MOV A1 S1

Extract – 1

ANTONIO: ANTONIO:
In sooth, I know not why I am so sad. The truth is that, I don't know why I am
It wearies me; you say it wearies you. so sad. I'm tired of being sad, and you
But how I caught it, found it, or came say you're tired of it, too. But I don't
by it, know how I caught, found it, or came
What stuff ’tis made of, whereof it is by this sadness and what is it’s origin.
born, I am to learn. And since I do not know anything about
And such a want-wit sadness makes of this sadness, maybe I don’t
me, understand myself very well.
That I have much ado to know myself.

i) Where are Antonio and his friends? What does Antonio says about his
sadness?

(i) Antonio and his friends are in a street in Venice. Antonio says that his
sadness makes him depressed and dull. He further says that he is yet to
learn about the origin and nature of his sadness.

ii) Give the meaning of:

(a) whereof it is born: how it originated / what is its source.

(b) a want-wit sadness: a dull and absent-minded sadness whose reason is

unknown.
(c) That I have much ado to know myself: That I have much difficulty in
recognising myself.

iii) What reason does Salarino give as the probable cause of Anonio’s
melancholy?

(iii) Salarino tells Antonio that he is sad because his mind is preoccupied
with his ships filled with cargo, which are out at sea.

iv) State in your own words the scene on the ocean as described by
Salarino, when Antonio’s ship were sailing.

(iv) Salarino compares Antonio's ships sailing on the waves with the great
lords and wealthy citizens, who look down on lesser men as they walk
along the street. According to him Antonio's ships move swiftly on the sea
with their canvas sails and look like grand spectacles or pageants of the
sea .

v) The play begins with the atmosphere of melancholy. Why do you think
that Antonio is presented as a melancholic and passive character?

(v) Antonio is presented as a melancholic and passive character mainly for

three reasons.

1. By portraying Antonio as a whimsical person, who is least

bothered about the consequences of his actions, justifies his signing
the bond-agreement.
2. Antonio's melancholy creates a tragic atmosphere suitable for a
comedy which floats on brink of tragedy.
3. Antonio's melancholy creates a sense of mystery for the
audience.

Extract - 2.
SALANIO: SALANIO:
Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth, Believe me, sir, if I had such risky
The better part of my affections would business ventures like yours, I would
Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still always think about my ships at the sea.
Plucking the grass to know where sits the I'd be pulling up the grass in order to
wind, check in which direction the wind flows,
Peering in maps for ports and piers and and looking at maps of ports and piers
roads. and roads. And any little thing that might
And every object that might make me fear make me worry that something bad would
Misfortune to my ventures out of doubt happen to my ships would make me sad,
Would make me sad. without a doubt.

i) 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 ?

(i) If Salanio had business ventures abroad, his thoughts would be fixed on
the dangers to his ventures and methods of securing them. He would be
plucking the blades of grass and casting them in the air to know the
direction of wind, to see if it was blowing in a direction favourable to the
course of his ships or not. Further, he would look into maps for harbours,
channels and open road-steads near to the shore where his ships could
anchor in case of need.

ii) What would make Salanio fear some dangers in his ventures ? Give two
examples.

(ii) Every thought of Salanio would make him fearful of danger to his
business ventures. Two examples which reminded Salarino of the danger
to his ships were:

1. While cooling his soup by blowing on it, reminded him of the

stormy winds at sea causing terrible damages to his ships.
 2. The sandy hour-glass reminded him of the richly laden vessels
wrecked on the sandy shore.

iii) Give meaning of :

(a) Plucking the grass to know where sets the wind : Plucking of grass and
casting them in the air to see which way the wind blew.

(b) Peering in maps for ports, and piers, and roads : Looking into maps for
harbours, channels and even open road- steads near the shore.

iv) In spite of the danger to his ships , why Antonio is not worried about his
financial security ?

(iv) Despite danger to his ships, Antonio is not worried about his financial
security because his business is neither dependent on any one ship nor on
any single location or commercial transactions of the current year.

v) What light does the opening scene throw on the danger that sea could
pose to ships ?

(v) The opening scene describes the possible dangers that the sea could
pose to ships such as strong winds, dangerous shallow waters, sand banks
and dangerous rocks.

