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ICSE Class X Notes 2019 : English Paper 2 (English Literature)

14 pages, 15 questions, 1 questions with responses, 1 total responses,    0    0
Shreyas JV
The Hyderabad Public School (HPS), Begumpet, Hyderabad
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ACT II, SCENE 1 1. Where does the scene take place? Who enters the scene and in what manner? A. This scene takes place in a room in Portia s house in Belmont. The Prince of Morocco and his followers enter the scene in exotic oriental costumes to the flourish of cornets. 2. Explain: the shadow d livery of the burnish d sun A. Morocco asks Portia not to look upon him with dislike on account of his complexion which is dark. He says he got this colour because of the fierce sun. He was born and brought up in a country where the sun is very close to the earth. Livery is a uniform presented by a nobleman or a rich man to his servants. Shadow d livery means a dark skin, a uniform given by the fiercely shining sun. The Prince speaks of himself as the servant of the sun, a lord, who has given him a dark colour as the livery of his service. 3. Explain: Phoebus fire scarce thaws the icicles A. Phoebus, in Greek mythology is one of the manes of Apollo, the Sun God. So, Phoebus fire means the rays of the sun. Icicles are long pointed spikes of ice. The Prince means the sun s rays are so faint in the North that they are scarcely able to melt the frost, snow and the icicles. 4. What test does Morocco suggest should be done to prove his courage? Explain. A. Morocco suggests that he should be matched with any fair-skinned Northman. They should make a cut upon their bodies to prove their love for Portia, so that she can see whose blood is redder and more courageous. Red blood was considered to be a sign of courage. 5. Explain: I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine Hath fear d the valiant A. Morocco tells Portia that his dark complexion has created fear in the bravest of men. 6. Which other example does Morocco give to show that he is proud of his dark skin? A. Morocco says that the most respected young ladies in his country have loved him for his dark complexion. 7. On what condition will Morocco change his dark colour? A. Morocco says that he would not change this dark skin for anything in the world except to win Portia s love. 8. How does Portia reply to this? A. Portia tells Morocco that as far as her own choice is concerned, she is not merely influenced by what appeals to the eyes of a girl as the choice does not lie with her. Besides the lottery of the caskets prevents her from using her right to make a free choice. If she had not been limited and restricted by her father s wisdom, he would have had an equal chance among the men she has so far seen. 9. Does Portia really mean that Morocco has a good chance of winning her love? A. We have already seen in Act 1, scene 2 that Portia holds her suitors in contempt. She thinks the same of Morocco because he is boastful. Portia treats him with perfect courtesy and tact and speaks as if she holds him in high esteem. 10.Whom had Morocco conquered with his scimitar? A. Morocco had slain the Emperor of Persia and a Persian prince with his scimitar. Morocco is boasting of his greatness by implying that the Persian Prince who defeated Sultan Solyman, a Turkish ruler, thrice was a great warrior, greater than Solyman. Since Morocco slew the Persian Prince, he was a still greater warrior than the Persian Prince. 11.What acts of bravery is Morocco ready to perform in order to win Portia? A. Morocco would outstare and frighten the most powerful man on earth. He would steal the young cubs from the female bear and even challenge the lion when, fierce with hunger, he goes forth in search of food. All these brave acts he is ready to perform to win Portia. 12.Why is Morocco talking about Hercules and Lichas? A. Morocco is complaining of the test imposed upon him to gain Portia. It is not a test of valour but a matter of blind chance which may favour the unworthy one. If Hercules ( the famous Greek hero who was reputed for his strength) and his servant Lichas were to play at dice to decide who is the better man, it is just possible that Lichas, though inferior in physical strength, might be winner , by a lucky throw of the dice. The weaker hand may thus beat a decidedly better man at a game of chance. Similarly, his own great renown, his birth, his wealth and achievements are of help to Morocco. He cannot win Portia by any great feat. He is forced to take his chance as against any inferior rival. He may miss his chance, and, then, he says that he will die of grief. 