CJM HAMPTON COURT, MUSSOORIE

ICSC ENGLISH LITERATURE BOARD PROJECT(IX), 2020

ATTEMPT FIVE QUESTIONS IN ALL ON PROJECT SHEETS BY

15 TH OCTOBER ,2020

TEST PAPER ONE – MERCHANT OF VENICE (DO ANY ONE)

Question 1:
Salanio: Believe me , sir, had I such venture forth,
The better part of my affections would
Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still
Plucking the grass, to know where sits the wind;
a. Why does Salanio talk in this fashion , as he is not a Merchant and does not own ship?
b. What does he mean in this context?
c. What does he mean by Plucking the grass to know where sits the wind ?
d. What is Antanio ‘s reaction to this passage?

Question 2:
Shylock : Go with me to a notary, seal me there
Your single bond; and, in a merry sport,
If you repay me not on such a day,
In such a place, such sum or sums as are
Expressed in the condition, let the forfeit
Be nominated for an equal pound
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body pleaseth me.
a. Who is a notary? Whom does Shylock want to take to the notary? Why?
b. What did Bassanio say to prevent Antonio from signing the bond?
c. Why is Antonio confident that there is no danger in signing the bond? What aspect of
Antonio’s character is shown in this incident?
d. Why does Shylock insist on a pound of Antonio’s flesh in the bond? Which aspect of his
character is shown in his absurd demand?
TEST PAPER TWO
( Answer any four questions, one from each book is compulsory )
(Merchant of Venice)
Question 3
(b) In Act 1 , Scene 2 how does it open to the audience ? From this scene how can we judge the
character of Portia?
Question 4:
Why does Shylock decide to give such a different type of interest to Bassanio and not the usual
interest charged by money lenders? Why does Shylock dislike Antonio so much ?
( Treasure Trove: Poetry)
Question 5:
With reference to the poem “Daffodils”, explain how Wordsworth is a poet of nature .

Question 6:
How does the poem The Bangle Sellers throw light on Sarojini Naidu’s conception of Indian
women?

(Treasure Trove: Short Stories)

Question 7:
(a) State the narrator’s attitude towards the old an. Give evidence from the story to support
your answer.

(b) There are times when people are made helpless by situations beyond their control, Justify
the statement in the context of the story.
Question 8:
Mr. Oliver’s encounter with the boy and the watchman could be real or figment of his
imagination. Give your views in the context of the story. Explain why do you think so .

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