ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT-1

Q1. Therefore, gaudy gold………consequence!

i. The speaker in the above lines is Bassanio.
ii. The following lines are from the speech which he made at Belmont
while choosing the caskets – Gold, Silver or Lead one of which
contained Portia’s portrait.
iii. According to Bassanio, the people are more concerned about
outward appearances thus ignoring the inner beauty. He described
‘gold’ as one of the metals which is very shiny from the outside but of
very little inner worth. He described ‘silver’ as a pale and white metal
used as a medium of exchange of money. The world is most often
misguided by the external beauty but Bassanio was interested in
simplicity rather than show-off. Therefore, he rejected the Gold and
Silver caskets.
iv. As mentioned in the extract, Bassanio is attracted towards simplicity
rather than eloquence. He values the inner beauty rather than the
outward appearance. When he saw the lead casket, it’s simplicity and
the dull look attracted him more as compared to the bright Gold and
pale Silver. It is also said that the saying on the Lead casket –“He who
chooses me shall give and hazard all he hath” threatened Bassanio
rather than promising him. All these reasoning made him opt for the
Lead casket. After opening the lead casket, he found a very artistic
portrait of her beloved Portia which overwhelmed her. He described
it as a creation of nature. The portrait was very lively as it eyes
seemed to move and her lips parted by a sweet breath. Bassanio
couldn’t control the happiness he felt after winning Portia as her
beloved wife for life.

Q2. How many cowards……………….them redoubted!!

i.