13.How does Portia now clearly state the terms of the lottery? A. She tells Morocco that he must take his chance. He must either leave the matter alone altogether and not make the attempt or swear before choosing, that if he makes the wrong choice, he will never again speak to any lady on the subject of marriage i.e. never marry thereafter. ACT II SCENE 2 1. Where does the scene take place? Who enters the scene & what role does he have in the play? A. This scene takes place in a street in Venice. Launcelot Gobbo, the servant of Shylock, enters the scene. He plays the part of a country clown in the play. 2. Who is tempting Launcelot and what does his conscience advise him? A. The devil is tempting Launcelot to run away from Shylock. But his conscience tells him not to run and to be careful. It tells him that he should look upon the suggestion of fleeing with contempt. Again when the valiant devil persuades him to run away, his conscience tells him that as he is the child of a good father or at least a good mother, he should stay where he is and not move. 3. What does Launcelot feel about the advice? A. Launcelot feels that if he obeys his conscience, he will remain in the service of the Jew, who is the very devil himself in human flesh. He feels that his conscience is very unfeeling to advise him to stay in the service of Jew. Launcelot decides to obey the devil as his advice is kindlier and to run away. 4. Who enters the scene now? Why could he not recognize Launcelot? Taking advantage of his condition what does Launcelot plan to do? A. Old Gobbo, the father of Launcelot Gobbo enters the scene. He does not recognize Launcelot as he is more than half-blind. So Launcelot tries to experiment of having some fun with his father as he will not be able to recognize him. 5. What does Gobbo ask Launcelot? What directions does Launcelot give him? A. Gobbo asked Launcelot the way to Shylock s house. Launcelot tells Gobbo to take the next turning to the right, but the next turning to the left, and then at the next turning, not to turn at all, but turn straight to the Jew s house. 6. About whom does he inquire next? What does Launcelot mean by young Master Launcelot ? A. Gobbo asks whether his listener knows if a certain Launcelot, who lives with the Jew, is still there. Since his father has mistaken him for a gentleman, he decides to play the role of a gentleman and reproves old Gobbo for omitting the title master . 7. Explain: Now I will raise the waters . What information about young Launcelot is given to his father? A. Launcelot wants to have some fun and tells the audience that he is going to bring tears to his father s eyes. He tells him that according to his fate or destiny, or the three sisters of the ancient Greeks, young Launcelot, is indeed dead and gone to heaven. 8. Explain: the Sisters three . A. The Sisters three were the Fates or Destinies. They spun the thread of human life. Clotho, represented with a spindle, spun the thread. Lachesis gave it to a man as his fate, and Atropos cut it off when his life was to end. They symbolize fate and destiny. 9. How does Launcelot finally prove to Gobbo that he is his son? A. When Launcelot tells old Gobbo that he is really his son, he does not believe it. Finally when he mentions the name of his mother, Margery, Gobbo concludes that he is really his son. 10.To which animal s hair is Launcelot s beard compared by Gobbo? What does Launcelot reply? A. When Launcelot asks for his father s blessing, he kneels with his back to his father. His father feels the hair and thinks it is his beard. So he remarks that Launcelot has a very long beard. He says that even Dobbin, the cart-horse does not have so much hair on his tail as Launcelot has on his chin. Launcelot says that if that is true, then Dobbin s tail must be getting shorter, since he last saw him. The last time he saw him, he had more hair on his tail than he has on his face. 11.What does Gobbo ask his son? What does Launcelot reply? A. Gobo asks his son how he is getting along with his master, the Jew. He also tells him that he has bought a dish of cooked doves for his master. Launcelot says that he has made up his mind to leave his master, Shylock. He tells his father to give Shylock a rope to hang himself with than a present because he had starved him. 12.Explain: You may tell every finger I have with my ribs A. The above words mean that one can feel all his ribs with one s finger. Launcelot means that he has grown so thin for want of proper food that his ribbones are standing out prominently and can be counted with the finger. 