English Literature

10 Div:

MOV - ACT 5 SCENE 1

Reference to the Context:

Reference 1

Jessica: In such a night

Did Thisbe fearfully o’ertrip the dew,
And saw the lion’s shadow ere himself
And ran dismay’d away.

Lorenzo: In such a night

Stood Dido with a willow in her hand
Upon the wild sea-banks, and waft her love
To come again to Carthage.

1. Which topic is being discussed in the extract?

Ans. The topic of love is being discussed here with references to famous mythological and
legendary lovers like-Troilus and Cressida, Pyramus and Thisbe, Dido and Aeneas and many
others.

2. Who is Thisbe? What is meant by ‘fearfully o’ertrip the dew’?

Ans. Thisbe was a Babylonian maiden who was in love with Pyramus- a Babylonian lad. It
means she fearfully walked lightly over the dew covered forest to meet her lover.

3. Give briefly the story of Thisbe.

Ans. Thisbe and Pyramus, loved each other but were forbidden to meet by their parents.
One day when they had planned to meet, Thisbe saw a lion and left the place in fright leaving
behind her cloak. Pyramus on seeing the blood stained cloak, thought that she was dead and
so he killed himself. When she returned and found her lover dead, she killed herself too.

4. Who is Dido? Why is she standing with a willow in her hand?

Ans. Dido was the queen of Carthage. She stood with a willow in her hand as a sign of
sorrow to send forth signals to her lover Aeneas, to return.

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 5. What do the ‘willow’ and the ‘wild sea-banks’ signify?

Ans. The willow and wild sea-banks signify deserted or forsaken love. She stood on the wild
sea banks with a willow twig in her hand. She waved the willow twig towards her lover
Aeneas’s ship, appealing to him to come back.

6. Why are the stories of Thisbe and Dido given in the contest? In your answer,
bring out the comparison aimed at, between the characters in the play and the
stories of Thisbe as well as Dido.

Ans. The stories of Thisbe and Dido are given in the context to emphasis on the theme of love.
The story of Thisbe and Pyramus talks of two faithful lovers who sacrificed their life for the
other. Whereas, the story of Dido and Aeneas tells us about forsaken/deserted love.
Jessica refers to Thisbe’s story to show her faithful/ constant love for Lorenzo. Lorenzo
narrates Dido’s story only to taunt her at the fate of Dido. This scene tells us the constant and
faithful love of Jessica and Lorenzo for each other.

Reference 2

Lorenzo: In such a night

Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew,
And with an unthrift love did run from Venice,
As far as Belmont.

Jessica: In such a night

Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well,
Stealing her soul with many vows of faith,
And ne’er a true one.

1. What did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew in such a night?

Ans. Jessica stole money, and jewels from her rich father, Shylock.

2. What precautions were taken by Jessica and Lorenzo to ensure that she could
escape from her father’s house undetected?

Ans. They took lot of precautions before eloping. Lorenzo came to take her wearing
costumes and walk used in a masquerade. Jessica dressed herself as a boy and they eloped
in a moon-lit night when Shylock had gone to attend a dinner at Bassano’s place.

3. How did Jessica’s father react to her escape? What were Jessica’s feelings just
before her elopement?

Ans. Shylock became furious when he came to know that Jessica had eloped with a
Christian boy. He also cursed her for taking away with her money and jewels. He wished to
see her dead and lying in a coffin with his money and jewels in it. He even sent men to look for
her and her Christian boyfriend.
Before eloping Jessica full ashamed of her for dressing up like a boy and also for stealing her
father’s money and possessions (jewels).

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 4. What was the role played by Lorenzo in Jessica’s escape from the Jew?

Ans. Lorenzo was wise to judge that the masquerade would be a perfect opportunity to elope
with Jessica. He instructs Jessica to dress up as a page did to pretend as if she was his torch
bearer in the masquerade. When Jessica feels ashamed of dressing up like a boy, he enlivens
her mood by saying that she still looked charming in the disguise of a boy and finally elopes
with her.

