MOV, ACT V, SCENE QUESTION ANSWERS

Extract 1

(i) Which topic is being discussed in the extract?

(ii) Who is Thisbe? What is meant by 'fearfully o'ertrip the dew'?

(iii) Give briefly the story of Thisbe.

(iv) Who is Dido? Why is she standing with a willow in her hand? What do the 'willow' and the 'wild sea-banks' signify?

(v) Why are the stories of Thisbe and Dido given in the context? In your answer, bring out comparison aimed at , between the characters in the play and the stories of Thisbe as well as of Dido.

Answers

(i) The theme of love is being discussed in the extract.

(ii) Thisbe was a beautiful maiden of Babylonia who was in love with Pyramus, who also belonged to the same place. The words 'fearfully o'ertrip the dew' means that Thisbe, with a heart throbbing with fear, came daintly, stepping over the dewy grass.

(iii) Thisbe and Pyramus lived in adjoining houses but their parents would not let them marry. They managed to talk to each other though a hole in the garden wall. One moonlit night they arranged to meet secretly at a tomb in a forest outside the city. Thisbe arrived first, but hearing the roar of a lion she ran away in terror, leaving behind her mantle. The lion seized the mantle, tore it and stained it with blood of an ox it had killed. Pyramus came later. Seeing the stained mantle he concluded that Thisbe had been devoured by the lion and stabbed himself. Later when Thisbe returned to the tomb she saw the dead body of Pyramus and killed herself. They are symbols of faithful love.

(iv) Dido was the queen of Carthage and the foundress of the city. After the Trojan War, the ship of Aeneas, a Trojan prince came to Carthage and was entertained by Dido. She fell in love with him.But the gods wanted Aeneas to go to Italy. Aeneas cruelly deserted her and set sail secretly at night. Dido heart broken, lit a funeral fire and died in its flames. Her anxious wait for Aeneas is symbolised by her standing with a willow in hand.

Willow and the wild sea banks are emblems of of forsaken love. Queen Dido stood on the wild sea-shore, carrying her hand a willow- wand, the emblem of foresaken love, waving to her lover Aeneas in the ship, vainly appealing to him to return to her.

(v) The stories of Thisbe and Dido are given in the context to heightenthe theme of love. While Thisbe's story tells of faithful lovers, Dido's story speaks of foresaken love. Jessica refers to Thisbe's story and refers to her faithful love for Lorenzo. Dido's story is narrated by Lorenzo to taunt her at the fate of Dido. Constancy of the love of Lorenzo and Jessica is highlighted in the scene.

Extract 2

(i) What did Jessica steal from wealthy Jew in such a night?

(ii) What precaution were taken by Jessica and Lorenzo to ensure that she could escape from her father's house undetected?

(iii) How did Jessica's father react to her escape? What were Jessica's feeling's just before her elopement?

(iv) What was the role played by Lorenzo in Jessica's escape from the Jew?

(v) What do Venice and Belmont stand for? What does the elopement of Lorenzo and Jessica from Venice to Belmont signify?

Answers

(i) Jessica stole money and jewel from the wealthy jew.

(ii) Jessica and Lorenzo took all precautions to ensure that she could escape from her father's house undetected. Lorenzo came to take her as a part of a masquerade dressed in costumes and wearing a mask. Jessica dressed herself as a boy and they eloped in a moon-lit night when Shylock was away at Bassanio's house for dinner.

(iii) Jessica's father reacted violently at Jessica's escape. He was angry at his daughter for eloping with a Christian and taking away with her, his money and jewels. He wished to see her dead and lying in a coffin with his ducats and jewels in it. He sought the help of the Duke and his friend Tubal to track down and find Jessica and Lorenzo. Just before her elopement Jessica feels ashamed of herself for her masculine disguise and for stealing her father's money and jewellery.

(iv) Lorenzo is quick to see the masquerade he and his friends have planned as an opportunity for eloping with Jessica. He decides that Jessica disguised as a page will be his torch-bearer in the masque. When Jessica feels embarrassed in a page-boy's dress, he satisfies her by saying that she looks charming even in the disguise of a boy and finally takes her with him.

