The Merchant Of Venice
by William Shakespeare
(Let's Discover English)
Saviour the Flavour - I
Comprehension
1. Answer the following questions.
a. Who was Antonio? What delighted him the most?
= Antonio was a rich and prosperous merchant of Venice.
He was delighted in using his wealth to relieve the needs of his friends, among whom Bassanio held the first place.
b. Who was Bassanio? Why did he seek Antonio's help?
= Bassanio was reckless and extravagant like many other gay and gallant gentlemen of his time.
He sought Antonio's help because he had exhausted his fortune and was unable to pay his creditors.
c. Who was Shylock? Why did he blame Antonio for hurting his business? How would Antonio harm his business?
= Shylock was a rich moneylender in Venice.
Antonio despised and disliked this man very much, and treated him with the greatest harshness and scorn.
Antonio used to denounce everywhere the rate of interest Shylock charged and moreover he lent out money for free.
d. Who was Portia? Why was Bassanio hopeful of winning her over for her love?
= Portia was a rich, beautiful and good lady in Belmont.
Bassanio was hopeful of winning her over for her love because she looked on him with a favour when they met last.
e. Who was Jessica? Why did Shylock hate her?
= Jessica was the pretty daughter of Shylock.
Shylock hated her because she ran away from her father's house with her lover with some bags of ducats and precious stones.
2. Tick the correct answer.
a. Why could Portia not choose her own husband?
[ ] She was waiting for Bassanio to propose to her.
[ ] She did not approve of a single suitor who tried to woo her.
[✔] She had to abide by her father's will.
b. Shylock let Antonio the money without charging an interest because...
[ ] he wanted to forgive him for all his insults.
[ ] he wanted to be friends with Antonio.
[✔] he hoped to take revenge by using the terms of the bond in case Antonio failed to repay the money on time.
c. Many an ardent wooer of Portia was frightened away. Why?
[ ] They found her too beautiful and intelligent.
[✔] They found the terms of her father's will scary.
[ ] She bound them by oath never to remarry.
Savour the Flavour - II
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. 'Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire'
i. Where was this inscribed?
= This was inscribed on the gold casket.
ii. Name the suitor who chose this casket. What did he find inside?
= The Prince of Morocco chose this casket.
He found inside the gold casket the likeness of what many men desire - death, in the form of a skull with a scroll inserted within its empty eye.
iii. Why did the suitor reject the silver and the lead caskets?
= The suitor rejected the silver and the lead caskets because he said neither base lead nor silver could contain her picture.
iv. Why do you think he chose this casket?
= I think he chose this casket because Portia was the daughter of a rich man and she was beautiful. Her father must have kept her picture in the beautiful gold casket.
b. 'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves'
i. Where was this inscribed?
= This was inscribed on the silver casket.
ii. Name the suitor who chose this message.
= The Prince of Arragon chose this message.
iii. What did he find inside? How did he react?
= He found inside it a fool's head.
He cried in sorrow if he deserved nothing better than a fool's head.
iv. Why did he choose this casket?
= He chose this casket because he believed that he surely deserved that lady according to the message inscribed on the casket.
c. 'Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath'
i. Who chose the casket which had this inscribed on it?
= Bassanio chose the casket which had this inscribed on it.
ii. Why did he not choose the gold and the silver caskets?
= He did not choose the gold and the silver caskets because the world is still deceived with ornament. Shining things often leads to defame.
iii. Why do you think he chose this casket?
= I think he chose this casket because pain and simple things mostly brings joy and happiness in the consequence.
iv. What did he find inside it? How did he react?
= He found fair Portia's portrait inside it.
He turned to Portia and asked if it were true that she was his.
Refer to the Context
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. "...luckily my credit is good in Venice, and I will borrow for you what you need."
i. Who is the speaker? To whom does the speaker say these words?
= Antonio is the speaker.
The speaker says these words to Bassanio.
ii. What is referred to as the 'need'?
= The need of money is referred to as the 'need'.
iii. From the speaker's point of view explain the phrase 'my credit is good'.
= Antonio was a rich and prosperous merchant of Venice. His ships were on nearly every sea, and he traded with Portugal, Mexico, England and India. He is a well-known person of Venice. He is famous for helping people in need. All these made a good impression upon the people of Venice about him. This is meant be the phrase 'my credit is good'.
b. "Let him look to his bond."
i. Who is the speaker? Whom does the speaker want to look at the bond?
= Shylock is the speaker.
The speaker wants Antonio to look at the bond.
ii. What emotion is expressed through these words?
= The joy of taking revenge is expressed through these words. The wrath and hatred of Shylock was at the extreme point. The incident of his daughter Jessica added fury to it.
iii. How is the bond 'pivotal' to the plot? Explain in your own words.
= The bond is 'pivotal' to the plot. It creates the complex and takes the plot to the climax. Antonio borrowed three thousand ducats from Shylock for his friend Bassanio for three months. Shylock lent the money for no interest but that bond. According to the bond, if Antonio did not repay him in three months' time, then he should have the right to a pound of flesh, to be cut from what part of Antonio's body Shylock chose. This put Antonio in trouble and eventually rescued by Bassanio and Portia at the end of the story.
c. "But let me choose at once, for, as I am, I live upon the rack."
i. Who said this to whom and when?
= Bassanio said to Portia at the time of choosing among the three caskets.
ii. Which of the following does the speaker wish to convey through the phrase 'I live upon the rack'?
=
- I am unconfident. [ ]
- I feel tortured. [ ]
- I am impatient. [✔]
d. "But little," he answered; "I am armed and well prepared."
i. Who is the speaker? To whom and where were these words spoken?
= Antonio is the speaker.
He had spoken these words to Portia in disguise of a lawyer in the Duke's court.
ii. What was asked of the speaker before he answered thus?
= The speaker was asked if he had to say anything about the accusation and demand of Shylock.
iii. For what was the speaker armed and well prepared? Explain in your own words.
= Antonio was armed and well prepared for giving a pound of flesh from any part of Shylock's choice from his body.
Antonio borrowed three thousand ducats from Shylock for his friend Bassanio for three months. Shylock lent the money for no interest but that bond. According to the bond, if Antonio did not repay him in three months' time, then he should have the right to a pound of flesh, to be cut from what part of Antonio's body Shylock chose.
Antonio faced serious loses as some of his ships were wrecked. Shylock demanded from the Duke of Venice the fulfilment of the bond, under which he was entitled to a pound of Antonio's flesh. Antonio found no way to be saved. He was all ready to get punished according to the bond he had signed before.
e. "Then I will take Bassanio's offer."
i. Who is the speaker? Where does he say this and to whom?
= Shylock is the speaker.
He says this to Portia in the disguise of a lawyer in the Duke's court.
ii. What was the offer and why was it made?
= Bassanio offered Shylock twice the money borrowed, if he would withdraw his claim of taking a pound of flesh from Antonio's body.
iii. Did the speaker succeed in taking the offer? Why?
= The speaker did not succeed in taking the offer.
Portia in the disguise of a lawyer took Shylock in her trick. She made his clear that there were no mention of even a drop of blood in his bond. So, he can only take a pound of flesh without a single drop of blood. If he took more or less, even by the weight of a hair, he would lose his property and his life.
Shylock for the amount that he lent. Portia showed that he was a foreigner and had sought to take the life of a Venetian citizen. By the Venetian law, his life and goods were forfeited. He had to forfeit half his fortune to the State, and had to settle the other half on his daughter's husband, and with this he had to be content.