Sometimes from her eyes
I did receive fair speechless messages Her name is Portia, Nothing undervalued
To Cato's daughter, Brutus Portia
Where does the scene take place? Who all are present there? What are they talking about at the beginning of the scene?
(ii) What confession has Bassanio made to Antonio earlier about his financial position? How does Bassanio propose to payback his previous loan as well as present loan?
(iii) What is meant by fair speechless message" How does he describe Portia
to the listener? (iv) What evidence is there to show that Portia's fame had spread throughout the world?
(v) Who are Cato and Brutus? Why are they referred to here?
Maximum marks: 80
[3]
[3]
[3]
[31
[4]
Answers
Answer:
1. The scene takes place in a street in Venice. people who are present there at that time are Antonio and Bassanio.
2.Bassanio is a spendthrift .He has wasted his all money in luxury making. He asks Antonio to give him three thousand ducats.He says to him to lend him money this time so that he could go to Belmont and woo Portia. He says that he will take care this time that he will repay his both the loans on time.
3. Fair speechless messages means that Bassanio has noticed some unspoken messages from Portia for him from her eyes. He describes that Portia is beautiful as well as virtuous, making her more beautiful than her physical beauty.
4. "Many Jason's come in quest of her". many adventurous suitors come across the country to woo her.
5. according to greek mythology , Cato's was the father of Portia and Brutus was the husband of Portia, he was a brave roman general, the leader of the conspiracy against Julius Caesar. Portia here is compared to portia of Julius Caesar.