Last Minute Package For Icse X - English - Lit

A A A A A A A A A A A A A AA A A
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE-X
Last Minutes ....
English
Literature
LINE / STANZA / SCENE WISE ANALYSIS OF
POEMS, STORIES & DRAMA
Note - Prepare @ 5 pages per day
A A A A A A A A A A A A A AA A A
TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING

ANALYSIS
Stanza I (Lines 1-4)
Get out the microscope, because were going through this poem
line-by-line.
Line 1
Whose woods these are I think I know.
Our speaker is not the most confident person in the world. This
line begins as a question, and were totally ready to get on board the
question train, but then, halfway through the line, he switches it up.
He wonders initially who owns these woods. The word these
makes us realize that our speaker is actually near the woods in question.
Our speaker then tells us he thinks he knows who owns these
woods. Notice how he doesnt say he knows who owns these woods;
he says he thinks he knows.
Why doesnt our speaker say, I think I know whose woods
these are? What would be lost or gained if the poem began with that
rewritten line?
Line 2
His house is in the village though;
The speaker thinks he knows the owner of woods, and this owner
lives in a house in the village. Civilization, sweet, sweet civilization!
This line tells us that there is a village around here somewhere.
The word village reminds us of thatched roofs, smoke curling out of
little chimneys, and of a few stores and homes clustered around a
single main street; in other words, a village is not the most hoppin
place in the world.
However, our speaker is relieved that the owner of the woods is
in the village now he doesnt have to worry about getting caught
2
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
trespassing on someone elses property.

Line 3
He will not see me stopping here
Man, this woods-owner guy must be pretty strict if our speaker
is so worried about getting caught taking a breather on his property.
The speaker is almost trying to calm himself down and reassure
himself that the owner will not see me stopping here, as though he
believes that saying so makes it true. Its similar to the magical phrase,
If I cant see them, they cant see me, uttered by Haley Joel Osment
in the movie Sixth Sense.
This line also tells us that the speaker has stopped, that hes
hanging out at the moment.
Line 4
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
Our speaker is a total rebel. Hes hardcore trespassing so that
he canwatch the snow fall?
Yes, he has stopped in order to take a gander at snow falling on
cedars.
Stanza II (Lines 5-8)
line-by-line.
Line 5
My little horse must think it queer
Our speaker is not alone! He has a horse, and this horse is little.
Maybe a pony.
The speaker and his little horse probably spend a lot of time
together, because our speaker is totally able to read the little horses
mind.
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
He imagines that his horse is thinking that things are a little strange
right now.
Line 6
To stop without a farmhouse near
Our speaker continues to read his horses mind, and imagines
the horse is thinking something along the lines of, Whoa, why are we
stopping here? Were in the middle of nowhereville. Wheres my
dinner? I dont know about you, but Im cold. There isnt even a
farmhouse close by whats going on?
The fact that our speaker even attempts to figure out what his
horse is thinking shows that hes a caring kind of guy, and that hes
aware that stopping in the middle of some snowy woods is kind of a
random thing to do.
Line 7
Between the woods and frozen lake
Now we get the 411 on just where, exactly, the speaker and his
horse have stopped: they are currently hanging out between the woods
and the frozen lake, so they must be on a little patch of snowy shoreline
with dark trees to one side and a glossy, ice-covered lake to the other.
It must be really cold if the lake is frozen, and we also are kind
of intrigued by the fact that the speaker is not riding through the woods,
but is right beside the woods.
Line 8
The darkest evening of the year.
Not only is it snowy and wintry, but its also approaching nighttime
too.
Why is this speaker dilly-dallying when the light is dying and the
snow is falling? A lot of people in his place would want to scurry home
as fast as is humanly possible.
4
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Besides sounding ominous and like the preview to a horror movie,

the darkest evening of the year makes us think of the winter solstice,
which occurs in late December (in the northern hemisphere) each
year and marks the moment at which the sun is at its farthest possible
distance from the observer.
It also happens to mark the beginning of winter.
Whatever the case may be, its dark out and its getting darker
by the minute. We dont think that the speaker is the kind of guy to
pack flashlights.
Stanza III (Lines 9-12)
line-by-line.
Line 9
He gives his harness bells a shake
Even though the speaker can read his little horses mind, the
horse cant talk back.
So, the next best option is to shake his booty. And by shaking his
booty, we mean that he shakes his harness a little. There are little bells
attached to his harness, which give a nice little jingle (think Santa Clauss
sleigh).
Line 10
To ask if there is some mistake.
Again with the mind reading. Our speaker knows his horse is
shaking his bells in order to ask his master if something is awry, is
theres a problem.
Its kind of like the horse is saying, Hey, is everything OK?
Weve been standing here staring at nothing for a little while, and I just
wanted to make sure you didnt need me to keep on truckin. Im cool
with the standing still thing, but I just wanted to make sure I wasnt
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
misinterpreting you.
Line 11
The only other sounds the sweep
Beyond the harness bells shaking, the only other sound that the
speaker can hear is the sweep.
The word sweep makes us think of the sound brooms make
when they sweep dust into a dustpan.
At this point, we realize that the speaker is taking inventory of all
of the sounds around him. Hes interested in sounds.
Line 12
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The sweeping noise comes from the slight wind and the softly
falling snow.
Have you ever listened to snow falling? Its very, very quiet.
Theres just a gentle whirr. Everything is very, very still.
Stanza IV (Lines 13-16)
line-by-line.
Line 13
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
Our speaker finally admits to liking the woods. We knew it all
along. Hes entranced by the darkness and deepness of the woods,
and he thinks they are lovely.
Dark and deep woods are awesome in our book, but they also
make us feel slightly anxious. Theres something mysterious about the
maze-like nature of woods and forests.
The point, though, is that our speaker digs these woods.
Line 14
6
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
But I have promises to keep,

Our speaker begins this line with the word but. The word but
makes us think that the speaker is contemplating staying in these woods
rather than returning to the village to fulfill the promises hes made.
These promises may be things like, Ill be home for dinner, mom,
or they may be things like, Lets get married, or I will take care of
you.
Regardless of whether these are big promises or little promises,
our speaker flirts momentarily with the idea of breaking them, before
deciding against it.
Line 15
And miles to go before I sleep,
Rats. Our speaker really is in the middle of nowhere, because
hes still got a few miles to go before he can rest his head on his pillow.
He better roll out soon.
But we feel like we are well acquainted with that feeling of
being so far away from where you need to be that it almost seems
easier to just give up and hang out.
Line 16
And miles to go before I sleep.
OK, so our speaker must really be far from home, because he
feels the need to repeat the fact that hes got miles to go.
However, when he says the line a second time, we hear the
word sleep more clearly than when we heard it in the line before.
Maybe thats because sleep has the honor of wrapping up the entire
poem.
In any case, this line makes us think of how awesome it will be for
our speaker to finally rest his head on his pillow after such a long
trek.
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q1. What is I in this poem? Who does the pronoun whose
refer to?
The narrator of the poem is the I.
Whose refers to the owner of the woods by which the narrator
of the peom is passing by.
Q2. Do you think the owner of these woods is a lover of
nature? Give a reason.
No, the owner of the woods is not a lover of nature as he is in
his village indifferent towards the beauty of the woods.
Q3. Why does the speaker stop at the woods? What does his
stopping here signify?
The speaker stops at the woods to feast his eyes at the beauty
of the woods.
His stopping signifies that he is a lover of nature.
Q4. What is the significance of He will not see me stopping
here?
The significance of He will not see me stopping here lies in
the fact that the owner of the woods is unaware that someone is
feasting his eyes on his property.
Q5. From the first two lines what do you figure out about the
speakers occupation?
From the first two lines one can figure out that he is a traveler
and probably travels long distance to fulfill his promises.
Q6. What does must mean here? Why does the little horse,
find it queer?
The word must mean for sure.
The little horse finds it queer as there was no farmhouse in
sight where one can stop to rejuvenate oneself, and moreover it is a
8
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
desolate place when it is snowing and already evening.

Q7. The speaker is on his way to some place. What makes his
pausing by the woods unusual, especially at the time of speaking?
The speakers stopping by the woods is unusual as :
(a) it is snowing
(b) It is a dark evening.
Q8. Who does he stand for? Why does he think there is some
mistake?
He is the horse. He thinks that there is some mistake as the
horse and its traveler usually stops in farmhouses; but as the traveler
has stopped to see at the beauty of the woods, the horse thinks it to be
a mistake.
Q9. It is very quiet all around. Which lines emphasize this?
The last two lines of the extract The only other sounds the
sweep of easywind and downy flake emphasize that it is quiet all
around.
Q10. What are the three sounds spoken of?
The three sounds are of (i) horse bells (ii) wind and (iii) the
flakes of snow falling
Q11. What image is created by downy flake?
Downy flake refers to the snow fall, downy means silky, thus
the phrase mean that there is snow falling which is like silk. The image
is that of silky snow falling whichis beautiful.
Q12. Where is the speaker at this time? What is he doing? What
makes these woods attractive to the speaker?
The speaker is in front of the woods where he has stopped to
feast his eyes on the beauty of the woods. The snowfall has made the
woods look attractive.
Q13. What is the significance of the word But in the second line?
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
What are the promises he has to keep?

The word but is significant as the speaker thinks that it is
more important for him to fulfill his responsibilities than to gratify his
soul by enjoying the beauty of the woods.
Q14. The speaker has to make a decision. What does he decide
to do? Why?
The speaker has decided to move ahead and not merely enjoy
the beauty of the woods. He decided to do so as he has some
responsibilities to fulfill.
Q15. Why, in your opinion, does the poet repeat the lineAnd miles to go before I sleep?
The poet repeats the line as he wants to emphasize to himself as
well as to the readers that he has promises to fulfill.
10
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
A DOCTORS JOURNAL ENTRY FOR

AUGUST 6, 1945
ANALYSIS
The poem, A Doctors Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 is penned
down in the form of an entry in a journal by a doctor for keeping
records. The entry gave the readers a vivid picture of how the people
were taken aback when atomic bombs were dropped on their city of
Hiroshima in 1945 during the Second World War.
Narrative Technique:
Vikram Seths poetic style has many features like the use of
prose-pattern, epithets, images, wit, humor and irony. The poem is in a
form of journal entry made by a Hibakusha (a Japanese word for a
bomb survivor) on August 6, 1945. The use of this journal form for
writing poetry is ingenious because this kind of poetry requires no
rhyme pattern or other poetic devices. The style is colloquial, clipped.
The poem has no rhyming scheme or stanzas, it is a continuous narration
of what happened on a particular day.
In the beginning of the poem, one can see the account of the
impact of the atomic bombs on the city. The poet also uses Hyperbole
(exaggeration) for highlighting the current situation.
The roof, the walls, and, as it seemed the world
Collapsed in timber and debris, dust swirled
Around me.
An atmosphere of horror, fear and panic too is created all around
the narrator and the narrator gives a dreadful account of it in the next
few lines.
It took some time for me to understand
The friction on their burns caused so much pain
They feared to chafe flesh against flesh again
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
11
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Those who could, shuffled in blank parade.

Vikram Seth has personified loneliness to describe the
helplessness of the survivors in A Doctors Journal Entry for August 6,
1945.
What choice had we? A dreadful loneliness
Came over me when she had gone. My mind
Ran at high speed, my body crept behind.
Lyrical in Spirit:
Lyric Poetry deals with the poets own feelings, his state of
mind and perceptions. A Doctors Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 is
a poem about the poets own sorrows, feelings. The poem expresses
the personal torments and sufferings of the victims.
Symbolism:
The poem is highly symbolic. The bombs that tore away the
human beings of their clothes signifies that the whole of human race
who suffered. Note the symbolism in the following lines,..I saw, dismayed,
A woman with a child stand in my pathBoth naked. Had they come back from the bath?
..and now the thought arose
That some strange thing had stripped us of our clothes.
The common thing between all these people was that they were
dumbfounded and silent. They were speechless. When someone is in
deep sorrow he loses the power of speech, he becomes numb. It
symbolizes that a powerful nation destroys the lives of the common
people, they still remain silent.
My legs gave way, I sat down the ground.
Thirst seized me, but no water could be found.
My breath was short but bit by bit my strength
12
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Seemed to revive and I got up at length.

The above line shows the indomitable spirit of the doctor, induced
with determination that he regains strength finally. This symbolizes
Japan, as one of the world leaders in todays world.
Human Goodness:
Even during such a crisis and chaos the goodness in human
nature is not lost. There is still hope for care and concern in the minds
of the people. The doctor, though himself wounded, calls out for his
wife, and even thinks of helping out his staff in his hospital. A soldier
hands over a towel to the doctor to cover himself.
The main theme of A Doctors Journal Entry for August 6,
1945 is the destruction caused by the atomic bombs on Hiroshima.
The poem depicts both mental and physical agony. The poet has
described the gruesome reality of the first nuclear explosion and its
power to destroy the whole human race. This bombing wiped out
two cities and millions died. However, Japan endured the calamity,
rose up, (bit by bit my strength/Seemed to revive) and rebuilt their
shattered city and their world.
Q1. Who is Me? Where is he at present? What time of the day
is it? What is the narrator enjoying as described immediately before
these lines?
Me in the extract is the narrator of the poem A Doctors
Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 who experienced the atomic bombing.
He is at his home in a city (Hiroshima or Nagasaki) in Japan,
which was bombed on 6th August 1945 during the Second World War.
It was morning. The Narrator says that the day was peaceful
and beautiful, and it was a warm morning when the narrator, a doctor
by profession, got up and stretched himself and was relaxing at home.
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
13
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Q2. How is the natural scene, described before this extract,

significant in the context of the poem?
The natural scene described just before the extract is
significant as it shows how the beauty of nature was destroyed in a
moment by the man made culture of war and hatred and scientific
developments. The evil use of science is juxtaposed against the
beauty of nature.
Q3. What are the strong flashes mentioned in the extract? Why
does the narrator wonder whether those are magnesiumm flares?
The strong flashes mentioned in the extract are the atomic
bombing that happened in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki during the Second World War on 6th August, 1945.
The narrator wonders whether they are magnesium flares as it
is war time and he thinks that it is probably the magnesium flares that
are usual during wars. He dcan not think that the city is bombed with
an atomic bomb.
Q4. What harm did the flashes cause to the building? Why did
the narrator exclaim that the world collapsed?
The flashes destroyed the buildings. The narrator exclaimed that
the wrold collapsed as wherever he would see all around him, he
could see nothing but destruction and decay.
Q5. What happened to the narrators body? What was the
reaction on seeing all this?
The narrators clothes were burnt. A splinter had protruded
into his thigh. Blood started sprikling from the right side. His cheek
was torn and he removed dispassionately a piece of glass from his
body.
Q6. Why is the narrator looking for his wife? What does his
attitude towards his wife indicate about his character?
The narrator is looking for his wife to figure out if she is safe.
14
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
The narrrators attitude towards his wife indicates that he loves

his wife too much and is caring about her.
Q7. Describe the appearance of his wife. What has caused her
appearance to be so? What does he tell her? How does their
conversation indicate about human values?
The wife of the Doctor, Yecko San is being described as pale,
bloodstained and frightened, who was holding her elbow.
It is the atomic bombing and the shock of it which caused her
appearance to be so.
Their conversation shows two things about human values- (a)
the cruelty and inhumanity of the warmongers and (b) the goodness,
fighting spirit, helping nature of the people like doctor and his wife.
Q8. Agaisnt what do they trip up in the street? How do they feel
about it? What has caused that object to be there? What does he
think that they should do now?
They trip up in the street against a head. They felt strange about
it and said sorry later torealize that it was a dead man. A gate crashed
on him and cuased the death.
The doctor thinks that he should get to hospital as they needed
aid and he should help his staff in hospital.
Q9. What are your feelings for the narrator and his wife? Give
a reason to justify your feelings.
My feelings towards the narrator and his wife is that of sympathy
as they, like other citizens of the two Japanese cities, were suffering
because of the war mongers who decided to use atomic bombs on
these two cities.
Q10. How did fire spring up in the dust? Give two reasons that
made the narrator intend to go the hospital.
Fire narrator intended to go to the hospital as (a) he himself is
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
15
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
wounded and would need medical attention, and (b) being a doctor, he
thought he should be in hospital to serve others in these trying times.
Q11. Later, in the poem, he sees a soldier. What does the soldier
do for him? Then what does he tell his wife? Why?
The soldier gives him a towel.
he then tells his wife to go ahead as he has no strength to carry
on. He asks his wife to do so as she should get medical aid even if he
cannot.
Q12. Describe of the sights which he sees later.
After that he sees shadowy forms of people silently walking
with their arms stretched straight out, dangling from their shoulders as
they cannot bear the friction of the burnt skins; and a woman and her
child both naked.
Q13. Why do you think, all do not feel ashamed of being naked?
They do not feel ashamed of being naked as (i) everyones
clothes are burnt and all are naked (ii) more shameful act was of the
people who decided to bomb the city (iii) they are so numb by the
experience that feeling ashamed does not matter to them.
Q14. By referring to any two examples, show how the poet gives
a detailed picture of what was happening.
The two examples are (a) shadowy forms of people silently
walking with their arms stretched straight out, dangling from their
shoulders as they cannot bear the friction of the burnt skins and (b) a
woman and her child both naked as their clothes are all burnt with
bombing.
Q15. What are the shadowy forms referred to in the extract?
What do the words, ghosts, scarecrows and the dumb indicate?
The naked suffering people of the bombed city parading with
paid are referred to in the extract. The words ghosts, scarecrows,
16
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
dumb indicate that the people of the city are suffering limitlessly
because of the atomic bombing.
Q16. What is the impact of his wifes absence on him? What does
the impact indicate about their relationship?
A dreadful lonelines came over the doctor in the absence of
his wife. It shows that the doctor and his wife are too much in love
with each other and in their suffering they needed each other.
Q17. Which four people does the poet see on the way to the
hospital? What was common to all? Why?
The four people that the poet sees on the way to the hospital are
soldier, a naked woman with his naked child, a naked man, and an old
woman. All of them are naked and suffering from immense pain and
are dumb with pain and shock. They are so as the atomic bombing has
caused all these.
Q18. What/who do you think is responsible for causing so much
bloodshed? Does it prove that the tyrant is really powerful? Give
a reason to justify your opinion.
The war mongers are responsible for causing so much bloodshed
for no reason, but their own profit.
No, it does not prove that the tyrant is really powerful as the
fighting spirit and helping nature of people proves however inhuman
the war mongers may be, their cruelty and violence will be countered
by peoples faith in humanity.
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
17
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
IF THOU MOST LOVE ME.....

