The Merchant of Venice Question Answers JKBOSE Class 10 English Tulip Book

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The Merchant of Venice Question Answers

 

Jammu and Kashmir Board Class 10 English Tulip Book Lesson 7 The Merchant of Venice Question Answers

 

The Merchant of Venice Question Answers: Looking for The Merchant of Venice important questions and answers for JKBOSE Class 10 English Tulip Book? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practicing JKBOSE Class 10 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the board exam. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring The Merchant of Venice Question answers now. The questions listed below are based on the latest JKBOSE exam pattern. All the exercises and Questions Answers given at the back of the lesson have also been covered.

 

 

Jammu and Kashmir Board Class 10 English Tulip Book Lesson The Merchant of Venice Textbook Questions

 

Exercise

Question Answers

 

Thinking about the Text

  1. Why does Shylock hate Antonio?

Ans. Shylock hates Antonio because Antonio lends money without interest, which affects Shylock’s business. Additionally, Antonio publicly criticizes Shylock for his usury and insults him for being a Jew.

 

  1. How does Antonio help Bassanio?

Ans. Antonio helps Bassanio by borrowing 3,000 ducats from Shylock, using his own life as collateral, so that Bassanio can travel to Belmont to court Portia.

 

  1. How does Shylock feel when Antonio asks for some money? Why is he interested to pay the required sum?

Ans. Shylock feels a mixture of hatred and delight when Antonio asks for money. He sees it as an opportunity to trap Antonio by setting a dangerous condition, and he is interested because it gives him a chance to take revenge on Antonio.

 

  1. What condition does Shylock put forth if the debt is not paid in time?

Ans. Shylock demands that if Antonio fails to repay the loan on time, he must give Shylock a pound of his flesh. 

 

  1. How does Bassanio marry Portia?

Ans. Bassanio marries Portia by choosing the correct casket—a lead one—that contains her portrait, thereby winning her hand in marriage.

 

  1. Why is the case brought before the Duke of Venice?

Ans. The case is brought before the Duke of Venice because Shylock demands his pound of flesh from Antonio as per the bond, and Antonio’s friends seek the Duke’s intervention to save him.

 

  1. Who is disguised as the learned counselor (Doctor Balthasar)? Why has he come to the court of Venice?

Ans. Portia is disguised as Doctor Balthasar. She comes to the court of Venice to defend Antonio and to use her intelligence to save him from Shylock’s bond.

 

  1. How did the counselor start his argument and how was he able to get the judgment in Antonio’s favor?

Ans. The counselor starts the argument by acknowledging Shylock’s right to the bond but advises him to show mercy. Ultimately, she finds a legal loophole, pointing out that Shylock can take his pound of flesh but not shed any of Antonio’s blood, which saves Antonio.

 

  1. How does Portio get back her ring?

Ans. Portia gets back her ring by tricking Bassanio. After the trial, she asks for the ring as a reward for saving Antonio, and Bassanio reluctantly gives it to her, not realizing she was the one who saved him.

 

  1. Describe the theme/s of the play.

Ans. The central themes of The Merchant of Venice include mercy versus justice, the power of friendship, the tension between different religions, and the risks of revenge. These themes explore the moral struggles of the characters and the consequences of their actions.

Language Work

 

  1. Read the following extract:

 

Gertrude, queen of Denmark, becoming a widow by the sudden death of King Hamlet, in less than two months after his death married his brother Claudius, which was noted by all people at the time for a strange act of indiscretion, or unfeelingness, or worse: for this Claudius did no ways resemble her late husband in the qualities of his person or his mind, but was as contemptible in outward appearance, as he was base and unworthy in disposition; and suspicions did not fail to arise in the minds of some, that he had privately made away with his brother, the late king, with the view of marrying his widow, and ascending the throne of Denmark, to the exclusion of young Hamlet, the son of the buried king, and lawful successor to the throne. In vain was all that his mother Gertrude or the king could do to contrive to divert him; he still appeared in court in a suit of deep black, as mourning for the king his father’s death, which mode of dress he had never laid aside, not even in compliment to his mother upon the day she was married, nor could he be brought to join in any of the festivities or rejoicings of that (as appeared to him) disgraceful day. What mostly troubled him was an uncertainty about the manner of his father’s death. It was given out by Claudius that a serpent had stung him; but young Hamlet had shrewd suspicions that Claudius himself was the serpent; in plain English, that he had murdered him for his crown, and that the serpent who stung his father did now sit on the throne. At the sight of his father’s spirit, Hamlet was struck with a sudden surprise and fear. He at first called upon the angels and heavenly ministers to defend them. for he knew not whether it were a good spirit or bad; whether it came for good or evil: but he gradually assumed more courage; and his father (as it seemed to him) looked upon him so piteously, and as it were desiring to have conversation with him, and did in all respects appear so like himself as he was when he lived, that Hamlet could not help addressing him: he called him by his name, Hamlet, King, Father! And when they were alone together, the spirit broke silence, and told him that he was the ghost of Hamlet, his father, who had been cruelly murdered, and he told the manner of it; that it was done by his own brother Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, as Hamlet had already but too much suspected, for the hope of succeeding to his bed and crown. That as he was sleeping in his garden, his custom always in the afternoon, his treasonous brother stole upon him in his sleep, and poured the juice of poisonous henbane into his ears, which has such an antipathy to the life of man, that swift as quicksilver it courses through all the veins of the body, baking up the blood, and spreading a crust like leprosy all over the skin: thus sleeping, by a brother’s hand he was cut off at once from his crown, his queen, and his life: and he adjured hamlet, if he did ever his dear father love that he would revenge his foul murder. And the ghost lamented to his son, that his mother should so fall off from virtue, as to prove false to the wedded love of her first husband, and to marry his murderer, but he cautioned Hamlet, howsoever he proceeded in his revenge against his wicked uncle, by no means to act any violence against the person of his mother, but to leave her to heaven, and to the stings and thorns of conscience. And Hamlet promised to observe the ghost’s direction in all things, and the ghost vanished.

