English Literature Project

1.DRAMA(MOV)

summary of act 3 ,scene 2

At Belmont, Portia would like Bassanio to delay before he chooses one of

the caskets. Already she has fallen in love with him, and she fears the
outcome. She asks him to “tarry,” to “pause a day or two,” to “forbear
awhile”; anything, she tells him, to keep him from possibly choosing the
wrong casket. Bassanio, however, begs to choose one of them. His anxiety
is too great. If he waits, it is as though he “lives on the rack.” Thus Portia
acquiesces and tells her servants that this choice is no ordinary choice;
therefore, she would like music to be played “while he doth make his
choice.”

The song which is sung, beginning “Tell me where is fancy bred,” has
ominous lyrics. Bassanio surveys the caskets, reads their inscriptions, and
is reminded by the background music that “fancy” is sometimes bred in
the heart and is sometimes bred in the head. The words seem to warn him
not to judge by external appearance. Consequently, Bassanio rejects the
golden casket; it is a symbol for all “outward shows”; likewise, he rejects
the silver casket, calling it a “common drudge / ‘Tween man and man.”
Instead, he chooses the casket made of “meagre lead,” which is the least
attractive of the caskets — if they are judged by appearance alone.

When Bassanio’s choice is made, Portia prays in an aside for help in

containing her emotions. She watches rapturously as Bassanio opens the
lead casket and finds in it a picture of Portia, which, though beautifully
painted, fails to do her justice, in Bassanio’s opinion. Alongside Portia’s
portrait, there is a scroll which tells him, “Turn you where your lady is /
And claim her with a loving kiss.” Still giddy from his success, Bassanio
does so, and Portia, who only a moment before was mistress of herself
and of all her possessions, now commits herself and all she owns to her
new lord. She also presents him with a ring, a symbol of their union, which
he is never to “part from, lose, or give away.” Bassanio promises to wear
the ring as long as he lives.

Nerissa and Gratiano congratulate the lovers and announce that they also
have made a match and ask . permission to be married at the wedding
ceremony of Portia and Bassanio. Portia agrees to the double wedding,
and Gratiano boastfully wagers that he and Nerissa produce a boy before
they do.

While the lovers are enjoying their happiness, Lorenzo, Jessica, and
Salerio arrive. Salerio says that he has come with a letter from Antonio to
Bassanio, and that he met Lorenzo and Jessica, whom he persuaded to
come with him. As Portia welcomes her fiance’s old friends, Bassanio
opens Antonio’s letter. He reads it, and Portia notices that he has turned
pale; the letter contains bad news. She begs him to share the cause of his
anguish, and he tells her that he has just read “the unpleasant’st words /
That ever blotted paper.” He confesses that he is deeply in debt to “a dear
friend” who in turn is in debt to a dangerous enemy. Turning to Salerio,
Bassanio asks, “But is it true? . . . Hath all his ventures fail’d?” Has not a
single one of Antonio’s ships returned safely? Not one, Salerio replies, and
besides, even if Antonio now had the money to repay Shylock it would do
no good, for Shylock is already boasting of how he will demand “justice”
and the payment of the penalty for the forfeited bond. Jessica testifies to
her father’s determination to “have Antonio’s flesh” rather than accept
“twenty times the value of the sum” that Antonio owes.

When Portia understands that it is Bassanio’s “dear friend that is thus in

trouble,” she offers to pay any amount to prevent his suffering “through
Bassanio’s fault.” But first, she and Bassanio will be married and then
immediately afterwards he must go to Antonio’s aid, “for never shall you
lie by Portia’s side / With an unquiet soul.” In Bassanio’s absence, she and
Nerissa “will live as maids and widows.” Bassanio then reads to Portia the
full contents of Antonio’s letter, Antonio says that he wishes only to see
Bassanio before he dies; his plans “have all miscarried,” he says; his
“creditors grow cruel”; his “estate is very low”; and his “bond to the Jew is
forfeit.” Yet, Antonio says, all debts between him and Bassanio are
“cleared,” and he says that he wishes only “that I might but see you at my
death.” Portia comprehends the gravity of the situation. Bassanio must
leave at once. “O love, dispatch all business, and be gone!” she tells him,
as her newly beth-othed lover makes ready to leave for Venice.