5. What do Venice and Belmont stand for? What does the elopement of Lorenzo and
Jessica from Venice to Belmont signify?

Ans. Venice stands for turmoil problems, business and their risks and hardships of people. On
the other hand, Belmont is a seat of peace, love and tranquility.

Reference 3

Stephano: Stephano is my name; and I bring word

My mistress will before the break of day
Be here at Belmont: she doth stray about
By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays
For happy wedlock hours.
Lorenzo. Who comes with her?

1. Where does this scene take place? Who is Stephano? What message does he
bring?

Ans. The scene takes place in an avenue (garden) to Portia’s house at Belmont. Stephano is
a servant of Portia. He brings a message from lady Portia that she will arrive at Belmont
before the day-break.

2. According to Stephano, what has his mistress been doing during her absence
from home?

Ans. According to Stephano, his mistress (Portia) during her absence from home has been
going from one religious shrine to another where there are holy crosses and kneeling and
praying in front of them to seek blessings for a happy married life.

3. In reality, what has she been doing during her absence? Who accompanied the
mistress?

Ans. In reality, she had gone to Venice disguised as a Doctor of law. Under the guidance of
Dr. Bellario of Padua she saved Antonio from the cruel clutches of the Jew, Shylock. She was
accompanied by her maid and companion Nerissa.

4. What role did Portia’s maid play in the company of her mistress?

Ans. Nerissa played the role of a clerk, when the case was dismissed by the duke and the
legal department was made, she took it to Shylock’s house for his signature on it.

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 5. Explain how the Jessica-Lorenzo romance is linked to the love story of Portia and
Bassanio.

Ans. Jessica – Lorenzo’s romance is linked with the main plot i.e. to the love story of Portia
and Bassanio as Jessica falls in love with Lorenzo, a friend of Antonio and Bassanio. When
she feeds her life at this home-turning into hell because of her father Shylock, she closes with
Lorenzo and takes refuge at Portia’s mansion in Belmont. This enables Portia to leave her
household in their care an go to Venice t save Antonio. Their romance creates a lovely
atmosphere in Act V, where Bassanio and Portia’s love just enhances and thus the play
comes to a happy end.

Reference 4
Lorenzo: How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!
Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music
Creep in our ears : soft stillness and the night
Become the touches of sweet harmony.
Sit, Jessica. Look, how the floor of heaven
Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold :
There’s not the smallest orb which thou behold’st
But in his motion like an angel sings,
Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins;

1. Who speaks these words? Where is he now? To whom is he speaking?

Ans. Lorenzo speaks these words.

He is sitting in a garden in front of Portia’s house along with Jessica.
He is speaking to Jessica.

2. What has the speaker said about music before this extract?

Ans. Before this extract he has asked Stephano to bring his musical instrument out in the
open for some beautiful sweet music.

3. According to the speaker, what effect does music have on animals? What is the
effect of lack of music on men?

Ans. Lorenzo tells Jessica that when a herd of wild and wanton, youthful and unhandled
colts hear music, they mutually come to a standstill. Their savage eyes turn into modest gaze
by the sweet power of music.
He further says that a man who hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of
sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils. Such as a man’s thoughts are as dull
as night, and his affections are as dark as Erebus. So, he should not be trusted.

4. Give the meaning of:

a) Patines of bright gold: small pieces of shiny metal. Here in the extract it refers to
the golden stars shining in the sky.
b) Floor of heaven: sky; Lorenzo is describing the night sky.

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 5. What is the effect of music on the person to whom these words are addressed?

Ans. These words are addressed to Jessica. She said that whenever she hears sweet music,
she becomes sad. Lorenzo reasons that her soul is so attentive towards the music that she
becomes lost in it and her mind does not think of any light or gay (happy) thoughts.

6. 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?

Ans. Elizabethans believed that every star or planet produced in its motion, a peculiar
musical note and the combination of all notes composed of the grand harmony of the universe.
“The angels are said to be listening to the music of the stars.
Human souls are immortal and they produce divine music. But as long as the clothing of
mortality - the human body (vesture of decay)- roughly (grossly) encloses the soul we cannot
hear it.