ANALYSIS
Sonnets from Portuguese is a collection of 44 sonnets written by
Elizabeth Barrett Browning during the years 1845-1846 and published
in 1850. The sonnets have been very popular since their publication.
Elizabeth Browning was a Victorian poet whose poetry was very
popular in England as well as in the United States. All her sonnets
revolve around her intense love for her would-to-be husband Robert
Browning.
FORM & STRUCTURE:
The poem If Thou Must Love Me is a sonnet. A sonnet is a
fourteen-line poem with a normal rhyming pattern in iambic pentameter.
The rhyme scheme in this sonnet is abba/abba/cdc/dc. This sonnet If
Thou Must Love Me is a combination of Petrarchan and
Shakespearean conventions. The fusion of these two conventions adds
unity to the sonnets and seems to echo the unity of the couple portrayed
in the poem.
USE OF DIALOGUE:
The poet has used dialogue in the sonnet. She had put forth a
quotation, an argumentation by a lover presented in a form of sonnet.
Moreover, the sonnet seems like a discussion by the both parties about
their relationship. The poem is more about the ladys opinion about
how her man should love her. It seems like she is not happy with the
present idealism of her man.
REPETITION:
The word love has been repeated for at least ten times in the
poem. It is used by the poet not just to praise the subject but has also
focused on the intellectualism of what love should be. Barrett Browning
is more concerned about the kind of love that lasts forever rather than
love for loves sake.
18
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
PERSONIFICATION:
Personification is that figure of speech where abstract ideas are
attributed human qualities. Again love has been personified in If Thou
Must Love Me, when the speaker says, loves sake and loves eternity.
CUMULATIVE LISTING:
Cumulative Listing is a technique of listing similar ideas in poetry.
Here in this sonnet, the poet has used this technique of Cumulative
Listing. It emphasizes a particular statement. In the first two lines of If
Thou Must Love Me, the poet wants her lover not to love her for
loves sake or for her physical attributes. In support of this statement,
the speaker uses Cumulative Listing and enumerates her physical
characteristics in the poem- her smile, her pleasant voice etc. The
Cumulative Listing reinforces the idea presented in the first two lines
of the poem.
THEMES:
Theme of Love:
Love is the most dominant theme in Elizabeth Barrett Brownings
sonnets. This poem shows her suggestion to her lover about how he
should love her. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was disabled and had
incurable diseases; therefore she was afraid that Robert Browning
would leave her. That is why she says that her lover must not love her
for her smile or gentle voice as these qualities fade with time. She
wants Robert Browning to love her forever and such kind of love can
only exist when he would love her as a person and not for her looks.
Women Rights:
During the Victorian period, women did not have the right to vote
or had any right to own property. They were not given the right to study
classical and commercial subjects; they could only study history,
geography and general literature. During that period, women were not
treated equal to men. Therefore, Barrett Browning was against these
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
19
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
social and gender differences and one will find that her writings were
based on issues like child labour, ill treatment and oppression of women.
In this poem she mocks the idea of courtly love. Her sonnets give
importance to the thinking of women and not to the male-dominated
society. Here in the sonnet, If Thou Must Love Me, the speaker wants
her lover not to love her for superficial qualities or out of pity but for
what she is as a person. Thus this poem questions the idea of a woman
and demands the right of woman to speak and to be heard.
Q1. To whom are these lines addressed to? How is he related to
the poet? Comment on their relationship.
The lines are addressed to Robert Browning, another significant
poet of the Victorian Era. Robert Browning is Elizabeth Barrett
Brownings lover and later husband.
The love relationship between Elizabeth Barrett and Robert
Browning became so famous that till today many refer to them. As
Elizabeths father was against the match they had to elope to get
married.
Q2. Why does the poet proclaim not to say certain things in love?
Do you agree? Why?
The poet says that the lover should not proclaim that he loves
her for her beauty as outward beauty is an impermanent thing.
Yes, I agree, as beauty lies not in how a person looks, but how a
person is. And a person should love someone not because of outward
beauty.
Q3. What does the phrase falls in well with mine suggest?
The phrase falls in well with mine suggests that the male
language of wooing does not matter to the poet and those tricks of
thoughts of the male lovers are nothing but wasted attempts as she
can see through them.
20
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Q4. What does the phrase change for thee signify? Is it a

significant phrase in the peom?
The phrase change for thee signifies change for you. With
time peoples perception changes - what one finds beautiful today, one
may not find it tomorrow.
Therefore the poet says that if the lover loves her for her outward
beauty then it may change very soon as neither outward beuaty is
permanent and not ones liking is permanent.
Q5. What is the poet trying to suggest in the above lines?
The poet suggests that neither beauty, nor ones perception of
beauty is constant as they change with time. Therefore the poet says
that a love based on outward beauty makes no sense as it may wither
with time.
Q6. What does the lines so wrought, / May be unwrought so
signify?
The lines so wrought May be unwrought so signifies that a
love fashioned in such terms (based on physical beauty) would soon
become out of fashion.
Q7. What does the poet mean when she says not to love in pity?
Why does she think so?
The poet is of the opinion that if the lover loves her out of pity
then as soon as the melancholy of the poet withers away, there would
be nothing more to love.
She thinks so because if the reason of love is pitying the beloved,
then as soon as the reason of the pity withers away, the love will also
vanish.
Q8. What would make the creature forget to weep?
When the creature, that is the person who is sad, is being
comforted then the compassionate gesture, the sympathy would make
her forget to weep. In other words, the lover would make the beloved
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
21
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
so happy, that she would forget the reasons of the sadness.

Q9. Why would the comfort of the beloved be a reason of losing
the love? Do you agree with the poet?
The comfort of the beloved be a reason of losing the love is that
the comfort would dry her tears and that way the reason for which
she was loved will wither away, leading to a withering away of the
love.
Q10. The second last line of the extract starts with a but. Why?
The second last line starts with a but as the poet prescribes
before this line a series of things for which the lover should not love
the poet and then says that she should be loved only for loves sake.
Q11. What does loves sake mean? Do you agree to it? What is
the meaning of evermore?
The phrase loves sake means only for the sake of love.
Yes, one should agree to it as a love which is only for the sake of
love will last forever.
Evermore means everlasting, for eternity.
Q12. What is loves eternity? Can one achieve loves eternity?
Loves eternity is a love which is eternal, will never die.
Yes, one can achieve loves eternity.
22
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
I BELIEVE
ANALYSIS
Capabilities of Human Beings:
The poem I Believe depicts the theme of the uncountable
capabilities of man and his dreams and achievements. The poet believes
a human being can rise to great heights, endure a number of hurdles
and reach their goal. In the first stanza, the poet says that a human
being can throw a pebble upwards, pierce through the heaven and
watch the angels play. This actually means that humans can achieve
the most difficult and sometimes even the unachievable goals. At a
spiritual level, it means raising our conscience to a higher point and
becoming one with God.
In fact, the poet wants to say that human beings can conquer all
parts of the universe if they believe in themselves, use their capabilities
and work diligently. She means to say that humans can conquer all the
three realms of the earth- the atmosphere, the lithosphere and the
hydrosphere. The poet also believes that humans can make this world
heaven-like and themselves like angels.
Feminist Reading:
The poem I Believe has been written by one of the eminent
Garo poets and activists, Brucellish K Sangma. The poem voices the
concern about dreams and aspirations of a woman in a male-dominated
society. A number of restrictions are imposed on women in a patriarchal
society. Such a society is male-centred and they subordinate women
in all domains in their life: familial, religious, political and economical.
The woman of today wants to free herself from such a society and
achieve her dreams. She wants to reach the sky, dive into deep oceans,
and conquer all the three realms of the earth. The poet believes todays
women like the poet can achieve her goals.
STYLE:
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
23
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Simplicity rules the poems of Brucellish K Sangma. It is a

translation from the original Garo poem, Anga Beberaa into English
by the same poet. The poem consists of six stanzas and the poet has
taken ample care to use appropriate English words to convey her theme
and message. The poem is composed in free verse i.e. it has no rhyme
scheme and no regular pattern of rhythm. It should be noted that each
stanza is a single sentence.
ANAPHORA:
Anaphora is a figure of speech in which there is deliberate
repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of verses, paragraphs,
clauses or sentences. Anaphora is frequently used in Bible and in
poetry strongly influenced by Bible. In this poem I Believe, I believe
has been used repeatedly in the beginning of each stanza (except
stanza 6) to convey the feelings, dreams and aspirations of the
poet.
HAIKU:
A Haiku is a traditional poetic form , which originated in Japan.
It is three-line poem with a total of 17 syllables. This poem I Believe
consists of six stanzas, each comprising of three lines. The different
stanzas are put together through the central theme which runs
throughout the poem. It is for this reason that the poem resembles the
Japanese Haiku.
CUMULATIVE LISTING:
I Believe has used the technique of Cumulative Listing. It is
technique which involves a kind of accumulation of broadly similar
ideas. The device is used to emphasize the main idea of a poem.
Each stanza begins with the phrase I believe and enlists a
number of things that the speaker is capable of doing. Thus, the ideas,
if put together can be seen forming a list or catalogue.
SYMBOLISM:
24
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Symbolism refers to the use of symbols to represent ideas and

qualities. The entire poem, I Believe, though written in simple and
lucid words, has symbolic meaning.
Some of the symbolism are listed below:
I believe I can soar heights
Touch the silky clouds
And feel the stars (Stanza 2): Here, heights symbolize sky
meaning space without limit. stars symbolize the list of achievers.
I believe I can dive
Right into the depths
And swim with the sharks (Stanza 3): Here, depths symbolize
the ocean of life and sharks symbolize the hurdles and difficulties
faced in life. The poet believes she can cross all hurdles that come on
her way and achieve success.
I believe I can claw into the earths belly
Pick up the priceless gems
And adorn myself with them (Stanza 4): claw into the earths
belly symbolize putting in labour and hard work to achieve something.
Priceless gems symbolize the resources available on earth- metals,
minerals and precious stones. Adorn means to enrich oneself with
this resources.
Q1. Who is the speaker? What is the context in which these lines
are spoken?
Brucellish K. Sangma, the poet of I Believe, is the speaker.
Brucellish K Sangmas poem I Believe deals with what she
believes to be her duty as a human being. But before she talks about
her duty she says that she can achieve many things. It is in this context
that the above lines are being written.
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
25
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Q2. What does it mean to pierce the heavens?

To pierce is to penetrate. The poet believes that the pebble
(small stone), she intends to throw, has the force in it to penetrate
heaven and create the possible gap for the poet to have a view of
heaven. In this context the phrase to pierce the heavens is used.
Q3. What heights does the poet want to achieve in these lines?
The poet, Brucellish K. Sangama, says that she has the willpower
in her to throw a pebble upwards which would pierce the heaven and
let her have a view of the angles playing. What she means here is that
if she wants, she can achieve heaven. In the same way, she says that
she can soar to the heights of the silky clouds and can view the stars.
Both her wishes can provide her certain kinds of pleasures.
Q4. Comment on the intention of the speaker in these lines?
The poet, Brucellish K. Sangmas intention in these lines is to present
the impossible things that she could achieve if she wants to. She says that
she has the resolve to dive into the deep sea and swim with the sharks and
then she can also reach the mines to get the priceless gems with which
she can beautify herself. The poets resolve and willpower to achieve
things in her life is very much evident in these lines.
Q5. Does the poet really want to swim with the sharks? State the
idea of the poet behind these lines.
Brucellish K. Sangma though in the beginning of the poem states
that she can do many impossible things; but she really does not intend
to persue all those. Her ambition in life is not to achieve pleasure and
riches for herself; but to fulfill her duty as a human being which she
states in the last stanza of the peom I Believe.
The poet says that she has the resolve to dive right into the sea
and swim with the sharks, which shows that she is courageous and
adventurous and is ready to undertake any challenge for the sake of
pleasure.
26
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Q6. What is earths belly? What is its importance? What is the

poets intention?
The phrase earths belly refers to the mines, as mines are
underneath the surface of the earth.
The importance of the phrase earths belly is that it has
innumerable riches in it. All the expensive metals with which we adorn
ourselves are underneath the earth. Brucellish K Sangma says that
she has the resolve in her claw and reach the earths belly to get
priceless gems to adorn herself.
Q7. What are the things the poet wnats to achieve? Does the
poet really feel that she can do all these? If not, then what is the
purpose of these lines?
The poet, Brucellish K. Sangma in the poem I Believe says
that :
She can pierce the heavens and see the angels play.
She can soar to the level of silky clouds and view the stars.
She can dive into the sea and swim with sharks.
She can even take out gems from mines to adorn herself.
The poet thinks that she has the resolve, courage and
determination to undertake all these tasks for sake of pleasure, riches
and enjoyment.
But, as the last stanza of the poem states, she sincerely believes
that her first duty is to fulfill her responsibility as a human being.
Q8. What is worlds treasures?
The phrase woulds treasures refers not to the rich mines or
to priceless gems or to any other expensive luxurious things of the
world; but they refer to the human beings who are more valuable than
anything else according to the poet, Brucellish K Sangma.
Q9. What is the firm belief of the poet?
The firm belief of the poet, Brucellish K Sangma, is that it is her
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
27
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
first duty to fulfill her role as a human being - that is, to make the world
a better place for fellow human beings to live in.
Q10. What is the role assigned to the poet? What is the poets
dream?
The role assigned to the poet is that of being a human being. To
distinguish ourselves from animals, we should not only pursue things
which are determined by our drives for hunger and pleasure; but to
think about our fellow human beings and make the world a better
place to live in.
The poets dream is that if all the people of the world start thinking
in the way the poet does then the world will be a better place to live.
28
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
A PSALM OF LIFE
ANALYSIS
The title of A Psalm of Life is an appropriate one. A psalm is an
invocation to mankind to follow the path of the righteousness. Here,
the speaker advises people to be heroes in their lives. He asks them to
lie in the present, without thinking about the past or the future.
A poem teaching a moral lesson is called a didactic poem. A
Psalm of Life is a didactic poem. The poets task in the poem is to
instruct and guide, to inspire and modify. The poem teaches basic human
values and lays out a foundation for a prosperous, ethical life.
STYLE:
Form and structure:
The poem consists of nine stanzas of four lines each. The poem
has regular rhyming pattern. Each stanza follows the rhyme scheme
abab. In every stanza, the first line rhymes with the third line and the
second line with the fourth.
Allusion:
Allusion is a reference to other works or cultures in prose and
poetry. H.W Longfellow has used allusions to convey his message in
the poem.
Tell me not, in mournful numbers.
In the above line, numbers refer to the verses in the Bible.
Dust thou art, to dust thou returnest
The above line too has a Biblical reference.
FIGURES OF SPEECH:
Similes: It is a figure of speech in which a likeness between two
different things is stated using the words like or as. Examples of
similes in A Psalm of Life are,
1. Still, like muffled drums, are beating
2. Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
29
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
METAPHORS:
Metaphor is that figure of speech where comparison of two
different things are implied but not clearly stated. Examples of metaphor
in the poem are,
1. Life is but an empty dream.
2. Soul id dead that slumbers
3. Art is long and Time is fleeting
ALLITERATION:
Alliteration is the close repetition of the consonant sounds at the
beginning of words to facilitate narration. Examples of alliteration in
the poem are,
1. Grave is not its goal
2. Find us further
3. Dumb driven cattle
4. Learn to labour
5. Dust thou art, to dust thou returnest.
PARALLELISM:
Parallelism is used when the speaker says
1. Life is real! Life is earnest!
2. Still achieving still pursuing.
H.W Longfellow points out that one has a duty to make this
world a better place to live in. A Psalm of Life is a whole collection of
moral principles to be followed by all the people. The principles listed
by the poem are enumerated as follows,*Life has a serious mission.
*Life does not end with death.
*We have a destiny irrespective of our joys and sorrows.
*Time is too short for our long mission.
*Become great by emulating great men.
30
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
*Learn to labor and wait for results.

*Act now, in the living present.
*Be a hero in the struggle of life.
Q1. What does the poet wish to signify by the term mournful
numbers?
The poet uses the term mournful numbers to signify sad
songs. It can also a metaphor for a fatalistic and a pessimistic view
of life.
Q2. Explain the third line of the extract.
The third line of the extract For the soul is dead that slumbers
means the person who is inactive is virtually dead.
Q3. What, according to the poet, is not what it appears to be?
How does he justify this statement?
According to the poet, it may seem that with death comes an
end of life, but it is not so as soul is immortal. He justifies the statement
with the Christian belief that man emerges from the soil and eventually
returns to it upon death.
Q4. Explain : Life is real! Life is earnest!
Life is not an empty dream, but a reality which has a sense of
purpose, and therefore one should live life earnestly that is, with
positivism, vitality as well as sincerity.
Q5. Why does the poet claim that life is real and earnest?
The poet claim that life is real and earnest and death is merely
an illusion as soul transpires from body; but it never dies. Thus death is
not the ultimate end of life; and therefore life is real and earnest.
Q6. What does dust refer to? To which belief does the poet
refer here?
Dust referred to in the extract is the metaphor for the universe.
The poet refers to the Christian belief that after death man returns to
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
31
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
the dust from where it comes.

