ACT 1 SCENE 1 Secondly, it is through Antonio’s nameless melancholy that Shakespeare has created a

tragic atmosphere, an atmosphere suitable for a comedy which floats on the brink of
tragedy.
EXTRACT 1
Thirdly, Antonio’s melancholy gives a vague feeling of impending disaster.
1. Where are Antonio and his friends? What does Antonio say about his sadness?
Antonio and his friends are on a street in Venice.
EXTRACT 2
Antonio says that he does not know why he is so sad. It wearies him as well as his friends
1. Where would Salanio’s attention be if he had business ventures abroad? Why would
but he is yet to find out how he caught his sadness, found it, came by it, what it is made
he be ‘plucking the grass’? what else would he be doing in that context?
of and what its origin is. Sadness makes him such an absent-minded person that he has
much trouble in recognising himself. If Salanio had business ventures abroad, most of his thoughts would have been with his
ships abroad which would have earned profit for him.
He would be plucking the grass to see in which direction the wind blew. He would have
2. Give the meaning of
been peering in maps for ports, piers and roads. Anything that threatened the safety of
A. Whereof it is born : how his sadness originated. his ships would have undoubtedly made him sad.
B. A want-wit sadness: sadness made Antonio an absent-minded person. (same answer for the question - what would make Salanio fear some danger to his
C. That I have much ado to know myself: Antonio had much trouble in recognising ventures?)
himself.

2. What would make Salanio fear some danger to his ventures? Give two examples from
3. What reason does Salarino give as the probable cause of Antonio’s melancholy? the opening scene to show how some objects remind Salarino of the danger to the ships?

Salarino says that Antonio’s thoughts are with his ships which are tossing on the seas. (same as ext 2(1))
All the examples are explained in answers of extract 3.

4. State in your own words the scene on the ocean as described by Salarino, when
Antonio’s ships were sailing. 3. Give the meaning of :
Salarino says that Antonio’s thoughts are with his ships which are tossing on the seas. A. Plucking the grass to know where sits the wind: Salanio would be plucking the grass to
On the seas, Antonio’s argosies sail with their portly sails. They look like signiors and rich know the direction in which the wind blew.
burghers on the seas. They also look like pageants (processions) on the sea. They surpass B. Peering in maps for ports, and piers and roads: Salanio would have been looking
the petty traffickers which move up and down, as if showing respect to the argosies carefully in maps for ports, harbours and channels.
when they sail past with their woven wings.

4. In spite of the danger to his ships, why is Antonio not worried about his financial
5. The play begins in an atmosphere of melancholy. Why do you think that Antonio is security?
presented as a melancholic and passive character?
In spite of the danger to his ships, Antonio is not worried about his financial security as
Through Antonio’s melancholy, Shakespeare wants to portray three things. his business enterprises are not all risked(invested) in one single ship. All his ships are not
First, he has tried to justify the improbability of a rich merchant signing such a fatal bond going to the same place and his financial position is not dependent on the business
by portraying him as a whimsical(moody) man,who is too bored with life to care about ventures of the current financial year.
the consequences of his actions.
5. What light does the opening scene throw on the danger that the sea could pose to 6. When Salarino would go to church what would he see? What would the scene make
ships? him imagine?
We understand that the ships are tossed by fierce sea waves. They may also get stuck in When Salarino went to church, he would see a holy edifice(building) made of stone.
shallow waters or flat sand banks. There is also the danger of ships hitting rocks
The scene would make him imagine dangerous rocks at sea whose mere touch on the
underneath the water surface.
side of his wealthy ship would scatter the spices and silks on the ocean’s water.

EXTRACT 3
EXTRACT 4
1. Where does this scene take place? Name the people who are present there. In what
1. Who has just said that Antonio was in love? What was the reaction of Antonio to that
mood is Salarino in this scene?
remark?
This scene takes place on a street in Venice.
Salarino.
Antonio, Salarino and Salanio are present there.
Antonio dismisses it as nonsense. He denies the suggestions given by Salarino and says he
Salarino is concerned about Antonio’s melancholy. was not in love.