Reference 5

Lorenzo … therefore the poet

Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods;
Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage,
But music for the time doth change his nature.
The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils :
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
And his affections dark as Erebus :
Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music.

1. Who was Orpheus? What effect did the music played by Orpheus have on objects in
nature?

Ans. Orpheus was a legendary Greek musician, poet and prophet in ancient Greek religion
and myth.
He could move trees, stones and streams from place to place by the power if his music.

2. Give the meaning of:

Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage,
But music for the time doth change his nature.
Ans. Though these lines Lorenzo is trying to say that nothing in the world is so insensible,
unyielding or fierceful that music does not charge at least for some time.

3. What has Lorenzo said earlier about the effect of trumpet sound on wild colts?

Ans. Lorenzo tells Jessica that when a herd of wild and wanton, youthful and unhandled
colts hear music or the sound of a trumpet, they mutually come to a standstill. Their savage
eyes turn into modest gaze by the power of music.

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 4. What does Lorenzo say about the man who has no sense of music?

Ans. He says that a man who hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of
sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils. Such a man’s thoughts are as dull as
night, and his affections are as dark as Erebus. So he should not be trusted.

5. What is referred to as Erebus? Why is it used in the extract?

Ans. In classical mythology it is the home of the dead; an area of darkness near hell.
It is used in the extract to show that a man, who does not love music has thoughts as dark and
dull as the nigh and his emotions are as dark as Erebus.

Reference 6

Gratiano
About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring
That she did give me, whose posy was
For all the world like cutler’s poetry
Upon a knife, ‘Love me, and leave me not.’
Nerissa
What talk you of the posy, or the value?
You swore to me, when I did give it you,
That you would wear it till your hour of death,
And that it should lie with you in your grave:

1. What is meant by ‘a hoop of gold’ and ‘a paltry ring’?

Ans.A ‘hoop of gold’ means a ring of gold and ‘a paltry ring’ means a ring of small value.

2. About which ring are the speakers talking? What information does Gratiano give to
describe the ring?

Ans. The speakers are talking about the ring which was given by Nerissa to Gratiano informs
that it was a ring of gold of a small value and the lines on the ring was by no means better
than the words inscribed by a knife maker on the knives made by him.

3. What promise was made by Gratiano when he had got the ring from Nerissa? To
whom did he give the ring?

Ans. When Gratiano was given the ring by Nerissa, he had promised never to part with it, he
would wear it till his hour of death and that it would lie with him in his grave.

4. State where the ring is at present? “In what way is the ring, the cause for quarrel
between Gratiano and Nerissa?

Ans.The ring at present is with the lawyer’s clerk (Nerissa). The ring is a cause for the quarrel
between Gratiano and Nerissa because Gratiano is unaware that the ring is with Nerissa, who
had dressed like the lawyer’s clerk. Nerissa fairly accesses Gratiano of giving the ring to a
woman and to the lawyer’s clerk.

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5. How can you conclude from the extract that Nerissa was very angry with Gratiano?

Ans. Nerissa was very angry with Gratiano because he had promised never to part with the
ring but he had to give it away to the lawyer’s clerk on the latter’s request. She felt that even if
he did not care to keep it for her sake he should have kept it for the sake not breaking his
vehement oaths. She feels that Gratiano doesn’t love her and the ring too doesn’t hold any
importance to him.

6. How is the ring episode linked with the theme of love and loyalty?

Ans. The ring episode is linked with the theme of love and loyalty as it helps to recreate the
mood of romantic love and tender affection which so rudely taken away by the arrival of
Antonio’s letter after the marriage of Bassanio with Portia. This scene also serves to bring out
a feminine quality in Portia, a woman’s desire to taunt and play with her husband. The ring
episode gives the husbands a fresh chance to further renew their vows of love and loyalty.

Reference 7

Portia: If you had known the virtue of the ring,

Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,
Or your own honour to contain the ring,
You would not then have parted with the ring.
What man is there so much unreasonable,
If you had pleased to have defended it
With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty
To urge the thing held as a ceremony?
Nerissa teaches me what to believe:
I’ll die for’t, but some woman had the ring.

