until he wins her by the lottery devised by her father. She is hurt by
                    the system in which the will of the living daughter is curbed by the will of a
                    dead father.
                    On the other hand, in the previous scene we find Antonio in a melancholic
                    mood but no frank reason is given about his sadness. He denies that his
                    venture abroad makes him sad but says that he himself does not know the
                    cause of his sadness.

Question 6: - How does this scene show a mood of melancholy, anxiety and suspense?
Answer  6: - When the scene opens we find Portia is in a melancholic mood because of
                     the will of her father which curbs her right to choose the husband of her
                     liking.
                     Later in the scene we see the rising anxiety of Portia when Nerissa explains
                     to her the qualities of all the suitors that have. Because of her love for
                    Bassanio, she finds suitors to be imperfect for her and is worried if the
                    lottery would favor any one of them.
                    When the scene closes we are informed by Nerissa that suitors have decided
                    to trouble Portia no more with their suits and would return home a servant
                    enters announcing the arrival a fifth suitor, the Prince of Morocco. The
                    audience is left in suspense if Portia would be won by the fifth suitor or
                   would she get her love, Bassanio.

An Ideal Study Material For ICSC Student containing comprehension type questions and answers as above, righht from Act I to Act V.

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https://pothi.com/pothi/book/ebook-neera-kumar-hastings-merchant-venice-question-and-aswers