Class 8 English - The Merchant of Venice - Questions & Answers


Class 8 English - The Merchant of Venice - Questions and Answers | Questions and Answers for Class 8 English - Unit 5 SHARE AND CARE | Std 8 English - The Merchant of Venice - Questions & Answers | Textual Activities

1. Why did Bassanio approach Antonio?
Answer: Bassanio approached Antonio to borrow money as he wanted to dress himself up as a suitor to Portia, the rich heiress.

2. Who was Shylock and how did he become rich?
Answer: Shylock was a money lender. He became rich by lending money at a very high interest to the merchants.

3. Why did Shylock hate Antonio?
Answer: Because Antonio used to lend money to the needy without taking any interest.

4. What was Antonio’s attitude towards Shylock?
Answer: Antonio disliked Shylock.

5. What were the conditions in the bond signed between Antonio and Shylock?
Answer: If he didn’t repay the money in time, he would forfeit a pound of flesh, to be cut off from any part of his body.

6. ‘No’, cried Bassanio, ‘you shall run no such risk for me’. What is the risk referred to here?
Answer: The risk is that Antonio may lose his life if they are unable to pay the debt.

7. What were the caskets made of?
Answer: The first casket was made of gold, the second one silver and the third one was made of lead.

8. Why did Portia arrive in Venice disguised as a lawyer?
Answer: To help Antonio

9. Why did Shylock insist on having the pound of flesh?
Answer: He wanted to take revenge on Antonio whom he hated.

10. Why did Shylock refuse the money offered by Bassanio?
Answer: Because he wanted to see Antonio dead.

11. ‘Hearing this, Shylock was totally confused’. Why was Shy-lock confused?
Answer: It was utterly impossible for Shylock to cut off the pound of flesh without shedding Antonio’s blood.

12. Why was Shylock ready to take the money?
Answer: Because he was cornered. He had defeated himself in his cruel intent.

13. What did the young lawyer ask as a reward?
Answer: The young lawyer wanted Bassanio’s ring that was presented to him by his wife, Portia.

14. How does the play become a comical adventure at the end?
Answer: The play becomes a comical adventure when Bassanio realizes that the young lawyer was his wife Portia in disguise

Let’s revisit
Activity 1.
The following events are in a jumbled order. Put them in the correct order as a
paragraph.
Question 1.
A. 
1. Shylock lends Antonio three thousand ducats.
2. Portia married Bassanio.
3. Antonio failed to pay the debt.
4. Shylock hated Antonio because he used to lend money without interest.
5. Shylock wanted Antonio’s flesh.
6. Portia rescued Antonio from the punishment.
Answer:
A. 
1. Shylock hated Antonio because he used to lend money without interest.
2. Shylock lends Antonio three thousand ducats.
3. Portia married Bassanio.
4. Antonio failed to pay the debt.
5. Shylock wanted Antonio’s flesh.
6. Portia rescued Antonio from the punishment

B. 
1. Portia arrived disguised as a young lawyer.
2. Shylock was not ready to be merciful
3. The young lawyer saved the life of Antonio.
4. The day of the trial arrived.
5. Antonio was prepared to die.
6. The Duke pleaded with him to be kind.
Answer:
B. 
1. The day of the trial arrived.
2. The Duke pleaded with him to be kind.
3. Shylock was not ready to be merciful.
4. Antonio was prepared to die.
5. Portia arrived disguised as a young lawyer.
6. The young lawyer saved the life of Antonio.

The Merchant of Venice Additional Questions and Answers
1. Read the excerpt from the story ‘The Merchant of Venice’ and answer the questions that follow.
Bassanio loved a girl named Portia, a very wealthy lady living in Belmont. Her
father died some time ago and she was the only heiress to a large estate. Portia
too loved Bassanio. Now he thought of improving his fortune by marrying her.
One day Bassanio came to Antonio and told him about his love for Portia and that he must go very soon to Belmont as a suitor to Portia. But he did not have any money even to dress himself suitably as the lover of so rich an heiress. So he asked Antonio to help him. Bassanio wanted his friend to lend him three thousand ducats. But it so happened that Antonio had spent all his money on his ships and so had no money with him. But he expected some of his ships to come home soon laden with merchandise. Hence, he decided to borrow the amount from Shylock who was a money lender.
Shylock had become very rich by lending money at a very high interest to
merchants. He was a hard-hearted man and was very severe with his customers. So, he was much disliked by all good men. Antonio also disliked Shylock for being so ambitious and greedy for money. He used to lend money to needy people without taking any interest. Therefore, there was great enmity between the greedy Shylock and Antonio.
1. What was the name of Bassanio’s lover?
2. Why did all the good men dislike Shylock?
3. What did Bassanio ask Antonio to lend him?
4. Why couldn’t Antonio help Bassanio?
5. Pick out a word from the passage that means ‘rich’.
Answer:
1. Portia
2. Shylock was a hard-hearted man and was very severe with his customers. So he was disliked by all good men.
3. Three thousand ducats
4. Antonio had spent all his money on ships and so had money with him.
5. Wealthy

2. The English Club of your school has decided to stage the play ‘The Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare. Prepare a notice to inform the staff and the students, giving the relevant details.
Answer:
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
A play presented by English club of GGHSS School, Kollam
Dear Friends,                                                                    12. 05 2021
The English Club of GGHSS School has decided to stage the one-act play based on the story ‘The Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare as a part of the Annual day celebrations of the school. The members of the English Club have prepared the script and directed the play. Sri Kavalam Narayana Panicker, the renowned poet and theatre personality has consented to inaugurate the staging of the play.
ALL ARE WELCOME
Programme Details
Date: 25-06-2022
Time: 04:00 pm
Venue: School auditorium
Welcome speech: Secretary, English Club
Presidential Address: School Headmistress
Inauguration: Sri. Kavalam Narayana Panicker
Felicitations: School Leader, Staff Secretary
Vote of thanks: Joint Secretary, English Club

