More Suggested Merchant of Venice Questions

What were the two types of men Gratiano referred to while insisting on the quality of cheerfulness?

What did Jessica say bidding farewell to Luncelot? What did launcelot say earlier distinguishing between Bassanio and his master Shylock?

How did Bassanio want Gratiano to behave before allowing him to accompany him to Belmont?

What  was Gratiano’s assurance to Bassanio?

What did Bassanio tell Antonio about his plans related to Portia?

What did Shylock say highlighting the vulnerable aspects of Antonio’s ships and business operations?

What did Antonio say about Shylock when the latter was trying to justify his taking interest by quoting from the scriptures? How did Portia react when Basanio was reading the letter sent by Antonio? What did Bassanio say commenting on the letter and his friend?

What did Portia tell Lorenzo about the uniqueness of friendship and the one that existed between her husband and Antonio?

What did Jessica tell Lorenzo about Portia in her absence?

What did Antonio say about Shylock when the latter was trying to justify his taking interest by quoting from the scriptures?

What does Lorenzo say about Music? How does Jessica react to it? What does Lorenzo tell her?

 What did Portia tell Nerissa about music while returning to Belmont? What did she say asking Jessica to play music earlier in the play?

 What does Portia notice while returning to Belmont and with what does she compare it? What does she say distinguishing between a king and his deputy?

UNIQUE SENTENCES WITH ANSWERS

                                         

Shylock will cut one pound of Antonio’s flesh to take revenge. B: If

If shylock will cut one pound of Antonio’s flesh, it is to take revenge.

At the end of the journey they spoke to the traveller about the new place.B: It

It was at the end of the journey that they talked to the traveller about the new place.

3. You will do better to take precaution against the disease that has broken out. Use ‘had’ in the sentence.

You had better take precaution against the disease that has broken out.

4. As soon as Rani reached the place on behalf of a social organization, some people surrounded her. B: No sooner

No sooner did Rani reach the place on behalf of a social organization than some people surrounded her.

5. The exodus of the farmers deepened the nature of the calamity. B: It

It was the exodus of the farmers that deepened the nature of the calamity.

6. You are Dr Jalan’s nephew,………? Rewrite the sentence using a question tag.

You are Dr Jalan’s nephew, aren’t you?

7. We completed the task in six months. B: It did not

It did not take us more than six months to complete the task.

7. The prince signed the papers and disappeared inside the palace. B:  Having

 Having signed the papers the prince disappeared inside the palace.

8. The saint spoke about many thorny issues in a simple way and endeared himself to the local people. B: All

All that the saint did was to speak about many thorny issues in a simple way to endear himself to the local people.

9. The boy stiffened in the presence of the outsiders. B: The presence

The presence of the outsiders stiffened the boy.

10. “What are you doing here, my son?”,said the old man to me. B: The old man

The old man addressed me as his son and asked me what I was doing there.

11. Hard work does not leave them tired. Use the verb form of ‘tired’.

They do not tire of working hard.

12. We helped them in everything but we did not give them indulgence. B: Despite

Despite helping them in everything we did not give them indulgence.

13. A tremor was felt across the hill town and people came out of houses. B: With

With a tremor being felt across the hill town, people came out of their houses.

14. The internal report indicated their growing strength .B: The internal report was

The internal report was an indication of their growing strength.

15. Many innocent people were injured in the clashes. B: The clashes

 The clashes left many people injured.

Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the words given in the brackets:

Ravi -----------(hear)  his friends -----------(shout) for him as the match------------(be) about to start. They---------(prepare) for the match for the last three days,---------(sharpen) their skills. The coach-------(tell) them repeatedly that besides their skills, their dedication to the match-----------(help) them win.

A group of scientists----------(work) on the project for a couple of months now. According to an advertisement---------------(issue) by the district administration, the project------------(be)------------(relate) to farming and ---------------(seek) the participation of the local people. Some employees of the local administration-----------------(go) door to door-------------(tell) people about the project and (urge) them to participate in it.