2. What would the wind cooling the broth remind Salarino of? 2. Antonio says that he is not sad because of love. What explanation does Salarino give in
the extract for Antonio’s sadness?
The act of cooling his broth would make Salarino tremble with fever (ague). It would
make him think of the harm that a strong wind at sea could do to his ships. Antonio is sad as he is not merry. It would have been easier for Antonio to laugh, leap
and say he is merry as he is not sad.

3. Give the meaning of : And see my wealthy Andrew……..to kiss her burial.
3. What is meant by the ‘two-headed Janus’? why is he referred to in the extract?
The sight of the sand in the hour glass would remind Salarino of the dangers from hidden
sand banks at sea on which his imaginary ship, Andrew may run aground. If this happens, Janus is a Roman god of doors who had two faces, one frowning and the other smiing.
then the topmost mast will be lower than the side of the ship. The mast will appear to One head looked inwards and the other looked out.
kiss the sand in which it will be buried.
He is referred to here to indicate that Nature creates two different types of men, with
different outlooks.
4. What is the ‘sandy hour glass’? what would it remind Salarino of?
A sandy hour glass is an apparatus with two spheres of glass joined together with a tiny 4. Describe in your own words the two types of strange fellows who have been framed
hole between, through which sand ran from one sphere to the other in one hour. It was by nature.
used to indicate time before watches became common.
The first group of people framed by nature always wrinkle their faces when they laugh,
so that their eyes seem to be peeping through the folds. They laugh even at a bagpiper as
foolishly as a parrot laughs at anything.
5. What is referred to as ‘Wealthy Andrew’? why is it so referred?
The second type of people have such a sour expression (vinegar aspect) on their faces
Salarino’s imaginary ship is referred to as ‘Wealthy Andrew’.
that they do not show their teeth in a smile even at a joke which Nestor would have
It is referred so as Andrew was a common name in the Elizabethan period for a big ship. found funny.

5. Who is Nestor? Why is he referred to?

Nestor was a old and wise Greek general who fought in the Trojan war. A joke had to be Gratiano says that there are a sort of men whose faces are overcast with a set of pale
extremely funny if Nestor laughed at it. expression as unchanging as the surface of a pool of standing water and the cream on
top of milk.
Salarino refers to him to depict the serious type of men framed by nature and to
comment on Antonio’s sadness.
3. What is said in the extract about the people who try to earn a reputation for wisdom?
6. Give the meaning of: Gratiano says that these people deliberately put on an air of solemnity (solemn
expression) with the intention of creating a reputation that they have wisdom, gravity
A. And other of such vinegar aspect : with such a sour expression.
and profound conceit. Their expressions seem to say that they speak with the authority
B. Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable: Even Nestor would find the joke funny. of the Greek Oracle and when they speak, no other sound should be heard. Gratiano
believes that these people are reputed to be wise as they do not say anything but if they
were to speak, their listeners would call them fools and for saying this, the listeners
7. Why are a class of people compared to parrots? would be damned.
A class of people are compared to parrots as they laugh foolishly.

4. What is meant by ‘I am Sir Oracle ‘ and ‘let no dog bark’?

8. Who comes at the end of Salarino’s speech? Why does Salarino leave then? It means that he speaks with the authority of the Greek Oracle. The Oracle was believed
Bassanio, Gratiano and Lorenzo. to be the voice of the gods, uttered through the mouth of priests.

Salarino leaves as worthier friends of Antonio have arrived but according to Antonio, he It is a proverbial phrase meaning let not a sound be heard.
is leaving because his work needs him.