(v) Venice stands for a busy life, full of problems, businesses and hardships while Belmont stands for peace, love and tranquility. Elopement of Lorenzo and Jessica from Venice to Belmont means they have freed themselves from the destructive facts of life at Venice and have come to Belmont, where there is peace and tranquility and the nurtures their love.

Extract 3

(i) Where does this scene take place? Who is Stephano? What message does he bring?

(ii) According to Stephano,what has his mistress been doing during her absence from home?

(iii) In reality, what has she been doing during her absence? Who accompanied the mistress?

(iv) What role did Portia's maid play in the company of her mistress?

(v) Explain how the Jessica-Lorenzo romance is linked to the love story of Portia and Bassanio.

Answers

(i) The given scene takes place in the garden in front of Portia's house in Belmont. Stephano is a servant of Portia. He brings the message that Lady Portia will arrive at Belmont before day-break.

(ii) According to Stephano, during her absence from home his mistress was visiting the roadside shrines with holy crosses. She knelt and offered prayers at these holy places for blessings in her wedded life.

(iii) In reality, during her absence from home she went to Venice disguised as a Doctor of Law, and successfully argued for Antonio in his bond-forfeiture case and saved him from the evil designs of Shylock. Nerissa accompanied her mistress as the lawyer's clerk.

(iv) In the company of her mistress, her maid played the role of a lawyer's clerk. Once the deed document was made, Portia's maid went to Shylock's house for his signature on the document.

(v) Jessica-Lorenzo romance is linked to the love story of Portia and Bassanio. Lorenzo is Bassanio's friend and well wisher. Jessica is

Shylock's daughter who finds life at her home hell. Bassanio's dinner party provides Jessica and Lorenzo an opportunity to elope. They elope to Belmont and stay at Portia's mansion during her absence.

Extract 4

(i) Who speaks these words? Where is he now? To whom is he speaking?

(ii) What has the speaker said about music before his extract?

(iii) According to the speaker, what effect does music have on animals? What is the effect of lack of music on men?

(iv) Give the meaning of:

(a) patines of bright gold:

(b) floor of heaven:

(v) According to the Elizabethan view of music, what are the orbs to be doing? Why can't human beings hear the music of the heavens in this life?

Answers

(i) Lorenzo speaks these words. He is in the garden in front of Portia's house in Belmont. He is speaking to Jessica.

(ii) Before the given extract the speaker has asked Stephano to arrange for some music in the open air.

(iii) According to the speaker if animals hear music, they quickly come to a standstill and remain quietly listening and gazing with calm eyes. Lorenzo says that a man who lacks music is capable of treachery, intrigue and dishonesty. His spirit has no brighter feelings, his emotions are sordid and dark as hell. Such men cannot be trusted.

(iv)

(a) glittering plates of bright gold.

(b) Lorenzo describes the sky as the floor of heaven.

(v) Elizabethans believed that every star or planet produced, in its motion, a peculiar musical note and the combination of all notes composed a peculiar musical note and the combination of all notes composed the harmony of the universe. The angels are said to be listening to the music of stars. Our souls are immortal and they produce divine music. But as long as the clothing of mortality the human body encloses the soul, we cannot hear the music of the heavens.

Extract 5

(i) Who was Orpheus? What effect did the music played by Orpheus have on objects in nature?

(ii) Give the meaning of:

(a) stratagems:

(b) spoils:

(c) motions:

(iii) What has Lorenzo said earlier about the effect of trumpet sound on wild colts?

(iv) What does Lorenzo say about the man who has no sense of music?

(v) What is referred to as Erebus? Why it is used in the extract?

Answers

(i) Orpheus was the son of the Muse Calliope. He was a famous poet of Thrace. He was presented with a lyre by Apollo and instructed by muses in its use. He enchanted with its music not only the wild beasts, but also the trees and rocks upon Olympus. It is said that he made trees, stones and streams move from place to place by the power of his music.