 

  1. Fill in the blanks:

Gertrude is the queen of ______________.

Cladius is Hamlet’s ________. He tells the young Hamlet that his father died of a serpent’s __________.

The spirit that appeared before Hamlet was ________________.

The spirit revealed to Hamlet that _______ killed his father by pouring __________into the ________of his father.

Hamlet resolves to take _________ of his father’s murder.

The ghost advises Hamlet to leave Gertrude to __________.

After advising Hamlet, the ghost ____________.

 

Ans. 

  1. Gertrude is the queen of Denmark.
  2. Claudius is Hamlet’s uncle. He tells the young Hamlet that his father died of a serpent’s sting.
  3. The spirit that appeared before Hamlet was the ghost of his father.
  4. The spirit revealed to Hamlet that Claudius killed his father by pouring poison into the ears of his father.
  5. Hamlet resolves to take revenge for his father’s murder.
  6. The ghost advises Hamlet to leave Gertrude to heaven.
  7. After advising Hamlet, the ghost vanished.

 

  1. Give meanings of the following:

Contemptible, disposition, rejoice, contrive, quicksilver.

 

Ans. 

  1. Contemptible: Deserving scorn or disrespect.
  2. Disposition: A person’s inherent qualities of mind and character.
  3. Rejoice: To feel or show great joy or delight.
  4. Contrive: To plan or devise with cleverness or ingenuity.
  5. Quicksilver: Another name for mercury, used to describe something fast-moving or changeable.

 

  1. Linkers : “So …………..that”

 

Read these sentences:

The storm was so intense that even the beasts were driven to their hiding places.

The forest was so thick that it was almost impenetrable.

‘So……..that’ is used to express the idea of degree.

 

Now complete the following sentences using the appropriate clauses given in the box:

 

(a) The rains were so heavy that…… ………. ……………..

(b) My luggage was so heavy that ……. ……….. ………….

(c) We were so excited that ……… …………… ……………..

(d) He is so careful with money that …… ………. …………..

(e) Arundhati Roy’s first book was so good that ………… ..

  1. …………..even the porter found it difficult to lift.
  2. ……………………he hardly spends at all.

iii. …………… it won her a Booker Prize.

  1. ……………… the whole city was flooded.
  2. …………………. we couldn’t sleep a wink last night.

 

Ans. 

(a) The rains were so heavy that the whole city was flooded.

(b) My luggage was so heavy that even the porter found it difficult to lift.

(c) We were so excited that we couldn’t sleep a wink last night.

(d) He is so careful with money that he hardly spends at all.

(e) Arundhati Roy’s first book was so good that it won her a Booker Prize.

 

Writing Work

 

  1. Antonio suffers because he was generous. Do you think he should have waited for the return of his ships and then helped his friend? Write your response in (150-200) words.

 

Ans. Antonio’s generosity is a key part of his character, but in this instance, it leads to significant suffering. While his selfless help to Bassanio shows the strength of their friendship, waiting for the return of his ships would have been a more practical decision. If Antonio had waited, he would have avoided risking his life and entering a dangerous bond with Shylock. However, his immediate action highlights his loyalty and trust in Bassanio. Antonio values friendship more than wealth, but this choice shows how uncalculated generosity can sometimes result in unintended consequences. In hindsight, waiting for his ships would have been wiser, yet it would have changed the course of the story and the lesson it teaches about the balance between generosity and prudence.

