ENGLISH LIT

PROJECT 2020
By Kyra Chhabra XD
INDEX
1) COVER PAGE
2) INDEX
3) SHAKESPEARE’S BIOGRAPHY
4) QUESTION ON ACT1 SCENE1
5) HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
6) BIBLIOGRAPHY
1)William Shakespeare’s Biography
William Shakespeare was indisputably among the top English-language
poets and playwrights of all time. He is widely regarded as the greatest
playwright indeed writer, of all time.
During his lifetime, Shakespeare was well known to people in England ,
but he was looked upon only as a writer of popular plays. He wrote his
plays to suit the kind of audience that would be watching them. Yet his
works can be enjoyed today, as a they were by the people who saw them
nearly 400 years ago. Whether its Comedies or Tragedies, the Histories
or Romances, his work glitters with a humanity and vitality that we still
respond to today.

Shakespeare was born in a timber-framed house in Henley

Street, Stratford-upon-Avon on April 23rd 1564 to John Shakespeare, a
glove maker and Mary Arden, daughter of a farmer. He was the third of
eight children. When he was 7 years old, he attended the Stratford
grammar school with the other boys of his social class where he studied
Latin as it was considered a sign of an educated person.
In 1582, at the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway who bore a
daughter and twins—one of whom died soon after. Within three years he
had moved to London, establishing himself as an Actor and Playwright.

Shakespeare was the most successful playwright of his day and

enjoyed published success too. He wrote 38 plays, over 150 exquisite
sonnets and a number of fine long poems. His energy and success also
brought him part-ownership of both The Lord Chamberlain’s Men and
The Globe, allowing him to retire in some comfort to Stratford in 1611,
five years before his death. In 1623, the authoritative collection of his
plays, The First Folio, was gathered together.
2)ACT1 SCENE1
why is it a keynote for the entire play?

Act1 Scene1 has been described as an exposition for the entire play, an
Exposition is a literary device that refers to the part of a story that
sets the stage for the drama to follow: it introduces the theme,
setting, characters, and circumstances at the story’s beginnings.
It is where the author gives a description of the setting and the
mood before the action takes place. Exposition gives the reader or
listener the full spectrum of the story. By adding more details, the writer
can open the door and let the reader fully step into the story.

The play begins on a street in Venice, where the opening scene gives an
exposition to tell the readers the circumstances that unfold which lead up
to the events of the play. Shakespeare begins to sketch in some of the
characters and some of the atmosphere of the play. Antonio, for
example, is presented as being "sad," afflicted with a melancholy which
he himself does not appear to understand. Through act1 scene1
Shakespeare introduces the main character of the plot, Antonio a rich
merchant living in Venice who is in a state of melancholy but is unable
to figure out the reason why. His friends Salanio and Salarino try to
figure out the reason for his sadness but are unable to figure it out as
they make various accusations on things like melancholic mood caused
by his business ventures or if he in love but Antonio says by that they
are not what makes him sad . They come to the conclusion that he is sad
simply because he is not merry. This scene establishes Antonio's
friendship with Bassanio, and makes it clear that the two of them are
devoted to one another; we see that the other friends surrounding
Antonio are not as important to him as Bassanio is. The dialogue
between them hints at deep devotion. When Bassanio describes his
anxiety over his debts, Antonio offers to help him in any way he can.
Bassanio has lost all his riches and now is in need of money from his
dear friend to travel to Portia, a wealthy heiresses in Belmont. Antonio's
question concerning Bassanio's courtship of Portia is turned aside by
Bassanio; he goes directly to the question of money, in order that the
basis for the bond story can be laid. Antonio agrees but is unable to take
the loan himself as all his ships are abroad and he doesn’t have enough
money in hand. Antonio suggests that Bassanio should secure the loan
through one the city’s moneylenders where Antonio can be the
guarantor.

