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

12 pages, 13 questions, 1 questions with responses, 1 total responses,    0    0
Shreyas JV
The Hyderabad Public School (HPS), Begumpet, Hyderabad
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ACT V 1. Where does the scene take place? Who enter the scene? A. This scene takes place in the avenue to Portia s house and the garden in front of her house in Belmont. Lorenzo & Jessica enter the scene. 2. What three qualities of the night does Lorenzo mention? A. Lorenzo says that the moon shone as brilliantly and the sweet breeze was gently touching the trees which silently received its caresses. It is a calm and quiet night. 3. What does Lorenzo say about Troilus? Explain the allusion. A. Lorenzo says that on a moonlit night as this, long years ago, Troilus climbed up the walls of Troy and heaved deep sighs towards the Grecian camp where his faithless beloved Cressida was sleeping. According to the medieval story, Troilus fell in love with Cressida, a young Trojan woman. She was the niece of Troilus's friend Pandarus, who encouraged the relationship by carrying letters and arranging meetings. However, Cressida's father decided to side with the Greeks against his own people, and he ordered Cressida to join him in the Greek camp. There, despite her vows of loyalty to Troilus, she fell in love with a Greek soldier named Diomedes. Her faithlessness filled Troilus with rage and despair. Lorenzo is of the opinion that men are more faithful than women in matters of love. 4. What does Jessica say about Thisbe? Explain the allusion. A. Jessica says that on a moonlit night like this Thisbe, timidly and silently ran over the dewy grass. The bright moonlight showed her the shadow of a lion and being warned in time, she ran away to safety. Pyramus and Thisbe lived in Babylonia and from the time they were young, they were neighbours. They played together daily as children and fell in love as they grew older. Although neighbours, their families were hostile to one another so the love between Pyramus and Thisbe remained a secret. Suddenly they came to the decision that they would not be stopped from being together any longer. They decided to meet that night outside the city gates under a mulberry tree filled with white fruit. This particular tree grew near a stream next to the local cemetery. Thisbe, hidden by a veil, arrived at the appointed spot first and waited patiently for Pyramus to come. All of a sudden, a lioness fresh from a kill, her jaws covered in blood, slunk out of the brush to satisfy her thirst at the stream. Thisbe, frightened by this disturbance, ran to a nearby cave. In her haste, she dropped her veil and the lioness grabbed it and shredded it with her bloody jaws. Meanwhile, Pyramus had arrived at the meeting place. As he approached the tree he could not help but notice the large paw prints of the lioness. His heart beat faster. As he approached the stream, his fears were confirmed upon seeing Thisbe s veil torn and bloodstained. Unable to find Thisbe and fearing that she was dead, Pyramus was unable to contain his sorrow. He drew his sword and plunged it deeply into his side. As he removed the sword from his side, blood sprayed the white fruit on the tree, turning it a dark purple colour. Meanwhile, Thisbe, recovered from her fright, came back to the meeting place by the stream. There she saw Pyramus body lying in a crumpled heap on the ground. Racked with uncontrollable agony, she took his sword and threw her body onto it. Jessica wanted to show that both had become symbols of faithful lovers. 5. What does Lorenzo say about Queen Dido? Relate the story referred to here. A. Lorenzo says that on a moonlit night like this, Queen Dido stood on the wild sea shore of Carthage with a branch of willow tree ( the emblem of forsaken love) in her hand waving to her beloved Aeneas in his ship, vainly appealing to him to return to her. In Greek mythology, Dido was the founder and queen of Carthage, a city on the northern coast of Africa. The Trojan leader Aeneas was shipwrecked on the shore near Carthage at the time when Dido was building the new city. After welcoming Aeneas and his men, the queen fell deeply in love with him. In time, the two lived together as wife and husband, and Aeneas began to act as though he were king of Carthage. Then Jupiter sent a messenger to tell Aeneas that he could not remain in Carthage. Rather, his destiny was to found a new city for the Trojans in Italy. Dido was devastated when she heard that Aeneas planned to leave. She had believed that the two of them would eventually marry. Aeneas insisted that he had no choice but to obey the gods, and shortly afterward, he and his men set sail for Italy. When Dido saw the ships sail out to sea, she ordered a funeral pyre to be built and died in the flames. 6. What does Jessica say about Medea? Relate the story connected with her. A. Medea the wife of Jason, restored Jason s father, Aeson to youthful vigour by her skill in magic. She gathered herbs by moonlight. Then she made a potion and made him drink it. Thus he was restored to his youthful strength. 