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If you didn’t read part 1 of The Merchant Of Venice Act 1 then read from the below link and then read this part 2.
Must read: The Merchant Of Venice Act 1, Scene – 1
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
Extract No. 5 of The Merchant Of Venice Act 1
Gratiano
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 a purpose to be dress’d in an opinion
Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit;
As who should say, “I am Sir Oracle,
And when I open my lips, let no dog barks!”
Question:-
(i) Why is a young man compared to his grandsire cut in alabaster? Under what condition is he likely to be infected with jaundice?
Answer:-
Gratiano advises Antonio not to be sad. He compares the young man to his grandsire cut in alabaster and asks why should man who’s warm-blooded sit like a marble statue of his grandfather.
He is likely to be infected with jaundice by being spiteful.
Question:-
(ii) Give the meaning of:
(a) Do cream and mantle like a standing pond:
(b) do a wilful stillness entertain:
Answer:-
(a) It means to stand still like the scum that forms on the surface of still waters in a pool. Here Gratiano says that there is a kind of man whose face looks foamy and covered like a standing pond.
(b) It means deliberately putting on an air of solemnity i.e, maintaining seriousness on their face.
Question:-
(iii) What is said in the extract about the people who try to earn a reputation for wisdom?
Answer:-
The people who try to earn a reputation for wisdom maintain a stubborn and stern silence on their faces. Such people mean to say that they speak with the authority of the Greek Oracle and they alone are infallible in their utterances. When they speak, others should remain silent.
Question:-
(iv) Give the significance of ‘I am Sir Oracle’ and ‘let no dog bark’.
Answer:-
“I am Sir Oracle” means I speak with the authority of the Greek Oracle. ” Let no dog bark”. It ref means let not a sound be heard. It refers to the attitude of those wise men who consider themselves as the fountain of wisdom and want that when they speak, others should remain silent.
Question:-
(v) What advice does Gratiano give to Antonio at the end of his speech? What does Bassanio say about Gratiano’s p speech a little in the scene?
Answer:-
Gratiano says that Bassanio should not try to gain a reputation for wisdom on account of his silence. he should not use the bait of melancholy to catch the fish of popularity which is like a worthless cheap fish, a gudgeon.
Also Read: Merchant Of Venice Complete Workbook Answer
Extract No. 6 of The Merchant Of Venice Act 1
Bassanio
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 find both,
Or bring your latter hazard back again,
And thankfully rest debtor for the first.
Question:-
(i) Where are Bassanio and Antonio? What has Antonio said earlier in reply to which Bassanio speaks these words?
Answer:-
Bassanio and Antonio are in a street in Venice. Earlier Antonio asks Bassanio to tell him about his plans. He adds, that if Bassanio’s plan is as honorable as he is, he then promises him everything that he has- money, influence, personal help, and utmost resources.
Question:-
(ii) Explain the following:
bring latter hazard back again,
And thankfully rest debtor for the first.
Answer:-
The above lines mean that Bassanio will ensure that the latter loan will be returned, and he will still remain indebted (or thankful) to Antonio for the first.
Question:-
(iii) Which experience of his school days does Bassanio relate to justify his plan for repaying the loan?
Answer:-
Bassanio says that when he was in school and when he lost one arrow while shooting, he shot another arrow of identical length in the same direction with more thoughtful care, To find the one I lost, and by risking both, I often Found both.
Question:-
(iv) How does Bassanio propose to pay back his previous loan as well as the present loan?
Answer:-
Bassanio proposes to pay back his previous loan as well as the present loan by carefully managing the expenditure of his second loan amount.
Question:-
(v) What confession has Bassanio made to Antonio earlier about his financial position? How can you conclude that Bassanio is a spendthrift?
Answer:-
Earlier, Bassanio confesses to Antonio that he has spent wealth by having a more lordly way of living than his moderate income allowed him. Therefore, he has incurred heavy debts because of his youth and extravagance. This proves that Bassanio is a spendthrift.
Also Read: ICSE Treasure Trove Workbook Solution
Extract No. 7 of The Merchant Of Venice Act 1
sometimes from her eyes
I did receive fair speechless messages:
Her name is Portia; nothing undervalued
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 temple like a golden fleece;
Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos’ strand,
And many Jasons come in quest of he.
Question:-
(i) What is meant by, fair speechless messages’ and nothing undervalued’?