The traveller-------(look) back---------(wait) for his companions to join him. They--------------(tell) by some local people that they----------------(reach) the old shrine------------(trudge) up the hill for a couple of hours. Though he---------(feel) exhausted, he------------(remind) of the resolve of the team to-------------(visit) the old shrine and-------(return) on the same day.

Had they not-------(get )the support of the local club, they --------------(not save) the old banyan tree in the locality. Under the leadership of the brave young members of the local club, the residents of the neighbourhood----------(get) together on a common  platform and---------(succeed) in saving the tree. On the day the realtor----------(give) a written undertaking to the effect that he----------(go) ahead with his construction,-----------(leave) the tree intact, people-----------(celebrate) their victory,----------(recite) poems---------(dedicate) to one of the pillars of green life. 

Imagine yourself as a midnight train and write about your feelings.

It is close to midnight and I am cruising along the tracks, shattering the stillness of the night. I am bound for Delhi and would have to reach the capital at the crack of dawn. There is no time to waste. The thrill of my onward journey helps me overcome my limitations, reminding me of the task at hand. I would have to reach all of my guests that they refer to as passengers, to their destinations. Most of them are now asleep except for some insomniacs. A few of them go to toilets every now and then to smoke throwing dust in the eyes of the guards as they know that smoking is forbidden on the train. When one or two are caught they end up paying money to the guards who know the technique of extorting money from them by intimidating them.

My body is aching from the journey of the entire day but I cannot complain as I know that there is no respite until I have reached my guests to their destinations. It is a responsibility that I have to shoulder every time I begin the journey. I will still have to traverse a long distance, completing the journey. I remain in a very wakeful state and keep racing along the tracks, never complaining of tedium.

I relieve myself of the strain of the journey by listening to the tale of a mother to her child who refuses to sleep.  The demon in her story is crouching near their berth, ready to pounce on him if he does not enjoy a few winks of sleep. I feel happy that I have a companion when I am awake.

Along the entire stretch of the journey when I reach te
Temurpalli in Bengal I become emotional. My eyes caress the vision of a wizened woman sitting on the porch of her small hut at the end of a vegetable patch a little down the tracks. Some people from that place have often boarded the train and given a free reign to their emotions pertaining to the old woman. I have gathered from their conversations that she sits there throughout the night lighting a lamp, waiting for the return of her husband. Even though her husband was killed while fighting against some terrorists in Kashmir, she believes that he will come back at the dead of night to give her a surprise.  

WRITE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE OF SPENDING A FEW DAYS WITH A FOREIGN STUDENT AS PART OF A STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAMME.

Every day is more unique than the day that has already gone by, leaving a taste of goodness to be savoured. The other day when I went to school as usual, I did not have an inkling of the surprise that was in store for me.  We saw a good number of foreigners of the same age as ours greeting all the students when they were entering the school compound. To begin with, we could not understand why they were there. The whole thing became clear to us when at the time of the assembly the vice principal told us that as part of a student exchange programme a good number of students had come to our school from some countries of Europe. He informed us in a cheerful mood that they would spend some days with us and imbibe our ideas of culture and day to day life while they would try to give us ideas of their lifestyle and culture. He added that we were free to invite the students to spend a day or two at our houses with the permission of our parents. The idea appealed to me and I decided to seek the permission of my parents to accommodate a student at my house for a few days.

I went back home and told my mother about the unique idea of accommodating a student from a foreign country at our house. My mother listened to me and asked me if I would feel comfortable in the company of a student from an altogether different culture. She also pointed it out to me that my grandmother who is an old fashioned woman might it difficult to adjust herself to such a foreign soul. I   brushed it aside saying that she was too liberal to give priority to such a thing. She then nodded her approval and told me that she would go to the school the next day with me to have a talk with the principal about inviting a student to our house for a few days. I was elated at this proposal of the mother and could not sleep that night due to a feeling of excitement.

