Merchant of Venice: Act 3 Scene 2 (Workbook Answer: 4 to 6)
Merchant of Venice
Act 3 - Scene 2
(Workbook Answers: 4 to 6)
Extract 4
Answer 1: In the given extract the theme of appearance and reality is highlighted. Bassanio, commenting on the caskets, says that a pretty exterior may often hide a rotten interior. Most people fall for the outward appearance instead of the inward appearance. He is highlighting this theme by providing the examples of lawyers, religious beliefs and cases of cowards who assume outward signs of valour.
Answer 2: Bassanio says that every wrong has some appearance of virtue. He explains it through the example of a lawyer. A lawyer can hide his weakness by his appearance and smooth talk. This gives him the appearance of a wise man in front of people. Similarly, religious preachers can justify any wrongdoing by claiming it is not a sin in god's eyes.
Answer 3: 'Stairs of sand' refer to a stairway made of shifting sand. Such a stairway is unreliable and easily falls off. These stairs are compared to cowards who grow beards to give them the appearance of great warriors like Hercules and Mars. They create this appearance to make the people believe that they are brave and strong.
Answer 4: It was the belief of the people of England that a brave man's liver was red in colour and the cowards had white livers.
Answer 5: Hercules was a great hero in the Greek mythology and Mars was the Roman God of war. Hercules and Mars are referred to here because they represent strength, manliness and bravery.
Extract 5
Answer 1: Bassanio says that beauty can be easily achieved through chemicals i.e. by makeup. Cosmetics that are used in makeup can be purchased from a shop. They change the appearance of a woman. The word lightest has two meanings in the extract. One meaning is that it makes the women fair in colour. The other meaning is that the person cannot be trusted.
Answer 2: 'Crisped snaky golden locks' refer to wigs. Bassanio says that people wear wigs to increase their beauty. This hair is not real. In fact, the hair in the wigs belonged to dead people.
Answer 3: The 'dowry of a second head' refers to a wig worn by a woman. A dead woman had bred this head. The head is now in a grave.
Answer 4: Bassanio says that outward appearance is always deceptive. It is like the attractive sea shore that is very dangerous but people visit the seashore attracted by its beauty.
Answer 5: Two examples mentioned by Bassanio are:
(i) The shiny golden wig that many women wear is made from the hair of dead people.
(ii) The lovely stars that hides the ugly face of an Indian beauty.
Answer 2: 'Crisped snaky golden locks' refer to wigs. Bassanio says that people wear wigs to increase their beauty. This hair is not real. In fact, the hair in the wigs belonged to dead people.
Answer 3: The 'dowry of a second head' refers to a wig worn by a woman. A dead woman had bred this head. The head is now in a grave.
Answer 4: Bassanio says that outward appearance is always deceptive. It is like the attractive sea shore that is very dangerous but people visit the seashore attracted by its beauty.
Answer 5: Two examples mentioned by Bassanio are:
(i) The shiny golden wig that many women wear is made from the hair of dead people.
(ii) The lovely stars that hides the ugly face of an Indian beauty.
Extract 6
Answer 1: The gentle scroll was in the lead casket. On the scroll it was written that since he has not chosen by outward appearances, he may be fortunate and make his choice as wisely as he has done. Since this fortune has come to him, he should be satisfied and seek nothing more for his happiness. If he is pleased with his luck and feels that fate has brought him happiness, he should go to his beloved and claim her as his own with a loving kiss.
Answer 2: The speaker has won Portia. The speaker chose the correct casket i.e the lead casket containing Portia's portrait. Bassanio was impressed by the simplicity of the lead casket. Besides the inscription on the casket said that the man who chooses it must give and hazard all he has.
Answer 3: The speaker was asked to go to the lady and claim her as his own with a loving kiss and receive a kiss from her.
Answer 4:
(a) Loud applause of joy.
(b) Completely filled with joy.
Answer 5: Bassanio compares himself to a participant who is trying to win a contest. He compares himself to someone who wins the prize in the contest.
Answer 2: The speaker has won Portia. The speaker chose the correct casket i.e the lead casket containing Portia's portrait. Bassanio was impressed by the simplicity of the lead casket. Besides the inscription on the casket said that the man who chooses it must give and hazard all he has.
Answer 3: The speaker was asked to go to the lady and claim her as his own with a loving kiss and receive a kiss from her.
Answer 4:
(a) Loud applause of joy.
(b) Completely filled with joy.
Answer 5: Bassanio compares himself to a participant who is trying to win a contest. He compares himself to someone who wins the prize in the contest.
Bassanio is full of joy after choosing the correct casket. He hears a loud applause from the people in the room. He is so much in shock that he can't believe that he has made the correct choice.