National Division School Year: 2022- 2023

English Department Name: _______________________

Grade: M1 (_______) Date: ________________________

End of Year Revision

Literature:

I)The Merchant of Venice:

1.Without Antonio, Bassanio wouldn't have been able to marry Portia. Explain.
Bassanio had spent all his money on his luxurious way of living. Now, he needs
money in order to be able to marry Portia, so he goes to Antonio to lend him
money. Unfortunately, Antonio didn't have any ready money because all his
money is now at sea. However, Antonio agrees to borrow three thousand ducats
from his enemy Shylock and sign a risky contract, only to help his friend. Bassanio
took the money and went to Belmont to try his luck and marry Portia.
2.Shylock is considered to be the villain of the play. Give two pieces of evidence to
support your answer.
Actually, Shylock was discovered as a devil twice. First, his servant, Launcelot,
called him that because he starved and mistreated him. Second, his daughter,
Jessica, called him that because she was ashamed of his behavior and of being his
daughter. He also lends people money at high interest. Besides, during Antonio's
trial, he refused to show any mercy and insisted on taking his pound of flesh to
kill Antonio. He also refused to take as much money as he wanted only to take
revenge on Antonio. All this proves that he was the villain of the play.
3. Antonio and Shylock are totally two different personalities. Discuss.
Antonio is a Christian. He is loved and respected by everyone. He lends people
money without taking interest at all. He is ready to sacrifice his life to help his
friend. Though Shylock showed no mercy towards him, he was merciful and told
Shylock that he wouldn't take half of his money only on two conditions: become a
Christian and leave his money to Jessica and Lorenzo after his death. In contrast,
Shylock is a Jew. He is hated and disrespected by everyone even his own daughter.
He is materialistic and that was clear when his daughter escaped with his money.
He preferred her death than escaping with his money. He is merciless as he
refused to show any mercy and insisted on taking Antonio's pound of flesh to kill
him. He lent people money at high interest.
4.Which box did Bassanio choose? What does it reveal about his character?
He chose the lead box because he believed that we shouldn't judge by what we
see. It shows that he is clever as he wasn't deceived by the appearance of the
other two boxes unlike Morocco and Arragon.
5.Portia is a considerate woman. Discuss.
When Bassanio told her about Antonio's tight situation and that he was about to
lose his life because of Bassanio's debt, she didn't hesitate to offer him as much
money as he needed to go and save his friend's life. She also made a clever plan
with the help of Dr. Bellario, her cousin.
6.Antonio proved to be a noble and respectful Christian. Discuss using evidence.
Antonio is loved and respected by everyone. He lends people money without
taking interest at all. He is ready to sacrifice his life to help his friend. Though
Shylock showed no mercy towards him, he was merciful and told Shylock that he
wouldn't take half of his money only on two conditions: become a Christian and
leave his money to Jessica and Lorenzo after his death.
7.During the trial scene, Shylock kept on repeating the phrase "What a wise judge!
What a good judge!". Who was the judge Shylock talking about? Why did he
describe the judge using these words?
Shylock was talking about Portia (dressed as a lawyer). He described the judge
using these words because at the beginning Portia gave the impression that she
was on Shylock's side. At first, she said that the laws of Venice can't stop this
payment and later she added that the law says that he can have what is in the
contract. Normally, Shylock thought she was on his side not knowing that later
she would use this same contract to turn the whole situation against him.
8.Shylock had more than one chance to show mercy, but he chose not to. Discuss
mentioning his motive.
At the beginning of the trial, the Duke of Venice tried to convince him to show
mercy towards Antonio and that everyone believed that Shylock waited for the
last moment to show mercy. Later, Portia kept talking to him about the divine and
holy quality of mercy to convince him to forgive Antonio. However, Shylock
refused to show any mercy. This shows that the real motive of the bond between
him and Antonio was to take revenge.
9.Shylock's hatred and grudge led to his destruction. Elaborate.
When Antonio wanted to borrow money from Shylock, Shylock said that he
wouldn't take any interest. He said in case Antonio failed in paying his debt, he
would take a pound of his flesh. He claimed that it was for fun only. However, his
real intention was to kill Antonio. When Antonio couldn't pay his debt, Shylock
refused to show any mercy and insisted on taking his revenge. As a result, the law
couldn't allow him to kill a citizen especially that "blood" wasn't mentioned in the
bond. Shylock's money would go half of it to Antonio and the other half to the
state of Venice. Antonio was merciful enough to spare him his half only on two
conditions: become a Christian and leave his money to Jessica and Lorenzo after
his death.
10.The play ends happily for all the characters except Shylock. Discuss.
Portia and Bassanio got married. Thanks to Portia's help, Antonio didn't die and
three of his ships returned, so he became wealthy again. Jessica and Lorenzo got
married and they would get half of Shylock's money after his death. Shylock was
the only one who was miserable. His daughter escaped with his money and
married a Christian. He had to be a Christian himself to keep half of his money.
The other half of his money will go to the state of Venice. He wasn't able to take
his revenge on Antonio.
11.Portia, Nerissa and Jessica disguised for different reasons. How far were they
successful in accomplishing their aims?
Portia was disguised as a lawyer and Nerissa was disguised as his clerk. They both
travelled to Venice to help Antonio in his case against Shylock. Portia really
succeeded in rescuing Antonio since the word "blood" isn't mentioned in the
bond. Jessica was disguised as a boy to be able to escape and marry Lorenzo. She
succeeded in doing so and nobody recognized her. They travelled to Belmont and
stayed at Portia's house.
12."You have given me back my life." Comment fully.
Antonio said these words to Portia at her house in Belmont. She gave him a letter
stating that three of his ships returned which meant he is rich again. He is grateful
to her for two reasons. First, she saved his life from being killed by Shylock.
Second, she gave him this letter with happy news.
13. "I cannot choose anything. I cannot even choose my husband."
a.Who is the speaker and who is the addressee?
Portia said these words to Nerissa.
b.Why doesn't the speaker have the freedom of choice?
Portia's father had left her a strict will before he died concerning her marriage.
He has left her three boxes. The man who chooses the wrong box must swear
never to marry or tell anyone which box they chose. Thus, Portia had no freedom
of choice.
c. How do you think the speaker felt? Why?
She felt oppressed and miserable because she can't marry the man she loves. She
fears that a man she doesn't love would choose the right box and she has to abide
by her father's will.
14."The devil lives in this house and you were the only one who brought me some
smiles." Comment fully.
Jessica said these words to Launcelot, Shylock's servant, at Shylock's house.
Launcelot decided to leave Shylock because he starved him and mistreated him.
He would work for Bassanio. Jessica was upset because she hates her father and
calls him a "devil". Launcelot was the only person who made life bearable at that
house. Theme of good Vs. evil. The good is represented in Launcelot and Jessica
who objected to her father's behavior and the evil is represented in Shylock who
treated everyone badly even his daughter who decided to become a Christian and
marry Lorenzo. This shows that Jessica is a strong rebellious woman, unlike
women at her age.
15."With this ring, I give everything to you. But if you lose it or give it away, our
love will be ruined."
a.What is the ring symbol of?
The ring is a symbol of the eternal bond between Portia and Bassanio. It is a
symbol of love and marriage.
b.Was Bassanio able to keep his promise to Portia? Why?
No, because at the trial when the lawyer asked for the ring, Bassanio refused, but
later Antonio blamed him and told him he must give the ring for the lawyer in
return of saving his life.
16."We cannot judge only by what we see. The outside wall does not show the
beauty that may live inside."
a.Who is the speaker and who is the addressee?
Bassanio said these words to Portia.
b.What does the previous quotation reveal about the speaker's character?
It showed that he is a wise and experienced person who doesn't judge by
appearance. His insight helped him to choose the right box.
c. Discuss one of the themes highlighted here.
Theme of appearance verses reality since Bassanio wasn't deceived by the
appearance of the gold and silver boxes, unlike the other two suitors. He was able
to choose the right box, the lead box, and marry Portia whom he loved dearly.
17."I would rather see my daughter dead than gone with all my riches!" Comment
fully.
Shylock said these words to his friend Tubal. He was angry at his daughter for
escaping with his money. He was looking for her everywhere with the help of his
friend. He couldn't bear the idea that she had escaped with his money to the
extent that he wished she was dead. This shows how a terrible father he is. He is
materialistic as he cares about his money more that his daughter.