At the end of the school I returned with James who was a native of Hampshire, England. He was very happy to come to our house. The son of a surgeon, he was very smart and made us feel as if he belonged to us. He ate our food and admired our cuisine. I introduced him to some of my friends and relatives and they were all happy to meet him. I drove him round the city and gave him an idea of our culture and lifestyle. He also told us about the way they led their lives. Our hearts became heavy when we had to say goodbye to him. At the time of his departure he gave me a gift and invited me to their house in England.  My mother became so attached to him that tears welled up in her eyes when he left. His association with us left a deep impression on my mind and made me conscious of the wealth of relationship. 

My lost Dollar Questions and Answers

Why did Todd borrow a dollar from the author?

When Todd was leaving for Bermuda he needed a dollar in change to pay his taxi fare and borrowed it from the author.

What did the author receive from Hamilton? What expectation did it arouse in him?

The author received a note that Todd had sent from Hamilton, Bermuda .

When the author opened the note he hoped to find the dollar that his friend had borrowed from him. But the note only informed him that the temperature was nearly 100.

What did the author do when Todd returned from Bermuda? Why did he do it?

When his friend Todd returned from Bermuda, the author went to the station to receive him at the train.

The author says that when his friend returned from Bermuda he went to the station to receive him on the platform not because of the dollar but because he wanted make him feel good seeing someone waiting for him after his absence for three weeks.  But the author proposed to take a taxi up to the club apparently to remind his friend of the dollar he had borrowed from him by way of paying the taxi fare.

What was another occasion when the author expected his friend to remember the fact that he had borrowed a dollar from him?

The author met his friend too often and only two nights before they had had dinner together. Todd was talking about Poland and referred to the debts of Poland saying that the country would never repay them. The author felt that it was a fitting occasion to remind Todd of the fact that he had borrowed a dollar from him.

What is the painful thought occurring to the author at intervals?

The author realizes that if Todd owes him a dollar and has forgotten about it, there might be men to whom he owes a dollar and he has forgotten about it. With the painful thought occurring to him at intervals, he seems to realize that there might be a good number of them. The more he thinks of it, the more he dislikes it as he does not have the intention to repay his debts during his life time.

ICSE GRAMMAR- SENTENCES

Change the following sentences as directed:-

“Did you go through the report yesterday”, said Mathew to his friend. B: Mathew

She placed an advertisement in the newspaper and sold her house. B: She could not

Derek completed the project in sixteen days. B: It did not

Her joy was boundless. Omit ‘was’

“Will you stay here for a day to see everything for yourself?” said the host to the traveller. B The host

We accomplished a difficult task. B: The task

They wanted to make the organization strong. End with: the organization.

Antonio failed to see through Shylock’s sinister motive and signed the bond in an impulsive manner. B: Antonio’s

He begins the day with the blessings of his parents. B: The day

We spent some days with him so that he would not feel lonely.  Use ‘lest’ in the sentence.

I have never seen a scene so beautiful as this. B: This is

A tremor was felt across the city. At once we panicked. B: No sooner/ Hardly

Many innocent cows chomp grass in the field. B: The field

You will come with me to see the fair at the end of the village, ……….? Rewrite with a question tag.

She heard the shocking news but she remained calm. B: Despite

They knew little about the determination of those poor mountain people. B:

Answers to the Above Questions:

Mathew asked his friend if he had gone through the report the day before.

She could not sell the house until she placed an advertisement in the newspaper.

It did not take Derek more than sixteen days to complete the project. 

THE PSALM OF LIFE

What is the message of the poem?

The message of the poem is to live life with dedication and seriousness, responding to the challenges of life with faith in one and in God.  

What according to the poet should the motto of life be?

According to the poet the motto of life is not to be carried away by materialist pursuits in order to enjoy life to the full nor is it to plunge into gloom, giving priority to the dreary things of life.

What does the poet say referring to human hearts? What is the figure of speech used by the poet here? What is the message conveyed by the poet here?

The poet says that human hearts are strong and beat continuously producing faint sounds.  The poet compares these pulsating hearts to soldiers marching in a funeral procession with their drums covered with flannels in order to keep the sound of the drums low in keeping with the gravity of the somber occasion of the funeral procession.

