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Merchant of Venice, Act 1 Scene 1 : Analysis The first task confronting any playwright in his opening scene is his "exposition" of that play — that is, he must identify the characters and explain their situation to the audience. Shakespeare accomplishes this task of informative exposition very subtly in the opening fifty-six lines of dialogue between Antonio, Salarino, and Salanio. We learn that Antonio is a wealthy merchant; that he is worried for some obscure reason which makes him melancholy; that he is a member of a group of friends who arrive later — Bassanio, Lorenzo, and Gratiano — who represent the lively, convivial life of Venice. And perhaps most important for the purposes of the plot, we are told that Antonio has many shipping "ventures" — mercantile risks — and although he is not worried about them now, the idea is subtly suggested to us that his business ventures on the high seas  may  miscarry.   We should recall this matter when Antonio finally decide...

Merchant of Venice: Act I: Scene 1 Summary Walking along a street in Venice, Antonio (the "merchant" of the title) confesses to his friends Salarino and Salanio that lately he has felt unaccountably sad. They have noticed it, and they suggest that Antonio is probably worried about the safety of his merchant ships, which are exposed to storms at sea and attacks by pirates. Antonio denies this and also denies that he is in love, a possibility that both of his friends think might explain Antonio's pensiveness. Salarino concludes that Antonio's moodiness must be due simply to the fact that Antonio is of a naturally melancholy disposition. At this point, their friends Bassanio, Lorenzo, and Gratiano join them, and after an exchange of courtesies, Salarino and Salanio excuse themselves. Gratiano takes a long look at his old friend Antonio and playfully chides him for being so solemn and so unduly silent. Gratiano says that he himself never has "moods"; in contrast...

A Face in the Dark: A Critical Commentary on the Story(Metaphorical meaning and implication)  ** For a fun animated video explanation, click here:  https://youtu.be/s5mdOSC1vlU Ruskin Bond’s short story “A Face in the Dark”, originally published in 2004, is very short and simple in terms of the plot and the language used. But the author has made a simple plot and ordinary setting look extraordinary by giving it a supernatural touch. The supernatural atmosphere is created by the elements like eerie sounds of the pine trees, batteries of the torch running down, flickering light, silent sobbing, lantern swinging in the middle of the path etc. All these things prepare us for some mysterious or uncanny happenings. The story, though begins with the narration of ordinary daily occurrences, it turns out to be very intriguing and a thought-provoking one. The story reaches its climax when Oliver discovers that the boy and the watchman both have no eyes, ears, nose or mouth on their face...

Old Man at the Bridge: Analysis: [For Essay-Type Questions] ** For a detailed line by line explanation video of the story, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/r7mbQf9T1gE Narrative Technique: The narrator's engagement with the old man suddenly brings him into focus. He emerges out of the faceless, voiceless crowd. The narrator's continuous consciousness of the approaching enemy "contact" is used to create the dramatic tension between the immobility of the old man and the coming destruction as he constantly observes the movement of carts across the bridge while talking. The narrator's conversation allows the old man to have a voice.The voiceless victims speak through the old man. Plot In the middle of a military action, an army scout encounters an old man at a bridge where people are crossing to escape the war zone. The scout engages the old man in conversation and by the end of it, he realizes the old man is not going to move and will probably die at th...

The Merchant of Venice:- MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: Antonio: In sooth, I know not why I am sad. It wearies me; you say it wearies you; but how I caught it, found it, or came by it, What stuff ‘tis made of, whereof it is born, I am to learn. And such a want-wit sadness makes of me that I have much ado to know myself. (i) Who is the speaker? How does he describe his sadness? The speaker is Antonio, the famous wealthy merchant of Venice and he is one of the most important characters of the play. He describes his sadness as something he does not understand. He does not know why he is sad or what is the origin of his sadness. It makes him tired and has made him an absent minded fellow. (ii) Who is with him? Who are the others who come later? Salarino is there with Antonio. Gratiano, Lorenzo and Bassanio come later. (iii) Give the meaning of – a) In sooth, b) Want-wit, c) Ado a) In sooth - In truth b) Want...

The Merchant of Venice: Act 5 ,Scene 1  CLASSICAL REFERENCES AND HISTORICAL EVENTS 1. Troilus and Cressida: Troilus was the son of Priam, the king of Troy. Cressida was the daughter of the Greek priest Colchas. Troilus fell in love with Cressida. During the siege of Troy, Cressida was handed over to the Greeks in an exchange of prisoners. She had vowed to remain faithful to Troilus, but she switched her affections to the Greek hero, Diomedes, whereas every night Troilus stood on the walls of Troy looking at the Greek camp. Thus, Troilus is known as the faithful lover and Cressida is considered an example of female inconsistency. 2. Thisbe: Thisbe was a Babylonian maiden who loved Pyramus. Their parents were against their wedding. Once she went to meet Pyramus. She comes first, Pyramus had not reached there. She saw a lion, was frightened and ran away. When Pyramus came, he saw her cloak lying there and the lion. He assumed that the beast had killed her. He killed himself. When This...

The Merchant of Venice: Act 4, scene 2 Questions and Answers and quick review REVIEW In fact, this scene is an extension of the previous scene. Portia is seen in a street of Venice. She asks Nerissa to find Shylock’s home and get his signature on the deed as decided in the court. After this, they plan to reach Belmont before their husbands. In the meantime, Nerissa also takes her ring from Gratiano who has hurried to find them to give Portia the ring, she had asked from Bassanio. In this scene, comic elements are there in the ring episode and disguise theme. Although. Shylock is not present; his shadow seems to be hovering. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: Portia: Inquire the Jew’s house out, give him this deed, And let him sign it. We will away tonight, And be a day before our husbands’ home, This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo Enter Gratiano Gratiano: Fair sir, you are well overtaken. My lord Bassanio, upon more advice...

