1. Explain the meaning of 'he makes a swan like end.' What contemporary belief about swans is expressed in the extract?
A: 'He makes a swan like end' it means that if Bassanio chose the wrong casket he would have to leave silently which is compared to the swan, which sang a song just before its death and the fading music will indicate that he has chosen the wrong casket and like the swan, which would die, Bassanio would have to lose the love of Portia.
2. Why does Portia order music to be played while Bassanio makes the choice of caskets? To what does Portia compare the music, should Bassanio choose correctly?
A: Portia orders for music to be played while Bassanio makes his choice to create a calm atmosphere. Portia compares the music to Bassanio's winning or losing. If he loses, it’ll be his swan song, music before the end. But on the other hand, if he wins, the music should be like the majestic trumpets that blare when subjects bow to a newly crowned monarch. It’s the sweet sounds at daybreak that the dreaming bridegroom hears on his wedding morning, calling him to the church.
3. How could Portia's eyes be a watery death bed for Bassanio?
A: Portia's eyes could be a watery death bed for Bassanio, because if he failed to choose the right casket, he would loose the love of Portia and would have to leave. And if that happened Portia would cry to the extent that her tears would be like a river flowing.
4. How would the music call the dreaming bridegroom to his marriage?
A: If Bassanio chooses the correct casket and wins the love of Portia, she wants to play music that represents her joy and compares it to the music which is played to the bridegroom on the morning of his marriage to remind him that his wedding day has come.
5. In what way does Portia act as a romantic heroine in this scene? How is the theme of love versus wealth developed in this scene?
A: In this scene Portia acts as a romantic heroine as she shows her feminine features when she delays Bassanio while making the choice of casket and she expresses her love for him. When he makes the right choice, she plays joyful music to celebrate his success. She is happy that she is now his and everything she has is his now. The beautiful mansion, her servants and the queen she is all now belong to him and she seals her love with offering a ring and tells Bassanio never to give the ring away or loose it.
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1. Which theme in the play is highlighted in the above extract? How is it highlighted?
A: In the play, appearance and reality are highlighted. What is seen from the outside is not the same from the inside. Bassanio refers to the caskets before he makes his choice. He highlights this with examples cowards, who behave like Hercules or Mars, the God of war. He talks of beauty, which can be done by make up. It makes a woman beautiful on the outside only.
2. How can vice assume the external show of virtue?
A: Bassanio says that you can't judge a book by it's cover. People are often tricked by false appearances. In court a lawyer can hide the wrong in the case he pleads. A soft voice, a smart lawyer can cover the reality of the case. Religious men defend sin when it is shown as good and just.
3. What are the 'stairs of sand'? To what are these stairs compared?
A: 'Stairs of sand' is referred to as stairs made of sand. Anything made of sand cannot be strong and permanent. The sea shore is not a clear indication of a stormy sea. These stairs are compared to everything and everyone that is beautiful on the outside and ugly and horrible on the inside.
4. Give the meaning of the following:
have livers white as milk - people considered as cowards
5. Who is Hercules and who is frowning Mars? What are they, with their beards known for?
A: Hercules was a Greek hero and Mars was the God of war. Their beards are known for their outward manly appearance as beards are normally associated with brave and strong men.
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5
1. Explain how is beauty purchased by weight? How does it make the wearers lightest? (Give the two meanings of the word: lightest.)
A: According to Bassanio beauty is something that can be purchased by weight. He means that cosmetics that enhance the beauty of a woman is now available in quantity and variety in shops and by using them women improve their outer looks. He says that women who use products to enhance their beauty are only beautiful from the outside, in their looks but are not respected. Lightest also means frivolous or of no consequence.
2. What is referred to as 'crisped snaky golden locks'? Who wears them and who is their actual owner?
A: 'Crisped snaky golden locks' is referred to the false hair or wigs women wear to look more attractive. Bassanio says that curly golden hair moves so nicely in the wind and makes a woman beautiful. Though this false hair looks real it is made from women who are dead.
3. What is referred to as 'the dowry of a second head? Who has bred this head? Where is this head now?
A: 'The dowry of a second head' refers to the false hair or wig worn by women to look attractive and even though they appear to look real, it is made from the hair of dead women. The head that carried this beautiful hair is now in the grave.
4. Why does Bassanio say that ornament is but the guiled shore to a most dangerous sea?
A: Bassanio says that outward beauty is always deceptive just as the sea shore always looks pleasurable the sea it leads to can be treacherous.
5. Give any two examples from Bassanio's speech to show that appearances are deceptive.
A: Two examples in Bassanio's speech to show that appearances are deceptive are, the false attractive golden hair or wig that moves so nicely in the wind is actually made from the hair of dead women and the second example he gives is that a scarf can hide an ugly face which is only visible once the scarf is removed. What people expect to see and what people actually get to see are different.
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6
1. Where was the gentle scroll? Give the summary of what was written on the scroll.
A: The gentle scroll was in the lead casket which Bassanio opened. The summary of what was written on the scroll was that since he had not chosen by outward appearances, he had luck on his side to make the correct choice. Since he had won a great prize he should be happy and look nowhere else for good fortune or happiness. And if he was happy with what he had won and accepts this good fortune as his destiny he should go to his woman and claim her as his own with a loving kiss.
2. What prize had the speaker won? Give reasons which led to the winning of the prize.
A: The speaker, Bassanio had won Portia as the prize. The suitor had to choose the correct casket which contained Portia's picture and Bassanio chose the correct lead casket which had an inscription which said that whoever chooses the lead casket must risk his life which actually meant his true love.
3. What was the speaker asked to give and receive?
A: The speaker was asked to turn to where his lady was and to claim her with a loving kiss and receive Portia in total as his own.
4. Give the meaning of :
(a) universal shout: shouts of approval from everyone
(b) Giddy in spirit: giddy with excitment
5. To whom does the speaker compare himself? In what way does he compare himself? Why is the speaker doubtful whether what he sees is true?
A: The speaker compares himself to someone who has just won a contest and thinks that everyone is cheering for him. The speaker is still doubtful of his victory and he asks Portia if what has just happened is true and asks for her confirmation.
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