(ii)

(a) a plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent or achieve an end

(b) diminish or destroy the value or quality of

(c) the act or process of moving, or a particular action or movement

(iii) Earlier Lorenzo had said that at the sound of trumpet, wild unbroken horses, rushing madly over the plains with energy come to a standstill.They remain quiet, listen and gaze calmly.

(iv) Lorenzo says that the man, who has no sense of music is capable of treachery, intrigue and dishonesty. His spirit has no spark of brighter feelings and he is lifeless like the world sleeping at night. His emotions are sordid and as dark as hell. Such a man can never be trusted.

(v) Erebus was the son of Chaos. His name signifies darkness. In classical mythology it was considered also as the home of the dead, an area of darkness near hell. Departed souls had to walk through this area during their passage to Hades. Lorenzo says that a man, who does not love music, has thoughts as dark as night and emotions as dark as hell.

Extract 6

(i) What is meant by 'a hoop of gold' and 'a paltry ring'?

(ii) About which ring are the speakers talking? What information does Bassanio give to describe the ring?

(iii) What promise was made by Gratiano when he had got the ring from Nerissa? To whom did he give the ring?

(iv) State where the ring is at present? In what way is the ring, the cause for the quarrel between Gratiano and Nerissa?

(v) How is the ring episode linked with theme of love and loyalty? How can you conclude from the extract that Nerissa was very angry with Gratiano?

Answers

(i) 'A hoop of gold' means a circlet of gold. 'A paltry ring' means a ring of small value.

(ii) The speakers are talking about the ring Nerissa had given to Lorenzo at the time of their marriage. Gratiano describes the ring as a circlet of gold, a mere worthless ring, with a rhyming inscription on it, such as the manufacturers of knives engrave on their blades: 'Love me and leave me not'.

(iii) When he had got the ring from Nerissa, Gratiano had vowed that he would never part with it during life and that after death it would

be buried in the grave with him. He gave the ring to the lawyer's clerk.

(iv) The ring is with Nerissa. The ring is the cause of quarrel between Gratiano and Nerissa as Gratiano is not aware that Nerissa herself is the lawyer's clerk, whom he gave the ring. She accuses him of not having given it to a young clerk but to a woman.

(v) The ring episode is linked to the theme of love and loyalty.Portia and Nerissa had given their husbands rings at the time of their marriage which their husbands promised never to part with. The ring episode gives them a fresh chance to further renew their vows of love and loyalty.

Extract 7

(i) About which ring is Portia speaking?

(ii) When was the ring given away and by whom? What arguments does Portia give to show that Bassanio should not have given away the ring?

(iii) Explain how reluctantly bassanio gave away his wife's ring? What compelled him to part with the ring?

(iv) What did Bassanio offer instead of the ring?

(v) Who else in the play had given away his ring? What reasons did that person give for doing so?

Answers

(i) Portia is speaking about the ring she had given to Bassanio at the time of their marriage.

(ii) Bassanio had given away the ring to the lawyer who saved Antonio from Shylock's clutches and would accept no other gift except the ring. Portia says that if Bassanio knew the special qualities of the ring, if he knew half the virtues of the woman who gave it to him and if he had considered how he was honour bound to keep it as he had vowed, Bassanio should not have given away the ring.

(iii) Bassanio gave away the ring very reluctantly when the lawyer insisted on having the ring as a gift. Initially Bassanio said that it was of not much value and would give him the best ring available in Venice. Later he revealed that it was his wife's gift and had promised her never to part with it. After the exit of the lawyer, upon Antonio's advice, he finally parted with the ring.

(iv) Instead of the ring, Bassanio offered to give the lawyer the most valuable ring in Venice as a present.

(v) Gratiano too had given away his ring. He has given the ring to the lawyer's clerk. The lawyer's clerk insisted on getting the ring as a gift for his services in saving Antonio from the clutches of Shylock. The for his services in saving Antonio from the clutches of Shylock. The clerk's insistence on having the ring made Gratiano to part with it.

Extract 8

(i) How has sweet lady given Antonio life and living?

(ii) What is 'a special deed of gift'? Give its contents. Explain the implication of 'without a fee' in the sixth of the extract.