13.To whom does Launcelot want his father to give the present? Why? A. Launcelot wants his father to give the present to a certain Master Bassanio, as he wanted to enter his service because he had come to know that Bassanio was giving his servants new liveries (uniforms). ENTER BASSANIO 1. Who enters the scene with Bassanio? What instructions is he giving his servants? A. Along with Bassanio, his servant Leonardo and other followers enter the scene. Bassanio tells one of his servants to get things done speedily and see to it that supper is ready by five o clock. Then he tells him to send his letters to the persons to whom they are addressed, to give orders that the new outfits for his servants are stitched and tell Gratiano that he wishes him to come to his room at once. 2. What is Launcelot s reaction when his father introduces him to Bassanio as a poor boy? A. Launcelot objects to being called a poor boy by his father. He immediately corrects his father. He says he is not poor but is the servant of the rich Jew, Shylock. He suggests that a rich man s servant cannot be a poor man. 3. Explain: are scarce cater-cousins A. Gobbo tells Bassanio that his son wants to leave the service of Shylock and join Bassanio because Launcelot and his master scarcely get on well together. He also offers Bassanio a dish of doves. 4. According to Bassanio who had recommended Launcelot to him? What does he suggest to Launcelot? A. Shylock had recommended Launcelot to Bassanio that very day. He tells Launcelot that he can be his servant, if it is preferable or more advantageous to leave the service under a rich Jew, and become the servant of so poor a person as he is. 5. Which old proverb does Launcelot mention in reply? A. Launcelot says that the old proverb that the grace of God is better than wealth is very suitably applicable to his old master and Bassanio. He means that it is true that Shylock has riches, but Bassanio is a good man and has the favour of God. 6. What instructions does Bassanio now give Launcelot and his father, and to his servants? A. Bassanio tells Launcelot and his father to go to Shylock and bid him farewell, and then find their way to his house. He then tells his servants to get a suit for Launcelot more elaborately decorated than those of the other servants. 7. Explain: Father, in. I cannot get a service, no; I have ne er a tongue in my head A. Launcelot tells his father that they should leave and asks his father what he thinks about his previous opinion that Launcelot cannot get a job by his own efforts. He has now proved his cleverness. He tells his father that he has got a new master through his own eloquence. 8. What does Launcelot foretell for himself after reading his own palm? A. Launcelot is so overjoyed at getting a job in Bassanio s household, that he considers himself the luckiest man in the whole of Italy. He looks at his palm and says that no man in Italy has as much good luck as shown on his palm. After reading his palm he says that he will have a long life, will have fifteen wives (eleven widows and nine maids), escape thrice from drowning and be in danger of his life from falling out of a feather bed. 9. Explain: well, if fortune be your woman, she s a good wench for this gear . A. Since Launcelot is in high spirits, he says that fortune has proved to be a kind woman in his case as she promises him good luck. 10. What final instructions does Bassanio give Leonardo? A. Bassanio tells Leonardo that once he has bought the things Bassanio had told him to and seen them carefully packed, to come back as quickly as possible, for that night he is entertaining all his most valued friend. BASSANIO & GRATIANO 1. Who enters the scene now and what does he request of Bassanio? A. Gratiano enters the scene and asks Bassanio to let him accompany him to Belmont. 2. Why does Bassanio ask Gratiano to amend his character? A. Bassanio tell Gratiano that he is too rash, too unmannerly, frank and straight forward. These qualities suit him well here as they are all his friends and know him well. So these qualities do not appear as faults to them but in a place where people do not know him (Gratiano) his manners will be considered uncouth (rude). Therefore he requests Gratiano to make efforts to moderate his wild spirit with a bit of modesty lest, Bassanio too should be misunderstood as a boisterous fellow like Gratiano and all his hopes of winning Portia may be shattered. 