18."Let me have my judgment, and the Jew his payment."

a. What is the payment the speaker talking about here?
The payment is Antonio's pound of flesh.
b. What does the previous quotation reveal about the speaker's character?
It shows how respectful, wise and religious he is. He accepts his fate with no
objection. Besides, he totally understands that there was no use arguing with
Shylock.
c. Discuss the theme.
Discuss any of these themes: revenge / intolerance/ good versus evil.
19."The agreement does not speak of blood." Comment fully.
Portia said these words to Shylock at the court during Antonio's trial. After Portia
told Shylock he could take his pound of flesh freely, she clarified that he couldn't
take one drop of blood since it wasn't written in the bond. In that way, she was
able to save Antonio from Shylock. She showed that she was a clever woman.
Theme of justice because in the end the law saved Antonio from being killed. You
could also refer to the theme of hatred or good versus evil.

20."That is how a good act shines in a bad world." Comment fully.

Portia said these words when they arrived at her house in Belmont after
Antonio's trial. She meant that when people do a good act it is reflected
everywhere. By the good act here, she meant Antonio helping Bassanio and Portia
helping Antonio. It shows that she is kind and wise. Refer to theme of good versus
evil.

II)Poetry:
Be a Friend
By: Edgar Guest

Be a friend. You don't need money:

Just a disposition sunny;
Just the wish to help another
Get along some way or other;

Just a kindly hand extended

Out to one who's unbefriended;
Just the will to give or lend,
This will make you someone's friend.

Be a friend. You don't need glory.

Friendship is a simple story.
Pass by trifling errors blindly,
Gaze on honest effort kindly,
 Cheer the youth who's bravely trying,
Pity him who's sadly sighing;
Just a little labor spend
On the duties of a friend.

Be a friend. The pay is bigger

(Though not written by a figure)
Than is earned by people clever
In what's merely self-endeavor.

You'll have friends instead of neighbors

For the profits of your labors;
You'll be richer in the end
Than a prince, if you're a friend.

- disposition: personality or attitude

- glory: honour or fame
- self-endeavour: hard work by one's
self
Answer the following questions:
1. Do you agree or disagree with Guest’s idea of friendship? Do you think it is simple to
be a friend or it requires hard work too? Use examples to support your answer.
Opinion question.

2. Paraphrase stanzas five and six.

The poet says that although smart people work for money, they can also earn a
more valuable kind of wealth by being friendly. Moreover, he says that the
moment our neighbors be our friends, we will be richer than royalty.
3. Explain the figure of speech in “just disposition and sunny”.
Metaphor: the poet compares the person’s character and personality to a shining
sun.
4. Pick out TWO different sound devices and explain them
a- Repetition of the word "friend" to emphasize the theme of being a friend.
b- Alliteration in “simple story”; the repetition of the sound "s" creates a musical
effect to the poem
5. Identify the rhyme scheme of the poem.
Each stanza follows a rhyme scheme of AABB.