Extract - 3.
SALERIO SALERIO
My wind cooling my broth I would get sad while blowing on my hot
Would blow me to an ague when I soup, because it would make me think of
thought what a strong wind at sea could do to my
What harm a wind too great at sea might ships. If I would see the sands running in
do. an hourglass, I would think of flat
I should not see the sandy hourglass run, shallows where my ship, "The Andrew,"
But I should think of shallows and of flats run aground with all its riches flipped over.
And see my wealthy Andrew docked in
sand,
Vailing her high top lower than her ribs
To kiss her burial.

i) Where does the scene takes place ? Name the people who are present
there. In what mood Salarino is in this scene ?

(i) This scene takes place in a street in Venice. Antonio, Salarino and
Salanio are present in the scene. Salarino is in a talkative mood and wants
to know the reason for Antonio's melancholy. He says that he too would be
feeling melancholic if his ships were sailing on the sea.

ii) What would the wind cooling the broth reminds Salarino of?

(ii) It would remind Salarino of the stormy winds at sea and of the terrible
damages they might cause to the ships.

iii) Give meaninf of :

“And see my wealthy Andrew docked in sand, Vailing her high top lower
than her ribs To kiss her burial. “

(iii) Wealthy Andrew refers to a Spanish ship called Andrea captured by the
British sailors in 1596. It ran aground when it was being brought to
England. Since then Andrew refers to a big cargo ship. In the above lines
Salarino imagines that his rich cargo ship is grounded in sand and her mast
dipped down lower than her sides as if trying to kiss the sands that
surround her.

iv) What is sandy hour glass? What would it remind Salarino of ?

(iv) Sandy hour-glass is an apparatus used to indicate time. It would remind

Salarino of the dangers from hidden banks of sand at sea, on wihch a ship
may run aground.

v) What is referred as wealth Andrew ? Why it is referred so ?

(v) Salarino refers to his richly laden ship as wealthy Andrew. It is so

referred because Salarino feels that like the Spanish ship Andrea captured
by the British in 1596, his ship too is majestic and rich with cargo.

vi) When Salarino would goto church what would he see? What would
scene make him imagine ?

(vi) When Salarino would go to the church he would see the holy building
made of stone. This scene would make him think of the dangerous rocks of
the sea and imagine that a collision of his ship with these rocks would be
sufficient to break his vessel into pieces and scatter all her spices and silks
on the sea.

Extract - 4.
SALANIO SALANIO
Not in love neither? Then let us say you You're not in love either? Then let's just
are sad say you are sad because you are not
Because you are not merry— and ’twere happy. It would be just as easy for you to
as easy laugh and jump around and just say you
For you to laugh and leap and say you are happy because you are not sad. I
are merry swear, by two-headed Janus (a roman
Because you are not sad. Now, by god) , nature has made all kinds of
two-headed Janus, different people. Some people are always
Nature hath framed strange fellows in her happy and could even laugh at a funeral,
time. while others are so sour they don't even
Some that will evermore peep through crack a smile at anything, not even at a
their eyes joke that Nestor called the funniest.
And laugh like parrots at a bagpiper,
And other of such vinegar aspect
That they’ll not show their teeth in way of
smile
Though Nestor swear the jest be
laughable.

i) Who has just said that Antonio was in love ? What was reaction of
Antonio ?

(i) Salarino has just said that Antonio was in love. Antonio calls the remark
as nonsense and completely denies that he is in love.

ii) What explanation does Salarino give in extract for Antonio’s Sadness ?

(ii) Salarino concludes that Antonio is sad because he is not happy. He

remarks that there are some curious creatures in the world. He swears by
Janus, the two-headed Roman God that some people have merry natures
and are continuously laughing whether the things they see are subject for
mirth or not. Again there are others with the sourest countenance who will
not laugh at any thing though the gravest old warrior Nestor himself
confirms the joke as most amusing.

iii) What is meant by two headed Janus ? Why is he referred to in the

extract ?

(iii) Janus is a Roman god usually depicted with two heads looking in
opposite directions — one frowning and the other smiling. He had received
from god Saturn, the gift to see both the past and the future. He is referred
to in the extract to show that there are two types of people — one happy
and the other sad.

iv) Describe the stange fellows framed by nature ?