7. What does Lorenzo say about Jessica now & what was Jessica s reply? A. Lorenzo says that on one such night, Jessica left her rich old father, Shylock the Jew, and ran away with a penniless husband from Venice and came to Belmont. Jessica says that on a similar night young Lorenzo swore to her that he loved her dearly. He won her heart and made many promises of constancy and love, but there was not a word of truth in any of them. 8. How does Lorenzo retort? A. Lorenzo retorts by saying that on such a bright night as this, the lovely Jessica, like a little shrew ridiculed her husband, and he pardoned it all. 9. What does Jessica say now? A. Jessica tells Lorenzo that she could outdo Lorenzo in specify instances of moonlit nights, if they had only a little longer time to themselves; but they are interrupted and she can hear the footsteps of a man approaching. 10.Who enters the scene now? What news does he bring? A. Stephano, a servant of Portia, enters the scene. He has come to inform Lorenzo that Portia will arrive at Belmont before daybreak. On her way to this place she is going from one religious shrine to another where there are holy crosses, kneeling and praying for happy married hours. 11.Who is coming with Portia and what does Stephano ask about Bassanio and what reply does he get? A. None except a holy hermit (monk) and her servant. Stephano wants to know whether Bassanio has returned and Lorenzo tells him he has not yet returned, nor do they have any news concerning him. 12.Who enters the scene now and with what news? A. Launcelot. He informs Lorenzo and Jessica that Bassanio has sent a messenger to announce that he will arrive shortly before break of day. 13.What does Lorenzo decide to do first? Why does he change his mind? A. At first Lorenzo decides that they should go in and wait for the arrival of Portia and Bassanio. Then he changes his mind and decides to wait in the garden. He tells Stephano to go in and announce to the servants that Lady Portia will soon arrive. He tells him to send the orchestra out-of-doors to welcome the arrivals with music. 14. Explain : Look, how the floor of heaven in we cannot hear it . A. Lorenzo asks Jessica to look at the beauty of the moonlit night. The stars shining in the sky look like pieces of bright gold fixed on a dark coloured canopy. Even the smallest star that seems to be moving produces sweet music like angels do in the company of young cherubim. Only angels with beautiful and youthful eyes listen to the music produced by the movement of stars. This music is not meant for human ears. The music produced by the spheres can be enjoyed only by the angels who have immortal souls. Human beings do not enjoy this music as long as their souls are imprisoned in their mortal bodies made of dust. 15.How does Lorenzo ask the musicians to play music? A. Lorenzo asks the musicians to play music and wake up the goddess of moon, Diana, from her sleep. He tells them that the sweet music should reach the ears of their mistress (Portia) and attract her home. 16. What effect does sweet music have on Jessica? What reason doe Lorenzo give for it? A. Jessica says that when she listens to sweet music, she becomes serious or sad. Lorenzo tells her that she becomes serious because her soul pays full attention to the music and so her mind does not or does not have any room to think of any light and happy thoughts. 17. According to Lorenzo what effect does music have upon untamed spirits? A. According to Lorenzo even savage and untamed beasts and young and untrained colts that rush about madly bellowing and neighing aloud, being full of energy and strength, also come to a standstill and remain quiet if they only hear the sound of a trumpet or some soft notes of music. Their wild eyes transform to gentle gaze. Such is the effect of music even over the wild beasts. 18.Who is Orpheus? Explain. A. Orpheus was the son of Calliope - a Muse (a Muse is the personification of knowledge and the arts, especially literature, dance and music). Calliope was one of the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. He was presented with a lyre by Apollo. With its music he enchanted not only the wild beasts, but also the trees and rocks upon Olympus so that they moved from their places to follow the sound of the golden harp. 19. According to Lorenzo what did Ovid imagine? A. According to Lorenzo, Ovid imagined that Orpheus with his flute could move even trees, stones and water. However unfeeling or hard a thing may be, however fierce or unyielding, music can melt or soften, while it is being played. 20.What does Lorenzo say about a man who has no love for music? A. Lorenzo says that the man who is unmoved by good music or whose soul is not touched by the beauty of music, is capable of treachery (acting against his country), plunder or destruction. His thoughts are base, his soul is dark and his emotions are as sordid (disgusting) as hell. Such a man cannot be trusted. 