Q7. How does the poet refute the above mentioned belief?
The poet refutes the Christian belief of from the dust, to the
dust by saying that human body is made of dust and will return to
dust, but the soul is immortal and will never die.
Q8. How, according to the poet, should we live our lives?
The aim of our lives should be constant earnest striving in the
present, so that the future becomes increasingly better. The goal of
the life should be to live earnestly every day.
Q9. What is compared to the sound of muffled drums? And why?
Out hearts beats are compared to the sounds of muffled drums
as with the passage of time we are progressing towards our grave.
Q10. What is the destination of our hearts? Is it the final
destination?
The destination of our hearts is the grave. It may be the
destination, but it does not matter, what matters is how earnestly one
has lived life.
Q11. Explain in brief the meaning of the expression dust thou
art, to dust returnest.
Human body is made of dust and after death returns to dust. It
is a Christian belief.
Q12. To what does the poet compare the world? Why is such a
comparison made?
The poet compares the world to a battlefield. Such a comparison
is made as the poet considers the world a battlefield in which one
stays temporarily with a specific purpose and each day one fights a
battle to live earnestly.
Q13. Explain bivouac of life.
Bivouac means an encampment in the open air without tents.
32
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
What the poets means by bivouac of life is the battle field of life.
Q14. What is indicated by the expression, dumb, driven cattle?
The expression dumb, driven cattle indicates the cattle that go
by blind faith and not by reason.
Q15. How does the poet wish us to act in the struggle of life?
In the struggle of life, according to the poet, we should not
surrender, but we should fight like heroes.
Q16. Why does the poet urge us to take interest only in our
present?
The poet urges us to take interest only in our present as the
present is the solution to the past, and future must invariably be fine
should we have done justice to the present.
Q17. Explain : Heart within and God oerhead!
To live an earnest life in the present we should have faith in our
actions (heart within) and at the same time have infinite grace and
mercy (God oerhead) of God.
Q18. What do the lives of great men teach us?
The lives of great men teach us that we can only leave our mark
in this world through our good deeds.
Q19. What does the poet mean by footprints onthe sands of time?
The phrase footprints on the sands of time signifies the name
and fame that one leaves behind after one is dead in the course of
human history (sands of time).
Q20. What is referred to as the solemn main? Who is sailing as
the main?
Life is compared to solemn main (sea) as it is grim in its depth
and vastness.
The shipwrecked brother (referring to fellow human beings who
have strayed from the right path) is sailing.
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
33
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Q21. With reference to the extract, explain the meaning of

shipwrecked brother.
Shipwrecked brother is used here to mean fellow human
beings who have strayed from the right path and courted disaster.
Q22. Why does the poet refer to the footprints on the sands of
time?
The poet refers to the footprints on the sands of time as he
gives importance to human history, the mark one leaves in human history
through ones heroic deed of living life earnestly.
Q23. How can we make our brothers take heart again?
We cah make our brothers take heart again by setting the
right example of living life earnestly.
Q24. Explain, with a heart for any fate.
With the readiness to face any eventuality that might befall
us.
Q25. What virtue of patience does the poet bring out in these
lines?
The virtue of patience the poet brings out in these lines is that
one should carry on doing good with courage and determination and
wait patiently for the fruits of labour as it will arrive even though it
may take some time.
Q26. Name the poem and poet. State the central idea of the poem.
The poem is A Psalm of Life by H.W. Longfellow. The central
idea of the poem is to urge the readers to live hardworking, earnest
and patient lives in accordance with righteousness and Gods grace as
it will provide meaning to life.
34
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
THE LAST LEAF

Q. Do you agree that a work of art is only for the sake of
beauty? Comment in relation to O. Henrys The Last Leaf.
It is true that a work of art is valuable for its beauty; but at the
same time art also has a social fucntion, to educate. An artistic work
which is simply beautiful is art; but an artistic work which saves the
life of a person is more beautiful than that as it has served a much
more significant function that just soothing someones eyes and heart.
Thus Behrmans last leaf on the ivy tree is truly a masterpiece as it
saves the life of Jhonsy.
A masterpiece is a great work for art, like a painting, sculpture
or piece of music or writing (poetry, fiction, etc.). It is the height of
someones artistic abilities. It is the artists highest achievement and
the best in his ability as an artist. All the artists in the story The last
Leaf want to create masterpieces and strive towards it. Old Behrman
has done so throughout his life, but before death he does something
which is truly a masterpiece. He paints a leaf in the ivy tree which
instills faith in Johnsy and she recovers from her illness. During the
process of painting it on a windy, rainy cold night, Behrman is infected
by pneumonia and he dies, but his work of art saves someone whom
he cares for. Therefore it is a masterpiece. Behrmans artistic piece
proves that art is not only for the sake of beauty, it serves much more
significant function than that.
THE KABULIWALA
Q. Do you agree that the ending of the story The Kabuliwala
exquistely renders the richness of the inner world of man?
Rabindranath Tagores short story deals with a relationship
between a five year old child Mini and a Kabliwala (an Afghan),
Rahamat. Rahmats little daughter back at home in Afghanistan is
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
35
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
essential to the story, though she never appears in the story. The
Kabuliwalas love for his daughter is manifested in showering his love
to Mini. But when a strange incident lands the Kabuliwala in jail,
Mini forgets all about him. Kabuliwala again appears on the wedding
day of Mini and realizes that his daughter also must have grown up by
that time. Minis father, the narrator could realize this and consequently
curtails some expenditure of the festivities of the wedding to sponsor
the Kabuliwalas return journey back to his country.
As a short story writer, Tagore was a practitioner of psychological
and social realism as his stories depict poignant human relationships
within a simple plot. The sort story The Kabuliwala begins abruptly,
develops around incidents and ends with a twist. It starts with Mini as
a girl and her developing friendship with the Kabuliwala and suddenly
there is a twist in the story as the Kabuliwala was sent to prison Years
after we meet the Kabuliwala on Minis wedding day. The twist happens
as the story is not anymore about friendship but portrays a fathers
love for his daughter who is living far off. Tagore pays more attention
to the richness of the inner world of man, to emotions and less to outward
events. The artistic mastery of Tagores stories is visible in their
successful endings.
THE BET
Q. Give the character sketches of the lawyer and the banker.
How do they differ? With which character are your synpathies?
Give reason for your answer.
The lawyer is a man of firm determination as he not only says
things but proves them by action. He goes for voluntary selfimprisonment for fifteen years to prove his point and at the same time
for his greed for money. For greed, he gives away his precious youth,
his freedom and all form of enjoyment of life without any association
with any other human being. His acceptance of the bet shows his
36
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
determination, his truthful nature, but also points out his greed for material
possessions.
As against the lawyer, the banker is rackless with his money. He
hosts the party for discussion on capital punishment and moreover to
trap the lawyer. He goes in for an unnecessary bet just to prove that
death penalty is better than life imprisonment. While laying the
conditions for the agreement. When we meet him later in the story as
an older man, we see a change in his fortunes which makes him flout
his principles and wickedly think of killing the prisoner just before the
accomplishment of his captivity period. But at the same time it can be
said that he is a life-like human being.
I sympathize with the lawyer as he has ambitions to realize his
dream of material possessions and in the process of acquiring it through
the bet realizes the vanity of it and left it. He is a man of determination
and action by giving up two millions to prove the fleeting and futile
nature of material possessions.
THE TIGER IN THE TUNNEL
Q. But life had to go on. State how Ruskin Bond brings out this
idea in his story The Tiger in the Tunnel?
Ruskin Bond in the short story The Tiger in the Tunnel talks
about the bravery of Baldeo, a tribal man, who works as a night
watchman in a wayside station. His job is to look after the safe passage
of trains from the tunnel. There is the fear of a tiger near the tunnel
and one night when Baldeo was on his duty, he was attacked by the
tiger and killed; though Baldeo could also hurt the tiger and it got
killed being hit by the train. Baldeos twelve year old son Tembu, took
up the position of being a night watchman in the same station after his
fathers death as he has to look after the family after his father has
passed away. It is a true that there are many disasters waiting on such
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
37
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
a way-side station; but the fear of that cannot deter people from carrying
on with life. Similarly, Baldeo is dead, but his family must carry on
living and thus Tembu had to be courageous enough to take up the job
as life has to go on.
PRINCES SEPTEMBER
Q. When one loves someone one should set him or her free.
Love is not about captivity, it is about freedom. Do you agree?
Give a reasoned answer with reference to the short story Princess
September.
The short story Princes September is a fairy tale where a
Siamese Princess parrot died and she wept bitterly. A small bird came
to her room and sang melodious songs to make her happy. The bird
used to fly around with princess September in the place and sing songs
for her. But her jealous sisters advised her to keep the bird in a golden
cage, which had been gifted by her father. When the bird was caged,
he stopped singing, and did not eat or drink. The bird prayed for his
freedom and said that he could only sing when he is free. Finally, when
Princess September saw that the bird was suffocating in the golden
cage and was about to die, she set him free. The bird was thankful to
the Princes and srayed with her and sang for her. The story ends happily
when we see Princess September married to the King of Cambodia
and living a happy life with him. Thus the story proves that when one
loves someone, one should set him or her free and love can blossom
the best when there is freedom.
38
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Act-III Scene-I
Points:
Salarino and Salanio enter and wonder what Rialto is abuzz with
Salarino answers that

1.
There are unconfirmed reports that Antonio has had his rich
ships wrecked in the narrow seas of Scotland called the
Goodwins
2.
This strip of water is risky and shallow and this is where many
ship wrecks have taken place
3.
Salarino compares the many ships with the dead remains of the
human bodies in a metaphor
4.
He personifies gossip as Report, a woman, who may or may not
be true
Salanio wishes that

1.
Report (the personified Gossip) was as untrue a woman as ever
knapped (nibbled/bit) Ginger (a reference to old women in
Elizabethan England), or one who tried to convince her neighbors
about her loyalty to marriage by weeping on the death of her
third husband. (Since she is thrice married she is disloyal.)
2.
He however wants to avoid the long phrases and talk directly.
3.
He confirms that Antonio, the honest merchant, has lost his
money
4.
He wishes that he was so distinguished and capable as to be
able to save his dear friend.
Important words and phrases: Knapped: nibble; Prolixity: long
phrases
Important figures of speech: Metaphor: Salanio compares the
direct and straightforward manner of talking with a highway;
Personification: Salanio continues to address gossip as a woman
Salarino and Salanio spot Shylock and ask cross themselves in

mock fear. (This gesture reflects the typical prejudice that Jews
were subjected to. Shylock is compared with the devil here.)
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
39
1.
2.
3.
40
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Salanio asks Shylock what the news prevails among the

merchants
Shylock takes it as a slight and answers that the merchants are
talking and gossiping about Jessicas flight (elopement).
Salarino insults Shylock punning on the word flight (escape and
flying off), saying that he knew the the tailor (an indirect
reference to Lorenzo) that had stitched the wings of the bird
(Jessica) that flew away with.
Salanio also continues the pun (and the insult) and mocks Shylock
suggesting that Shylock knew that Jessica was in that age when
daughters elope with their lovers (the pun being that the mother
bird knows that the fledgling will fly away)
Shylock responds with his own pun on the word dam and curses
Jessica (dam: the mother bird; damn: the curse)
Salarino and Salanio tell Shylock that
He is in no position to judge Jessica
That the difference between Jessicas flesh (here character)
and his is as stark as between ivory and jet
That the difference between her blood and Shylocks is as plain
as it is between Rhenish wine and Red wine
Shylock tells Salarino and Salanio that he has run into a bad deal
with Antonio
He calls Antonio a bankrupt, a prodigal, who once used to insult
Shylock and call him a userer (a term of insult). Antonio used
to lend money out of courtesy to people, damaging Shylocks
business. Now he will have a hard time saving himself from the
penalty
Salarino hopes that Shylock will not pursue the bond in letter
and spirit if the Bond is forfeited. He wonders what a pound of
flesh is good for.
Shylocks answers and reveals his intentions in the following
speech:
To bait fish withal: (he will catch fish with Antonios flesh) if it
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. (Antonios flesh

will satisfy Shylocks revenge if nothing else)
He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million; {Antonio
had insulted Shylock and caused him a massive loss to the
tune of half a million (fig of speech, hyperbole)} laughed at
my losses, mocked at my gains, (Antonio has made fun of
Shylocks losses and joked about his profits as he is a userer)
scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, (Shylocks race and
his business deals have been at the receiving end of Antonios
hatred)cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; (His enemies
have been excited and friends have been made
unresponsive) and whats his reason? I am a Jew. (And this
has all been done as Shylock is a Jew)
(From here Shylock asks a series of Rhetorical Questions)
Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, (Is not a
Jew a human being; does he not have eyes, hands and
organs?)dimensions, senses, affections, passions? (does he not
have a human shape, sense organs, choices and feelings?)
fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, (does he
not eat what others eat? Is he not hurt with the same weapons
that hurt others?) subject to the same diseases, healed by the
same means, (is he not subject to the same diseases and cures
that others are used to?) warmed and cooled by the same winter
and summer, as a Christian is? (does not the weather behave
with the Jew as it does with everybody else?)
If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not
laugh? (if you penetrate a Jews body with a needle it will
bleed; if you tickle a Jew he will laugh) if you poison us, do
we not die? (the effect of poison on the body of the Jew is
that same as it is on the body of others) and if you wrong us,
shall we not revenge? (and if a Jew is wronged (ill treated),
he will seek revenge much as any other man would do the
same)
If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. (Since
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
41
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
42
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
a Jew is no different from the others in respect of his human

qualities, he will be very like the others is respect to revenge)
If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge.
(Shylock refers to the one quality that Christians are
supposed to have: humility. But they dont have it. They are
revengeful.)
If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by
Christian example? Why, revenge. (Therefore, Shylock argues
that by the Christian example, the Jew shall show no mercy
if a Christian has wronged him.)
The villany you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but
I will better the instruction. (The evil behavior taught by the
Christians will be practiced against them. And Shylock will
be more aggressive than the Christians in his execution of
revenge.)
Tubal, a friend of Shylocks and a Jew, enters. Shylock asks him
if he has been to Genoa to look for Jessica and Lorenzo.
Tubal announces that he cannot find Jessica.
Shylock rants against his daughter, and he wishes her dead as
he bemoans his losses. He refers in particular to
A diamond that cost him two thousand ducats in Frankfort that
Jessica has carried with her
The Jewish race, Shylock says, has felt the curse so strongly for
the first time (in light of his personal loss). Shylock uses a Biblical
allusion to carry the point home. He refers to the Curse of God
on the Jews that condemned them to exile.)
He wishes Jessica dead at his foot with the jewels in ear
He wishes that she was placed in her coffin (hearsed) at his
foot with his money in the coffin
He laments that he has spent an incalculable sum in her search
and has not been able to find his daughter, who has robbed him.
He calls his misfortune loss upon loss.
Tubal informs Shylock of Antonios great loss. One of his other
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
ships, coming from Tripolis, has been reported missing.

