ACT ONE, SCENE ONE

EXTRACT 1 :

ANTONIO: “In sooth, I know not why I am so sad.

It wearies me; you say it wearies you.
But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,
What stuff ’tis made of, whereof it is born, I am to learn.
And such a want-wit sadness makes of me,
That I have much ado to know myself.”

i) Where are Antonio and his friends? What does Antonio says about his sadness?
ii) Give the meaning of:
(a) whereof it is born
(b) a want-wit sadness
(c) That I have much ado to know myself
iii) What reason does Salario give as the probable cause of Antonio’s melancholy?
iv) State in your own words the scene on the ocean as described by Salarino, when
Antonio’s ship were sailing?

EXTRACT 2

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,
Peering in maps for ports and piers and roads.
And every object that might make me fear
Misfortune to my ventures out of doubt
Would make me sad.

i) Where would Salanio’s attention be if he had business ventures abroad ? Why

would he be plucking the grass ? What else he would be doing in that context ?
ii) What would make Salanio fear some dangers in his ventures ? Give two examples.
iii) Give meaning of:
(a) Plucking the grass to know where sets the wind : Plucking of grass and casting
them in the air to see which way the wind blew.
(b) Peering in maps for ports, and piers, and roads.
iv) In spite of the danger to his ships, why Antonio is not worried about his financial
security?
v) What light does the opening scene throw on the danger that sea could pose
to ships?
EXTRACT 3

SALERIO : “My wind cooling my broth

Would blow me to an ague when I thought
What harm a wind too great at sea might do.
I should not see the sandy hourglass run,
But I should think of shallows and of flats
And see my wealthy Andrew docked in sand,
Vailing her high top lower than her ribs
To kiss her burial.”

i) Where does the scene takes place ? Name the people who are present there. In
what mood Salarino is in this scene ?
ii) What would the wind cooling the broth reminds Salarino of?
iii) What would the wind cooling the broth reminds Salarino of?lower than her ribs
To kiss her burial.”
iv) What is sandy hour glass? What would it remind Salarino of?
v) What is referred as wealth Andrew ? Why it is referred so ?
vi) When Salarino would goto church what would he see? What would scene make
him imagine ?

EXTRACT 4

SALANIO : “Not in love neither? Then let us say you are sad
Because you are not merry— and ’twere as easy
For you to laugh and leap and say you are merry
Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed Janus,
Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time.
Some that will evermore peep through their eyes
And laugh like parrots at a bagpiper,
And other of such vinegar aspect
That they’ll not show their teeth in way of smile
Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable.”

i) Who has just said that Antonio was in love ? What was reaction of Antonio ?
ii) What explanation does Salarino give in extract for Antonio’s Sadness ?
iii) What is meant by two headed Janus ? Why is he referred to in the extract ?
iv) Describe the stange fellows framed by nature ?
v) Who was Nestor ? Why is he referred ?
vi) vi) Give meaning of:
(a) And other of such vinegar aspect : The second type of people who are grave
and serious.
(b) Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable
vii) Why are class of people are compared to parrots ?
viii) Who comes at the end of Salarino’s speech ? Why does Salarino leave then ?
EXTRACT 5

GRATIANO : “Why should a man whose blood is warm within

Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster,
Sleep when he wakes, and creep into the jaundice
By being peevish? I tell thee what, Antonio—
I love thee, and ’tis my love that speaks—
There are a sort of men whose visages
Do cream and mantle like a standing pond,
And do a willful stillness entertain
With purpose to be dressed in an opinion
Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit,
As who should say, “I am Sir Oracle,
And when I ope my lips, let no dog bark!”

i) Why is a young man compared to his ‘grandsire cut in alabaster’? Under what
conditions is he likely to be infected by jaundice?
ii) Give the meaning of :
(a) Do cream and mantle like a standing pond
(b) Do a willful stillness entertain
iii) What is said in the extract about the people who try to earn a reputation for
wisdom?
iv) Give the significance of ‘I am Sir Oracle’ and ‘Let no dog bark’
v) What advise does Gratiano give to Antonio at the end of his speech? What does
Bassanio say about Gratiano’s speech?

EXTRACT 6

BASSANIO : I urge this childhood proof

Because what follows is pure innocence.
I owe you much, and, like a willful youth,
That which I owe is lost. But if you please
To shoot another arrow that self way
Which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt,
As I will watch the aim, or to find both
Or bring your latter hazard back again
And thankfully rest debtor for the first. ”

i) Where are Bassanio and Antonio ?What has Antonio said earlier in reply to which
Bassanio speak these words?
ii) Explain the following : “Or bring latter hazard back again, And thankfully rest
debtor for the first”
iii) Which experience of his school days Bassanio relate to justify his plan for
repaying the loan?
iv) How does Bassanio propose to pay back his previous loan as well as the present
loan?
 v) What confession has Bassanio made to Antonio earlier about his financial
position?How can you conclude that Bassanio is spendthrift?

EXTRACT 7

BASSANIO : “Sometimes from her eyes

I did receive fair speechless messages.
Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued
To Cato’s daughter, Brutus' Portia.
Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth,
For the four winds blow in from every coast
Renownèd suitors, and her sunny locks
Hang on her temples like a golden fleece,
Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos' strand,
And many Jasons come in quest of her.”

i) What is meant by, 'fair speechless messages 'and' nothing undervalued'?

ii) Who are Cato and Brutus? Why are they referred to here?
iii) What evidence is there in the passage to show that Portia's fame had spread
throughout the world?
iv) Explain in your own words the meaning and significance of the 'golden fleece'
which Jason sought in Colchos.

EXTRACT 8

ANTONIO : “Thou know'st that all my fortunes are at sea;

Neither have I money nor commodity
To raise a present sum: therefore go forth;
Try what my credit can in Venice do:
That shall be rack'd, even to the uttermost,
To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia.
Go, presently inquire, and so will I,
Where money is, and I no question make
To have it of my trust or for my sake.”

i) Why is Antonio unable to help Bassanio at once?

ii) 'To raise a present sum'. How much was this sum? Why was it urgently?
iii) What does Antonio instruct Bassanio to do to get a loan?
iv) Give the meaning of: "That shall be rack'd , even to the uttermost”.
v) Give any two-character traits of Antonio in the scene. How are they different from
the character trait of Bassanio?