Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God’s
When mercy seasons justice.
(i) Name the speaker. Why did the speaker appeal to the Jew for mercy? Earlier who else in the play appealed for mercy?
(ii) What are the three qualities of mercy which the speaker has stated just before the extract?
(iii) Give the meaning of‘But mercy is above this sceptred sway’. How does Shylock turn down Portia’s plea for mercy? What does he insist on?
(iv) What is Bassanio ready to do for Antonio in the court? Why is Bassanio snubbed immediately by the disguised Portia?
(v) Mention two prominent character traits of Shylock as highlighted through the scene from which the extract has been taken. Substantiate your answer with examples from the text.
Solution
(i) Portia is the speaker in the disguise of Balthazar.
Shylock was rigid to charge the penalty as mentioned in the bond. Thus Portia appeals to the Jew as she wants to save Antonio without resorting to legal actions. Earlier in the play, the Duke himself and noblemen of the highest standing have appealed for mercy to Shylock.
(ii) The quality of Mercy is a divine blessing which benefits both the man who shows Mercy and the man who receives it. Mercy is a nobler quality in a royal king better than the crown he wears. Mercy is far above this world ruled by men with a sceptre.
(iii) The quality of Mercy is more powerful than the king’s rod of authority which sym¬bolizes his power and grandeur on earth and a king who is merciful has the quality of God.
Shylock takes responsibility of all his deeds. He insists to follow the course of law and enforce proper penalty according to the bond for the breech of agreement.
(iv) Bassanio is ready to give twice the stun of the money promised in the bond. If the Jew thinks that it is too little, he will pay it ten times over. He is also ready to forfeit his hands, his head and his heart for Antonio’s life.
Bassanio pleads with Portia to twist the law a little from its original course. To do a great act of justice, do a little wrong. He begs her to prevent the cruel Jew from succeeding in his cruel design. But Portia immediately snubs him.
(v) Shylock portrays himself as a strict follower of religion. When Duke appeals to him to show pity on Antonio he tells him that he has sworn by the holy Sabbath to take the penalty.
Shylock is firm and adamant in his decision to take nothing but the penalty. His motive is to take revenge from his enemy and show the strength of his character that nothing can prevent him from his purpose.
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
A1. Choose two sentences that appropriately mention the theme of the passage :
(1) The extract deals with the writer’s concern over Chaitanya's handicap.
(2) The extract depicts the writer’s proud feelings towards her son’s achievement.
(3) The extract deals with how Chaitanya made the writer see positively towards life.
(4) The extract deals with how the writer helps Chaitanya to buy the bus ticket.
Early in 1997-98, when he returned from state-level inter-school sports, he had two prizes to his credit and a silver medal. He had won his laurels in athletic events and the silver medal in a running race.
When I saw the prizes and read the citation Chaitanya had received, I was stupefied, in total disbelief, then–hugged him, kissed him and cried unabashedly to my heart’s content. That day, I cried for the first time out of joy and a sense of being vindicated. Without practice, he had competed with approximately 1,800 children drawn from various schools all over the state. He was subsequently selected for the marathon race, but he could not participate due to a health problem. “Maybe next year, he would”, I assured myself. And I, as his proud mother, would proudly chronicle his future achievements and success to inspire other - mothers of the world.
Looking back at my own life, I feel that it is the spirit with which we can accept our life gracefully is what
matters ultimately; and it is love that nourishes us. All other things are unimportant. Chaitanya has made me look inwards. His handicap doesn’t disturb me any longer. He and I shall live with it and still be happy. The mental strength which he has given to me is inexhaustible.
One day, as both of us got onto a public transport bus, Chaitanya offered to buy the tickets for us.
“One full, one half ”, he said to the conductor beaming with joy.
Looking at him, I wondered whether he was really only a half? An incomplete person? Was I really full?
Complete in all respects? Why do then normal people feel that they are ‘full’ and others like Chaitanya are ‘half’ or incomplete? Chaitanya’s world is complete in itself, pure and innocent while our lives are full of deceit, jealousies, ill-feelings.
A2. Point out -
Point out two instances where you find Chaitanya's victory over his disability.
A3. Give reasons -
Chaitanya’s silver medal in a running race was very special for the writer, because :
(i) __________________
(ii) __________________
A4. Vocabulary -
Match the pairs of the words in column ‘A’ with their meanings in column ‘B’:
| Column ‘A’ | Column ‘B’ | ||
| (1) | stupefied | (a) | official statement about the special act of courage |
| (2) | chronicle | (b) | record events in the order they happened |
| (3) | vindicated | (c) | surprised or shocked |
| (4) | citation | (d) | justified |
A5. Personal response -
Explain, your views about the ill-treatment the special children receive in society.
A6. Grammar -
Rewrite the following sentences in the ways instructed :
(i) He had won his laurels in athletic events and the silver medal in a running race.
(Rewrite the sentence using ‘not only...but also’.)
(ii) When I saw the prizes, I was stupefied.
(Rewrite the sentence using ‘No sooner.... than’.)
Who and what does the free bird symbolize?
The following common words are used in more than one sense.
-
panel
studio
brush
essence
material
Examine the following sets of sentences to find out what the words, ‘panel’ and ‘essence’ mean in different contexts.
1. (i) The masks from Bawa village in Mali look like long panels of decorated wood.
(ii) Judge H. Hobart Grooms told the jury panel he had heard the reports.
(iii)The panel is laying the groundwork for an international treaty.
(iv)The glass panels of the window were broken.
(v) Through the many round tables, workshops and panel discussions, a consensus was reached.
(vi)The sink in the hinged panel above the bunk drains into the head.
2. (i) Their repetitive structure must have taught the people around the great composer the essence of music.
(ii) Part of the answer is in the proposition; but the essence is in the meaning.
(iii)The implications of these schools of thought are of practical essence for the teacher.
(iv) They had added vanilla essence to the pudding.
Write a short passage/essay on ‘Women Power’ in the Neolithic, Medieval, and Present Times.
Now, find and write the antonyms for the words in Box A from the set of words in Box B
| A | B | ||
| amateur | professional | leader | eccentric |
| compulsory | respective | elusive | cheap |
| traditional | unnecessary | supportive | ancillary |
| expensive | hateful | desperate | trivial |
| hopeful | modern | fanciful | repulsive |
| accepted | fulfilled | refused | showered |
| invaluable | novice | optional | |
| complex | antique | determined | |
Explain the following phrase selected from the story in your own word and work with a partner to make sentence using these phrase:
a double-distilled idiot
What are the occasions when photographs are taken?
| e.g. birthday parties | |
Suggest some ways by which we can maintain a calm temperament under all circumstances.
Describe your dream vehicle in a few lines.
Imagine someone has invited your family to a programme and you were the only person at home when the invitation was given orally.
Write a note (4-5 lines) to pass on the message to the other people in your family. Or, Write an imaginary conversation in which you pass on the message to your parents.