The Merchant of Venice: Act 4, scene 1 Questions and Answers and quick review REVIEW Now the much-awaited trial scene is there. It will decide Antonio’s fate. The Duke asks Shylock to have mercy, many prominent citizens of Venice also approach Shylock but he has only this answer to everyone that he wants justice and Antonio’s pound of flesh. Bassanio asks him to take thrice the money lent to Antonio, but Shylock gives the same answer. Everyone is helpless, Now the Duke can do nothing except to give judgment in favour of the Jew. He is just waiting for the famous and learned lawyer Dr. Bellario, from Padua, who may suggest some way to defeat the Jew. The atmosphere of gloom is everywhere. Then Nerissa disguised as clerk enters the court and gives the Duke a letter from Dr. Bellario, who has written that he is not well but he is sending a young lawyer, Dr. Balthazar, although young but very efficient and competent. Portia disguised as Dr. Balthazar enters the court and the procedure beg...

The Merchant of Venice: Act 3, scene 5 Question and Answers and quick review REVIEW This scene takes place in Portia’s garden. Jessica, Launcelot and Lorenzo are there. Launcelot’s presence adds to the element of humour in the play. He tells Jessica that she would be damned for her father’s sins. Jessica contradicts Launcelot by saying that now she is a Christian, not a Jew. He again says now pork will be costlier because so many are becoming converts. Lorenzo and Jessica are a couple who are really happy to be together. It creates a pleasing sensation all over the atmosphere. Jessica has a very high opinion of Portia. It reflects on Portia’s virtues as much as on Jessica’s ability to recognize them. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: Launcelot: Truly, the more to blame he; we were Christian enow before; e’en as many as could well live, one by another. This making of Christiana will raise the price of hogs: if we grew all to be...

The Merchant of Venice: Act 3, scene 4 Question and Answers and quick review REVIEW In this scene, the audience sees Portia devising a clever plan to rescue Antonio from the clutches of the Jew, Shylock. Bassanio and Gratiano have already departed. She contacts Dr. Bellario, her cousin and a famous lawyer who lives in Padua. One of her servants, Balthazar takes her letter to Padua. She plans to disguise as a lawyer and Nerissa her clerk and leave for Venice. No one knows about her plan except herself. This scene brings forth many new traits in Portia’s personality. She is rich not only financially, but she is rich in heart and head also. She is intelligent, witty and has a presence of mind. She can make great plans and execute them successfully. Her imitation of a young lawyer is perfect. This scene fills the time gap. Generosity contrasted with selfishness is also exhibited here. ‘The disguise theme’ even brings in comic element to some extent. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1. Read the extra...

The Merchant of Venice: Act 3, scene 3 Question and Answers and quick review REVIEW Again, from Belmont the scene shifts to Venice. We are face to face with Antonio’s miserable plight and Shylock’s heartless attitude. All the pleas of mercy have failed. It is sure that the Duke although unwillingly, will have to pass his judgment according to the Law of Venice. Here we see the stark contrast between Antonio and Shylock. Antonio is quiet and has accepted his inevitable fate whereas Shylock’s fiery outbursts make him akin to a devil. This scene also is the preparation for the trial scene. Here the bond of friendship is also evident. Antonio is ready to sacrifice his life for the sake of Bassanio and Bassanio leaving his love of life, comes to Venice to save his friend’s life. QUESTIONS AND ASNWERS 1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: Shylock:   look to him: tell not me of mercy; This is the fool that lent out money gratis; Antonio:Here me yet, good Sh...

The Merchant of Venice: Act 2, scene 2 Question and Answers and quick review REVIEW Now the plot develops further. To give comic relief, the antics of Lancelot Gobbo are provided. The scene begins with Gobbo’s soliloquy by which he expresses his desire to leave Shylock’s services. He describes the conflict in his mind. His conscience advises him to do one thing, to remain faithful to his master, Shylock and the devil tempts him to leave his service. Here he is between the devil and the deep sea. But finally, he decides to leave Shylock and to request Bassanio to give him a job, to which the latter agrees. The situation becomes funnier when Launcelot’s father, the old Gobbo who is nearly blind enters the scene. After some merry talk, Launcelot says to the old man that he is his son. They go to Bassanio and Launcelot gets the job. When they leave, Gratiano enters and requests Bassanio to let him accompany him to Belmont. Bassanio agrees on the conditions that Gratiano will behave like a ...

The Merchant of Venice: Act 1, scene 3 Question and Answers and quick review REVIEW Another change of scene, the audience is back from the radiant cheerfulness of Belmont to ‘hard dealings’, sly tactics and intense racial and religious malice in Venice. Bassanio and Antonio go to Shylock, the usurer, for borrowing three thousand ducats. Shylock sees a lifetime chance of taking revenge from Antonio who had always looked down upon Shylock because of his being a Jew and merciless usurer and Antonio had many times publicly insulted Shylock. Shylock asks Antonio to sign a bond, according to which if he fails to pay the amount within a given time, Shylock would be entitled to take a pound of flesh from his body. Although Bassanio warns him against signing such a bond, Antonio, being confident of his ships’ timely return signs it. Shylock, to make the atmosphere light and to befool Antonio calls it the merry bond and Antonio misjudges Shylock’s intentions in his naivety and says, “The Hebrew...