Merchant of Venice. - Repositories
Merchant of Venice. - Repositories Merchant of Venice. - Repositories
132 NOTES [ACT I I. 47. sadness. Miss Bates asks whether the sadness of the Count resembles that of Antonio. Does it ? Does it resemble that of the "dumb wise men " that Gratiano talked about ? 1. 50. by. What other preposition would be used here today? 1. 61. requite him. How ? 1. 64. What words are punned upon ? 1. 68. proper. Pretty. 1. 70. suited. Dressed. 1. 79. sealed under. Became surety for. Explain the transaction. 1. 85. an. If. "An" occurs very often in Shakespeare with this meaning. 1. 86. fall. In the sense intended here, what prefix would we put to this word ? L 92. contrary. Wrong. 1. 100. sort. Manner. 1. 101. imposition. Command. How have we narrowed its meaning ? 1. 102. Sibylla. There were in Roman story several prophetic women known as sibyls. This one was doubtless the Cumsean Sibyl, to whom Apollo promised as many years of life as she could hold grains of sand in her hand. She unfortunately forgot to ask for youth, and at last after many centuries she withered away until she was only a voice.
SCENE 2.] NOTES 133 I. 103. Diana. The sister of Apollo, and a virgin. 1.119. four. What should the number be ? Some think that this shows a trace of an old play that Shakespeare used as the basis of the Merchant of Venice. 1.125. condition. Disposition. II. 1-129. About which one of the suitors does Portia make the most cutting remarks ? Why, probably, have these suitors given up the attempt to win Portia ? Does Portia feel that she is doing wrong to " mock " the suitors as she does in this scene ? Does she show her confidence in Nerissa? What have you learned from this scene of Portia's age, appearance, education, and character ? Does Nerissa know which is the right casket ? Why do you think that Portia's father made such a will? Ought Portia to obey the will under all circumstances ? Is she determined to do so? Why is Portia "aweary of this great world"? What do we learn of Bassanio from this scene? Was he right in his impression of Portia's feeling toward himself ? What purpose does Nerissa serve in this scene ? Recall all the comparisons made or implied in this scene. Which seems the most witty ? Which the most beautiful ? (Make references to definite lines.) Keep in mind all you learn of the character of Portia and of Bassanio, that later you may discuss their characters in themes. Read over, toward the end of the notes, the article entitled. The Metre of the Play. Where do you find prose in these last two scenes, and what seems in each case to be the reason for the change from verse to prose, or vice versa ? Where do you find incomplete lines, or Alexandrines ? Reasons for such lines ? Find three lines, in each of which a trochee or an anapest is
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SCENE 2.] NOTES 133<br />
I. 103. Diana. The sister <strong>of</strong> Apollo, and a virgin.<br />
1.119. four. What should the number be ? Some think<br />
that this shows a trace <strong>of</strong> an old play that Shakespeare used as<br />
the basis <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Merchant</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Venice</strong>.<br />
1.125. condition. Disposition.<br />
II. 1-129. About which one <strong>of</strong> the suitors does Portia make<br />
the most cutting remarks ? Why, probably, have these suitors<br />
given up the attempt to win Portia ? Does Portia feel that she<br />
is doing wrong to " mock " the suitors as she does in this scene ?<br />
Does she show her confidence in Nerissa? What have you<br />
learned from this scene <strong>of</strong> Portia's age, appearance, education,<br />
and character ? Does Nerissa know which is the right casket ?<br />
Why do you think that Portia's father made such a will? Ought<br />
Portia to obey the will under all circumstances ? Is she determined<br />
to do so? Why is Portia "aweary <strong>of</strong> this great<br />
world"? What do we learn <strong>of</strong> Bassanio from this scene?<br />
Was he right in his impression <strong>of</strong> Portia's feeling toward himself<br />
? What purpose does Nerissa serve in this scene ? Recall<br />
all the comparisons made or implied in this scene. Which<br />
seems the most witty ? Which the most beautiful ? (Make<br />
references to definite lines.) Keep in mind all you learn <strong>of</strong> the<br />
character <strong>of</strong> Portia and <strong>of</strong> Bassanio, that later you may discuss<br />
their characters in themes.<br />
Read over, toward the end <strong>of</strong> the notes, the article entitled.<br />
The Metre <strong>of</strong> the Play. Where do you find prose in these last<br />
two scenes, and what seems in each case to be the reason for the<br />
change from verse to prose, or vice versa ? Where do you find<br />
incomplete lines, or Alexandrines ? Reasons for such lines ?<br />
Find three lines, in each <strong>of</strong> which a trochee or an anapest is
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