21. Who appears in the distance unnoticed by the others? What are the thoughts suggested by the light of a candle to Portia? A. Portia and Nerissa appear in the distance. Portia tells Nerissa that the light they see is burning in her own house. The light from a little candle can travel very far into the night. Similarly, the light of a good deed in this wicked world is equally far-reaching. It shines like a light in the darkness. 22.What did Nerissa say about the candle? What is Portia s reply? A. Nerissa said that when the moon was shining, they did not see the light of the candle. Portia replies that the greater glory dims the lesser glory. The effect of a small thing is overpowered by the fame of greater ones. In the absence of the king the viceroy holds a high position and he looks as great as his master. But when the king himself appears the other s glory vanishes just how a small river flowing on land vanishes into the mighty ocean. 23. Explain: Nothing is good I see without respect, me thinks it sounds much sweeter than by day . A. Portia says that we appreciate things much when we have leisure to pay attention to them. We can fully enjoy a good thing when it is accompanied by circumstances like the place and the time. So. However perfect, the music is in the daytime, it sounds sweeter in the night. 24. Portia mentions about 5 birds. What does she say about them? A. Portia mentions the crow, the lark, the nightingale, the goose and the wren. Portia says that when we pay no attention to it, the hoarse voice of the crow sounds as sweet as the melodious note of the lark. If the nightingale sings by day when every goose is cackling, it will not be appreciated any more than the twittering wren. The true value of a thing depends on the way it has been seen or heard at the most fitting time. Even good things do not attain perfection and fail to deserve the due praise simply because they are not well timed. 25. Explain: the moon sleeps with Endymion A. The above words mean that the moon is not visible now as it is hidden by the clouds. So Portia uses the classical imagery of the moon sleeping with Endymion. Endymion was a handsome young shepherd boy of Greece. As he slept on Latmus( a mountain), his surprising beauty won the cold heart of Diana, the moon goddess. She condemned him to eternal sleep by endowing him with everlasting youth, so that she could lie by his side and kiss him. The moon kissed him by pouring down her silvery light on him. So here, the moon hiding behind a cloud is described as her sleeping with Endymion. 26. Who welcomes Portia and Nerissa? What comparison does she make about her voice? A. Lorenzo recognizes the voice of Portia and welcomes her and Nerissa as they reach the house. Portia says that Lorenzo recognizes her by her unmusical voice just as a blind man recognizes a cuckoo by its bad voice. 27. What instructions does Portia send to her servants through Nerissa? A. Portia tells Nerissa to tell her servants within the house not to speak of their absence or make any reference to it. She tells Lorenzo and Jessica not to do so either. 28. Just before Bassanio could come in what remark does Portia make about the night? A. Portia says that the night is so bright that it is now like a dim day. It looks just like a dim day when the clouds obscure the sun. 29. Who has overheard Portia? What does he say? A. Bassanio overheard Portia and pays her a compliment by saying that if she were to come forth at night after the sun set, they would still have day even while the sun is lighting up the opposite side of the globe. 30. Explain: Let me give light you are welcome home my lord. A. Portia replies by saying that she would gladly give him light but let her not have a light (immoral) character because an unfaithful wife makes her husband sorrowful. She wishes that Bassanio should never be sorrowful on her account. But, let God dispose of everything. She welcomes him home. 31. Describe the introduction of Antonio to Portia and state what was said on both sides. A. Bassanio introduces his friend, Antonio, and tells her that he is the man to whom he owes so much. Portia says that he should in all reason fell obliged to him because she has heard that Antonio was bound for Bassanio i.e. he signed a bond for him at a great risk to his own life. Antonio says that he had been repaid for what he had done. Portia says that Antonio is welcome to their house but she must show him the warmth of her welcome by deeds and not mere words. So she will put an end to speeches of polite courtesy. 