[SHAKESPEARE : THE MERCHANT OF VENICE]
QUESTION1. Read the extract given below and answe the questions put there on it: [10]
In my school day
Jost one shaft,
I shot his fellow oft e serf-same flight
The self-san Jandard watch,
To find the other forth; and by adventuring both,
I oft found both.
0
In what context does the speaker speak these words?
Write the meaning of the extract. What does the speaker want to establish with this
childhood example?
What aspect of the speaker's personality is revealed here?
What assurance does the speaker give here?
How does Antonio respond to these words?
(iv)
(v)
[SECTION -B : POETRY]
Answers
Answer:
The speaker is Bassanio .
Explanation:
He fell in love with a beautiful , rich lady named Portia who lived in Belmont .
Bassanio wanted to present himself as an eligible suitor to Portia since many suitors had already came and failed in their fortune .
However he did not had enough money to do so .
Hence he went to Antonio to borrow some amount of money so that he can win Portia and woo her if he wins the casket challenge arranged by Portia's' father .
Perhaps , Bassanio had earlier also borrowed some amount from Antonio which he had not yet returned . Therefore , to convince Antonio to lend more money , Bassanio tends to give his childhood example to assure him that he will give the total sum altogether afterwards.
MEANING :
the extract gives the childish example given by Bassanio in which he says that in his school days he used to play bow and arrow and if an arrow got lost or out of target then by shooting another arrow in the same direction , he always found both the arrows .
The speaker wants to establish that he has no doubt that he can always fetch two requirements at a time needed to fulfill a necessary task even if the first one does not come in time .
By saying this he is assuring Antonio that he will surely repay both of his debt at a single time after presenting himself as a suitor to Portia .
ASPECT :
This shows that the speaker is confident upon himself and totally depends on his superstitions .
He is not practical rather he is more hypothetical because he thinks that he can repay his debts at one time afterwards which is obviously almost impossible .
Also he is depicted having a childish and a naughty nature who knows very well about how to butter someone up . He is not futuristic and thinks only of the present .
ASSURANCE :
the speaker gives the assurance that he will return all his debts together after he has presented himself as a suitor to Portia .
RESPOND :
Antonio , being a kind and grateful person , agrees to grant him whatever the speaker asks and also requests to let him know that what it is that the speaker needs .