3. What does Gratiano propose to do? A. Gratiano proposes to dress soberly, talk respectfully, swear only occasionally, walk about with a prayer book in his pocket, look seriously, and while the prayer is being said, cover his eyes with his hat and sigh and say amen, follow all the rules of civil and polite behavior like a person who is trying to please his grandmother. 4. What request does Gratiano make and how does Bassanio react to it? A. Gratiano requests Bassanio to let him be himself that night when Bassanio is giving his party. Bassanio says that he would be sorry to see Gratiano sad and solemn that night. He would prefer to see him in his wildest spirits and in his most amusing self that night. 5. What does the scene reveal about the following characters? A. Launcelot: He is the clown of the play. Shows a childlike affection for his father, he plays practical jokes at the expense of his father, which shows lack of respect on his part. His humour consists of misuse of words and malapropisms. He loves comfort and leaves Shylock to work for Bassanio who makes new liveries for his servants and treats them well. He is extravagant by nature and has a healthy appetite. Old Gobbo: He is a typical subservient member of the lower classes of that period. When he talks to Launcelot his language is quite simple, but when he talks to Bassanio, he becomes affected and makes the same misuse of big words as his son. Shylock: Launcelot says that he is famished in his service. His household is intolerable. According to Launcelot he is narrow-minded, cruel, miserly and heartless. He has recomemded Launcelot to Bassanio to help Bassanio waster his money. ACT II, Scene -3 1. Where does the scene take place? Who are the two characters who enter the scene? A. This scene takes place in a room in Shylock s house. Jessica and Launcelot enter this scene. 2. Why is Jessica sorry that Launcelot is leaving the service of her father? A. Jessica is sorry that Launcelot is leaving the service of her father, because her father s house is a hell to her. He has made it so by his greed and his suspicious nature because of which he is keeping her in strict seclusion. Launcelot is a jolly fellow and full of antics and nonsensical capering which relieves the boredom and dullness of the house. 3. Why does Jessica give Launcelot a ducat? A. Jessica wants Launcelot to deliver a letter secretly to Lorenzo who will be one of the guests for supper at Bassanio s house. It contains her plans for elopement that night. 4. How does he part from Jessica? A. He tells her that tears prevent his tongue from uttering his feelings at parting from her. He says that his tears of grief overcome him and unman (weaken) him still further. 5. What is meant by if a Christian do not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived A. This means that if a Christian does not play some trick and take Jessica away, Launcelot will be much shocked. 6. What does Jessica say to herself when Launcelot has gone? A. When Launcelot has gone, Jessica says to herself that it is so wicked of her to feel a disgrace to be her father s child , but she cannot help it. Though she is Shylock s daughter by birth, she is not so by behaviour. She addresses Lorenzo, who is not there, and tells him that if he keeps his word, the struggle between her love for him and her duty to her father will soon be over. She will become a Christian and his beloved wife. ACT II, SCENE 4 1. Where does the scene take place? Name the characters that enter this scene. A. This scene takes place in a street in Venice, outside Shylock s house. The characters who enter this scene are Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino and Salanio. 2. What plan does Lorenzo suggest to the others? A. Lorenzo suggests that they should slip out unnoticed while the others are having supper at Bassanio s house, and go to his room and there put on their masks and costumes and be back again in an hour. 3. What is a masque? A. The masque in Elizabethan time was an amateur dramatic performance, usually presented in a private house. The players wore masks and costumes and took part in a torch light procession, playing musical instruments like the fife and the drum. The masque was an elaborate form of entertainment which included dramatic poetry, music and dancing. 4. Why are Lorenzo and his friends preparing for a masque? A. Gratiano with his friends has planned to have the masque as a farewell entertainment to Bassanio, before he sails for Belmont. Therefore Lorenzo and his friends are preparing for the masque. It was a fashion at parties for some of the guests to steal away from the party, disguise themselves and come back as new-comers, surprising the guests. 