5. What advice does Gratiano give to Antonio at the end of the speech?
EXTRACT 5Why is a young man compared to ‘his grandsire cut in alabaster’? Under what At the end of his speech, Gratiano advises Antonio not to use his melancholy as a bait to
condition is he likely to be infected with jaundice? catch such a cheap fish as popularity.
Antonio is a young man and warm blooded so he should be energetic. He is compared
to ‘his grandsire cut in alabaster’ as he is sad and sits as still as a statue and is motionless
during the waking hours as if he is asleep. 6. Explain the meaning of the lines: And let my liver rather heat with wine than my heart
cool with mortifying groans. Explain the contemporary or Elizabethan belief used here.
He is likely to be infected with jaundice if continues to be peevish.
Gratiano says that he prefers to consume wine to keep his liver warm than cool his heart
with mortifying (or killing) groans.
1. Give the meaning of : The Elizabethans believed that drinking wine warmed the liver. It was believed that there
A. Do cream and mantle like a standing pond: stand still like the cream on top of mild and were four basic types of characters - the choleric (angry), the melancholic (sad), the
the scum that forms a layer on a pool of standing water. phlegmatic (calm and even-tempered) and the sanguine (lively). These types were
physiologically determined by the digestion of food in the liver. A liver enriched by wine
B. Do a wilful stillness entertain: they deliberately put on an air of solemnity.
would produce a rich blood and thus a lively (sanguine) personality. Sighing and groaning
were believed to take away blood from the heart and thus kill you.
2. What does Gratiano say about the visages of ‘a sort of men’?
EXTRACT 6
1. Where are Bassanio and Antonio? What has Antonio said earlier in reply to which 1. What is meant by ‘fair speechless messages’ and ‘nothing undervalued’?
Bassabio speaks these words?
‘Fair speechless messages’ mean favourable silent messages of love received by Bassanio
They are on a street in Venice. from Portia’s eyes.
Antonio asks Bassanio to tell him about his plans to free himself of all his debts. He ‘Nothing undervalued’ means ‘in no way inferior to’. It refers to Portia who is in no way
promises Bassanio all his money, personal help and his resources if Bassanio’s plan is as inferior in beauty or virtues to a character called Portia who was Cato’s daughter and
honourable as he is. Brutus’ wife in the play, Julius Caesar.

2. Explain the following: Or bring your latter hazard back again. And thankfully rest 2. Who are Cato and Brutus? Why are they referred to here?
debtor for the first.
Both Cato and Brutus are characters in the play, Julius Caesar. Cato was a Roman
Bassanio says that he would be careful in spending the amount of the second loan Statesman and Brutus was a brave Roman General and the leader of the conspiracy
from Antonio. He will either pay back both the loans or that at any rate he would pay against Julius Caesar.
back the second loan amount and remain his grateful debtor for the first loan.
They are referred to here as Bassanio compares his lady love, Portia’s beauty and virtues
to the beauty and virtues of Portia, the daughter of Cato and wife of Brutus.
3. What confession has Bassanio made earlier to Antonio about his financial position?
How can you conclude that Bassanio is a spendthrift?
3. What evidence is there in the passage to show that Portia’s fame had spread
Bassanio has earlier confessed to Antonio that he had squandered away all his fortune by throughout the world?
leading a more lavish lifestyle than his modest means permitted him to keep up.
The passage says that Portia’s fame had spread throughout the world as Bassanio says
We can conclude that he is a spendthrift as he has spent away his wealth by living in a that renowned suitors from the four corners of the world flock to her to woo her. He also
grander manner than his modest means permitted him to do. Now he wishes to present says that the world is not ignorant of her worth.
himself as a worthy suitor to Portia and asks for a second loan though he has not cleared
the first one.
4. Explain the comparison in the lines ‘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
4. What experience of his school days does Bassanio relate to justify his plan for repaying of her.
the loan?
Portia, with her sunny locks of hair hanging from her temples , looks like the golden
Bassanio cites an example from his school days when he used to shoot an arrow. If he fleece, which according to the Greek legend, was a crop of wool fastened to an oak tree
couldn’t find it, he would shoot another arrow of a similar kind in the same direction and by the local ruler and guarded by a dragon. Her house in Belmont is being compared to
in the same way and watch it more carefully to locate the first one. By rising both the Colchos’ Strand while the adventurous suitors are being compared to Jason who
arrows, he would often get back both. obtained it.