Shylock is especially embittered when Tubal reports that Jessica
spent eighty ducats in one night. Shylock is saddened by the
news but the news of Antonios loss gladdens him.
Tubal informs him of Antonios many creditors
He informs him also about a turquoise (a precious metal) ring
Jessica has taken with hergiven to Shylock in his bachelor
days by a woman named Leah, presumably Jessicas mother
and has traded that ring for a monkey.
Shylocks spirits brighten, however, when Tubal reports that
Antonios ships have run into trouble and that Antonios creditors
are certain Antonio is ruined.
He asks Tubal to hire him a lawyer to pursue his bond well in
advance (fourteen days before the bond is forfeited)
He declares that he will pursue the bond to the bitter end. He
will try to eliminate Antonio as it will lead him to better profits
(Antonio used to oppose Shylocks moneylending.)
He asks Tubal to see him at the Synagogue (the Jewish temple).
Act III Scene II
Points
Portia: I pray you.....................................stay you from election.
In Belmont, Portia begs Bassanio to delay choosing the casket
for a day or two.
If Bassanio chooses incorrectly, Portia reasons, she will lose
his company.
She tells him that she feels that she will not lose him (although
she stops initially short of confessing love)
Her instincts that Bassanio will make the right selection cannot
be said to be guided by hate, if not love
She confesses that a maiden in the affairs of love and marriage
has no speech tongue to express herself; only thought
She would like to detain Basaanio for a month or two before he
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
43
44
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
risks his chances in casket selection

She wishes she could teach Bassanio how to choose right but
expresses her helplessness as she will break her oath to the will
of her father
If Bassanio moves towards making the wrong casket selection
and fails to get Portia, Portia will have the wish and the desire of
breaking the oath she has been under. Thus Bassanios failure
will make Portia wish a sin (sin of breaking her oath
Bassanios eyes (his gaze) should be beshrewed (treated as
the culprit) as it has cast a spell on Portia
Portia declares openly that she is not her own mistress now.
She gives her one half to Bassanio and the other half that
comes to her goes to him too. Portia is entirely his.
She curses the time (the naughty times) that puts barriers between
the owners and their rights {between Bassanio and Portia}
Despite her declaration, if Portia and Bassanio cant get together,
the blame should lie on Fortune not on Portia
If it is proved so Portia blames Fortune, not herself (as she has
dedicated herself to Bassanio already)
She blames her desire of keeping Bassanio with her for extended
period of time for her long speech as she intends to hold him
back from choosing the casket for as long as she can
In response to Portia Bassanio says that he is living on the rack,
a torture bed, hinting at his emotional torture (he is desperate to
make the selection)
Portia plays along the torture bed metaphor and asks Bassanio
what treason (crime) has been mixed with his love
Bassanio answers that the only treason (crime) there has ever
been is that he has doubted his success in love. He argues that
much as there will never be friendship between fire and ice,
there will never be treason in Bassanios love
Portia still playfully refers to the Rack. She says that as men on
the rack will say anything to ensure their life and save them
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
from torture so will Bassanio say anything to save himself
Playing the rack metaphor further Bassanio asks Portia to

promise me life (tell him the secret of the caskets)
Portia: Away then.........................................makest the fray
Portia asks Bassanio to proceed for casket selection and says

that he must choose the one that she is locked in
She tells Bassanio that he will find her if he loves her
She asks for music while Bassanio makes the casket selection
saying that music will bring about romance in the effort:
1.
If Bassanio loses he will be like the dying swan whose grave
will be Portias tears (simile)
2.
If Bassanio wins he will be like a new crowned monarch before
whom his subjects will bow
3.
Music will be like the sound of the drums into the ears of the
dreaming bridegroom summoning him to marriage on the day of
the wedding, if Bassanio wins
She remarks on how Bassanio moves towards the caskets,

comparing Bassanio with Hercules (the young Alcides) when
he saved the Trojan Princess, Hesoine, from virgin sacrifice to
the Sea Monster (she uses a classical allusion). At that time the
whole of Troy gathered to mourn (howl) at the spectacle.
Presently Portia compares herself with the virgin who is about

to be sacrificed and people around her (Nerissa and others)
with the Dardinian (Trojan) wives who are so tense and miserable
that their faces are tear-streaked.
She asks Bassanio to approach the caskets in the manner of

Hercules and conveys to him that she is much more anxious
than he is considering that she is merely a spectator and not a
participant in the exercise.
Notes on the song
The song guides Bassanio towards the right selection of the

casket. It tells him that Fancy (attraction) is false and dies
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
45
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
very much in the cradle where it is born. Therefore, they should

not pay attention to Fancy (attraction). {Bassanio should not
pay any attention to the charm and the fancy of the gold and the
silver caskets}
Bassanio: So may..........................Joy be the consequence
Bassanio says:
What appears does not always become true
The world (society) is misled by outward embellishments

(decoration)
The most corrupt plea (request) in law is that which is uttered

smoothly and presented in a melodious voice to conceal the evil
intent
In religion errors are sanctioned by pious looking men who justify

them citing the text (religious books)
The most plain vice (sin) is that which appears as virtue on the
outside
Cowards with scary hearts and temperaments try to look brave

sporting the beard of Hercules and Mars (the God of war)
Beauty is not always natural; it is created and purchased in the

form of cosmetics (by the weight)
The outward appearance could be miraculous if beautiful and

those who are beautiful in this way are light of character (not
serious people)
The crispy/snaky/golden locks (the blonde hair) that sway in the

wind on the heads of beautiful women may actually be artificial;
their true possessor might be dead with her head in the tomb
(sepulchre)
In this manner ornament (fake show) is very like (simile) the

peaceful and misleading shore to an actually stormy sea; the
beautiful scarf on the face of an Indian beauty (ordinary looking
woman)
Outward charm is the falsehood that cunning people assume to

46
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
befool the wise.
Gold should therefore be rejected as it was once the curse for

king Midas (allusion to the King whose touch would convert
everything to Gold)
Silver should also be rejected as it is a common metal that

exchanges hands in the form of coins
Lead, which threatens instead of promising anything, with its

lackluster appearance impresses Bassanio more than the fine
words written on the gold and silver
He chooses lead and wishes himself joy.

Portia: How...................................surfeit
Portia says that:
All her feelings except those leading to love have vanished
Feelings such as those that led her to doubt Bassanio, become

rashly hopeless, shiver in fear and harbor jealousy have all fled
away
She wants her love to be moderate and not drive her into
excessive ecstasy (Figure of speech Apostrophe: love is
addressed here directly)
The joy of love should be like gentle rain upon her (figure of
speech, metaphor: joy of love is to fall on her like soft rain)
She has felt the blessing of love in excess; it must be less or she
will be surfeited (too full with it).
Bassanio: What find I here..........................ratified by you
Points:
Bassanio finds Portias picture in the casket
He calls the artist who has drawn Portias sketch a demi God
He calls the artist a demi God as the artist has succeeded in

capturing Portia very closely in the image (that Bassanio has
found)
1.
Bassanio wonders if Portias eyes are moving
2.
Or whether he feels that they are moving (Bassanio comments
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
47
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
48
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
upon liveliness in the picture. The picture is so full of life that its
stillness is gone.)
Portias lips in the picture are parted only by her sweet breath;
such a barrier is welcome even between two sweet friends
(metaphor again: the upper lip and the lower lip are the two
friends that are separated by Portias fragrant breath)
Bassanio compares the painter (who has done the portrait) with
the spider (metaphor again), who has woven a golden web in
Portias hair to capture the hearts (feelings) of men.
Portias golden hair thus capture the feelings of men faster than
gnats (insects trapped in cobwebs)
Bassanio wonders how the painter could have done the eyes;
how he was able to resist the brilliance of Portias gaze. In
Bassanios love stricken assessment, Portias one eye should
have had the power to steal both the eyes of the painter and,
thus, the painting should have had only one eye.
Finally Bassanio says that he is far from able to convey the
beauty of the portrait much as the portrait is far from able to
convey Portias beauty: the degree by which he cant convey the
beauty of the portrait corresponds with the degree by which the
portrait cant convey Portias beauty.
He picks up the scroll and reads it finally, calling it the essence
and gist of his destiny
The Scroll:
Bassanio is told that his choice has not been influenced by his
outward appearance
On his true choice Bassanio stands a fair chance of success
This fortune (Portia and her wealth) falls to him he should be
happy and satisfied
Bassanios happiness should augur him well; his luck has and
will fetch him happiness
He should turn to Portia and claim her with a loving kiss
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
A gentle scroll.. ratified by you
Bassanio calls the scroll gentle and turns to Portia to claim her
as instructed
He intends to accept her in marriage and asks her to accept him
He uses a SIMILE to convey that his state is like that of a

contender who has impressed the general public but is not quite
able to believe that he has done so, although people have
appreciated him
Continuing the simile Bassanio says that such a contender is

Giddy (nauseated/exhausted) in his response to the crowd and
dazed, not quite able to understand that the peals of praise
(sound of applause) are meant for him
Bassanio calls Portia thrice fair and tells her that his confusion
is as great as that of the above mentioned contender
He asks her to confirm/ratify and sign his achievement for him

Portia:
You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand, (Portia refers to
her own condition and state here; asking Bassanio to look
over her perspective)
Such as I am (in her state as Portia, the heiress of Belmont):
though for myself alone
I would not be ambitious in my wish (For the woman Portia,
who has inherited her fathers estate, she does not want
anything more from life),
To wish myself much better (she has no need to want to be
better); yet, for you
I would be trebled twenty times myself (For his sake/ so as to
be worthy of him, she wants that she should be sixty times
her better in her attitude and approach);
A thousand times more fair (a thousand times prettier), ten
thousand times more rich (ten thousand times richer);
That only to stand high in your account (so that she could win
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
49
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
his complete affection),

I might in virtue, beauties, livings, friends,
Exceed account (people might say that Portia is the full of
qualities/ pretty/has friends and inheritance); but the full sum
of me (but in totality)
Is sum of something, which, to term in gross, (her value put
crudely)
Is an unlessond girl, unschoold, unpractised; {is that she is an
uneducated/ untaught girl; unexposed to society and cultures
(she undervalues herself)}
Happy in this, she is not yet so old
But she may learn (Her biggest happiness being that she is
not so old that she may not learn) and; happier than this (still
happier thinking),
She is not bred so dull but she can learn (that her upbringing
has given her the means to learn);
Happiest of all is that her gentle spirit
Commits itself to yours to be directed (and her greatest source
of happiness is that she and her essence is Bassanios to
direct),
As from her lord, her governor, her king (that Bassanio is her
Lord, Governor and King).
Myself and what is mine to you and yours
Is now converted (Everything that is hers is Bassanios): but
now I was the lord
Of this fair mansion, master of my servants (before Bassanio
succeeded Portia was the owner of the house, servants and
her own Queen)
Queen oer myself: and even now, but now,
This house, these servants and this same myself
Are yours, my lord: (But at this very moment she giver herself
and all her possessions to Bassanio)
50
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
I give them with this ring; (Her allegiance to Bassanio is

marked by the giving of this ring)
Which when you part from, lose, or give away,
Let it presage the ruin of your love
And be my vantage to exclaim on you. (If, and as and when,
Bassanio loses the ring, the loss will give Portia the
justification to accuse Bassanio and lead to the destruction
of their love)
Bassanio: Madam you have bereft.. Bassanios dead
Points:
Bassanio confesses that Portia has robbed him of all words;

that he has no ability to thank her
He blushes (blood speaks to you in my veins)
He also says that he is terribly confused in his thoughts as a

result of his great success
In a simile, he compares his own confusion with the confusion

of a favorite Prince after the Prince has delivered a great speech
The buzzing of the crowd around the Prince is such that the
Prince is not able to understand the response
Every little response of the crowd gets mixed with the other
responses and what comes out is a wild nothing (no meaningful
interpretation)
The one element of the Princes understanding is that the crowd

is happy with him, and he can feel the joy both expressed and
unexpressed
He promises Portia that he will not let the ring part from his
finger ever
That the parting of the ring will be akin to Bassanios death
Portia should then say that Bassanio is dead.

Nerissa tells Portia and Bassanio that:
It is now her time and Gratianos that the two of them, having
seen Portia and Bassanio prosper in their hopes of wedlock,
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
51
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
would like to celebrate the event
Gratiano expresses his joy at the union of Bassanio and Portia
He calls it the happiest event in their lives
He expresses his wish to marry at the time Bassanio and Portia

will solemnise the bargain of your faith (formalize their
marriage).
Bassanio wonders who it is that Gratiano wishes to marry.
Gratiano:
I thank your lordship (he thanks Bassanio), you have got me
one (Bassanio has found him a wife without quite realising
it).
My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours: (He congratulates
himself on being as alert as his friend and master, Bassanio.
He tells us why in the next line)
You saw the mistress, I beheld the maid; (While Bassanio wooed
Portia, Gratiano set her eyes on Nerissa)
You loved, I loved, for intermission. {While Bassanio expressed
his love for Portia, Gratiano expressed his love for Nerissa
as he does not believe in intermission (wasting time) either}
No more pertains to me, my lord, than you. (It does not suit
him to waste time much as it does not suit Bassanio)
Your fortune stood upon the casket there (while Bassanios
fate depended on the selection of the right casket)
And so did mine too (even Gratianos luck and fate depended
on Bassanios right casket selection), as the matter falls (to
conclude);
For wooing here until I sweat again (he made the effort to
impress and persuade Nerissa about marriage),
And sweating until my very roof was dry (metaphor: it means
that he was completely exhausted trying to persuade
Nerissa)
With oaths of love (with promises of love), at last, if promise
52
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
last (finally, he managed to get a promise),

I got a promise of this fair one here (he managed to get Nerissas
word)
To have her love, provided that your fortune (to be able to obtain
her love if you were lucky enough to get her mistress)
Achieved her mistress.
Portia asks Nerissa if this is all true
Nerissa replies in the positive and tells her that she has taken
fancy to Gratiano
Bassanio asks Gratiano if he meant to marry Nerissa and gets a
reply in the positive
At this point Lorenzo and Jessica along with Salerio enter
Bassanio: Lorenzo.. welcome
Bassanio welcomes Lorenzo and Salerio in Belmont
He wonders if his newly acquired status as the Lord of Belmont
gives him the capacity to welcome Lorenzo and Jessica there
He welcomes them on behalf of Portia
Portia welcomes them too
Lorenzo tells them that he did not intend to be there in Belmont
but Salerio requested him to accompany him there and that despite
his saying no many times Salerio insisted that he be there
Salerio tells them that Antonio has sent Bassanio a letter that he
has borne from Venice
Bassanio asks them how Antonio is
Salerio makes an indirect reference to Antonios sickness; that
he is sick in mind and body
Bassanio reads the letter
Portia: There are some shrewd contentsbrings you
Portia notices the changing expression of Bassanio and says
that contents of the letter are shrewd (sharp/bitter)
She tries to guess what the letter could contain. It could be the
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
53
3.
4.
1.
a)
b)
54
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
news of a dead friend; or something equally grave as Bassanios

constitution (complexion) would not have changed in this manner
as no ordinary letter would have changed it in any firm man
Portia notices Bassanios constitution getting worse and worse
and finally asks what the letter contains
Portia tells him that she is Bassanios half and therefore must
have half the share of everything that Bassanio gets
Bassanio: O sweet Portia.merchant
marring rocks
Bassanio tells Portia that:
The letter contains some of the most unpleasant words that were
ever written by man
When he first declared his love for Portia he told her that all his
wealth was his gentlemans background (it ran in his veins)
Bassanio told Portia that he was a gentleman and he did not
misinform her
Yet, in telling her that he had no wealth he bragged and spoke a
lie as he was in debt
At the time he told Portia that he was valued at a zero he should
actually have told her that he was worse than zero
He has been bound to a dear friend (Antonio)
It is on his account that Antonio has got indebted further to his
enemies
He shows Portia the letter and in a metaphor
Compares the letter to the body of Antonio
Every word of the letter to the open and bleeding wound on
Antonios body
He asks Salerio if none of his ships have returned from Tripolis,
Mexico and England, Lisbon, Barbary and India
He asks if all Antonios ships have been drowned: not one has
escaped the rocks that destroy merchants?
Salerio: Not onehis bond
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Salerio answers in the negative. He confirms that Antonios ships

have drowned indeed.
He also tells Bassanio that Shylock wont accept the money
even if he is offered it
He confirms that Shylock has been importuning the Duke (who
had the authority to sanction the bond) day and night
He calls Shylock a creature who in the shape of man is desperate
to ruin Antonio
Shylock has been questioning the freedom of Venetian law and
constitution as he has so far not been given the chance to move
court for Antonios flesh and if he has been denied Justice
Twenty merchants, the Duke and the Magnificoes have tried to
convince Shylock to drop his cruel plea
But they have not been able to move him from the envious plea
that he be given his bond, its forfeiture and Justice
Jessica: When I was .. poor Antonio
Jessica tells Bassanio that she heard Shylock swear to Tubal
and Chus, his two friends, that
a)
Shylock will have Antonios pound of flesh
b)
He will deny even twenty times the value of money he
lent Antonio if he is made that offer
She tells them that law and power of authority alone can save
Antonio; Shylock will destroy him
Portia asks Bassanio if his friend Antonio is in such trouble and
in response to that Bassanio answers:
He calls Antonio his dearest friend and the kindest man
Antonio is one in whom the best and untired spirit for helping
others is visible
He is someone in whom the ancient Roman values live on
It is thus ironical that he has to face Shylocks ire
Portia asks him further what sum he owes the Jew and Bassanio
gives her the three thousand ducats figure. To this Portia responds:
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
55
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
PORTIA
What, no more (Is three thousand ducats responsible for such
a fate; she is amazed at the paltry sum of money)?
Pay him six thousand, and deface (cancel, destroy) the bond;
Double six thousand, and then treble that, (multiple twelve by
three and pay him thirty six thousand and pay the bond)
Before a friend of this description (before a friend of Antonios
nature and description)
Shall lose a hair through Bassanios fault (loses his life or faces
any risks on Bassanios account).
First go with me to church and call me wife (she tells Bassanio
to undertake the oath of marriage first),
And then away to Venice to your friend (and then tells him to
go to Antonio);
For never shall you lie by Portias side (as Bassanio should
never be by Portias side with a guilty heart)
With an unquiet soul (a guilty heart). You shall have gold
To pay the petty debt twenty times over (she tells him to carry
so much gold with him as to pay the debt twenty times over)
:
When it is paid, bring your true friend along (when the debt is
settled Antonio may join Bassanio in Belmont).
My maid Nerissa and myself meantime (she and Nerissa)
Will live as maids and widows (will live as women whose
husbands are not there with them). Come, away!
For you shall hence upon your wedding-day (she invites
Bassanio to walk the aisle/participate in the marriage
ceremony first):
Bid your friends welcome (she asks him to welcome his
friends), show a merry cheer (and be cheerful):
Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear (she tells him
that he is her rare possession, another metaphor, and she
56
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
will love him very much) .