32. Why is Gratiano swearing to Nerissa that she is doing him wrong? A. Nerissa has discovered that Gratiano has given away her ring and accuses him of giving it to another woman. So, Gratiano is swearing to her by the light of the moon above them that she is accusing him unjustly. He tells her that really and truly he gave it to the lawyer s young clerk. He says he wishes the one he gave it to were dead, as it has displeased his beloved so much. 33. What does Gratiano reply Portia when she wants to know what the matter is? A. Gratiano replies that he and Nerissa are quarrelling over a ring of gold, a mere worthless ring that Nerissa gave him, with a rhyming inscription on it, such as the manufacturers of knives engrave on their blades, Love me and leave me not . 34. How does Nerissa react to this? A. Nerissa says the worth of the ring or the inscription on it does not matter. She states that when she gave it to Gratiano, he solemnly vowed that he would never part with it during his life time, and that after death it would be buried in the grave with him. Even if he did not care sufficiently to keep it for her sake, yet for the sake of not breaking his vow, he should have felt it was his duty to keep it. She accuses him of not having given it to a young clerk but to a woman. 35. How does Gratiano describe the clerk to whom he gave the ring? A. Gratiano tells Nerissa he gave the ring to a boy. He was not taller than Nerissa. He was the clerk to the young lawyer and he talked, coaxed and entreated him to give him the ring in payment for his services, until Gratianio could not be so hard-hearted as to refuse him any longer. 36. How does Portia join Nerissa in accusing and scolding Gratiano? A. Portia tells Gratiano that it was very wrong of him to give away the first present his wife had given him, so readily. Besides it was bound to his finger with many faithful protestations (declarations). She tells him that he has given Nerissa a very just ground for complaint. If it were done to her, she would be really angry. 37. What does Portia tell Gratiano about the ring she had given Bassanio? A. Portia tells Gratiano that she had also given a ring to her beloved husband, Bassanio, and made him swear never to part with it. He stands before them. She is willing to take an oath on his behalf that he will not part with it nor give it away though he were offered all the riches of the universe. 38. Explain: Why I were best to cut my left hand off, and swear I lost the ring defending it A. Bassanio is in a dilemma on hearing Portia express faith in him. In says the best thing he can do is to cut off the left hand on which he wore the ring, and vow that the ring was taken from him by force, and that he was wounded in trying to prevent it. 39. What does Gratiano reveal at this stage? A. Gratiano reveals now that Lord Bassanio did indeed part with the ring. He gave it to the judge who asked for it and who really deserved a reward. When his clerk, the youth who had taken great care in writing out the proceedings of the case saw that, he begged Gratiano for his ring. They offered them compensate in money instead, but the judge and the clerk would accept no other gift except the two rings. 40.How does Portia react when she sees that Bassanio does not have her ring? A. Portia says that just as there is no ring on his finger, so there is no truth in his false heart. She swears that she will never be a wife to him until Bassanio shows her the ring again. 41. What further excuse does Bassanio give for having parted with the ring? A. Bassanio tells Portia that if she knew the one who received the ring and if she knew the man for whose shake he gave it, if she would consider what good reasons he had for giving it and could imagine how reluctantly he gave it when he found no other way of satisfying him, he thinks she would be less angry with him. He is so earnest in his explanation that he ends every line with ring . 42.How does Portia meet his excuses? A. Portia continues his rhyme ring at the end of every line in a teasing way and tells him that if he knew the power of that ring, if he were aware of half the virtues of the one who gave it to him or if he had considered how his honour was involved in keeping it safe, he would never have given it away. If he had seriously opposed the judge s request with some earnestness, would he have persisted so unfeelingly for a thing which he held almost sacred? She says that she is forced to agree with Nerissa that he has given the ring to some woman. 43.How does Bassanio explain the circumstances under which he parted with the ring? A. Bassanio explains the circumstances under which he parted with the ring. Bassanio says that he swears by all that is most sacred to him that he never gave the ring to a woman, but to a most learned doctor of the civil law. He would not accept any fee, even when Bassanio offered the whole sum of three thousand ducats due to the Jew. All he asked for was the ring. He refused to give it to him, although he was the very one who had saved Antonio s life. He left the court angry and disappointed. Bassanio could not appear so ungrateful. He was overwhelmed with feelings of shame at his apparent thanklessness. A sense of gratitude prompted him to show courtesy. He could not allow his reputation to be tarnished with ingratitude on his part. Bassanio