(iii) On whose request was the deed made?On what condition was the deed made?

(iv) How does the ring-episode create an atmosphere of comedy as well as joy?

(v) What is meant by 'manna'? What manna was dropped in the context? Who are the starved people?

Answers

(i) Portia has saved the life of Antonio in the trial in which Shylock insisted on having the pound of Antonio's flesh as penalty for forfeiture of the bond. By arguing that no drop of blood should be shed nor any excess or less of flesh, to be cut off but only a pound of flesh is to be cut, Portia cornered Shylock and saved Antonio's life. In her verdict she gave half of Shylock's wealth to Antonio.

Besides, she gave him the news of the safe arrival of three of his ships. Thus, Portia gave him a new life and the means of living.

(ii) 'Special deed of gift' is the gift document drafted by Portia and signed by Shylock. The deed of gift mentions that Shylock's property and wealth would be gifted to Lorenzo and Jessica after Shylock's death. 'Without a fee' means freely without any special charges for the service.

(iii) The deed was made at the request of Antonio. The deed was made on the condition that Shylock's wealth will be given to Lorenzo and Jessica after his death and Shylock will become a Christian.

(iv) The ring-episode creates an atmosphere of comedy as well as joy. The comedy develops in the embarrassment of the husbands as they try to account for the loss of their wedding rings. The arguments and counter-arguments among the couples provide amusement to the audience. Finally, the three pairs of lovers reunite. Antonio's ships return safely and the play ends happily with the triumph of loyalty, romance and the defeat of greed and hatred.

(v) In the old Testament of the Bible, the Jews are described as wandering in the desert on their way from Egypt to the promised land. When they were starving, God sent them divine food called 'manna' miraculously from heaven to feed them (Exodus: 16/14-21). This happened in answer to Moses' prayer to God. In this context, the gift deed was the manna. Lorenzo means that just as the heavenly

manna was welcome to the Jews so is this happy news of the deed welcome to Lorenzo, Jessica and Antonio.

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Question 2.

What does Lorenzo tell Stephano to signify?

Answer:

Lorenzo tells him to go and tell the servants that their mistress was about to come and they should bring their musical instruments in the open air.

Question 3.

Describe the moon-light scene and the playing of music.

Answer:

The moon-light is falling gently on the bank. Musicians are playing on the musical instruments. A soft silence and the time of night befit the playing of musical instruments.

Question 4.

Describe briefly the beauty of the sky.

Answer:

The sky is studded with the bright, golden stars. Even the smallest planet produces an angelic music.

Question 5.

Why cannot human beings hear the music of spheres?

Answer:

Human beings cannot hear the music of the Spheres because their bodies are made of insensitive clay.

Question 1.

What effect does music produce on wild horses?

Answer:

Wild horses become lame on hearing music.

Question 2.

What impact did Orpheus create by the power of his music?

Answer:

Orpheus had the power to draw trees, stones and floods to him with his music.

Question 3.

How does Lorenzo characterise a man who does not like music?

Answer:

Such man is fit for treacherous actions, plots and acts of plunder. The impulses of the mind of such a person are dull as the time of night. His feelings are as dull as the regions of hell.

Question 4.

Is a man also does not love music reliable?

Answer:

He is not reliable.

Question 5.

What do you understand by treasons, stratagems and spoils?

Answer:

Treasons mean treacherous deeds, Stratogems are Conspiracies and spoils are looting.

Question 1.

Which quarrel is referred to in the extract? What does Shakespeare want to show by introducing a quarrel among the lovers?

Answer:

The quarrel referred to in the extract is between Gratiano and his wife Nerissa. This is about the ring given by Nerissa to her husband which he does not have in his possession now.

Shakespeare introduces a quarrel among the lovers to produce the comic effect in the serious atmosphere’ of the play. ‘The Merchant of Venice’ assumes the seriousness of a tragedy, particularly in the Trial Scene when Antonio’s life is threatened by the forfeiture of the bond. The playwright introduces the ring episode to relieve the tension. Thus, the play concludes happily. „ The quarrel itself is a practical joke played by Portia and Nerissa on their husbands.