(iv) Nature has two types of people. The first type of people have happy
natures and often laugh even if the subject of laughter is too trivial. The
second type of people are those with serious and grave faces, who do not
laugh even at the most amusing jokes.

v) Who was Nestor ? Why is he referred ?

(v) Nestor was the King of Pylos. He was one of the greatest generals in
the Trojan War. He was famous for his wisdom, justice, knowledge of war
and profound gravity. If he laughed, it meant the joke was really funny. He
is referred to in the extract to describe the sad and grave people.

vi) Give meaning of

(a) And other of such vinegar aspect : The second type of people who are
grave and serious.

(b) Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable : Even if the wise and grave
Nestor certify the joke as funny.

vii) Why are class of people are compared to parrots ?

(vii) A class of people are compared to parrots because they laugh even at
a bag-piper as foolishly as a parrot laughs at anything.
viii) Who comes at the end of Salarino’s speech ? Why does Salarino leave
then ?

(viii) At the end of Salarino's speech, Bassanio, Gratiano and Lorenzo

come. Salarino leaves Antonio then because Antonio's friends, Bassanio,
Gratiano and Lorenzo have come to give him company.

Extract - 5.

Why should a man whose blood is warm Why should a man be so inactive that he
within is practically asleep while awake, and
start to get jaundice due to his
Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster,
cheerlessness? I tell you what, Antonio—I
Sleep when he wakes, and creep into the love you, and I'm speaking out of
jaundice love—there are some people whose
faces are so unmoving that they grow
By being peevish? I tell thee what, scum like a still pond, and they try hard to
Antonio— maintain a still expression so that they
can seem to be wise, serious, and
I love thee, and ’tis my love that speaks—
profound, like someone who could say, "I
There are a sort of men whose visages am Sir Oracle, and when I open my lips to
speak, let no dog bark!"
Do cream and mantle like a standing
pond,

And do a willful stillness entertain

With purpose to be dressed 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!”

(i) Gratiano gives the example of a warm-blooded young man who

represses his spirits and forces himself to stillness till he looks like the
marble image of his grandfather. He does so to advise Antonio not to
remain in melancholy. He is likely to be infected with jaundice due to his
bad tempe.

(ii) (a) Some men overcast their faces with a pale expression as still as the
cream that forms on the surface of milk and as the scum that forms on the
surface of a stagnant pool.

(b) maintain an obstinate silence not to disturb the solemnity of their faces.

(iii) In the extract, Gratiano speaks about people who try to obtain a
reputation for wisdom, seriousness and deep thought by remaining silent.
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,
other should keep quiet.

(iv) 'I am Sir Oracle' means 'I speak with the authority of the Greek Oracle'.
The Greek Oracles made known the will of Gods and were received by all
without questions. 'Let no dog bark' means 'let no one speak'. 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.

(v) At the end of his speech, Gratiano advises Antonio not to be one of
those who try to gain a reputation for wisdom by being silent. He further
tells Antonio not to use melancholy as a bait to win the reputation of
wisdom and cheap popularity. which is like a worthless cheap fish, a
gudgeon.

Extract - 6
BASSANIO : BASSANIO :

I urge this childhood proof With this example from my childhood in

mind, listen to my plan, which is
Because what follows is pure innocence.
completely innocent. I owe you a lot, and
I owe you much, and, like a willful youth, like a rash young man I have lost the
money I owe you. But if you shoot
That which I owe is lost. But if you please another arrow the same way you shot the
first, by lending me money again, I have
To shoot another arrow that self way
no doubt that I will bring both arrows back
Which you did shoot the first, I do not to you, because I'll watch the second one
doubt, more carefully. Or at least I'll bring back
the latter loan, and remain in your debt for
As I will watch the aim, or to find both
the original sum.
Or bring your latter hazard back again

And thankfully rest debtor for the first.

(i) Bassanio and Antonio are in a street in Venice. Prior to this extract
Antonio asks Bassanio to tell him about his plans. He adds, that if
Bassanio's plan is as honourable as he is, he then promises him everything
that he has— money, influence, personal help and utmost resources.

(ii) The above lines mean that at any rate Bassanio could pay the latter
loan and remain his grateful debtor for the first.