5. Who are torchbearers? A. Each actor taking part in the procession of the masque had to be prepared by an attendant carrying a lighted torch. They are the torchbearers. 6. What is Gratiano s , Salarino & Salanio s reaction to Lorenzo s suggestion? A. Gratiano tells Lorenzo that they have not had time to prepare for the party properly. Salarino says that they have not yet arranged for torchbearers. Salanio says that the masque will be a very poor affair, unless it is thoroughly wellmanaged and beautifully arranged. If that is not done, in his opinion, the entertainment is better left alone. 7. Why is Lorenzo very enthusiastic about the masque? A. Lorenzo is very enthusiastic about the masque because his plans to elope with Jessica disguised as a torch-bearer require it. He tells them that it is now only four o clock and they have two hours to obtain the necessary equipment for the masque. 8. Who enters the scene now & with what? What does Lorenzo remark on seeing that? A. Launcelot enters the scene with Jessica s letter. On seeing the letter Lorenzo remarks that the handwriting is familiar to him. He says it was written by a lovely hand. The hand is whiter than the white paper and more beautiful than the writing. 9. Where is Launcelot going now & what message does Lorenzo send to Jessica? A. Launcelot is going to carry an invitation from Bassanio asking Shylock to supper. Lorenzo tells Launcelot to tell Jessica that he will keep his word. He tells him to give the massage privately. He also gives him some money as a tip. 10.After every one leaves what does Lorenzo confide in Gratiano? A. Lorenzo tells him that Jessica has given him instructions how he should take her from her father s house, what gold and silver she has supplied herself along with money. She has also got the dress of a page-boy s uniform. 11.According to Lorenzo how could Shylock go to heaven? A. According to Lorenzo, Jessica s father could go to heaven only through the instrumentality of his sweet & gentle daughter Jessica. 12.On what conditions may misfortunes come to Jessica? A. Lorenzo cannot imagine any harm to Jessica. If ever any misfortune happens to her, it will only be because she happens to be the daughter of an unbelieving Jew. She has no stain of sin in her, unless her birth is regarded as a sin. So, only on that account can misfortune come to her. Act II Scene 5 1. Where does the scene take place and who are the characters who enter the scene.? A. This scene takes place in the street in Venice before Shylock s house. 2. According to Shylock, what changes will Launcelot find when he works for Bassanio? A. According to Shylock, Launcelot will find that he will not be able to eat so much as he was in Shylock s house, or lie so long lazily slumbering, or wear out so many suits. 3. Why are Shylock & Launcelot calling out to Jessica? A. Shylock wants to give her the keys of the house before leaving for Bassanio s house. Launcelot is also calling out to her as he has to give her the message from Lorenzo. 4. What reason does Shylock give for being invited & for accepting Bassanio s invitation to supper? A. Shylock says that Bassanio and his friends have invited him not for his company or out of love, but merely to deceive him into thinking they esteem him highly or to coax into being generous to them. He says that he will go there as their enemy, and eat the food of the extravagant Christian, Bassanio. This is one of Shylock s plots against Christians. He will dine with them to make them spend money and make them poorer. He will return hatred for hatred although he had resolved not to eat, drink or pray with them. 5. For what other reason is Shylock unwilling to go? A. Shylock is unwilling to go as he feels a premonition of some misfortune about to take place. The previous night he had a dream about money-bags. To dream about money and all kinds of coins is a bad omen. 6. How does Launcelot make fun of Shylock s superstitious belief? A. Launcelot says that they have planned to have a masque party but, he is not quite sure if it will be actually carried out. If it is, he has got a premonition of it in the form of a bleeding nose which happened last Easter Monday early in the morning, the Easter Monday which fell last year on Ash Wednesday in the afternoon four years ago. There was a superstition that if the nose began to bleed it was a sign of bad luck. Since Shylock speaks about the premonitions of evil that he has had, so Launcelot makes up a premonition, just to make fun of Shylock. 