The poet wants to convey the message that the time of life is short and one should not waste in the least. He wants man to realize the fact that with every beat of the heart he is inching towards his grave. He should therefore utilize every moment of his life to make it meaningful.  

The poet uses human hearts with faint beats to covered drums being beaten in a funeral procession. The figure of speech used here is that of a simile.

What is the poet’s advice to approach life?

The poet talks about the relentlessness of the pursuit of action in life. He says that one facing the challenges and tasks of life should consider the very life as a battlefield where he has been assigned the role of a soldier every ready to fight. Just as soldiers on the battlefield spend their time in open tents with their equipments ever ready to be on the move, one on the battlefield of life should respond to the challenges of life with equal readiness. In leading his life in this manner he should not lose his sense of dignity and be led as if they were cattle without the power of speech and self control. 

Small Pain In My Chest

What were the different symptoms of the deteriorating condition of the wounded solder?

At the very beginning of the poem the poet found the wounded soldier sitting under a tree. At the sight of the poet he complained of thirst and wanted to satisfy it by requesting the poet to lend his canteen to him. So thirst was the first symptom of his deteriorating condition.

The second symptom of his deteriorating condition was a feeling of coldness that made him feel that he was getting old. He could see the sun shining brightly but he could not feel warm despite the heat. Loss of warmth due to his blood running cold was the second symptom of his deteriorating condition.

The third symptom of his condition getting worse was due to the gradual loss of his vision as a result of which everything aound seemed dim to him.

The fourth symptom of his deteriorating condition was psychological. He was haunted by the thought of what his wife and mother would feel at the sight of him sitting under the tree with a small pain in his chest that rendered him incapable of movement.

How did the wounded soldier offer a picture in contrast?

The soldier was wounded to the extent of being unable to stand on his feet and move but he said with a feeling of confidence that the pain he was feeling in his chest was a small one. He was not in the least inclined to think that anything deadly had happened to him. He was a soldier boy but the loss of warmth in his blood despite the sun shining brightly made him think that he was getting old.

What were the positive signs of the wounded soldier?

SHYLOCK GIVES THE JAILOR A BIT OF HIS MIND

Why was Shylock angry with the jailor? What did Shylock tell the jailor about his duty and Antonio?

Shylock was angry with the jailor for giving permission to Antonio to come out of the cell to start a conversation with the former to relent.

Shylock insisted on the jailor keeping a tight watch over Antonio without allowing him the privilege of coming out of his confinement. He further said that Antonio was a fool who used to lend money to people without charing interest. 

What did Shylock tell Antonio in a relentless manner?

Refusing to pay heed to Antonio's plea, Shylock told him in  ruthless manner that he should not tell him anything against the bond . He reminded him that he had sworn an oath and would not settle for anything but he punishment specified in the bond. He lashed out at Antonio tellling him that he once called him a Dog without a cause  and now he should be aware of his poisonous teeth with which he would bite him. 

What was Antonio’s plea to Shylock? What did Shylock tell Antonio in reply to his plea?

Antonio requested Shylock to relent and converse with him.

Shylock did not pay any heed to the plea of Antonio. On the other hand he reminded him of the abuse he had once heaped on him. He told him that once he called him a dog. Now he should be aware of the poisonous teeth of the dog with which he would bite him. He further told him that he should expect to have mercy from him. He said that he once lent money to people out of his sense of Christian generosity but he was not like such a generous Christian and not be settle for anything other than the penalty specified in the bond.

When did Antonio realize that it was useless making a plea to Shylock to spare his life? What did he say in that context?

When Antonio became conscious of the fact that Shylock was malicious towards him wanted to kill him, he said that he not make any fruitless entreaty to him to spare his life.

He further told his companion that he was aware of the fact that Shylock was bent on killing him and that he knew the reason behind it. He said considered him as an obstacle in the path of his money lending business and fleecing people. If he succeeded in disposing of him he would not have any difficulty in carrying on his ruthless money lending business without any resistance from him. In that context he also recalled how he had rescued many creditors from the vicious grip of Shylock.