1. About which ring is Portia speaking?

Ans. Portia is talking about the ring which she had given to Bassanio on the day of their
marriage as a wedding present.
2. When was the ring given away and by whom? What arguments does Portia give to
show that Bassanio should not have given away the ring?

Ans. Bassanio gave the ring to the lawyer (Portia in disguise), who saved Antonio from the
cruel clutches of the Jew. Portia tells Bassanio that if he had known the true virtues of the ring
or half the worthiness of the person who gave that ring, if he knew how to guard his honour to
contain the ring and if he had zealously defended the ring, no man would have been so
unreasonable and unmannerly to ask for the ring which was a ceremonious gift.

3. Explain how reluctantly Bassanio gave away his wife’s ring? What compelled him to
part with the ring?

Ans. Bassanio was reluctant to give away his wife’s ring. He also tried to convince the lawyer
by saying that the ring was of not much value and that he would give him the best ring
available in Venice. He also rewarded that it was his wife’s gift and he had promised her never
to part with it.
The lawyer (Portia in disguise) pretended to be highly insulted at Bassanio’s words.
When the lawyer left, Antonio compelled him to give the ring to the lawyer by reminding him of
the lawyer’s services to them.

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4. What else did Bassanio offer instead of the ring?

Ans. Initially Bassanio had offered 3000 ducats to the lawyer. Later, he offered to give the
lawyer the most valuable ring in Venice.

5. Who else in the play had given away his ring? What reasons did the person give for
doing so?

Ans. Gratiano too had given away his ring.

The lawyer’s clerk insisted Gratiano to give him the ring as a gift for his services in
saving Antonio’s life. So, even Gratiano too had to part with his ring.

Reference 8

Antonio
Sweet lad, you have given me life and living;
For here I read for certain that my ships
Are safely come to road.
Portia
How now, Lorenzo!
My clerk hath some good comforts too for you.
Nerissa
Ay, and I’ll give them him without a fee.
There do I give to you and Jessica,
From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift,
After his death, of all he dies possess’d of.
Lorenzo
Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way
Of starved people.

1. How has the sweet lady given Antonio life and living?

Ans. Portia saved Antonio’s life from the cruel clutches of Shylock by turning the tables
against him. Late, towards the end of the play she gives him the news of the safe arrival of
three of his argosies to the harbour. Thus, in the way she gives life and living to Antonio.

2. What is ‘a special deed of gift’? Give its contents. Explain the implication of ‘without
a fee’ in the first line of the extract.

Ans. ‘A special deed of gift’ refers to the legal document signed by Shylock.
The deed says that after Shylock’s death all his properties and wealth would pass on to
Lorenzo and Jessica.
‘Without a fee’ refers to without any special charges for the service.

3. On whose request was the deed made? On what condition was the deed made?

Ans The deed was made on Antonio’s request.

It was made on the condition that after Shylock’s death all his property and wealth would go to
Lorenzo & Jessica and secondly he would have to convert into a Christian.

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4. What is meant by ‘manna’? What manna was dropped in the context? Who are
starved people?

Ans. In the Old Testament of the Bible, the Jews are described as wandering people in the
desert on a long journey. When they were starving, God sent them divine food called ‘manna’,
which they found lying on the ground. This happened due to Moses’ prayer to God.
In this context, the gift deed signed by Shylock is the manna. The starved people in this
case are Lorenzo & Jessica and Antonio.

5. How does the ring-episode create an atmosphere of comedy as well as joy?

Ans.The ring episode creates an atmosphere of comedy in the play. The women (Portia
&Nerissa) falsely accuse their husbands of giving their ring to some other women. This leads
to the embarrassment of the husbands as they try to account for the loss of their wedding
rings. The arguments and cross arguments among the two couples provide a lot of
amusement to the readers. Finally, all the 3 pairs of lovers are reunited, Antonio’s ships safely
return to the harbor and the play ends with the victory of love & loyalty and the defeat of greed
and hatred.

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