Answer:-
‘Fair speechless messages’ means silent glances which reveal her thoughts and ‘nothing undervalued’ means in no way inferior to her. Here Bassanio wants to say that sometimes, he received a beautiful silent message from her eyes, he also says that Portia is not less precious than Cato’s daughter.
Question:-
(ii) Who are Cato and Brutus? Why are they referred to here?
Answer:-
Cato is a roman statesman and Brutus is a brave Roman general and also the leader of the conspiracy against Julius Caesar. Here Bassanio is comparing Portia to Portia in Julius Caesar, who was the daughter of Cato and wife of Brutus. They referred here to show that Portia of Belmont is as precious and great as Cato’s daughter.
Question:-
(iii) What evidence is there in the passage to show that Portia’s fame had spread throughout the world?
Answer:-
Portia’s fame had spread throughout the world as famous and important suitors have come to Belmont from all over the world to Belmont to try their luck and win Portia’s hand.
Question:-
(iv) Explain in your own words the meaning and significance of the ‘golden fleech’ which Jason sought in Colchos.
Answer:-
Golden fleece, a reference is made to ancient Greek legend. “fleece” refers to the top of wool of sheep or ram. A famous hero called Jason, with his companions, the Argonauts, went on a dangerous voyage to Colchis on the east coast of the Black Sea in search of the golden fleece which was fastened to oak by the local ruler, and the fleece was guarded by a dragon. Jason obtained it with help of his wife Medea.
Here Bassanio says that Portia’s golden curls Hang on her head like a golden fleece, Which makes Belmont, her home, a rich island in a lake, And many sailors and heroes come to find her.
Question:-
(v) What does Bassanio say praising Portia? How is Antonio involved in their romance with Bassanio?
Answer:-
Bassanio says that In Belmont, there is a rich heiress and she is beautiful and, more beautiful than that word. She is not less precious than Cato’s daughter. Her fame has attracted suitors from all over the world.
Bassanio wants to go to Belmont, in order to marry Portia for which he needs a loan. Antonio is providing him financial help, in this way Antonio is involved in the romance with Bassanio.
Also Read: The Cold Within Poem’s Workbook Solution
Extract No. 8 of The Merchant Of Venice Act 1
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’s, 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:-
(i) Why is Antonio unable to help Bassanio at once?
Answer:-
Antonio is unable to help Bassanio at once because all his money is tied up in his present business ventures at sea and he has no cash left in his hand.
Question:-
(ii) ‘To raise a present sum’. How much was this sum? why was it required urgently?
Answer:-
The sum to be raised was three thousand ducats. It is required urgently because Bassanio wishes to marry Portia for which he needs a loan to present himself before Portia as a worthy suitor at Belmont.
Question:-
(iii) What does Antonio instruct Bassanio to do to get a loan
Answer:-
Antonio instructs Bassanio to find someone in Venice who can offer him a loan on his name either on his business credit or on account of his personal surety.
Question:-
(iv) Give the meaning of: “That shall be rack’d, even to the uttermost.”
Answer:-
“That shall be rack’d, even to the uttermost” means the credit shall be stretched to the utmost limit. Antonio says that he is ready to stretch the credit as to equip Bassanio to go to Belmont
Question:-
(v) Give any two character traits of Antonio in the scene. How are they different from the character traits of Bassanio?
Answer:-
Antonio is introduced as a man suffering from nameless melancholy. He has a sad and brooding nature and is deeply attached to his friend Bassanio. Loyalty and generosity towards his friend, Bassanio are his major traits. Bassanio is introduced as a spendthrift and a reckless adventurer. He is also shown as a romantic man with an adventurous spirit who frequently borrows money from Antionio without ever repaying his debts.
Also Read: The Heart Of The Tree Poem’s Workbook Solution
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(iii) What is said in the extract about the people who try to earn a reputation for wisdom?
The people who try to earn a reputation for wisdom maintain a stubborn and stern silence on their faces.
Why is Antonio unable to help Bassanio at once?
Antonio is unable to help Bassanio at once because all his money is tied up in his present business ventures at sea and he has no cash left in his hand.
What does Antonio instruct Bassanio to do to get a loan
Antonio instructs Bassanio to find someone in Venice who can offer him a loan on his name either on his business credit or on account of his personal surety.