2.POETRY

critical appreciation of the Heart of the tree

The Title “The Heart of the Tree” is apt and suggestive. It is the tree that
remains in focus throughout the poem. The poet refers to the ‘heart’ of
the tree – what kind of heart it possesses. It is kind generous and
magnanimous. It does not show any discrimination. It blesses all those
who take care of it or even who neglect it. Wherever a tree is planted it
turns the place into heaven. That’s why the poet praises the one who
plants a tree. 'The Heart of the Tree' is a meaningful poem with a message
that the one who plants a tree not only contributes to the betterment of
nature for all the other creatures but he also helps in the nation's growth.
The simple poem tells us about the beautiful connecting man can wave
with nature if he plants a tree. The poet asks certain questions at the
beginning of the poem and kind of answering them too in the following
lines. Planting a tree is always a great work for mankind. But, the poet has
found out new ways to look at the plants and plantation. In his poem, The
Heart of the Tree he glorifies the act further shows how a tree helps life on
earth and says that it has a direct connection to a nation’s growth. All the
three stanzas of the poem The Heart of the Tree starts with a refrain with
the poet asking what the man actually plants who plants a tree. Then he
chooses to reply it by himself and shows what a tree means to humankind
and nature, thus proving how great that man is. The poet has used
alliteration - hushed and happy, heaven's harmony -; personification - a
friend of sun and sky -; metaphor - the flag of breezes free, the shaft of
beauty towering high. The poem discusses the usefulness of a tree
elaborating on how a tree that is planted benefits not only nature, a nation,
but also contributes to the growth of humankind. One who plants a tree
aspires for his nation’s growth. Trees stand straight and steady, giving an
impression as if they are touching the sun and the sky. They sway with the
breeze and beautify the surrounding. They are home to chirruping birds
that sing sweetly and display heaven’s harmony on this earth.
Furthermore, the person who plants trees also acts as a good citizen of
his country because, by planting a tree, he brings joy and blessings to the
neighbourhood. As a result of all he does, the land becomes fertile, and
thus a boon to humankind. The one who plants a tree has a noble thought
of a common good that would be a boon for man in general and the nation
in particular. He has a dream of the growth of all his land when he plants a
tree. Indirectly the poet hints to us that planting a tree is to humour nature
and God above us who has blessed us with plentiful bounties.

3.PROSE

summary of Hearts and Hands

On a Train to Denver
The story ‘Hearts and Hands’ revolves around three main characters and
two minor characters. The story is set in a train to Denver. An elegantly
attired woman named Miss Fairchild is seated on the train when two men
arrive and take the seat facing her. One is of handsome presence with a
bold, frank countenance and manner and the other is a ruffled, glum-
faced person, heavily built and roughly dressed. It quickly becomes
apparent that the woman knows one of them. She speaks to this man
whose name is Mr Easton. She says, “Well, Mr Easton, if you will make me
speak first, I suppose, I must. Don’t you ever recognize old friends when
you meet them in West ?” The man rouses himself sharply at the sound of
her voice. He overcomes his embarrassment and then clasps her fingers
with his left hand.

A Surprise for Miss Fairchild

Miss Fairchild is rather surprised to discover that he is handcuffed to the
man seated beside him. As Easton greets the young woman, he slightly
raises his right hand, bound at the wrist by the shining ‘bracelet’ to the
left one of his companion. The glad look in the girl’s eyes slowly changes
to bewildered horror. The glow fades from her cheeks. Easton, with a little
laugh, as if amused, is about to speak again when the other man forestalls
him. The glum-faced man has been watching the girl’s countenance with
his shrewd eyes. He senses Easton’s embarrassment and volunteers an
explanation that Easton is the marshal, and the two are headed for
Leavenworth prison.
“It’s seven years for counterfeiting,” he tells her.

Conversation with Easton

As the conversation continues, the woman is surprised to learn that
Easton has discarded his life in Washington to become a marshal in the
West, but she finds the West agreeable as well. The young woman
continues to chat with her acquaintance, but she continues to stare at the
handcuffs. To ease her concern, the rough looking older man tells her,
“Don’t you worry about them, Miss. All marshals handcuff themselves to
their prisoners to keep them from getting away. Mr Easton knows his
business.”
“Will we see you again soon in Washington ?” asked the girl.
“Not soon, I think,” said Easton. “My butterfly days are over, I fear.”
As the two men stand to go to the smoker car, the young woman bids Mr
Easton goodbye.
A Shocking Revelation : All the while, two passengers seated nearby have
listened to the conversation. One remarks that Mr Easton seems too
young to be a marshal. The other eavesdropping passenger corrects the
mistake – one that the young woman and readers have likely made as well
– saying that Mr Easton is not the marshal; he is the counterfeiter.
“Oh! Didn’t you catch on ?” the passenger says.
“Say – did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right
hand ?” These subtle remarks by the two minor characters reveal the irony
in the story and make the story interesting.