Question 2.

Give the meaning of :

(a) a hoop of gold

(b) cutler’s poetry.

Answer:

(a) A ‘hoop’ is a circular band of metal or anything, here made of gold. It is contemptuously used for the ring. Gratiano wants to minimise the importance of the ring so that there may not be much fuss about it.

(b) It was customary to have inscriptions on spoons and table knives. They were perhaps not so poetical in tone. Gratiano says humorously that the motto inscribed on the ring was like the one on a piece of cutlery. It was the least poetic.

Question 3.

Who had given the ring to Gratiano? What promise was made by him at that time about the ring?

Answer:

Nerissa had given the ring to Gratiano soon after their marriage. At that time. Gratiano had made the promise to his wife that this ring was a token of her love, and he would never lose it.

Question 4.

To whom did Gratiano give the ring? Why? What is the practical joke about the ring episode?

Answer:

Gratiano gave the ring to the lawyer’s clerk. The practical joke about the rings is that he actually gave it to none other than his own wife. Nerissa who was disguised as the lawyer’s clerk. Nerissa had herself demanded it in order to tease his husband on returning home. Gratiano was unable to recognise the lawyer’s clerk in the new out fit.

Question 5.

What does Portia say about the quarrel referred to in the extract?

Answer:

On hearing the sharp exchange of words between Nerissa and Gratiano; Portia comments that there is a quarrel so soon after their marriage. She does not expect such a development.

Question 6.

Why did Portia join in accusing Gratiano of doing wrong ? what did she say about the ring she had given to Bassanio, before she had finished speaking against Gratiano?

Answer:

Portia soon joins Nerissa in accusing Gratiano for so non-seriously parting with his wife’s first present to him. She does so to caution Bassanio that a similar attack is going to be launched on him for a similar lapse. She concludes her speech by saying that if Bassanio ever behaved in this manner, she would go mad in grief.

There is a dramatic irony in this speech of Portia’s. She naturally takes the side of the woman in this loving battle between sexes. Thus she cleverly introduces the parallel quarrel about her own ring, reminding them that there was a ringing similarly given by her to Bassanio. She is deliberately making the situation uncomfortable for Bassanio, and increasing the effect of irony for the delight of the audience.

Question 1.

What defence has Bassanio given in the lines preceding the passage, for losing the ring?

Answer:

In the lines preceding this passage, Bassanio makes an earnest plea while explaining the circumstances in which he was compelled to part with the ring. He is sure that Portia will excuse him if she comes to know to whom the ring was given away. She will understand if she learns for whom it was done, and last of all, the reluctance with which it was finally given to the lawyer.

Question 2.

How does Portia reject his argument to magnify his offence?

Answer:

Portia seems to reject her husband’s argument. She is equally vehement in magnifying his offence of parting with the marriage ring soon after his marriage.

Portia rejects Bassanio’s plea as incredible. She thinks that if he had zealously defended the ring, no man would have been so unreasonable and unmannerly to ask for the ring which was a ceremonious gift.

Question 3.

What effect the repetition of the word ‘ring’ achieves?

Answer:

Portia succeeds in seriously embarrassing her husband. She achieves the effects of strong emphasis by repeating the word ‘ring’ at the end of each line four times.

Question 4.

Is Portia right in accusing her husband that he gave the ring to some other woman?

Answer:

Portia is right in accusing her husband for giving away the ring to ‘some woman’. But, as the audience know, the woman whom he gave the ring was no other than Portia herself, without knowing it.

Question 5.

How far is Bassanio truthful in saying that he did not give the ring to any woman?

Answer:

Bassanio is truthful when he swears that he did not give the ring to a woman. He gave it to the lawyer, who appeared to be a youngman. He gave it unwillingly under pressing circumstances. This too is true. And yet he gave it unknowingly to the ‘young man’ who was actually a young woman’, i.e. Portia herself.

Question 6.

What is the source of amusement in this dialogue?