7. Explain Black Monday A. The first Monday after Easter Sunday is known as Easter Monday. On Easter Monday of April 14th 1360, when King Edward III s army was caught in the black fog, and cold outside Paris many men died on horse-back. They froze to death. Since then Easter Monday was known as Black Monday for a long time. 8. Explain: Ash Wednesday A. The first of Lent always falls on a Wednesday. Lent is a period of forty days, a period of prayer and penance in preparation for Easter. On Ash Wednesday, Catholics smear their foreheads with ashes to remind them that man was made from dust and he will return to dust. So this day is called Ash Wednesday . It is absurd of Launcelot to talk of Easter Monday and Ash Wednesday falling at the same time as there is a period of forty days between them. 9. How does Shylock react when he is told that there will be masques? A. When Shylock is told that there will be masques, he is alarmed for fear such revels may become unruly. Moreover, he hates this silly frivolity of the Christians. He immediately warns Jessica to lock all the doors of the house securely. He tells her not to go up to the windows when she hears the drums and the shrill notes of the fife. He tells her not to stretch her neck out over the public street to gaze on Christian fools with painted faces. She has to close up all the windows so that no sounds of foolish, displays may enter his serious household. 10.What does Launcelot whisper to Jessica as he leaves? A. As he leaves, Launcelot whispers to Jessica that in spite of all that has been said by her father, she must surely look out at the casement, for a certain Christian will pass by and he will be well worth her looking for. 11.What does Shylock ask Jessica when he sees Launcelot whispering to her? A. When Shylock sees Launcelot whispering to Jessica, his suspicions are aroused and he asks her what it was that the descendant of Hagar said to her. 12.Explain Hagar s offspring A. Hagar was the maid of Sarah, Abraham s wife. She was taken by Abraham as his wife, and had a son called Ishmael. When Ishmael became mocked Isaac, Abraham was compelled by Sarah to cast out Hagar and her son Ishmael from the family. Ishmael became the ancestor of the Ishmaelites or outcasts who were despised by the Jews. 13.What is Shylock s estimate of Launcelot s character? A. Shylock says that the fool Launcelot is good natured but he eats too much. He is slow as a snail & sleeps during the day more than the wild cat. He is lazy and cannot be allowed to live with him. He tells Jessica that he is sending him to Bassanio as he wants to see Bassanio ruined. He hopes Launcelot will help to ruin him by helping to spend the money, three thousand ducats, which he has borrowed from Shylock. This is another plot of Shylock against the Christians. 14.What are Shylock s parting instructions to Jessica? A. Shylock tells Jessica to go in, to remember what he has told her and to shut the doors after her. He quotes the proverb which says that if you lock a thing up, you will find it safe (Leave secure, you will find all secure). 15. Why does Shylock say that he may return soon? A. Shylock still has doubts about leaving the house. Moreover, he wants to quicken Jessica s vigilance during his absence. 16. What significant remark does Jessica make at the end of the scene? A. At the end of the scene when her father is out of hearing, Jessica wishes her father farewell. She remarks significantly that unless she has very great illluck, he has lost his daughter and she has lost a father. 17.What does this scene reveal about the following characters? A. Shylock: Shylock s desire for revenge upon Antonio is revealed as he goes to supper to help Bassanio waste his borrowed money. He is so eager for revenge that he overlooks his religious principles which forbade dining with Christians who eat pork. He even ignores his premonitions of evil. He is thrifty and opposed to ostentation (pretence/ showiness) and frivolity (merriment). His sordid housekeeping is revealed when Jessica runs away and Launcelot changes his master. Shylock does not trust others, not even his own daughter. He reminds Jessica that he is not off the premises for good. He may return immediately. This shows he is perhaps in the habit of spying upon her and does not trust her. His dream shows that he is excessively concerned about money and possessions. Jessica: Jessica childishness is revealed when her father warns her not clamber up casements and not to thrust her head into the public street to see the masquerade pass. Shylock s forbidding repression makes Jessica secretive and deceitful. She feels some remorse in what she is about to do and silently bids farewell to the father she is about to lose. *****

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