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English Literature

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LINE / STANZA / SCENE WISE ANALYSIS OFPOEMS, STORIES & DRAMA

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STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENINGANALYSIS

Stanza I (Lines 1-4)Get out the microscope, because we’re going through this poem

line-by-line.Line 1

Whose woods these are I think I know.Our speaker is not the most confident person in the world. This

line begins as a question, and we’re totally ready to get on board thequestion train, but then, halfway through the line, he switches it up.He wonders initially who owns “these woods.” The word these

makes us realize that our speaker is actually near the woods in question.Our speaker then tells us he thinks he knows who owns these

woods. Notice how he doesn’t say he knows who owns these woods;he says he thinks he knows.

Why doesn’t our speaker say, “I think I know whose woodsthese are”? What would be lost or gained if the poem began with thatrewritten line?Line 2

His house is in the village though;

The speaker thinks he knows the owner of woods, and this owner lives in a house in the village. Civilization, sweet, sweet civilization!

This line tells us that there is a village around here somewhere.The word “village” reminds us of thatched roofs, smoke curling out of little chimneys, and of a few stores and homes clustered around asingle main street; in other words, a village is not the most hoppin’

place in the world.

However, our speaker is relieved that the owner of the woods isin the village – now he doesn’t have to worry about getting caught


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trespassing on someone else’s property.Line 3

He will not see me stopping hereMan, this woods-owner guy must be pretty strict if our speaker

is so worried about getting caught taking a breather on his property.The speaker is almost trying to calm himself down and reassure

himself that the owner “will not see me stopping here,” as though he believes that saying so makes it true. It’s similar to the magical phrase,“If I can’t see them, they can’t see me,” uttered by Haley Joel Osmentin the movie Sixth Sense.

This line also tells us that the speaker has stopped, that he’shanging out at the moment.Line 4

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

Our speaker is a total rebel. He’s hardcore trespassing so thathe can…watch the snow fall?

Yes, he has stopped in order to take a gander at snow falling oncedars.

Stanza II (Lines 5-8)Get out the microscope, because we’re going through this poem

line-by-line.Line 5

My little horse must think it queer

Our speaker is not alone! He has a horse, and this horse is little.Maybe a pony.

The speaker and his little horse probably spend a lot of timetogether, because our speaker is totally able to read the little horse’s

mind.


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He imagines that his horse is thinking that things are a little strangeright now.Line 6

To stop without a farmhouse near Our speaker continues to read his horse’s mind, and imagines

the horse is thinking something along the lines of, “Whoa, why are westopping here? We’re in the middle of nowhereville. Where’s mydinner? I don’t know about you, but I’m cold. There isn’t even afarmhouse close by – what’s going on?”

The fact that our speaker even attempts to figure out what hishorse is thinking shows that he’s a caring kind of guy, and that he’saware that stopping in the middle of some snowy woods is kind of arandom thing to do.Line 7

Between the woods and frozen lake Now we get the 411 on just where, exactly, the speaker and his

horse have stopped: they are currently hanging out between the woodsand the “frozen lake,” so they must be on a little patch of snowy shoreline

with dark trees to one side and a glossy, ice-covered lake to the other.It must be really cold if the lake is frozen, and we also are kind

of intrigued by the fact that the speaker is not riding through the woods, but is right beside the woods.Line 8

The darkest evening of the year. Not only is it snowy and wintry, but it’s also approaching nighttime

too.Why is this speaker dilly-dallying when the light is dying and the

snow is falling? A lot of people in his place would want to scurry homeas fast as is humanly possible.


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Besides sounding ominous and like the preview to a horror movie,“the darkest evening of the year” makes us think of the winter solstice,which occurs in late December (in the northern hemisphere) eachyear and marks the moment at which the sun is at its farthest possibledistance from the observer.

It also happens to mark the beginning of winter.Whatever the case may be, it’s dark out and it’s getting darker

by the minute. We don’t think that the speaker is the kind of guy to pack flashlights.