But let me hear the letter of your friend (She asks him to read
her the letter).
BASSANIO reads the letter aloud:
Antonios ships have all been lost
His creditors are after him for the debt he has to settle
His finances are running very low
His bond to the Jew has been violated
He will lose his life as he has no option but to pay the penalty
He absolves Bassanio from all the debts that Bassanio owes

him
He expresses the wish to see Bassanio before he loses his life
But he also tells him to travel back to Venice at his leisure and
not in forced by the letter
PORTIA asks Bassanio to conclude all his business here and go to
Venice as soon as possible.
BASSANIO tells Portia that:
He will start for Venice as she has given him the leave to do do
And he will try to save his friend and come back to her as soon
as he can
He will not rest and lie down till he gets back
Nor will he rest till he is united with Portia once again.
Act III Scene III

Salient points
2.
Antonio begs Shylock to consider his plea
3.
Shylock conveys that he is steadfast and that come what may
he will extract the penalty
4.
The position of law and its influence on Venetian citizens becomes
clear
5.
Antonio wishes for Bassanios return
1)
Shylock: Gaoler.look to him
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
57
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Shylock asks the jailer not to let Antonio importune him

He expresses his hatred for Antonios charitable attitude and
blames his interest-free loans for his losses
2)
Antonio asks Shylock not to pursue his bond
3)
Shylock: I willrequest
Shylock dashes Antonios hopes of finding him merciful. He says

that he has sworn to his God that he will pursue the bond.
Antonio had called him a dog. Now Antonio should brace for
Shylocks fangs.
The Duke will have to do justice to Shylocks request
Shylock criticizes the jailer for taking Antonio to plead with him
and others. He asks the jailer to treat him more strictly.
Shylock, Antonio, Salarino and a Gaoler enter
Shylock calls Antonio a fool that lent out money gratis
He does not want Antonio to talk to him of mercy
Antonio pleads with Shylock to hear him out

SHYLOCK
Ill have (pursue) my bond;
speak not (argue not) against my bond: (these two lines
indicate that Shylock is desperate to pursue his line of
revenge)
I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond. (Shylock conveys
his religious intensity; for him the bond is larger than life
now. He will pursue it.)
Thou calldst me dog before thou hadst a cause;
But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs: (Shylocks argument
is deductive. Since Antonio called him a dog, he (Antonio)
must not expect anything but a dog-like behaviour from
Shylock. Shylock roots and grounds his hatred for Antonio
in this speech)
The duke shall grant me (deliver) justice. I do wonder,
58
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Thou naughty (indisciplined; partial, as he has favored

Antonio) gaoler, that thou art so fond
To come abroad with him at his request (since the jailor has
favored Antonio and helped him speak to Shylock)
Antonio again begs Shylock to hear him out
Shylock very clearly conveys that the time to talk is long gone
and that the bond will be pursued
He declares he will be cruel and not be foolishly merciful to

Christians who have harbored the traditional hatred against him
and his race.
Salarino calls Shylock an impenetrable cur (a hard-hearted

dog) who lived with men
Antonio defeatedly confesses that he will not follow Shylock

with useless requests
He knows why Shylock is after him and wants his life
He thinks that Shylocks determination to kill him has to do with

Shylocks business interests. If Shylock manages to remove
Antonio from the Venetian market, he will be able to charge
interest at will.
Salarino expresses the hope that the Duke will not grant Shylock
his suit
ANTONIO
The duke cannot deny the course of law: (Antonio says that it
is beyond the Duke to refuse commoners justice or alter the
very course of law for him)
For the commodity (rights/agreement) that strangers
(foreigners) have
With us in Venice, if it be denied (refused),
Will much impeach the justice of his state (raise doubts on the
rule of law in the state of Venice);
Note: Antonio is aware of the Venetian legal system and, on
that basis, states that the Duke had no power to alter the
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
59
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
course of Justice. Venice was a bustling city and a major

centre for trade in Europe and people from all nationalities
and religions were entitled to equal legal rights. Shylock
will be treated fairly by the Duke.)
Since that the trade and profit of the city
Consisteth of all nations (Venetian economy was very inclusive
and the citys prosperity was due to its lack of bias against
foreigners.)
Therefore, go:
These griefs and losses (troubles; he has lost his ships and
now has to face the penalty) have so bated me (weakened
him),
That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh
To-morrow to my bloody creditor (That by the time Shylock
looks to take a pound of flesh from Antonio, he will have no
flesh on him).
Well, gaoler, on. Pray God, Bassanio come
To see me pay his debt, and then I care not!
(All that Antonio wants is that Bassanio should be present
at the time his debt is paid in the form of a pound of Antonios
flesh.)
Act III Scene IV

Background:
A major scene that prepares the audience for the strategies that
Portia and Nerissa are planning to adopt to save Antonio and
help Bassanio in his efforts to do the same.
Lorenzo and Portia talk and Portia hands over the manage and
the charge of her Belmont house to him and Jessica and tells
them that Nerissa and she intend to spend their time as nuns in
a monastery till their husbands return.
Lorenzo: Madam.. enforce you
60
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Lorenzo tells Portia that she has a noble and true judgment of
divine friendship (he refers to the friendship between Antonio
and Bassanio)
He also claims not to be making these comments only because

he intends to impress Portia
He praises Antonio and tells Portia about Antonios great

character; the knowledge of Antonios character would have
helped Portia in strengthening her resolve to help him out
He calls Antonio a true gentleman and a great friend of Bassanios
He also conveys that Portias knowledge of Antonio s nature

would have given her greater satisfaction than her usual acts of
charity.
Portia: I never did repent lays
upon you.
Portia responds telling Lorenzo that
She never regretted being charitable and she asserts that she
will not regret being charitable in helping Antonio. The reasons
she offers are:
1.
There is reason for her to believe that Antonio is very like
Bassanio
2.
She bases her reasoning on the analogy of the two bulls: much
as two bulls are yoked together in a cart, friends and companions
who spend their time together have their souls (their natures)
yoked to pull the cart of friendship
3.
In such friends there is a remarkable similarity of facial
expressions, of attitudes. Antonio and Bassanio are two such
friends
She reasons that Antonio is a semblance (a reflection) of her

own soul as he occupies a position equal to hers in Bassanios
heart and in that case she has spent little effort in purchasing
(securing) him.
She refers to Antonios state as that of hellish cruelty (Shylocks

cruelty here that has captures Antonio)
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
61
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Portia considers talking of her efforts as self praise and does

not want any talk over it.
She conveys the following plan to Lorenzo:

1.
She entrusts Lorenzo with the manage and the command of her
Belmont house
2.
She has taken a sacred vow that she will spend her time in
prayer and meditation with Nerissa in a monastery two miles
away
3.
Nerissa and Portia will live there till their husbands return and
Portia requests Lorenzo not to refuse this offer that she has
made him affectionately
Lorenzo agrees to accept Portias offer readily
Portia tells him that her servants will recognize Lorenzo and
Jessica in her place and Bassanios
Lorenzo and Jessica take their leave of Portia

Balthasar: Now Balthasar. Before thee
Portia hopes to find Balthasar as helpful and honest as she has

ever found him
She asks him to carry a letter to Padua to her cousin Dr. Bellario
as speedily as he can
She asks Balthasar to bring notes and garments that Dr Bellario

has to give to her
She is to be met at the Tranect (the place where the ferries start
and load for Venice)
There she asks Balthasar to meet her at the common ferry (the
public boat) for Venice
Balthasar should waste no time in words and return as soon as

possible
Balthasar exits and Portia tells Nerissa that they have work to
do and they will meet their husbands soon
On Nerissas asking her if their husbands will see them Portia

replies in the following words:
62
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
PORTIA:
They shall (their husbands will see them), Nerissa; but in such
a habit (in such an attire),
That they shall think we are accomplished
With that we lack. (Imp: There is a reference to illusions here.
Portia tells Nerissa that their husbands will not be able to
make out their identities. They will be under the impression
that Portia and Nerissa are what they are not: men)
Ill hold thee any wager, (She is prepared to bet on the matter)
When we are both accoutered (dressed) like young men,
Ill prove the prettier fellow of the two, (This is a funny way of
saying that Portia will be playing the dominant role between
the two of them)
And wear my dagger with the braver grace (She intends to
carry the dagger much more bravely),
And speak between the change of man and boy
With a reed voice, (A reference to the feminine voice: Portia
will speak between the tone of a boy and that of a man) and
turn two mincing steps (ladylike steps)
Into a manly stride, (into masculine steps and body
language)and speak of frays (of quarrels)
Like a fine bragging youth (a simile: like an irresponsible
young man), and tell quaint lies (strange lies),
How honourable ladies sought my love, (Portia will talk the
favorite masculine jargon: about women seeking her/his love
and she denying them in such a way that they all committed
suicide)
Which I denying, they fell sick and died;
I could not do withal(she could not manage them all together);
then Ill repent (she will regret and wish) ,
And wish for all that, that I had not killed them (she will regret
killing them);
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
63
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
And twenty of these puny lies (harmless but masculine lies)

Ill tell,
That men shall swear I have discontinued school
Above a twelvemonth. (Portia will tell these lies in such a
way that people around her will think that she has been out
of school only a year back)
I have within my mind (she has planned)
A thousand raw tricks (rude jokes and words) of these bragging
Jacks (eager and excited boys),
Which I will practice (which she will try and practice on others
while she is in disguise).
Nerissa asks her why they are to disguise as men.
Portia tells Nerissa that she will inform her of the particulars
once they are in the coach. She also asks her to hurry up as they
had to cover twenty miles that day.
Act III Scene V

Background
The scene opens with Launcelot and Jessica conversing with

each other in Portias garden
It is a comic scene and serves the purpose of giving the actors

enough time to go back and forth before the greater and the
more important trial scene that follows
Launcelot: For look youneither
Launcelot taunts Jessica that that the sins of the fathers (the
ancestors) are to be laid against the children and she will suffer
from the impact of Shylocks sins
In a rather mocking tone Launcelot tells Jessica that he is

concerned about her and fears for her
He asks her to be happy and cheer up as she is damned
Jessica retorts that her husband will save her as she is a Christian
now and she cannot be suffering from the Jews natural sin
On this Launcelot blames the Christians who have been

64
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
converting other people to the faith and says that such conversions
will be against the interest of the Christians overall as they will
raise the price of pork, the staple food that Christians eat, and
once that happens the Christians will not have enough money to
put rasher on the coals (rasher: pork strips)
Lorenzo enters and hears Jessicas plaint and warns Launcelot
of serious consequences if he does not desist from taking Jessica
into tight corners
Jessica tells Lorenzo that Launcelot and she have fallen out as
Launcelot has pronounced her damned and sinful and has also
accused Lorenzo of being a mean Christian as he has been raising
the price of hogs by converting her to Christianity
Lorenzo tells Launcelot to prepare for dinner
Launcelot puns on the word prepare and associates it with
hunger. He says that everybody at home is prepared hungry
enough for dinner
Lorenzo calls Launcelot a wit-snapper a person whose vocation
it is to play with words and tells him to prepare, cook and serve,
dinner
Launcelot tells him that cover is the word needed for the
servants to serve dinner. (The word cover indicated cover
the table.)
On Lorenzos asking him to cover, Launcelot flatly denies and
says that he cant cover (his head with a hat as it was considered
a social affront Launcelot puns again: cover the table and
cover the head)
Lorenzo uses an apostrophe: a direct address to something
abstract to comment on Launcelot
He remarks that Launcelot has planted in his memory an army
of good words and that he knows of many fools who do very
well in life on the basis of their verbosity. (Here Lorenzo makes
a reference to all the courtly jesters that held a royal rank and
profile and had the same ability as Launcelot to charm people
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
65
1.
2.
3.
4.
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
with words)
Lorenzo asks Jessica what she thinks of Portia
Jessica remarks:
Portia is past all expressions and no words are enough to convey
her essence
Bassanio should live an upright life as he has the joys of heaven
on earth (in Portias form) and should he not have an upright life
on earth he will never go to heaven
She reasons it further saying that the Gods playing a match in
sport would need a lot more to equal the scales if they placed
Portia on one as a wager, since no one mortal woman would be
able to equal Portias qualities
She opines that the poor, uncilivilised world does not have a
match for her
Lorenzo is quick to quip that he is Jessicas husband exactly as
Portia is Bassanios wife (a remark made in mock humour as he
wishes Jessica to have the same opinion of him)
Jessica wants him to know her opinion of him and they finally
settle that Jessica will give him a fair assessment at the dinner
table as he will be able to digest her criticism among all the
other things
ACT IV Scene I
66
The Duke enters the court set in Venice along with the
magnificoes
He feels apologetic about Antonio having to go through ordeal:
he mentions Shylock as the stony adversary and an inhuman
wretch
Shylock, according to the Duke, is not capable of showing any
pity and has not even a drop of mercy in his character
Antonio thanks the Duke for trying hard to reduce the instinct of
revenge in Shylocks character and trying to mitigate (reduce)
the harsh court proceedings
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Yet, Shylocks obdurate (stubborn) nature has made it impossible

for any compromises to be reached
Antonio tells the Duke that he is beyond legal redemption; no

legal remedies can pull him out of Shylocks reach now
Antonios only approach is to battle Shylocks hatred with his

own patience
Antonio confesses that he has run out of all options to

compromise: his only strategy now is to brave Shylocks fury in
a patient manner
NOTE: The address that the Duke gets from the Antonio has
the title YOUR GRACE and not YOUR SERENITY, which
serves its purpose to remind the audience that they are watching
and reading an English play set in an Italian backdrop.
Shylock enters the scene

DUKE
Make room (the Duke asks people to stand aside so that
Shylock is visible to the audience), and let him stand before
our face (let the Duke and Shylock be face to face; Dramatic
device).
Shylock, the world thinks (people around; society and the world
is of this opinion), and I think so too (and the Duke is in
agreement with that opinion),
That thou but leadst this fashion of thy malice (that Shylock is
conducting himself in this hateful manner)
To the last hour of act; and then tis thought (only up to the last
point of the act. The Duke means to imply that Shylock wont
show his revengeful aspect to Antonio finally and be
considerate)
Thoult show thy mercy and remorse more strange
Than is thy strange apparent cruelty; (That once he has satisfied
himself on Antonios plight, he will display his merciful side)
And where thou now exactst the penalty, (And while Shylock
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
67
68
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
has requested the Duke for granting him the forfeiture of

his bond, the Duke hopes that Shylock will not seek it in the
final analysis and show mercy)
Which is a pound of this poor merchants flesh, (The Duke
defines the penalty: a pound of Antonios flesh)
Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture (He hopes that Shylock
will not only forgo the penalty),
But, touchd with human gentleness and love, (under the
influence of human feelings of Love and compassion,)
Forgive a moiety of the principal; (Shylock will also forgive a
large portion of the penalty, having felt pity for Antonio)
Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, (fig of speech:
personification; the Duke personifies pity to convey that
Shylock will cast an eye of pity on Antonios losses)
That have of late so huddled on his back,
Enow to press a royal merchant down (Antonios losses have
been such that any other merchant would have given way
under them)
And pluck commiseration of his state (and his losses are enough
to influence people into sympathsing with him)
From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint, (even the savage
races, such as the Turks and the Tartars, who have hardened
emotions and wild feelings and have never been made
civilized and sensitive would have pitied Antonio and a man
in his state)
From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never traind
To offices of tender courtesy.
We all expect a gentle answer, Jew (The Duke tells Shylock to
be considerate and gentle).
Shylock: I have possessed..Are
you answered?
Shylock refuses to budge and tells the Duke that it is his wish to
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
1.
2.
3.
4.
proceed against Antonio

He has, according to his own admission, sworn on the holy
Saturday that he will work for the penalty and damages to be
paid if the bond is forfeit
If the Duke denies him the forfeit, the violation will legal and
Shylock will not be responsible for it
The very charter, the document of Venetian constitution and
independence, will be risked by such a denial
As for reasons why he chooses to be so malicious towards
Antonio, Shylock simply blames his whim
HE uses the following examples to illustrate the role of humour
in a persons conduct:
If his house were infested with a rat and he pleased to spend ten
thousand ducats to have the rat poisoned, no one will question
the legal validity of his judgment
There are men who do not love the sight of a gaping pig ( a
reference to the roasted pig on the dinner table)
There are men who behave abnormally when they see a cat
And then there are men who are allergic to the notes and the
tunes of the high-pitched bagpiper (a bag-pipe is a popular
Scottish musical instrument)
Shylock uses the dichotomy (division) of AFFECTION
(Preference) and PASSION (Strong like or dislike) to justify his
argument. Preference is guided by a mans nature and thus rules
his Passions.
For all the examples Shylock mentions, he tells the Duke and
the Court that there is no basis for why a man cant tolerate the
sight of a roasted pig, the cat and the bagpipe except one
A man (any man) may offend others by taking a dislike to
popularly accepted things. But the intention of such a man is not
to offend others. The man is offended by things popularly
appreciated. Therefore, he dislikes them and is considered
offensive.
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
69
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Shylock relates his argument to Antonio and announces it in the

Court that he dislikes and hates Antonio as he (Antonio) has
offended him.
It is, therefore, that Shylock has chosen to forego his financial

interest and pursue a losing suit (a loss making venture in letting
go nine thousand ducats and accepting a pound of human flesh)
In the interaction that follows BASSANIO and SHYLOCK have
a verbal duel and accuse each other of wrong doing:
Bassanio accuses Shylock of being insensitive and cruel
Shylock tells Bassanio that he is not bound, or forced to please

Bassanio with his answers
Bassanio accuses Shylock of trying to kill all that he does not

love
Shylock concludes that violence proceeds from hatred and a

man kills what he hates
Bassanio argues that hatred should not be born out of offence
Shylock answers that it will be folly to let a serpent sting a man

twice
ANTONIO
I pray you, think you question with the Jew..Let me
have judgment and the Jew his will.
Antonio has so far been mute and he tells his friends and the
Duke that:
1.
Shylocks Jewish cruelty is coming to the fore here
2.
Shylock is more difficult to reason with than:
a)
Standing on the beach and expecting the tides to reduce
b)
Asking the wolf he has given the ewe (the mother sheep) weep
for her lamb
c)
Asking the mountain pines (the pine trees on the hills) to move
their tops from one side to another when gusts of heaven (high
winds) blow across them without making any noise
d)
Anything that is impossible and the hardest
70
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
3.
Shylocks Jewish heart is the most impossible thing for a man to

convince
Antonio tells his friends not to look to Shylock for any mercy
and make any further offers
He also asks the Court to pronounce the judgment shortly and

simply and Shylock have his will
In the interaction that follows Bassanio offers Shylock six

thousand ducats and Shylock rejects it saying that he would not
accept thirty six, let alone six thousand ducats.
The Duke wonders how Shylock will poleas for mercy if he

himself is so unrelenting
SHYLOCK :
What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?
(Shylock has nothing to fear. He tells the Duke and the Court
that his actions are perfectly justified)
You have among you many a purchased slave,(Shylock points
out that the Venetians and the Duke have practiced Slavery,
that they keep purchased slaves)
Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules,(These
slaves, Shylock points out, are used much in the manner of
animals. He uses a simile to indicate the treatment meted
out to the slaves by Venetian people)
You use in abject and in slavish parts(in low tasks and
slavery),
Because you bought them (as you, the Venetians, have
bought them, the slaves have no rights): shall I say to you
(Will it be right if Shylock were to ask the Duke and the
Venetian society),
Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?(To let the slaves
be free and marry the slaves to their sons and daughters)
Why sweat they under burthens(and not to let the slaves sweat
in toil)? let their beds
Be made as soft as yours (another simile. Why should the
beds of the slaves not be as comfortable as those of their
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
71
72
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
masters) and let their palates (the tongues of the slaves)