These details are critical pieces of information because they alert

audiences to the fact that Antonio is a "money guy." He's used to taking
financial risks that could go quite badly. We need this information in
order to make his future deal with Shylock more believable. We've
already seen him take a risk on the ships, so taking a risk on Bassanio
and Shylock is nothing new.
This scene also introduces audiences to Bassanio and the heroine of the
play Portia when Bassanio tells Antonio about his plan to go to Belmont
and become a suitable suitor for Portia with the money lent by Shylok.
Bassanio is smitten with her even having never met her, just by hearing
stories of her beauty. But since Bassanio is in need of money he is also
interested in her partly because she has a fortune. Money, wealth and
debt are strong themes throughout the play (it is a debt, bored on
Bassanio's behalf, that puts Antonio in danger of being murdered by
Shylock), the establishment of Bassanio's desire for wealth and an end to
his debts is significant here.
It is seen that Bassanio describes Portia as “a lady richly left”, as “fair
and fairer than the word” as well as “ of wonderous virtue” all of these
show how much he admired her beauty.

The first scene of MOV acts as an introduction for the whole play, the
important characters, elements of the plot and the general mood of the
play. It creates a strong foundation for the rest of the play as it tells us
enough information to intrigue the readers but not enough to give all the
details and plot away. It dwells on the themes of Friendship, fidelity,
display of feelings and pretence. This scene plots the base for the further
adds to the suspense to topics such as Antonio's melancholy , Bassanio's
asking for the money from Antonio and Bassanio wooing Portia.

This opening scene can be divided into three main parts, the first part
being highlights of Antonio's melancholic state and gives us a picture
of the Venetian trade.
The second part which tells us about Gratiano's light-hearted behaviour
is projected which offers a contrast to Antonio's melancholy.
And finally the last part of the scene which foretells the need for raising
money by signing a bond and indirectly introduces Portia. Thus it can be
said that this scene links the commercial world of Venice to the romantic
world of Belmont.

The main theme of this scene is Love and Friendship which can be seen
The Merchant of Venice also explores love and friendship between its
characters. The central romantic relationship of the play is that between
Bassanio and Portia. Their marriage is paralleled by several others: the
elopement of Shylock's daughter, Jessica, with the Christian, Lorenzo;
and the marriage of Portia's servant, Nerissa, to Bassanio's companion,
Gratiano. In addition, numerous critics have suggested that the strongest
friendship in the play—between Antonio and Bassanio—also
approaches romantic love. In addition, the play shows how strong the
amicable ties are that connect all the various Venetian characters.

Given the generosity that they motivate between characters, love and
friendship might seem to offer alternatives to the ugly emotions of
prejudice, greed, and revenge on display in The Merchant of Venice.
However, beginning with Bassanio's borrowing money from his friend
Antonio in order to woo Portia, the play also demonstrates that the
apparent purity of love and friendship can be tainted by selfish economic
concerns

3) HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF MOV

Shakespeare's works reflect the cultural , social and

political conditions Of the Elizabethan Age. Knowledge
Of these conditions can provide greater understanding
Of Shakespeare s plays and poems. for example, most
Elizabethans believed in ghosts, Witches, and magicians.
No biographical evidence exists that Shakespeare held
such beliefs, but he used them effectively in his works.
In the late 1500s when Shakespeare began to write his plays, the
English people tended to be optimistic. In 1588,the English navy won a
great victory over the Armada, the huge Spanish fleet that tried to
conquer England .The victory made England more secure and aroused
strong feelings of patriotism.
But the optimism of the late 1500s faded rapidly
time Queen Elizabeth died in 1603, when the
English were struggling with many social and economic problems.
Shakespeare's plays reflect the shift from optimism to
pessimism in Elizabethan society. All his early plays,
even the histories and the tragedy Romeo and Juliet,
have an exuberance that sets them apart from the later
works. After 1600, Shakespeare's dramas show the con-
fused, gloomy, and often bitter social attitudes of the
time.
Elizabethan literature mirrored the violence and death
so characteristic of English life. Shakespeare's tragedies,
like other Elizabethan tragedies, involve the murder or
suicide of many of the leading characters.
In spite of their tolerance of cruelty, Elizabethans
were extremely sensitive to beauty and grace. They
loved many forms of literature, including poetic drama,
narrative and lyric poetry, prose fiction, and essays.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Last checked on 20th may 2020

1) WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA 1991 VERSION;

S-Sn book
W book
M book
2) Book of COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
By
DR Warren boutcher
3) https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-merchant-of-venice/themes/love-
and-friendship
4) https://www.owleyes.org/text/merchant-of-
venice/analysis/historical-context
5) https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/act-1-scene-1-what-
importance-ships-setting-155905
6) https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-importance-of-Act-1-Scene-1-
of-The-Merchant-of-Venice
7) https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/merchant/page_4/