5. How does Bassanio propose to pay back his previous loan as well as the present loan? 5. Describe briefly the first impression the audience have of Portia in the opening scene.
Bassanio says that he would be careful in spending the amount of the second loan from Bassanio describes Portia to Antonio and the audience as the lady richly left (who has
Antonio. He will either pay back both the loans or that at any rate he would pay back the inherited great wealth), fair and fairer than the word ‘fair’ and that she has wonderful
second loan amount and remain his grateful debtor for the first loan. virtues. According to him, she is in no way inferior to Cato’s daughter and Brutus’ wife
Portia from the play, Julius Caesar. The whole world is not ignorant of her worth and
renowned suitors come to Belmont from around the world to woo her.
EXTRACT 7
EXTRACT 8 Antonio : Antonio is the merchant after whom the play ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is
named. He is a wise businessman who has not invested all his money in one ship. He has
1. Why is Antonio unable to help Bassanio at once?
also not sent all his ships to the same place.
Antonio is unable to help Bassanio at once as all his fortunes are at sea. He has neither
money nor commodity (goods) to raise the money.
He is confident about his fortunes and their success as he himself says that his financial
condition does not depend on the profit or loss made in the current year.
2. ‘To raise a present sum’. How much was this sum? Why was it required urgently?
‘The present sum’ refers to the money that is required immediately. The sum that was
In the very first scene, Antonio is shown in a melancholic mood. He himself says that he
required was three thousand ducats.
does not know why he is sad and from where and how he acquired this sadness. This
Bassanio wanted the money to go to Belmont to woo and win his lady love, Portia. He gives us the impression that he is a whimsical person who may in future sign a fatal bond.
required it urgently because Portia had many adventurous suitors from the four corners Antonio is in such a sad mood that after comparing the world to a stage, he says that his
of the world. role in this world is a sad one.

3. What does Antonio instruct Bassanio to do in this regard? From his conversation with Bassanio, he comes across as a loyal and generous friend who
When Bassanio asks for a loan, Antonio instructs him to go to the moneylenders in is ready to place his purse, his person and his utmost resources at Bassanio’s disposal as
Venice and try to find out how much he can borrow in Venice, giving Antonio’s name as long as Bassanio’s plans to get clear of his debts are as honourable as he is. He also asks
security so that Bassanio can go to Belmont to woo Portia. Bassanio not to waste time by appealing to his love in a complicated manner.

4. Give the meaning of: When he fails to provide Bassanio with the required money, he asks Bassanio to go to the
money lenders and borrow money using Antonio’s name. This shows he is a generous
A. That shall be rack’d, even to the uttermost: that shall be stretched even to the man.
maximum.
Bassanio: Bassanio is the hero of the main romantic plot in the play, The Merchant of
B. To have it of my trust or for my sake: Antonio had no doubt that he will be able to Venice. The opening scene introduces us to Bassanio who lays the foundation for the
borrow money either because of his business credit or an account of his personal surety. Bond Story. He wishes to marry Portia of Belmont and so needs a loan from Antonio who
in turn asks Bassanio to borrow it from moneylenders.

5. In the opening scene, the theme of romance and love is introduced. How is this scene
linked to the Bond story? Bassanio comes across as a spendthrift who has wasted away his inheritance by leading a
The opening scene introduces us to the young, gallant and romantic Bassanio. He needs lavish lifestyle. He is also presented as a reckless adventurer who is willing to go to
money to win his lady love, Portia so he asks Antonio for a loan to go to Belmont and Belmont to try his luck with Portia and does not mind borrowing money again from
woo Portia. Unfortunately, Antonio had no cash in hand so he instructs Bassanio to take a Antonio to do so.
loan in his name. Antonio has no doubt that he will be able to borrow money in Venice
wither because of his business credit or an account of his personal surety. This lays the
foundation of the link between the bond and the casket. He is a romantic man who thinks that he has received favourable unspoken messages
from Portia’s eyes in the past.

6. Compare briefly the character of Antonio with that of Bassanio in the opening scene.
He also has novel ideas which become clear when he gives the examples of his school
days to make Antonio lend him money again.

The way Bassanio describes Portia’s beauty, calls her fairer than the word ‘fair’ and says
that she is in no way inferior to the Portia mentioned in the play ‘Julius Caesar’ makes us
understand that he is a true lover of Portia.