3. Complete the passage using the words given in the bracket.
(with, across, is, allows, an)
It is still drizzling. The boy ....(a) seen running after a woman who has ....... (b) ......... with her. He reaches her, holds the balloon under her umbrella and walks with her. Then the boy walks up to two nuns ........... (c) ......... umbrellas. One of them .......... (d) ......... him to hold the balloon under the umbrella. After that, the boy is seen walking with a man ............ (e) ........... a bridge holding the balloon under the man’s umbrella.
Answer:
a. is
b. an
c. with
d. allowed
e. across

4. Prepare a narrative on the lesson The Merchant of Venice.
Merchant of Venice is a 16th-century comedy written by the greatest writer of all time, Shakespeare. It tells an interesting story of Antonio, Bassanio and the cruel Jew Shylock. Antonio, a melancholic noble rich merchant from Venice has a bosom friend Bassanio who squanders all the money he has by leading a luxurious life. Antonio often ends up providing economic solutions to his close friend. He thrived on Antonio’s wallet. It so happened that Bassanio fell in love with the rich heiress Portia and wanted to marry her. Since she is too beautiful and rich she was pestered by suitors. Before the death, Portia’s father has devised a test to be conducted before she gives consent to marry her, in order to save her from fortune hunters. He had set aside three different caskets for the suitors to select from. The one who selects the right casket that carries the picture of Portia could win her . Bassanio expressed his desire before Antonio that he wanted Portia’s hand. Since he is cashless, he needs monetary assistance from him, to get himself dressed up for the special occasion. Antonio was, by then running out of cash since he has invested a huge amount in the ships that sailed for merchandise. He was sure that he could provide him with the money, once the ships are back. He hasn’t disappointed Bassanio. He said if he could find a money lender, he would borrow some money from him. Bassanio arranged Shylock the cruel Jew who lends money at exorbitant rates.Together, they approached Shylock and placed their wish. Shylock was willing to pay Antonio the money on a risky condition.If Antonio repays the money in time, he will not charge any interest but if in case, he failed to give back what he owed to him, he should let Shylock cut a pound of flesh from his body. Antonio was confident and hence signed in the bond. Bassanio left for Belmont and won the trial since he had chosen the leaden casket inside of which was Portia’s beautiful picture. By the time Portia and Bassanio opened
up their mind, they were interrupted by a messenger who reached them with the saddest messages they could ever receive. It stated that Antonio’s ships were all lost and his due date to the Jew was well past therefore he must face the trial. A pale and helpless Bassanio was helped by the brave Portia. She suggested that they should marry soon to make him her legal heir so that he could repay the due amount. Bassanio headed for Venice to meet his friend and help him. But the Jew has become stubborn. He wouldn't receive even thrice the amount offered by Bassanio. The trial was supposed to be judged at the court before the Duke. Everyone coaxes Shylock to be merciful but he repeated that he wanted justice as written on his bond. Meanwhile, Portia dressed as a young lawyer seeks the permission of the Duke to let him appear instead of the lawyer who availed a sick leave. On being granted permission, she studies the bond and tries to persuade the Jew to set Antonio free. But of
no avail. She then explained t to him the value of mercy. Finally, she trapped him by letting him do what he has written in the bond. She also reminded Shylock that he shouldn’t shed a single drop of blood while doing so. Sensing danger,the Jew was then ready to take the threefold amount and leave the court. But Portia denied him receiving the money since he has openly rejected it in Court. Shylock was then willing to take the amount due. But that too was denied and he was charged with plotting against the life of a nobleman. Half of his wealth would be confiscated by the state and half would go to Antonio. He would be pardoned by the Duke if he begged for his life. Thus everything ended happily for Antonio and Bassanio. By the time Portia wanted to leave, Bassanio requested her to take the reward for saving his Friend’s life. Even though, she wasn’t much willing to accept any gift she, on his insistence, told him if he could give him the ring. Most unwillingly, Bassanio parts with it. Reaching home, Portia waited for her husband. Bassanio reported everything to her and she listened as if she didn’t know anything. And a furious Portia enquired him about the ring that she had given to him as a wedding gift. Bassanio explained but she couldn’t be convinced. Later Antonio interfered and gave word to her that his friend would remain loyal to her for the rest of his life. Portia too opened up about the fact that the young lawyer who appeared was indeed herself. The amused trio shared their joy and lived happily thereafter.



ഈ ബ്ലോഗിലെ എല്ലാ പോസ്റ്റുകളും ഒരുമിച്ച് കാണാനും ആവശ്യമുള്ളവ എളുപ്പത്തിൽ തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കാനും ഇവിടെ ക്ലിക്കുക.

PSC Solved Question Papers ---> Click here 
PSC TODAY's EXAM RESULTS ---> Click here
PSC EXAM PROGRAMME -> Click here
CURRENT AFFAIRS QUESTIONS -> Click here
PSC Degree Level Questions & Answers - Click here
PSC 10th, +2 Level Questions & Answers - Click here
PSC SHORTLISTS -> Click here
PSC RANK LISTS -> Click here
TEACHING APTITUDE TEST (K-TET, C-TET,, etc.) ---> Click here