What did Antonio say with reference to the Duke and the law of Venice?

When Antonio’s companion suggested that the duke could save his life by altering the course of the law a little, Antonio replied in the negative. He said that it was imperative to uphold the impartiality of the legal system of Venice.  According to him all the nations doing business in the city of Venice were entitled to the profits arising out of the transactions and this was guaranteed by an impartial legal system. If the transparency of the legal system was damaged it would bring disgrace to the city of Venice and send a wrong signal to the international community.

What did Jessica think of her house? Did she have any reason to think of it that way?

When Jessica was bidding adieu to Launcelot, she said that the house had been turned into a veritable hell.

Though she was a person of an objectionable character, she had the reason to think that the house where she lived with her father was a hell. That the atmosphere of the house was suffocating was evident from the way Shylock told his daughter to lock the doors and windows of the house to prevent the sound of the fife that would be played by the Christians. It was the orthodox nature of Shylock that created an atmosphere resembling that of a hell.

ANTONIO’S SADNESS- THE KEYNOTE OF THE PLAY

                                             

What did Antonio say about sadness?

At the very beginning of the play Antonio took his friends Salerino and Salerio into his confidence and told them about a strange feeling of sadness plaguing him. He said that the feeling disturbing him was strange in the sense that it was alien to his nature.  He was at a loss to understand what it was born of and where it had originated from.

How will you interpret Antonio’s sadness?

Antonio’s sadness gives one a feeling of gloom at the very beginning of the play and seems to be germane to the play itself. That something ominous is going to happen is evident from the kind of sadness Antonio talks about. Consequently Antonio’s sadness strikes the keynote of the play.

How do you know that Antonio has surrendered to sadness? Give three examples from the play?

Antonio tells Gratiano that he has a sad role to play on the stage of life. This is a conscious admission of the way he has taken the decisive influence of depression on him for granted.

The second example of his sadness is in the letter that he sends to Bassanio in Belmont, taking about the inevitable end of his life.

Third example of Antonio’s sadness is when he says in the court that he wants to offer himself to the dagger of Shylock. He thanks Fortune that She will not make him suffer in an agonized manner in a state of poverty till his old age as the very cutting of his flesh by Shylock will ensure his instant death.

What did Salerino say commenting on the nature of the parting of Bassanio and Antonio?

Salerino commented on the nature of A               ntonio and Bassanio to give an idea of the love of the former for the latter. When Bassanio was about to start for Belmont, Antonio told him in unequivocal terms that he should not be in a hurry to come back, leaving his job unfinished. He should not allow his mind of love to be disturbed by the thought of the loan he had taken from Shylock by signing a bond. On the contrary, he urged Bassanio to concentrate on the objective of winning Portia’s love and consequently her hand in marriage by employing the necessary display of love. Then as he pressed the hand of Bassanio, he turned his face as tears had formed in them.

How will you contrast Antonio as a merchant with shylock as one?

Antonio as a merchant was wealthy but he was rash and impulsive. One can form an idea of the nature of his investments based on the assessment of them by Shylock. He had scattered his investments in many an enterprise both at home and abroad. But that his merchant ships were exposed to some obvious perils as pointed out by Shylock cannot be ruled out. His confidence in himself as a merchant had made him presumptuous. He lacked the necessary shrewd acumen of a business man and failed to see through Shylock’s sinister design. He was aware of the fact that Shylock was a man who harboured malice towards him. But the intention of the latter to make him sign a fatal bond did not arouse suspicion in him and he signed it straightway without any farsightedness. As a merchant he was generous and gave loans to people without charging interest but he was not in the least prudent to be able to realize the fact that he was digging his own grave.