felt compelled to send a messenger after him with the ring, he so much wished for. Bassanio begs of Portia to forgive him. He swears by the stars above them, that if she had been present, she would herself have entreated Bassanio to let the worthy doctor have the ring. 44.Why does Portia not want that doctor to come to her house? Who echoes her sentiments? A. Portia does not want the doctor to ever come to her house, for she will follow Bassanio s example. He has given the doctor the gem she prized so highly, which he promised to keep for her, because he asked for it. Therefore she will become generous as Bassanio, if he does come. She will not refuse him anything she possesses. Nerissa echoes her sentiments and says that she will refuse nothing which his clerk asks for. She tells Gratiano to take care, therefore, not to leave her unguarded. 45. Which vow does Bassanio make and how does Portia tease him for that? A. Bassanio begins making a vow to her, with all his friends as witnesses, and swears by Portia s tow lovely eyes which reflect his image. Portia interrupts him by telling everyone to hear what he says. Portia teases him by saying that he sees himself in each of her eyes, therefore he sees himself double. It is an appropriate oath to vow by his double dealing (insincere) self. 46. How does Antonio show that his confidence in Bassanio is unabated? A. Antonio tells Portia that once he had been surety for the welfare of her husband. Had it not been for the worthy doctor to whom Bassanio gave her ring, Antonio s body would have perished. He says that he is so sure of her husband s faithfulness that he is ready to be his surety again, and offer his soul as the forfeit this time. He swears that never again will Bassanio knowingly break his word to her. When Antonio says he is ready to pawn his soul, he means, he is ready to pawn his salvation. He will forfeit it to Satan. This is a much greater stake than forfeiting his body. These words show that Antonio s confidence in Bassanio is unabated. 47. What does Portia say and do now? What is Bassanio s reaction? A. Portia tells Antonio she accepts his offer and he will be the guarantee for Bassanio s faith. Then she gives him the ring and tells Antonio to tell Bassanio to take better care of it than he did of the last one. Antonio tells Bassanio to take the ring and to take an oath that he will never part with it. Bassanio recognizes the ring as his own and he is dumbfounded to see the ring which he gave to the doctor in Venice. 48. How does Portia reveal her disguised presence at the trial? A. Portia gives a letter to Bassanio to read which Bellario of Padua sent to him. She explains that in the letter it will be stated that the doctor of law was Portia herself and that the young clerk was Nerissa. She tells all of them that Lorenzo will testify that both of them started on their journey immediately after Bassanio and Antonio did and that they have only just returned. In fact, she has not even entered her house yet. 49.What good news does Portia give Antonio? A. Portia gives Antonio another letter and tells him to open it quickly. There he will find that three of his trading ships have unexpectedly reached their destination with all their rich cargo intact. She further tells him that she will not tell him by what strange chance she happened to obtain the letter. 50.What does Antonio tell Portia? A. Antonio tells Portia that she has given him not only his life by saving it at the trial, but now she has restored to him his means of livelihood, for he reads in the letter given by her, that without doubt his ships have arrived at the harbour. 51.What comforting news does Nerissa give Lorenzo? How does Lorenzo react? A. Nerissa gives Lorenzo and Jessica a special legal agreement, in which Shylock leaves both of them all his riches and property after his death. Lorenzo tells the ladies that their hands scatter blessings wherever they go and provide food from heaven (manna) for the hungry. i.e. this pleasant news is welcome to Lorenzo, Jessica & Antonio. 52.Who has the last word in the play? What does he say? A. Gratiano says that for the remainder of his life, his chief care will be nothing else but to guard Nerissa s ring and never to part with it. 53.Why is this scene important? A. The ring episode provides the welcome relief needed after the tension of the Trial scene. Shakespeare ends his play by telling us what becomes of his characters. So we learn that Antonio s ships have returned safely and his wealth is restored. Lorenzo and Jessica are happily settled as they are going to receive a fortune from Shylock. Bassanio learns to appreciate the value of his wife. Nerissa and Gratiano are happily united. The stories of the caskets, the bond, the Lorenzo-Jessica story and the ring story are all completed. Good has triumphed over evil. Harmony is restored and the audience as well as the reader is left in a pleasing frame of mind. *****

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