Be seasond (be given) with such viands (delicious food)?
NOTE: Shylock questions the dichotomy that existed in the
Venetian society in its treatment of the Christians and the
non Christians
You will answer
The slaves are ours: (If Shylock asked the Venetian people
to treat the slaves fairly, they will tell him that the slaves are
theirs and purchased. They dont have rights and thus get
no fair treatment)
so do I answer you:
The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,
Is dearly bought; tis mine and I will have it.
(Shylock is merely extending the logic of Slavery to his own
argument: Antonios pound of flesh that he demands of the
Duke and the Court is earned by Shylock. He is legally
entitled to cut it from Antonios body. It is not for him to look
into it morally when the Venetians do not look at Slavery
morally)
If you deny me, fie upon your law! (if the pound of flesh be
denied to Shylock, the laws of Venice are flawed)
There is no force in the decrees of Venice. (The legal statutes
of Venice are without any power as they are not function on
the principle of equality)
I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it? (Shylock
craves for judgment.)
The Duke declares that he has the power and the authority to
dismiss the Court and that he will dismiss the court unless
Bellario, a learned doctor, whom the Duke has decided to
adjudicate on the issue, approaches the Court
Salerio informs the Duke that there is a man waiting for the
Dukes permission to enter the Court. The man has the letters
and has come all the way from Padua.
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
The Duke expresses his wish to see the letters and asks for the
messenger
Bassanio asks Antonio to take courage and not give in just as

yet
Antonio confesses that he is a tainted or sick ram of his flock

and will fall to the ground first
He says that he is the fittest for death; he compares himself

with the weakest fruit that has fallen first on the ground in a
metaphor.
He asks Bassanio to write his epitaph (tombstone address).
Nerissa enters and she is dressed like a lawyers clerk
The Duke asks where she has come from and she greets the
Duke telling him that she is from Padua and sent on by Bellario
Bassanio asks Shylock why he whets his knife so seriously
Shylock answers that it is his desire to cut off a pound of flesh

from the bankrupt Antonio
Gratiano remarks that Shylock is sharpening his knife not on his

sole but his soul (he uses a pun). He calls Shylock a cruel
Jew.
Gratiano tells Shylock that no metalnot even the executioners

axe (the axe that the executioner kills the criminals)could ever
be half as sharp as Shylocks hatred.
Shylock remarks that no prayers will be able to move him

GRATIANO
O, be thou damned (Gratiano curses Shylock and calls him
damned), inexecrable (repulsive, hateful) dog,
And for thy life let justice be accused! (Shylock should have
no reason to live except that he can not be killed legally in a
civilized society)
Thou almost makest me waver in my faith (Shylock forces
Gratiano to lose faith in his Christian beliefs and thoughts)
To hold opinion with Pythagoras (And Gratiano will agree with
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
73
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
the philosophy of Pythagoras)

That souls of animals infuse themselves (The philosophy of
Pythagoras was that the souls of animals fly into the human
bodies at the time of their death.)
Into the trunks of men (into the bodies of men). Thy currish
spirit (Shylocks dog-like soul)
Governed (inhabited, was present in) a wolf who, hanged for
human slaughter, (and that wolf was hanged for the killing of
human beings)
Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, (while the wolf
was hanged, his soul escaped his body)
And whilst thou layest in thy unhallowed dam (and while Shylock
lay in the womb of his evil mother)
Infused itself in thee (the spirit of the cruel wolf entered
Shylocks body), for thy desires
Are wolfish, bloody, starved, and ravenous. (As Shylocks
thoughts are cruel, bloodthirsty and violent)
Shylock tells Gratiano and Antonios friends in general to shut

up, for all their words will not make Shylocks course illegal
He tells Gratiano that he (Gratiano) is hurting his lungs in railing

Shylock in this manner
The Duke mentions a letter from Bellario and wonders where

the learned doctor from Padua is
Nerissa answers that Portia (the learned doctor) is waiting to be

admitted in the Dukes service
The Duke instructs his men to escort Portia to the Court room
and asks his clerk to read him the letter from Bellario
The Clerk reads:

Bellario in his letter has expected the Duke to:
a.
Understand that he was sick at the receipt of the letter
b.
His dear friend and collegue, a young doctor of laws by the
name of Balthasar, was with him at the time he received the
74
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
a.
b.
c.
Dukes letter
Bellario informed Balthasar of the disput between Antonio and
Shylock
Together they consulted many books
Balthsar carries Ballarios opinion and has his own learning to
back it
Bellario does not have enough words to describe Balthasars
learning and it is Balthasar who attends the Dukes court at
Bellarios importunity (request) and in his stead (place)
Bellario requests the Duke not to let Balthasars visible lack of
experience stand in way of his Judgment
In Bellarios opinion Balthasar has so young a body with so
old a head
Bellario leaves Balthsar to the service of the Duke and the
Dukes trial (here test offered to young Balthasar) should be
the benchmark for Balthasars fame
The Duke refers to the opinion that the learned Bellario has of
this young doctor of laws
Portia next enters the scene dressed like a doctor of laws
The Duke asks if Portia has been sent on by Bellario and she
answers in the positive
Portia is welcomed in the Dukes court
The Duke asks her if she knows the dispute between the Jew
and Antonio
Portia has full knowledge of the matter and asks Antonio and
Shylock to stand before her
She remarks that:
Shylocks suit (request) is strange (anomalous/abnormal)
However, it is not illegal and he cannot be stopped on purely
legal grounds
She asks Antonio his awareness of his predicament. That he
stands to be threatened for life.
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
75
d.
e.
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
She asks him if he signed the Bond

Antonio confirms having signed the Bond
NOTE: Portias introduction is very subtle and leaves the
audience asking the big questions. We know that she has
considered the matter closely with Bellario. The Dukes clerk
read out that in the letter. Yet, Portia only mentions that Shylocks
petition and suit cannot be summarily dismissed under the
Venetian law. Portias initial support to the legal validity of
Shylocks plea helps to bring out the monster in Shylock. And
that helps Portia expose his true colours to the Court and the
audience at large.
Shakespeare has brought out, among other things, the element
of MALICE AFORETHOUGHT with which Shylock pursues
the case against Antonio.
Portia expects Shylock to be merciful
Shylock asks her why he should show Antonio mercy; there is

no provision in law that can force him to do so
Portia: The quality of mercy.. Must
needs give sentence against the merchant there.
Portia argues that:
1.
The quality of Mercy is not forced on anyone and by anyone
(Shylock should not think of it that way)
2.
It (the quality of Mercy) is like the gentle rain from heaven
(figure of speech: metaphor) on earth
3.
The quality of Mercy is blessed twice:
a.
It blesses the person who receives it
b.
It blesses the person who gives it (or shows mercy)
4.
It is the mightiest (the greatest feature) in the mightiest(most
powerful people)
5.
Mercy suits and defines the chosen King better than his crown
6.
The scepter (royal staff) of the King represents the authority of
his earthly power
76
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
The scepter of the King is also the feature, the symbol of his
power and grandeur, in which resides the awe and the fear with
which the Kings subjects perceive him
Mercy, however, is higher; greater than the influence of the
scepter
Mercy resides and is enthroned in the very hearts of Kings
(Portia draws a distinction between authority and compassion
of Kings. She argues that a King is known not by his authority
of power but by his greater merciful self.)
Mercy is a quality of God himself
It is with Mercy that a mortal King and his mutable power appears
Godly and Divine
The Kings judgment is Godly when his Mercy moderates his
Justice
She tells Shylock to remember that Justice alone does not lead
the human race to salvation; that though he requests Justice, he
should know that Justice devoid of mercy dooms the human
race (a ref to the original sin in the bible that doomed the human
race). Mercy shown by God leads us to salvation and, therefore,
we should know the importance and the need of Mercy.
Man prays to God for Mercy and our prayers tell us to be merciful
to others
Portia observes that she speaks in such detail to remove the
element of cruel and cold-hearted justice from Shylocks plea
If Shylock follows the course of Justice without mercy, the
Venetian Court will, by the rule of law, have to deliver a sentence
of punishment on Antonio
Shylock: My deeds upon my head. Forfeit of
my bond
Shylock is unmoved and asks the Court to deliver his Justice
and the penalty on Antonio as forfeit
Portia wonders if Antonio has been able to arrange the money
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
77
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
78
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
he owed Shylock
Bassanio answers that he has the money and he deposits it on
Antonios behalf. He says that
He is indebted to pay the money ten times over
And use his hands, his head and his heart to settle Antonios
debt
If such an offer fails to break ice with Shylock, it should appear
that Malice (hatred) has won over Truth
He requests Portia and the Duke to alter the law once so as not
to let Shylock perform a legally sanctioned murder
He requests them to do a great right by doing a little wrong to
rein in Shylocks malicious will
Portia: It must not be.it cannot be
Portia tells the Court that the law cannot be altered
There is no authority in Venice that can change a decree a rule
established by law
As such a change will be recorded in the annals of legal history
in Venice as a precedent and errors will be made by its use in
future
Shylock praises Portia by calling her a Daniel (NOTE: it is a
biblical allusion to Daniel, a character in the Bible, the old
testament, who was known for his wisdom and judgment) and
says that he wishes to honor her.
Portia looks over the bond and tells Shylock that for his money
lent, he is being offered thrice the amount
Shylock cries foul and cites his oath he has made to God. He
declares he will not lay perjury upon his soul for the state of
Venice
Portia declares that the bond is forfeit and that Shylock, by the
bond, is entitled to claim a pound of flesh from Antonio to be
extracted from nearest his heart
She asks Shylock to be merciful and accept thrice his money
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
and let her tear the bond

SHYLOCK: When it is paid according to the tenor (when the
bond is paid in accordance with the words in it i.e. a pound
of Antonios flesh.)
It doth appear you are a worthy judge (Shylock calls Portia a
deserving judge of the case, someone who has shown
knowledge and understanding of Shylocks cause);
You know the law, your exposition (Portia is complimented by
Shylock. She knows the law and her understanding has been
perfect)
Hath been most sound (perfect): I charge you by the law
(Shylock asks Portia to adhere to law in judging his case),
Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, (He also calls Portia
a well deserving pillar of law; someone who knows and
intends to implement the law)
Proceed to judgment (It is in the name of law that a judgment
should be delivered): by my soul I swear
There is no power in the tongue of man (he swears that there
is not a single soul in the state of Venice whose words could
dissuade Shylock from carrying out his intention of executing
the bond on Antonio in letter and spirit)
To alter me: I stay here on my bond (He intends to seek the
implementation of his bond)
Antonio requests the Court to give the judgment without delay
Portia is prompt in telling Antonio that the judgment is not in his
favour: he must prepare his bosom for Shylocks knife
Shylock calls Portia noble and excellent
Portia explains that the intent (direction) and the purpose (scope)
has a complete relation with the penalty that Antonio must pay
and which is also mentioned on the bond
Shylock praises Portia yet again and compliments her on the
maturity of her judgment
Portia asks Antonio to lay bare his bosom and Shylock asserts
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
79
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
that Antonio must expose him his breast as it is from there that
he must lose flesh
Portia confirms the words of the bond; that Antonio must lose
flesh from nearest his heart. She asks for the scales to weigh
the flesh
Shylock confirms that he has the scales but refuses to provide

for the surgeons as it is not nominated by the Bond
Portia does mention that the lack of surgeons might bleed Antonio
to death and Shylock ruthlessly conveys that he is under no
obligation to save Antonios life
On Portias importuning his moral conscience, Shylock replies

in the negative and tells the Court that he does not intend to
provide for any medical assistance to Antonio
NOTE: Portias plan is a ploy to draw Shylock into admission of
his own nefarious intentions. The man intends to kill Antonio
and he does all that he can in his hatred to stick to the Bond in
letter and spirit. Portia later turns the Bond on its head and it
becomes untenable for Shylock to follow it in letter and spirit.
Again Portia reveals Shylocks MALICE AFORETHOUGHT.
Shylock bites the bait and goes out of his way to show that he is
about to commit a legally sanctioned murder in the garb of
legalities of the Court.
Portia asks Antonio if he has anything to say to his friends before

the final judgment is passed and he makes a long speech:
ANTONIO
But little (he does not have much to speak): I am armd
(protected by his fortitude) and well prepared (prepeared for
Shylocks knife).
Give me your hand, Bassanio: fare you well! (he bids him
goodbye)
Grieve not (do not be sad) that I am fallen to this for you; (that
he has met with this fate on his account)
For herein Fortune shows herself more kind
Than is her custom: (Antonios optimism, a point in contrast
80
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
with his pessimism in the first act, tells him to read his fate
positively.)
it is still her use (It is the usual fate of people)
To let the wretched man (the unfortunate man) outlive his
wealth (see the days of his poverty after his wealth),
To view with hollow eye (tired eyes) and wrinkled brow (lose
forehead skin)
An age of poverty; (Antonio argues that man generally lives
to see his bad days while he does not have to live on. He is
saved the pain of living through his miseries. He will be
dead soon and spared the horror of his poverty.) from which
lingering penance (from that lasting punishment)
Of such misery doth she cut me off. (of the misery and the
pain of misfortune, fortune saves him)
Commend me to your honourable wife: (he asks Bassanio to
tell Portia his story)
Tell her the process of Antonios end; (Bassanio should tell
her how Antonio died)
Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death; (Bassanio should
tell the world about their friendship and their close bond)
And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge
Whether Bassanio had not once a love. (and leave it to his
wife to be the judge of their friendship)
Repent not you that you shall lose your friend,
And he repents not that he pays your debt; (neither of them
should repent on what has happened and what will follow)
For if the Jew do cut but deep enough,
Ill pay it presently with all my heart. (As no matter how deep
an incision the Jew makes on Antonios body, Antonio will
pay the debt most willingly.)
Bassanio responds to this emotional speech by referring to his
dear wife
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
81
82
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
He says that Portia is as dear to him as life itself but not even
life and his wife and all the world together holds a position that
may be compared with Antonios
He says that he is prepared to lose all to Shylock to save Antonio
Portia, who is listening to this conversation unbeknownst to
Bassanio, expresses her disapproval of her husbands offer
Gratiano is the next to commit all his resources, including his
wife to Antonios defence. He goes a step further and wishes
that Nerissa were in heaven to request the Gods to change
Shylocks mind
Shylock mocks the Christian husbands for the frivolity with which
they pledge their wives to the welfare of their friend. He wishes
his daughter were married to a descendent of Barrabus (a
criminal in the Bible, another Biblical allusion) and not to a
Christian.
Shylock asks the Court to hurry up and award him his sentence
Portia announces that Antonios pound of flesh is Shylocks for
the taking. It is sanctioned by law and awarded by the Court.
Shylock rushes to thank Portia.
Portia further states that Shylock may cut off the same pound
of flesh from close to Antonios chest; this is also sanctioned by
law and awarded by the Court
Shylock rushes towards Antonio and thanks Portia again for a
decisive sentence against the erring merchant.
Before he can lay his knife on Antonios body, Portia stops
Shylock
She tells him that the Bond does not mention blood. Shylock is
entitled to the flesh and not the blood.
NOTE: An understanding of the Biblical canon is required here.
The Bible considers Blood to be a sacred component of life.
And in Venice, shedding Christian blood was a crime of the
highest order. The flesh (that represents sin in the Bible) could
be risked as it was rank and base. Yet the distinction between
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
1.
2.
1.
2.
3.
blood and flesh is nowhere more apparent than in the Christian

theology; Shylocks bond would not have had legal sanction had
it explicitly referred to shedding Christian blood. It is the implicit
reference, the natural outcome that Portia takes out from what
appears to be an unassailable Bond. The bond is malafide in
light of what it would do if it were executed. It would shed
Christian blood: an illegal and immoral act to commit in a
predominantly Christian country.
Portia asks Shylock to take away a pound of flesh without
shedding a drop of Christian blood
She tells Shylock that
He can cut off a pound of flesh
But if he sheds a drop of Christian blood in the cutting of a
pound, his lands and goods will be confiscate by the State of
Venice
Gratiano is ecstatic and Shylock is shocked. He wonders if that
is the law and Portia points out that he can see the relevant act
Shylock can immediately sense that he has been exposed and
his game is up. He asks for a compromise. The Bond could be
paid thrice and Antonio could go home.
Portia however has other plans. She intends to hunt Shylock
with his own weapon: cold legality. Shylock has refused
settlement in open court and he will get only what his legal
entitlement is: a pound of flesh without a drop of blood. She
intends to give him nothing but the penalty
Portia tells Shylock:
To be ready to cut off the flesh
Not shed any blood
Cut no less, no more than a mere pound; if he cuts more or less
than a pound by the twentieth part of a scruple (the smallest unit
of measurement) or even the weight of a hair, Shylock will lose
all his wealth and property to the State of Venice and risk death
himself.
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
83
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Antonios friends know that he has won the case. Gratiano begins
to celebrate already by daring Shylock to act
Shylock asks for the principal amount he lent Antonio, the threethousand pounds. If he is given that he can go home
Portia refuses to let him have the offer. Shylocks earlier refusals
to settle the matter financially entitle him only to Justice and
nothing else
Shylock is so defeated that he conveys his intent to forego even