ANTONIO’S ABSTRACT AND REAL DEPRESSION

The play of merchant of Venice begins on a note of depression and this feeling of gloom permeates the entire play. Therefore it can be said that the tone of depression in the voice of Antonio strikes the keynote of the play. Antonio’s admission of the nature of his strange depression is something that is not comprehensible to his friends. They try to offer explanations to him about the nature of his depression in a bid to cheer him up. But he eludes their explanations bordering on exaggeration and gives one an impression of his obsession with depression. This becomes evident when he says that the role that has been assigned to him on the stage of life is that of depression and he will continue to play it in his own way.

His assertion of depression prompts his friend to say that he is looking forward to a cheap way of popularity and should steer clear of this trend. Though Bassanio after his arrival tries to make light of this comment of Gratiano saying that it amounts to nothing but sheer nonsense, Antonio does not succeed in getting rid of this feeling of sadness.

Bassanio receives a letter from his friend and this feeling of depression permeates the letter, though it is for an obvious reason now. 

When the jailor allows him to come out of the cell to start a conversation with Shylock and he fails to persuade him to relent, he gives expression to his feeling of depression. Now he speaks in the light of the stark reality of the imminent death looking him in the face. He says that as a pound of flesh will be cut from his chest, he does not have the least prospect of life but he is ready to accept this end of his life only if Bassanio, the embodiment of his unconditional love, arrives there once to see him paying the former’s debt with his life.

The intensity of this depression rings in his voice again in the court when all the pleas to spare his life are not heeded by Shylock. He says that the sooner he can offer himself to the dagger of Shylock the Jew the better drawing consolation in an ironical manner that Fortune favours him by awarding him a quicker death than drawing it out till the old age in a state of agonized poverty.

What did Jessica think of her house? Did she have any reason to think of it that way?

When Jessica was bidding adieu to Launcelot, she said that the house had been turned into a veritable hell.

Though she was a person of an objectionable character, she had the reason to think that the house where she lived with her father was a hell. That the atmosphere of the house was suffocating was evident from the way Shylock told his daughter to lock the doors and windows of the house to prevent the sound of the fife that would be played by the Christians. It was the orthodox nature of Shylock that created an atmosphere resembling that of a hell.

SHYLOCK TALKS TO HIS DAUGHTER

Who has come to the house of Shylock when the latter is preparing to leave for the house of Bassanio to attend the feast? What does Shylock tell him?

When Shylock is preparing to leave for the house of Bassanio to attend the feast, Launcelot appears.

Shylock tells Launcelot that his own eyes can judge the difference between him and the new employer Bassanio. He tells him further that working under Bassanio he would not be able to enjoy himself the way he did under him. He warns him saying that at the house of Bassanio he would not be able to eat like a glutton, sleep soundly and snore and use his garments the way he did while working under him.

What does Shylock tell his daughter at the time of leaving the house to attend the feast at the house of Bassanio?

While leaving the house to attend the feast at the house of Bassanio Shylock tells his daughter about his reluctance to go there. He says that he is aware of the fact that he has been invited with the purpose of flattering him and not out of a feeling of love.  He says further that still he wants to go to waste the resources of the prodigal Christian by eating at his house.

What is shylock’s parting advice to his daughter at the time of leaving the house?

While leaving the house to attend the feast at Bassanio’s Shylokc tells his daughter to be on her guard. He tells him that she should not climb up to the window and stick her face out of it to look down at the painted faces of the Christians passing by in a masquerade. He tells her particularly not to allow the hollow sound of the foppery to enter her serious house and vitiate the atmosphere of gravity. Finally in order to drive home the importance of taking good care of the household things, he uses a proverb. He says that though the proverb ‘fast bind, fast find’ is an old one it has not still lost its significance.

What did Jessica think of her house? Did she have any reason to think of it that way?

When Jessica was bidding adieu to Launcelot, she said that the house had been turned into a veritable hell.

Though she was a person of an objectionable character, she had the reason to think that the house where she lived with her father was a hell. That the atmosphere of the house was suffocating was evident from the way Shylock told his daughter to lock the doors and windows of the house to prevent the sound of the fife that would be played by the Christians. It was the orthodox nature of Shylock that created an atmosphere resembling that of a hell.