 

  1. Write the character of Shylock.

 

Ans. Shylock is portrayed as a complex character driven by a deep desire for revenge and justice. As a Jewish moneylender, he has suffered years of discrimination and humiliation, particularly at the hands of Antonio. His resentment towards Antonio is not just personal but also reflects the larger religious and cultural divide between Christians and Jews in Venice. Shylock is cunning, calculating, and vengeful, but at the same time, he is a victim of prejudice and mistreatment. His insistence on the bond and his refusal to show mercy highlight his need for control and retribution. However, his downfall reveals the limitations of such rigid pursuit of justice without compassion. Despite his flaws, Shylock evokes some sympathy as a character wronged by society.

 

  1. Write a brief paragraph (150-200 words) on friendship.

 

Ans. Friendship is a bond of mutual trust, support, and understanding between individuals. It provides comfort and companionship during both joyous and challenging times. True friends are those who stand by each other through thick and thin, offering advice, encouragement, and sometimes even constructive criticism. Friendships, like those between Antonio and Bassanio, are built on loyalty and selflessness, where personal sacrifices are made for the happiness of the other. However, it is important to strike a balance between generosity and wisdom in friendships to avoid unintended consequences. A good friendship helps individuals grow and become better versions of themselves, while also offering a space of security and warmth.

 

 

Jammu and Kashmir Board Class 10 English Tulip Book Lesson The Merchant of Venice Extra Questions

 

Multiple Choice Questions

  1. Why does Shylock dislike Antonio? 

(A) Because Antonio is a rival merchant
(B) Because Antonio lends money without interest
(C) Because Antonio insulted him
(D) All of the above

 

  1. What does Bassanio need the money for? 

(A) To repay a debt
(B) To propose to Portia
(C) To buy a house
(D) To travel to Venice

 

  1. How does Antonio plan to repay Shylock? 

(A) From his savings
(B) By selling his ships
(C) From the profit of his ships at sea
(D) By borrowing from another merchant

 

  1. What is the bond between Antonio and Shylock? 

(A) Antonio must repay the money in six months
(B) Antonio will owe Shylock double the amount
(C) Antonio must forfeit a pound of flesh if he fails to repay
(D) Antonio will become Shylock’s servant if he fails to repay

 

  1. How does Portia disguise herself to save Antonio? 

(A) As a merchant
(B) As a judge
(C) As a lawyer
(D) As a doctor

 

  1. Why does Shylock refuse to accept the money Bassanio offers him at the trial? 

(A) He wants Antonio’s life
(B) He wants more money
(C) He doesn’t trust Bassanio
(D) He only wants the pound of flesh

 

  1. What trick does Portia use to prevent Shylock from cutting Antonio’s flesh? 

(A) She threatens Shylock with arrest
(B) She points out that the bond allows flesh but no blood
(C) She offers him more money
(D) She reveals that Antonio has paid the debt

 

  1. What is the final fate of Shylock after the trial? 

(A) He is imprisoned
(B) He loses all his wealth
(C) He is forced to convert to Christianity
(D) He leaves Venice forever

 

  1. How does Portia get back the ring from Bassanio? 

(A) She asks him directly
(B) She pretends to be offended until he gives it
(C) She tells Antonio to ask for the ring
(D) She offers to trade it for a gift

 

  1. What is the theme of The Merchant of Venice? 

(A) The dangers of revenge
(B) The power of love
(C) Justice versus mercy
(D) All of the above

Answers:

  1. (D) All of the above
  2. (B) To propose to Portia
  3. (C) From the profit of his ships at sea
  4. (C) Antonio must forfeit a pound of flesh if he fails to repay
  5. (C) As a lawyer
  6. (D) He only wants the pound of flesh
  7. (B) She points out that the bond allows flesh but no blood
  8. (C) He is forced to convert to Christianity
  9. (B) She pretends to be offended until he gives it
  10. (D) All of the above

 

 

Extract- Based Questions

A. “Shylock, the Jew, lived in Venice. A usurer by profession, he had amassed an immense fortune by lending money at high interest to Christian merchants. Being a hard-hearted man, he demanded the payment of the money he lent with such severity that he was much disliked by all good men, particularly Antonio, a young merchant of Venice. Shylock hated Antonio, because Antonio used to lend money to people in distress without taking any interest. As a result, there was great enmity between this greedy Jew and the generous Antonio. Whenever they met on the Rialto (Exchange), Antonio reproached Shylock for his cruel usury. Shylock bore these reproaches with seeming patience, while secretly meditating revenge.”

 

  1. Where did Shylock live?

Ans. Shylock lived in Venice.

 

  1. How did Shylock accumulate his wealth?

Ans. He amassed his fortune by lending money at high interest to Christian merchants.

 

  1. Why was Shylock disliked by many people?

Ans. Shylock was disliked because he demanded harsh repayments of the money he lent.

 

  1. Why did Shylock hate Antonio?

Ans. Shylock hated Antonio because Antonio lent money without charging interest, undermining Shylock’s business.

