1.
(i) Which
topic is being discussed in the extract?
The theme
of love is being discussed in the extract.
(ii) Who
is Thisbe? What is meant by 'fearfully o'ertrip the dew'?
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) Give
briefly the story of 'Thisbe.
Thisbe arid 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 heating
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. I
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) Who
is Dido? Why is she standing with a willow in her hand?
1Dido 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 ill 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.
v) What do
the 'willow' and the 'wild sea-banks' signify?
Willow and
the wild sea banks are emblems of forsaken love. Queen
Dido stood
on the wild sea-shore, carrying in her hand a willow-wand,
the emblem
of forsaken love, waving to her lover Aeneas in the ship,
vainly
appealing to him to return to her.
(vi) Why
are the stories of Thisbe and Dido given in the context? In your
answer,
bring out the comparison aimed at, between the characters in
the play
and the stories of Thisbe as well as of Dido.
The
stories of Thisbe and Dido are given in. the context to heighten the
theme of
love. While Thisbe's story tells of faithful lovers, Dido's story
speaks of
forsaken 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.
2.
(i) What
did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew in such a night?
Jessica stole from the wealthy jew money and
jewels.
(ii)"
What precautions were taken by Jessica and Lorenzo to ensure that she
could
escape from her father's house undetected?
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) How did
Jessica's father react to her escape? What were Jessica's feelings
just
'before her elopement?
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 jewelry)', .
(iv) What
was the role played by Lorenzo in Jessica's escape from?
Lorenzo is quick to see the masquerade he and
his friends have planned as an opportunity for eloping with Jessica. He decides
the 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) What do Venice and Belmont stand for? What
does the elopement of
Lorenzo
and Jessica from Venice to Belmont signify?
) 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 that nurtures their love.
3.
(i) Where
does this scene take place? Who is Stephano? What message
does he
bring?
This 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, what has his mistress been doing during her
absence
from home?
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, what has she been doing during her absence? Who accompanied
the
mistress? .
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) What
role did Portia's maid play in the company of her mistress?
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) Explain
how the Jessica-Lorenzo romance is linked to the love story of
Portia and
Bassanio.
Jessica-Lorenzo romance is linked to the love
story of Portia and Bassanio
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.
4.
(i) Who
speaks these words? Where is he now? To whom is he speaking?
Lorenzo
speaks these words. He is in the garden in front of Portia's
house in
Belmont. He is speaking to Jessica.
(ii) What
has the speaker said about music before this extract?
Before
this extract the speaker has asked Stephano to arrange for some
music in
the open air.
(iii)
According to the speaker, what effect does music have on animals?
What is
the effect of lack of music on men?
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) Give
the meaning of:
(a) patines
of bright gold: glittering plates of bright gold.
(b) floor
of heaven: Lorenzo describes the sky as the floor of heaven.
(v) What
is the effect of music on the person to whom these words are addressed?
The effect
of music on the person addressed here, i.e., Jessica, is one of
sadness.
Lorenzo explains that due. to her attentiveness, she gets lost in
music.
(vi) According
to the Elizabethan view of music, what are the orbs said to be
doing? Why
can't human beings hear the music of the heavens in this life?
.Elizabethans
believed that every star or planet produced, in its motion,
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 can not the music of the heavens.
5.
(i) Who
was Orpheus? What effect did the music played by Orpheus have
on objects
in nature?
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) Give
the meaning of:
Since
naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage,
But
music for the time doth. change his nature.
The above
lines mean that there is nothing in the world so insensible,
so fierce
and unyielding that it does not, even for a passing moment,
yield to
the power of music. It means music can change the nature of
things. at
least for some time.
(iii) What
has Lorenzo said earlier about the effect of trumpet sound on
wild
colts?
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) What
does Lorenzo say about the man who has no sense of music?
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) What
is referred to as Erebus? Why is it used in the extract?
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.
(i) What
is meant by 'a hoop of gold' and 'a paltry ring'?
'A hoop of
gold' means a circlet of gold. 'A paltry ring' means a ring
of small value.
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