the principal. He knows that he stands thoroughly exposed.
Portia however will not let him go scot free. She brings the
charge of murder to his door:
PORTIA
Tarry, Jew (she asks Shylock to wait):
The law hath yet another hold on you (Shylock has further
accountability to the Venetian law).
It is enacted in the laws of Venice (it is so written and mentioned
in Venetian law, so enacted),
If it be proved (successfully established) against an alien
(against a foreign citizen; Shylock was a foreign citizen)
That by direct or indirect attempts
He seek the life of any citizen (that directly or otherwise, he
plotted against the life of a citizen),
The party [the person (here, Antonio)] gainst the which he
doth contrive (the person against whom the foreign citizen
makes such an attempt)
Shall seize one half his goods [that person (here Antonio )] will
own half the property and goods of the foreign citizen (here
Shylock) of the ;
the other half (the other half of the property)
Comes to the privy coffer of the state (will be owned by the
states treasury);
And the offenders life lies in the mercy [the life of the offender
84
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
(here Shylock) will lie at the mercy of the Duke and the
government of Venice]
Of the duke only, gainst all other voice. [and in this matter the
judgment of the Duke will be final and undisputed]
In which predicament [in this problem and conflict], I say,
thou standst [Portia is telling Shylock that he will have to
defend himself now that he can be said to have tried murder]
;
For it appears, by manifest proceeding, (as it is very clear by
the case that Shylock tried to harm Antonios life)
That indirectly and directly too (both directly and indirectly)
Thou hast contrived against the very life [that he contrived,
planned, against the very life of Antonio)
Of the defendant (Antonio is the defendant here); and thou
hast incurrd (and Shylock has become liable for being
prosecuted by the state of Venice for a crime that he could
not have committed)
The danger formerly by me rehearsed (the danger here refers
to the danger that Shylock faces now from Venetian law) .
Down therefore and beg mercy of the duke (Shylock should
go down on his knees and beg the Duke for forgiveness).
Gratiano tells Shylock to beg mercy of the Duke and others so
that he may get the leave to hang himself. He tells Shylock that:
Shylock does not have the leave to hang himself either
He does not have the value of a cord (rope) left with him
And the State must hang him
The Duke tells Shylock that there is vital difference between
him and the Christians and makes two points:
He forgives Shylock his life even before he has asked for it
Half Shylocks wealth is Antonios
And the other half should come to the state of Venice. This
could be further converted into a fine if Shylock is humble.
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
85
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
A)
B)
86
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Shylocks defeat is now visible and he asks the Duke to:

Punish him severely.
He uses a metaphor comparing his life with a house. He argues
that a house without foundations is hollow; very similarly, a life
without money and means is hollow and Shylock wants to have
none of it
That if they have decided to take the means that have sustained
his life, they have decided to take his life
Portia asks Antonio if he could show Shylock mercy. Gratiano
observes that all that Shylock deserves is a halter gratis (a rope
free of cost)
Antonios merciful character however comes out and he declares
that if it pleases the Duke and the lords and the Court, he would:
Request the Duke and the Court to cancel the fine against half
of Shylocks wealth.
Keep the other half of Shylocks wealth (that now goes to
Antonio) to give it away to Lorenzo, who eloped with his daughter
Jessica. Two further points he stipulates:
That Shylock should embrace Christianity
That he should draw up a deed of gift in the Court of all his
possessions and transfer them to his son in law and his daughter
The Duke tells the Court that he will withdraw the pardon that
he has given Shylock if Shylock fails to satisfy the Court on
these points
Portia asks Shylock if he has anything to say
Shylock answers that he is satisfied and has no say in the matter
anymore
Portia asks Nerissa to draw the deed of gift. Shylock asks them
to send it on and let him go home
The Duke gives Shylock the leave to go
Gratiano mentions that Shylocks christening (the ritual of
acquiring a new Christian name) will bring him to the font (the
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
large stone bowl kept in the Church with holy water) with two
Godfathers but had he been the Judge, he would have sent
Shylock to the gallows (to the hanging place) with ten Godfathers.
Gratiano means to say that he would have called ten more
Godfathers as Jury to punish Shylock had he been the judge.
Shylock exits the scene
The Duke asks Portia to go home with him to dinner
Portia humbly turns the Dukes request down. She tells him
that she must go back to Padua by the next boat.
The Duke feels sorry that Portia is not able to dine with him
He asks Antonio to reward Portia as she has saved him his life
The Duke, the Magnificoes and the followers exit the scene
Bassanio thanks Portia for her service to them as a lawyer.
Portia has freed them of grievous penalties and for her services
he offers her the three thousand dollars that he got for Shylock.
Antonio also requests her to accept the money and expresses
his indebtedness to her
Portia does not intend to take the fee. She says:
A man satisfied with his work is paid by it
In being able to deliver Antonio (save him) Portia is satisfied
and therefore well paid.
She tells them that she has never been interested in money and
monetory gains
She asks them to recognize her when they meet again
She intends to take her leave of them
Bassanio importunes Portia to accept something to remind her
of them. He asks Portia to accept something as a tribute, if not
as fee
He asks for two things to be granted: Portia should forgive him
for being stubborn; she should not say no to him
Portia asks for Antonios gloves and Bassanios ring
On being asked his wedding ring Bassanio recoils. This is the
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
87
1.
2.
3.
88
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
ring that his wife gave him and he does not wish to part with it
He says that the ring is a worthless article and it will be shameful
of him to give Portia that
Portia positions herself brilliantly and says that she will not have
any other ring but the one that she asked for
Bassanio pleads his helplessness and says that:
More depends on the ring than the value
He will look for the most valuable ring in Venice and give Portia
that
He will make public announcements to that effect if Portia spares
her this ring that he got from his wife
Portia mocks the offer Bassanio made and calls him liberal
only in making offers. She accuses him of making an offer first
and then not keeping his promise
Bassanio tells her that the ring is a gift from his wife and that he
swore it when he put it on that he would never remove it.
Portia terms Bassanios explanation a mere excuse and wonders
if his wife would truly object to the ring being given away if she
knew the contribution Portia has made in Antonios life
She says that Bassanios wife would not hold enemy forever if
she knew how well Portia deserved the ring
She exits the place with Nerissa dissatisfied
Antonio requests Bassanio to let the lawyer have the ring. He
requests Bassanio to consider his friendship with Antonio and
the lawyers deserving nature to make his point
Bassanio finally gives in and asks Gratiano to run after the clerk
and give him the ring and bring him to Antonios house
Gratiano exits the scene
Bassanio and Antonio go to Antonios house even as Bassanio
tells Antonio that they will fly away to Belmont in the morning
(fig of speech metaphor; their going to Belmont is being
compared with the flight of the bird)
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
ACT IV SC II
Portia and Nerissa enquire the Jews house so that the deed
could be given Shylock to sign
They intend to leave Venice that evening itself in order to reach

Belmont before Bassanio
The deed, Portia says, will be welcome to Lorenzo

Gratiano enters the scene
He overtakes Portia and Nerissa and hands them the ring that
Bassanio has sent on
He also makes them a dinner invitation
Portia expresses her inability in attending the dinner
She accepts the ring most thankfully
She asks Gratiano to show Nerissa Shylocks house

Nerissa tells Gratiano that she will try to get the ring out from
her husband and Portia wishes her good luck.
Once the rings have been obtained, the women will have
defensive husbands. There will be a lot of swearing on the part
of the husbands, who will swear and pledge their innocence in
the matter.
Portia tells Nerissa to hurry and join her at the tranect (where
the ferry for Belmont will be caught on their way back).
Act V
Salient points
1.
Brings back the elements of comedy to the play. Significantly
different from the previous act as it lends the drama a happy
ending
2.
Brings together all the major characters
3.
Restores Antonio his fortune
4.
Presents mock conflict (the ring episode) and its resolution in
the play
5.
Also presents to us Merchant of Venice as one of the problem
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
89
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
plays of Shakespeare with elements of Comedy and Tragedy

interwoven in it
Lorenzo and Jessica compare their night with the classical nights:
LORENZO
The moon shines bright: in such a night as this (on one such
night of full moon),
When the sweet (fragrant) wind did gently kiss the trees (Wind
personified: wind kisses the trees: slowly and gradually
moves the trees)
And they did make no noise (and the kissing, the movement
produced no noise) ,
Reference 1: Troilus and Cressida
In such a night (Lorenzo repeats the phrase in such a night)
Troilus methinks mounted (climbed) the Trojan walls (the
walls of Troy)
And sighd his soul (cried in pain) toward the Grecian tents
(Grecian camp),
Where Cressid (Cressida) lay that night (where Cressida was
that night)
There is a series of references drawn on here. The references
are as follows:
The full moon light is being compared with the night on which
Troilus went over to the Grecian camps after the war of Troy
had been concluded.
Troilus was Priams son, in love with Cressida, to whom he swore

eternal fidelity. After Cressida was taken into the enemy camp,
Troilus would stand on the walls of Troy looking at the Greek
camp
Reference 2: Thisbe and Pyramus
JESSICA
In such a night
Did Thisbe fearfully (anxiously) oertrip (walk lightly over)
90
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
the dew (the wet grass)

And saw the lions shadow ere himself (and saw the shadow
of the lion before the lion)
And ran dismayd away (ran away surprised)
The reference has three points:
Pyramus and Thisbe were lovers in Babylonia and their story is

retold by Ovid in Metamorphoses
They had decided to meet under a tree, where Thisbe arrived,

saw the shadow of a lion and ran away, dropping her scarf
Pyramus, who arrived later saw the blood smeared scarf (that
had the blood of an ox), thought that Thisbe had been killed and
stabbed himself. Thisbe, who returned to the spot later stabbed
herself too, seeing dead Pyramus.
Reference 3: Dido and Aeneas
LORENZO
In such a night (on a night such as this one)
Stood Dido with a willow (a tree; symbolises Loss) in her hand
(holding a willow)
Upon the wild sea banks (on the banks of the stormy sea) and
waft her love (waved to her love, Aeneas)
To come again to Carthage (to return to Carthage)
Note:
The Queen of Carthage, Dido, fell in love with Aenas, the Trojan
Hero. She would wait on the banks of the stormy sea after
Aenas had gone to found the city of Rome, anticipating his return.
The story is told by many poets in literature

Reference 4: Media and Aeson
JESSICA
In such a night
Medea (an enchantress) gatherd the enchanted herbs
(magical herbs)
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
91
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
That did renew old Aeson (Jasons father Aeson; see note).
The reference has the following points:
Aeson was the father of the Greek hero Jason, mentioned also
in the context of the Golden fleece in Act I
Medea was an enchantress who loved Jason and helped him

get the Golden Fleece
Medea was said to have restored Jasons father Aeson to life.

Ovid wrote about it in Metamorphoses
The Elizabethans believed that herbs, esp. certain herbs, gained

special qualities when gathered on a moonlit night
LORENZO
In such a night (on a night such as this one; Lorenzo means
to be jovial in comparing their situation with that of the great
historical figures they have mentioned before)
Did Jessica steal (pun: rob her father and run away herself)
from the wealthy Jew (Shylock)
And with an unthrift love (pun again; the expression implies
careless devotion and penniless lover) did run from Venice
(escape from Venice)
As far as Belmont (for Belmont).
JESSICA
In such a night
Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well (Jessica outwits
Lorenzo; another example of women characters in
Shakespeares comedies being smarter than the male
characters. She tells Lorenzo that he made her promises in
love that he never kept),
Stealing her soul with many vows of faith (He captured her
heart with declarations of love)
And neer a true one (and did not keep his promises).
LORENZO
In such a night
92
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew (complaining woman),

Slander her love (insult her love here her love for Lorenzo),
and he forgave it her (he forgave her for it).
JESSICA
I would out-night you (Jessica is confident she would outwit
Lorenzo further if they were undisturbed), did no body come
(if no one would disturb them);
But, hark, I hear the footing of a man (But they hear the
steps of a man).
Notes on the above interaction:
1.
The above interaction shows us the romantic relationship between
Jessica and Lorenzo
2.
It reestablishes the elements of Love and Romance in the play
3.
The allusions point to the one common feature in the relationships
of all the archetypical lovers: the difficulties they faced in their
union
4.
Jessica and Lorenzos case is no different from that of the
historical lovers
Stephano enters the scene and announces:

1.
Portia will be back before dawn
2.
Nerissa and she wander about the holy crosses small roadside
shrines
3.
Portia and Nerissa have been in prayer for happy wedlock
hours (a happy married life)
Lorenzo asks who is with Portia and Stephano mentions Nerissa

as a holy hermit and her maid
Stephano asks Lorenzo if he has had any news from Bassanio.

Lorenzo tells him that they have had none.
Lorenzo asks Jessica to move in the Belmont house and take

personal charge of the preparations to welcome Portia
Launcelot enters and announces the arrival of a post (a

messenger) with his horn (post-horn: it was a custom for the
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
93
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
94
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
messengers to blow horns before they announced the news)

full of good news. They have finally heard from Bassanio. He
will be in Belmont before the morning.
Lorenzo calls Jessica his sweet soul and tells her to move in
the house and await the arrival of the master and the mistress of
the house
He doubts his own decision: there is no need for them to move
in at all as they are almost into the early morning.
He asks Stephano to go into the house and tell the servants and
the attendants of the arrival of the owners of the house
He tells Stephano to play music in open air to mark the happy
reunion about to take place in the morning hours
Lorenzo makes the following observations about the night and
music:
The moonlight sleeps sweetly upon the bank (personifies the
moonlight)
They will sit out in the open and music will gradually creep in
their ears (a weak personification and a metaphor; music
is said to creep and thereby is compared with an creeping
insect. It can also be implied that it is the creeping saint
trying to spread good feeling and harmony)
The soothing calm and peace of the night suit the notes of
melodious harmony(music)
He asks Jessica to gaze at the sky and the floor of heaven (a
strong metaphor continues in the next lines; heaven (the
visible sky) is compared with the floor)
The floor of heaven (surface of heaven) is richly decorated
with patines of bright gold (pieces of shiney metal; the stars).
Explanation: as the surface of a room would have the beautiful
pattern of metal and stone on it, so has the sky got the stars
decorating it.
Even the smallest orb (planet) that the human eye can see
sings like an angel in its path and motion (simile and
personification here; the planets sing like angels and they
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
sing, which is a human character)

7.
They sing together as if in a quire/concert with the young eyed
cherubins (A cherubin was the second in the order of angels,
portrayed as a winged child)
Explanation: Lorenzo gets highly philosophical in his observations.
He refers to the ideas of Pythagoras in observing that the planets
and the stars have an inherent music. The Elizabethans too
believed that the motion of the stars and the planets produced
sounds and the combination of these sounds created harmony.
8.
The harmony of the planets and the stars is also present in the
immortal human soul
9.
It cannot, however, be heard as long as the muddy vesture of
decay (the perishable human body) grossly (rudely/
roughly) close it in (holds the immortal soul captive)
Note: What Lorenzo is saying is as follows: the music and
harmony of the stars and the planets is found also in the immortal
soul. Yet, man is unable to hear it as the soul is the prisoner of
the perishable body.
The musicians enter and Lorenzo asks them to arouse Diana

(the moon Goddess) from her slumber by their music
He asks them to play welcoming notes for Portia
Jessica observes that she is never merry (in the jovial mood)
when she hears serious music
LORENZO
The reason is (Lorenzo tries to explain Jessicas behaviour),
your spirits are attentive (Jessica is never jovial when she
hears sweet music as she is a receptive/sensitive listener):
For do but note a wild and wanton herd (He asks her to observe
the behaviour of an indisciplined, uncontrollable herd of
cattle),
Or race of youthful and unhandled colts (or the breed of
immature and untrained young male horses),
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
95
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Fetching mad bounds (jumping around madly), bellowing

(producing loud sounds) and neighing loud (high sounds),
Which is the hot condition of their blood (which is the true
nature of their wild blood);
If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound (if they hear perhaps
the sound of a trumpet),
Or any air of music (song) touch their ears (if the animal
mentioned, the youthful and unhandled colts, hears the
melodies and the sound of music),
You shall perceive them make a mutual stand (it is seen that
they all stand together still),
Their savage eyes (wild eyes) turnd (are transformed) to a
modest gaze
By the sweet power of music (harmonious influence of
music): therefore the poet (here, Ovid, the great Roman poet)
Did feign (depicted) that Orpheus (the famous musician in
Greek myth, son of Caliope, was presented with the lyre of
Apollo and sang and played so beautifully that animals,
plants and even the lifeless objects moved from their places)
drew trees, stones and floods (moved trees, stones and
influenced natural phenomenon);
Since nought so stockish, hard and full of rage (as there is
nothing so stubborn, insensitive and aggressive),
But music for the time doth change his nature (that it cannot be
influenced by the sweet melodies of music).
The man that hath no music in himself (a man with no music in
him),
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds (and someone
who is not moved by the harmony of sweet sounds),
Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils (is suited only for crime,
trickery and robbery);
The motions of his spirit are dull as night (such a man has no
96
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
spiritual life and is mentally dull)