Answer:

This dialogue should be very amusing for the audience. The pleasure is derived from the fact that what Bassanio and Gratiano do not know, is well known to the audience. It is a delightful situation to watch young husbands being be fooled and teased by their newly-wedded wives.

Question 2.

Who is the ‘doctor’ referred to in the lines? Has the other person said something earlier?

Answer:

The doctor referred to is the Doctor of Law, whom Bassanio referred to as the civil doctor. He is the person who interpreted the Venetian law in the court of the Duke in the dispute between Shylock and Antonio.

Question 3.

Which Jewel has the doctor taken away? What is the speaker’s complaint?

Answer:

Portia complains that the doctor has taken away the ring which was given by her to her husband as a token of her love. This she mentions as a Jewel’. By this she means a precious thing.

Question 4.

Why does the speaker say the following? “Let not the Doctor e’er come near my house.”

Answer:

Portia has heard Bassanio’s version of how he.could not resist the doctor’s earnest demand for the ring. She now says that if the doctor was so very persuasive, then Bassanio must see to it that he does not come that way. If he could while away the ring from his finger, it was just possible the same doctor may succeed in prevailing upon her to part with her most valuable possession, which was her honour and chastity.

Portia here pretends to have great grievance against the doctor. She goes to the extent of saying that she would become as free in her associations as was Bassanio. Then she would not refuse the doctor anything, as a retaliation for Bassanio’s licence.

Question 5.

Does the speaker give any warning to the, other person?

Answer:

Portia warns Bassanio not to stay away from home even for a night. The doctor might come in his absence and form intimate relations with Portia. Bassanio must guard against this possibility.

Question 6.

“Watch me like Argos,” Explain the reference about Argos.

Answer:

Portia wants Bassanio to watch her carefully, i.e. with a hundred eyes, as Argos watched Argos in classical mythology was a person with hundred eyes. Only one of his eyes slept at a time. For this reason, Juno directed him to keep watch over another goddess with whom Jupiter had fallen in love.

Question 2.

Which letter is being shown by Portia? What is the need of showing this letter?

Answer:

Portia is showing them a letter written by Dr. Bellario of Padua, authorising Portia to act as his representative while arguing the case in the court of the Duke in Venice.

She needs to show this letter to those present there to prove to them that the doctor who defended Antonio in the court was no other person that Portia herself. Bassanio, Gratiano, Antonio and others are listening to her account in sheer amazement.

Question 3.

What are the new facts revealed by Portia? Where has she come from?

Answer:

Portia springs a surprise on everybody by telling everybody that she and Nerissa have just returned from Venice. They had left the house soon after Bassanio and Gratiano left for Venice. – This fact can be confirmed from Lorenzo, who was left in charge of the house in her absence.

Tire new facts revealed by Portia are that she herself acted as the doctor of laws in the court of the Duke. Nerissa stood beside her as her clerk. After concluding the case in the court and extracting the rings from Bassanio and Gratiano, these two clever women rushed back to Belmont to overtake their husbands.

Question 4.

What good news does Portia have for Antonio?

Answer:

Portia has a good news for Antonio. She has a letter with her which gives the information that three of Antonio’s merchant ships laden with merchandise have reached home safely. Antonio had earlier been told that all his ships have been destroyed in the sea. This means that Antonio is once again a rich merchant of Venice.

Question 5.

Does she have any good news for Lorenzo and Jessica? Is Portia anyway responsible for bringing this good news for them?

Answer:

portia does have a very good news for Lorenzo and Jessica. She has with her a deed signed by Shylock bequeathing his share of the property for his daughter and son-in-law. He would have disinherited Jessica who had eloped with a Christian.

Portia has played a vital role in not only saving Antonio’s life, but, also in interpreting law in a manner that pushed Shylock into a tight comer. Half of the Jew’s property went to Antonio and the remaining was left to be used by Shylock in his life time. Thereafter, it goes to Jessica and Lorenzo. In this, Antonio has also played a gracious role. He is to hold half the Jew’s property 1 only as a trust, to pass it on to the Jew’s daughter and son-in-law.