 

  1. How did Shylock respond to Antonio’s reproaches?

Ans.  Shylock bore Antonio’s reproaches with seeming patience but secretly plotted revenge.

 

B. “Antonio’s friend Bassanio was in love with Portia, a rich and beautiful lady from Belmont. He wanted to propose to her but lacked the money to present himself as a wealthy suitor. He approached Antonio for help. At that moment, Antonio had no money readily available, as all his wealth was tied up in his merchant ships at sea. Nonetheless, eager to assist his friend, Antonio decided to borrow the necessary sum of three thousand ducats from Shylock.”

 

  1. Who was Bassanio in love with?

Ans. Bassanio was in love with Portia, a wealthy lady from Belmont.

 

  1. Why did Bassanio need money?

Ans. He needed money to propose to Portia and present himself as a wealthy suitor.

 

  1. Why couldn’t Antonio immediately provide the money to Bassanio?

Ans. Antonio had no ready money because his wealth was tied up in his ships at sea.

 

  1. How much money did Bassanio need?

Ans. Bassanio needed three thousand ducats.

 

  1. What did Antonio decide to do to help Bassanio?

Ans. Antonio decided to borrow the money from Shylock to help Bassanio.

 

C. “Antonio and Bassanio went to Shylock, asking for the loan. Shylock, recalling how Antonio had insulted him on many occasions, expressed his bitterness. He recounted how Antonio had called him a “cutthroat dog” and spat on him. Yet, Shylock agreed to lend the money, but he devised a cruel condition: if Antonio failed to repay the loan by the specified date, Shylock would claim a pound of Antonio’s flesh as the penalty. Antonio, confident that his ships would return in time, agreed to this unusual bond.”

 

  1. What did Shylock recall about Antonio’s behavior toward him?

Ans. Shylock recalled how Antonio had insulted him, called him a “cutthroat dog,” and spat on him.

 

  1. How did Shylock react when Antonio asked for the loan?

Ans. Despite his bitterness, Shylock agreed to lend the money but imposed a cruel condition.

 

  1. What was the condition of the loan?

Ans. The condition was that if Antonio failed to repay the loan, Shylock could take a pound of Antonio’s flesh.

 

  1. Why did Antonio agree to such a bond?

Ans. Antonio was confident his ships would return in time with enough money to repay the loan.

 

  1. What was the amount Shylock agreed to lend?

Ans. Shylock agreed to lend three thousand ducats.

 

D. “In the courtroom, Portia, disguised as a lawyer, argued the case. She acknowledged that Shylock had a legal right to his pound of flesh according to the bond. However, she appealed to him to show mercy. Shylock refused. Portia then cleverly pointed out that the bond allowed Shylock to take a pound of flesh but said nothing about shedding blood. Therefore, Shylock could take his flesh, but if he shed any blood, he would be guilty of breaking the law. This argument saved Antonio’s life, as it was impossible to take the flesh without spilling blood.”

 

  1. Who was disguised as a lawyer in the courtroom?

Ans. Portia was disguised as a lawyer.

 

  1. What did Portia first argue regarding Shylock’s claim?

Ans. She acknowledged that Shylock had the right to claim a pound of flesh according to the bond.

 

  1. How did Portia appeal to Shylock before her legal argument?

Ans. She appealed to him to show mercy, but Shylock refused.

 

  1. What crucial detail did Portia highlight in the bond?

Ans. Portia pointed out that the bond allowed Shylock to take flesh but not to shed any blood.

 

  1. What was the effect of Portia’s argument on Shylock’s claim?

Ans. Portia’s argument made it impossible for Shylock to take the flesh without breaking the law, thus saving Antonio’s life.

 

E. “After the trial, Shylock was forced to face punishment for plotting against Antonio’s life. According to Venetian law, Shylock’s wealth was divided—half would go to the state and the other half to Antonio. However, Antonio generously chose to give his portion to Shylock’s daughter, Jessica, who had married a Christian. Shylock, devastated by his defeat, was also spared the death penalty, but only after agreeing to convert to Christianity. In the end, Shylock left the court humiliated, having lost both his wealth and his pride.”

 

  1. What punishment did Shylock face after the trial?

Ans. Shylock’s wealth was divided, with half going to the state and half to Antonio.

 

  1. What did Antonio do with his portion of Shylock’s wealth?

Ans. Antonio generously gave his portion to Shylock’s daughter, Jessica.

 

  1. What other condition was imposed on Shylock besides losing his wealth?

Ans. Shylock was forced to convert to Christianity.

 

  1. How did Shylock react to the outcome of the trial?

Ans. Shylock was devastated and humiliated by the loss of his wealth and pride.

 

  1. Was Shylock sentenced to death?

Ans. No, Shylock was spared the death penalty but had to convert to Christianity.

 

 

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