And his affections dark as Erebus (and his feelings are as evil
as the home of the dead. Erebus in Greek myth is the home
of the dead):
Let no such man be trusted (such a man is not worthy of
anyones trust). Mark the music (he asks Jessica to listen to
the music).
Note: Lorenzos argument is that music has great humanizing
qualities and the sensitive react very gravely and somberly to it.
Music has the potential to discipline and order even those forms
of life that are naturally wild and insensitive.
Enter PORTIA and NERISSA
Portia observes the light burning in her hall
She remarks on the light of the candle. The little candle, she
says, throws out its beams of light
She compares the beams of candle light with charitable, good

deeds in a corrupt world
Nerissa responds that the moon light had quite eclipsed the
candles beams
Portia compares the moon light with the greater glory. She adds
that a Kings substitute can never be the King. That a kings
substitute impresses us as long as the King is not around.
The presence of the king dims and lessons the radiance of the
substitute.
She uses a simile to tell Nerissa that the substitute disappears

before the king as the inland brook (the river) vanishes into
the main of waters (the sea).
They suddenly hear the music in the air.
Nerissa points out that the music is of Portias band of musicians

(it used to be a custom for the rich to employ their own
musicians)
Portia opines that things are lent a charm and novelty by their
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
97
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
contexts. That nothing is perfect without favorable surroundings.
The music, Portia says, sounds more melodious at night than it

does by day
Nerissa says that it is the silence of the night that lends music its
greater melody.
PORTIA
The crow doth sing as sweetly (the crow sings as sweetly) as
the lark (the lark is a bird of Alaudidae family, found
worldwide and universally acknowledged for its melodious
song),
When neither is attended (when they are not heard; Portia
hints at the silence of the night that makes the song of the
lark as melodious as that of the crow), and I think
The nightingale, if she should sing by day (if the nightingale
were to sing during the day),
When every goose is cackling (when geese made loud and
unpleasant sounds) would be thought
No better a musician than the wren (the nightingale would not
be any more melodious than the wren).
How many things by season (here, environment/surroundings/
right time) seasond (textured/defined/given a shape) are
(By the above example Portia hints at the contextual
propriety of all that is pleasing to human nature. Melody
lost in chaos is noise. And silence makes the unpleasant
sounds tolerable.)
To their right praise and true perfection! (things earn their right
praise and true perfection by the time and place in which
they are born and prosper)
Peace, ho! the moon sleeps with Endymion (Classical allusion:
in Greek myth: a beautiful youth, loved by the moon, who
visited him every night to bathe him in her silver light)
And would not be awaked (and should not be aroused).
Lorenzo recognizes Portias voice and announces her arrival

98
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
1.
2.
3.
for the audience

Portia remarks that Lorenzo recognizes her much in the manner
of a blind man knowing the cuckoo (by its bad voice). The
figure of speech is a simile: as the blind man knows the
cuckoo.
Lorenzo welcomes Portia home
Portia tells them that Nerissa and she have been in communion
with God for better healths of their husbands and asks whether
Bassanio and Gratiano have returned.
Lorenzo tells them that they have not yet returned. He informs
them of the messenger whom they sent to announce their arrival
in advance
Portia tells Nerissa to instruct the servants at home not to let out
the fact of their absence from Belmont to her husband. She
requests Lorenzo and Jessica for the same and they readily oblige.
Lorenzo can hear the trumpet of Bassanios followers. He
promises Portia that they are no tale tellers
Portia replies that:
The night is not true to its character as it is the time of happy
family reunion.
It is more like the daylight sick (a day without much light),
it looks a little dimmer
The night is very like the day that is when the sun is concealed
in the clouds
Bassanio enters with Antonio, Gratiano and his followers
Bassanio remarks that Venitians will share their day time with
the Antipodes (Australians) if Portia (who is as great a source
of light as the sun) walks at night
Portia puns on the word light, saying that she would love to
give light (be a source of light) but not be light (light and
shallow of character)
She remarks that a light wife (a woman of shallow character)
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
99
100
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
makes a heavy (sad) husband

Bassanio should never have a reason in Portia to be heavy
She thanks God for their safe and sound return
Bassanio introduces her to Antonio and asks her to welcome
him. He describes Antonio as someone to whom he was very
indebted
Portia puns on the word bound. She says that Antonio was
bound (in chains) for his friend, and, therefore, Bassanio should
be much bound (grateful) to Antonio.
Antonio expresses his satisfaction over having got acquitted and
does not want the past to be talked about. There is optimism in
his heart.
Portia welcomes Antonio home. She says she is eager to host
him not merely in words but in deed. She will scant (cut short)
this breathing courtesy (this verbal welcome)
By this time Nerissa has already cornered Gratiano and he
defends himself loudly:
Gratiano is prepared to swear that he has done no wrong and
that Nerissas accusations are unjustly made
Gratiano declares that the ring was indeed given to the clerk of
the lawyer who represented Antonio
He also declares that he has no interest in the matter and that
the clerks welfare is of no concern to him
Had he known that Nerissa would take the matter so offensively
he would not given the ring away to the clerk
Portia interjects and asks what the quarrel is about
Gratiano informs them of Nerissas grievance. He dismisses
her plaints as useless and being about a hoop (a ring) of gold
He calls it a paltry (useless) ring, one that had cutlers poetry
(the common inscriptions that the knife-makers decorated
their knives with) on it
He even quotes the inscription on the ring (comparing it with
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
those on the knives) as Love me and leave me not
Nerissa answers him thus:

NERISSA
What talk you of the posy or the value (Gratiano should not be
the one talking of the poetry and its value)?
You swore to me (Gratiano gave Nerissa his word that he
will keep the ring with him and defend it), when I did give it
you (at the time the ring was given him),
That you would wear it till your hour of death (he promised her
that he will wear the ring till his death)
And that it should lie with you in your grave (and that even his
death will not separate him and the ring):
Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths (Nerissa shows
her displeasure by according greater importance to
Gratianos oaths. He should have kept the ring with him to
keep his word, if nothing more),
You should have been respective and have kept it (Gratiano
should have kept his oath).
Gave it a judges clerk! no, Gods my judge (Just to take the
quarrel forward, she doubts Gratianos explanation that he
gave the ring away to the judges clerk),
The clerk will neer wear hair ons face that had it (the clerk
who got Gratianos ring will never have facial hair on him).
NOTE: Nerissas grouse and Portias arraignment of Bassanio
is the mock revenge the two extract from their husbands. The
two women have clearly outwitted their husbands in every
department. The ring episode is their masterstroke.
GRATIANO protests that the judges clerk will grow beard on

his face if he grows to be a man. Nerissa however is far from
convinced. She mocks him wondering how a woman will grow
to be a man.
Gratiano swears again affirming that he gave the ring to a young

man
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
101
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
3.
102
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Gratiano describes the man he gave the ring to. The man, he
says, was only a boy, short in stature, talkative, and he begged
the ring of him. Gratiano could not say not to him.
Portia finally gives her opinion and criticizes Gratiano. In her
opinion Gratiano is guilty. He should not have given away the
first gift of his wife so carefreely:
The ring was held on with promises and pledges of love
It was also fastened with faith to Gratianos very flesh
She points out Bassanios ring that she had committed to him at
the time of their marriage.
Bassanio swore that he would never part with it and Portia is
confident that he will neither leave the ring nor remove it off his
fingers for all the wealth the world has to offer
She snubs Gratiano, alleging that he has given Nerissa a very
unreasonable cause of grief.
To take the point further, she places herself in Nerissas shoes
and declares that she would have been equally furious had she
been in her place
Bassanio in an aside wishes that he had never given the ring
away. If only he could cut off his finger and say that he lost it in
defending the ring
Gratiano tells them that Bassanio gave his ring away too. That
the Judge who asked for it deserved it:
That it was only after Bassanios act that he gave his ring to the
clerk
That the boy, his clerk, who made the effort to prepare the deed
of gift (for Lorenzo), asked Gratiano his ring
That neither the judge (the lawyer) nor his assistant would
accept anything but the rings
Portia asks Bassanio what ring Gratiano has alluded to: is it the
ring she gave Bassanio and the one he swore to keep for life
Bassanio confesses that he cannot add a lie to an error he has
already committed. He points to his finger that does not have
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
the ring upon it

Portia accuses Bassanio of having a false and empty heart
She declares that she will not be Bassanos wife till she sees the
ring
Nerissa also vows not to consider Gratiano her husband till she
sees the ring she gifted him
In his defence Bassanio says that Portia would not have objected
to the rings being given to the Judge and his clerk if:
She knew the person who was given the ring (implying Balthasar,
the lawyer)
She knew the person for whom the ring was given (implying
Antonio, his dearest friend)
She knew why the ring was given (implying the impossibility of
saving Antonio and the ease with which Portia brought it about)
She knew how all his offers fell on deaf ears and nothing but the
ring would be accepted
If she knew all of the points, she would abate the strength of
her displeasure (decrease her anger and plaints against
Bassanio)
Portia, in mock humor between Nerissa and herself, further
expresses her deep displeasure with her husband on the following
grounds:
That Bassanio did not know the virtue (true value) of the ring
That he did not know half the value and the worth of Portia who
had given him the ring
That he forgot his own honour with which he had sworn to keep
the ring with him
She questions Bassanios version and wonders why any man
would be so stubborn as to insist on the ring if Bassanio defended
it with any terms of zeal (determination)
The ring, she tells us, was held by Bassanio as a ceremony
(sacred symbol of marriage)
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
103
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
She is bound to agree with Nerissa that Bassanio gave the ring
away not to man but a common woman and she bets her life on it
NOTE: Portias speech is a further reflection on the Merchant
of Venice being an Elizabethan comedy. The woman holds the
man defensive. Portia is calling the shots here, and Bassanio
must defend himself.
BASSANIO
No, by my honour, madam, by my soul (Bassanio swears by
his honor as a gentleman and his soul),
No woman had it, but a civil doctor (that he did not give it any
woman but a doctor of laws),
Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me (the same doctor
who refused three thousand ducats that Bassanio offered
him)
And beggd the ring (and asked Bassanio for the ring); the
which I did deny him (and Bassanio refused the ring to him
initially)
And sufferd him to go displeased away (and the lawyer, being
offended by Bassanios refusal, walked away initially);
Even he that did uphold the very life (and Bassanio did suffer
the displeasure of the very person who saved the very life)
Of my dear friend (of his closest, dearest, friend). What should
I say, sweet lady (he tells Portia with regret)?
I was enforced to send it after him (that he was compelled to
send the ring to him);
I was beset with shame and courtesy (his refusal to the lawyer
had shamed him as a gentleman);
My honour would not let ingratitude (he could not let his honor
be tainted by his own inability to bestow a small reward)
So much besmear it (taint/stain his honour). Pardon me, good
lady;
For, by these blessed candles of the night (a metaphor: he
104
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
swears on the stars, comparing them with the candles),

Had you been there, I think you would have beggd
The ring of me to give the worthy doctor. (Had Portia been
there she would ask Bassanio to give the precious ring away
to the deserving doctor who saved the life of his dear friend.)
Portia angrily tells him not to let the deserving doctor ever visit
her.
The doctor, she says, has got the one thing she so dearly loved.
And the one thing Bassanio swore to keep for her and failed to
keep his word in.
Taking her cue from her husband, she will more than generously
bestow all that she has upon the learned and talented doctor
She will not deny the doctor any favours
Nerissa tells Gratiano that she will be uninhibitedly generous
with the lawyers clerk and that she should be left to her own
protection.
NOTE: Portia and Nerissa tell Bassanio and Gratiano in their
mock humour that the men have lost their absolute claim over
their women now. Since they could not suffer the shame of
denying the doctor and his clerk the one precious thing their
wives had given them, the wives will not be ashamed to deny
the doctor and his clerk the most precious thing the husbands
gave them. The husbands absolute claim over their wives is
their most precious achievement. Portia and Nerissa threaten
Bassanio and Gratiano that they will treat the doctor and his
clerk as liberally and attentively as they do them.
Antonio finally interjects and says that he has been the cause of
the unhappy quarrels between husbands and wives
Portia finally realises that she is taking the joke too far and assures
Antonio that he is welcome
Bassanio apologizes to Portia and asks her to forgive him
Before his dear friends and keeping them as witness he swears
to her on her beautiful eyes, in which he sees his reflection
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
105
106
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Portia holds the argument there and asks the assembled party to
notice that Bassanios oath is flawed
In her two eyes Bassanio doubly sees himself (his two
images). He, therefore, swears by his double self {Pun on
doubly. Bassanio sees two images doubly and behaves
like a double self (false person)}.
Such an oath cannot be trustworthy
Bassanio asks for her forgiveness again and swears her that he
will never break any of his promises
Antonio now breaks in with his own assurance and tells Portia
that he once lent his body for her Bassanios wealth
He tells Portia that he almost lost his life for Bassanio and that
he was saved by the young judge who took the ring
Antonio pledges his soul for Bassanios sake again. Once he
put his physical safety at stake for his friend; now he is willing to
put his spiritual safety at stake for him (note the use of the
word soul). The phrase soul upon the forfeit means that
Antonio commits his soul to Portia as the penalty if Bassanio
fails her in his promises.
Antonio tells Portia that Bassanio will never break his oaths in
future
Portia requests Antonio to be his friends guarantor and hands
him the ring
She asks Antonio to tell his friend never to lose the ring again.
Antonio hands the ring to Bassanio and tells him to swear never
to lose it
Bassanio looks at the ring with a sense of shock. The ring is the
same that he gave the young doctor
Portia tells Bassanio that she took the ring from the doctor
At this Nerissa offers Gratiano a ring too, saying that she obtained
it of the scrubbed boy, the doctors assistance
Portia finally addresses all her guests:
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
PORTIA:
You are all amazed (she refers to their surprise and
consternation):
Here is a letter; read it at your leisure (she shows them a letter,
asking them to read it);
It comes from Padua, from Bellario (the letter was written by
Bellario, her cousin, and came from Padua):
There you shall find that Portia was the doctor (that letter proves
beyond doubt that Portia was the doctor of laws and Nerissa,
the clerk),
Nerissa there her clerk: Lorenzo here
Shall witness I set forth as soon as you (Lorenzos testimony is
now called upon. He beong a friend of Antonio, Bassanio
and Gratiano shall prove that Portia and Nerissa left the
house as soon as their husbands)
And even but now returnd (and have returned only a little
before the men); I have not yet
Enterd my house (she has just entered the house). Antonio,
you are welcome;
And I have better news in store for you (there is something
better Portia has to share with Antonio)
Than you expect: unseal this letter soon (she presents Antonio
a seperate letter that she asks him to open);
There you shall find three of your argosies (three of his ships)
Are richly come to harbour suddenly (have returned to the
harbour safely and unexpectedly):
You shall not know by what strange accident
I chanced on this letter (she does not intend to get in the detail
of how she got the letter and from where).
NOTE: The above speech is the speech of resolution.
Shakespeare must conclude the comedy on the positive note
much as he began it on a sombre note of Antonios grief. The
TIWARI TUTORIALS*
107
108
ICSE MADE EASY
ICSE X ENGLISH
Merchant of Venice is rich again and his fortune is restored to

him. For reasons of Dramatic Convenience the speech does not
detail how and where Portia came across Antonios letters)
Antonio expresses that he is dumb
Bassanio and Gratiano wonder if Portia was the doctor and
Nerissa his attendant
Antonio reads the letter and conveys that his ships are back
indeed. He calls Portia sweet lady who has given him life
and living
His ships, he tells us, have safely come to road (back to the
harbor)
Portia tells Lorenzo that she has some good news for him and
Jessica too
Nerissa addresses Lorenzo and Jessica and says that she will
give them the bounty without charging them a fee.
Nerissa hands them the deed of gift that Shylock signed and
that entitles them to all his property and money on his death
Lorenzo thanks them and refers to manna. Portia and Nerissa
drop manna (the bread from heaven in the Bible) on starved
people. (Note: Lorenzo compares Portia and Nerissa with
the angels from heaven and the others with the starving
Hebrews, who nourished by manna survived for forty years
before they got to the promised land)
The morning has approached and Portia knows that the men
are still amazed by the sudden discoveries they have made.
She asks them all to go in and question the ladies there on oath
so that their answers dim curiosities. She promises them that
Nerissa and she will answer all questions faithfully.
Gratiano gets to make the concluding remarks. He tells the
audience that the only thing he will be wary of ever is losing his
wifes ring.
TIWARI TUTORIALS*

Last Minute Package For Icse X - English - Lit

Enviado por

Dados do documento

Descrição original:

Título original

Direitos autorais

Formatos disponíveis

Compartilhar este documento

Compartilhar ou incorporar documento

Opções de compartilhamento

Você considera este documento útil?

Este conteúdo é inapropriado?

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

Last Minute Package For Icse X - English - Lit

Enviado por

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

A A A A A A A A A A A A A AA A A

ICSE MADE EASY

Last Minutes ....

Note - Prepare @ 5 pages per day

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

ICSE MADE EASY

STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING

ICSE MADE EASY

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

trespassing on someone elses property.

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

ICSE MADE EASY

ICSE MADE EASY

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

Besides sounding ominous and like the preview to a horror movie,

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

ICSE MADE EASY

ICSE MADE EASY

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

But I have promises to keep,

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

ICSE MADE EASY

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

ICSE MADE EASY

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

desolate place when it is snowing and already evening.

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

ICSE MADE EASY

What are the promises he has to keep?

ICSE MADE EASY

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

A DOCTORS JOURNAL ENTRY FOR

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

ICSE MADE EASY

Those who could, shuffled in blank parade.

ICSE MADE EASY

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

Seemed to revive and I got up at length.

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

ICSE MADE EASY

Q2. How is the natural scene, described before this extract,

ICSE MADE EASY

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

The narrrators attitude towards his wife indicates that he loves

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

ICSE MADE EASY

ICSE MADE EASY

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

ICSE MADE EASY

IF THOU MOST LOVE ME.....

ICSE MADE EASY

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

ICSE MADE EASY

ICSE MADE EASY

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

Q4. What does the phrase change for thee signify? Is it a

TRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

ICSE MADE EASY

so happy, that she would forget the reasons of the sadness.

ICSE MADE EASY