(iii) Earlier, Bassanio confesses to Antonio that he has spent his 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.
(iv) Bassanio says that when he was a boy at school and he lost one of his
arrows while shooting, he would shoot another arrow in the same direction.
Thus, by risking the second, he often regained both the arrows.

(v) Bassanio proposes to pay back his previous loan as well as the present
loan by carefully managing the expenditure of his second loan amount.

Extract - 7.

BASSANIO : BASSANIO:

Sometimes from her eyes I think she likes me. Sometimes the
expression on her face tells me she likes
I did receive fair speechless messages.
me. Her name is Portia. She’s as rich as
Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued that famous Roman heroine Portia, the
daughter of Cato and wife of Brutus. Her
To Cato’s daughter, Brutus' Portia. wealth is world-famous. Famous and
important men have come in from all over
Nor is the wide world ignorant of her
the world to try to marry her. The hair that
worth,
hangs down on her forehead is like gold,
For the four winds blow in from every calling every adventurer to Belmont like a
coast gold rush. Antonio, if I only had enough
money to hold my own against those
Renownèd suitors, and her sunny locks
suitors, I know I could win her!
Hang on her temples like a golden fleece,

Which makes her seat of Belmont

Colchos' strand,

And many Jasons come in quest of her.

(i) 'Fair speechless messages' mean glances which are silent messages of
love. Bassanio wants to say that sometimes he received from Portia's eyes
lovely silent messages. The words 'nothing undervalued' mean ‘not less
precious’ or ‘no way inferior to’. Bassanio says that his Portia is no less
precious than Cato's daughter.

(ii) Cato, the father of Brutus' wife Portia, was the great-grandson of the
famous Cato, the Censor. In the Civil War between Pompey and Caesar he
supported Pompey and was defeated by Caesar. Brutus, husband of
Portia, was the chief of the conspirators against Caesar and caused his
assassination. They are referred to show that Portia of Belmont is as
precious and great as Cato's daughter, Portia.

(iii) The passage says that Portia's fame had spread throughout the world
as suitors from every part of the world come to Belmont to win her hand in
marriage.

(iv) Jason was a Greek hero, who was sent by Pelias, his uncle who had
usurped the throne, to fetch the golden fleece from Colchos. In Greek
mythology, golden fleece is referred to as the fleece of the winged ram
Chrysomallos. It was kept at an oak tree in a grove sacred to god Ares and
guarded by a dragon in Colchos. Bassanio compares Portia to the golden
fleece and himself in his quest for Portia, to Jason on his voyage to fetch
the golden fleece. He refers to Other suitors as Jasons.

(v) Bassanio's description of Portia in the opening scene reveals that she is
a paragon among women. She is rich and beautiful with golden hair. She
has wonderful mental qualities and is virtuous as well. Her fame has
attracted suitors from all over the world. She is in no way inferior to her
namesake, Cato's daughter and Brutus' wife.
Extract - 8.

(i) Antonio is unable to help Bassanio at once since he has no money in

hand as all his business ventures are at sea.

(ii) The sum was three thousand ducats. It was required urgently for
Bassanio to go to Belmont and present himself before Portia as a worthy
suitor.

(iii) Antonio instructs Bassanio to find out a merchant who is ready to give
him money against his name.

(iv)

(a) The credit shall be stretched to the utmost limit. Antonio says that he is
ready to stretch the credit as far as to equip Bassanio to go to Belmont to
woo Portia.

(b) Either on the security of my name or from feelings of personal

friendship.

(v) In the opening scene, Bassanio comes to Antonio to borrow money so

that he can go to Belmont to win his lady love. But Antonio confesses that
he has no ready cash and instructs Bassanio to borrow money from a
merchant against his security or name. Thus, Shakespeare links the first
scene to the Bond story which involves the loan from Shylock

(vi) Antonio is introduced in the scene as a rich merchant having many

shipping ventures at sea. He is in a state Of melancholy and not interested
in love. Loyalty and generosity towards Bassanio are the major traits of his
character. Compared to Antonio, Bassanio is shown as a spendthrift young
gallant, who lives a life of luxury beyond his means. He seems to take
undue advantage of Antonio's generosity. Unlike Antonio, he is a romantic
man, who wants to marry Portia, a rich and beautiful heiress from Belmont.