Stanza III (Lines 9-12)Get out the microscope, because we’re going through this poem

line-by-line.Line 9

He gives his harness bells a shakeEven though the speaker can read his little horse’s mind, the

horse can’t talk back.So, the next best option is to shake his booty. And by shaking his

booty, we mean that he shakes his harness a little. There are little bells

attached to his harness, which give a nice little jingle (think Santa Claus’ssleigh).Line 10

To ask if there is some mistake.Again with the mind reading. Our speaker knows his horse is

shaking his bells in order to “ask” his master if something is awry, isthere’s a problem.

It’s kind of like the horse is saying, “Hey, is everything OK?We’ve been standing here staring at nothing for a little while, and I justwanted to make sure you didn’t need me to keep on truckin’. I’m coolwith the standing still thing, but I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t


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misinterpreting you.”Line 11

The only other sound’s the sweepBeyond the harness bells’ shaking, the only other sound that the

speaker can hear is the “sweep.”The word “sweep” makes us think of the sound brooms make

when they sweep dust into a dustpan.At this point, we realize that the speaker is taking inventory of all

of the sounds around him. He’s interested in sounds.Line 12

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The sweeping noise comes from the slight wind and the softlyfalling snow.

Have you ever listened to snow falling? It’s very, very quiet.There’s just a gentle whirr. Everything is very, very still.Stanza IV (Lines 13-16)

Get out the microscope, because we’re going through this poemline-by-line.Line 13

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

Our speaker finally admits to liking the woods. We knew it allalong. He’s entranced by the darkness and deepness of the woods,and he thinks they are lovely.

Dark and deep woods are awesome in our book, but they alsomake us feel slightly anxious. There’s something mysterious about themaze-like nature of woods and forests.

The point, though, is that our speaker digs these woods.

Line 14


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But I have promises to keep,

Our speaker begins this line with the word “but.” The word “but”makes us think that the speaker is contemplating staying in these woodsrather than returning to the village to fulfill the promises he’s made.

These promises may be things like, “I’ll be home for dinner, mom,”or they may be things like, “Let’s get married,” or “I will take care of you.”

Regardless of whether these are big promises or little promises,our speaker flirts momentarily with the idea of breaking them, before

deciding against it.Line 15

And miles to go before I sleep,Rats. Our speaker really is in the middle of nowhere, because

he’s still got a few miles to go before he can rest his head on his pillow.He better roll out soon.

But we feel like we are well acquainted with that feeling of being so far away from where you need to be that it almost seemseasier to just give up and hang out.

Line 16 And miles to go before I sleep.OK, so our speaker must really be far from home, because he

feels the need to repeat the fact that he’s got miles to go.However, when he says the line a second time, we hear the

word “sleep” more clearly than when we heard it in the line before.Maybe that’s because “sleep” has the honor of wrapping up the entire

poem.In any case, this line makes us think of how awesome it will be for our speaker to finally rest his head on his pillow after such a longtrek.


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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q1. What is “I” in this poem? Who does the pronoun “whose”refer to?

The narrator of the poem is the “I”.“Whose” refers to the owner of the woods by which the narrator

of the peom is passing by.Q2. Do you think the owner of these “woods” is a lover of nature? Give a reason.

No, the owner of the woods is not a lover of nature as he is inhis village indifferent towards the beauty of the woods.Q3. Why does the speaker stop at the woods? What does hisstopping here signify?

The speaker stops at the woods to feast his eyes at the beautyof the woods.

His stopping signifies that he is a lover of nature.Q4. What is the significance of “He will not see me stoppinghere”?

The significance of “He will not see me stopping here” lies inthe fact that the owner of the “woods” is unaware that someone isfeasting his eyes on his property.Q5. From the first two lines what do you figure out about thespeaker’s occupation?

From the first two lines one can figure out that he is a traveler and probably travels long distance to fulfill his promises.Q6. What does “must” mean here? Why does the “little horse”,

find it “queer”?The word “must” mean “for sure”.

The little horse finds it “queer” as there was no farmhouse insight where one can stop to rejuvenate oneself, and moreover it is a


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desolate place when it is snowing and already evening.Q7. The speaker is on his way to some place. What makes his

pausing by the woods unusual, especially at the time of speaking?

The speaker’s stopping by the “woods” is unusual as :(a) it is snowing(b) It is a dark evening.

Q8. Who does “he” stand for? Why does he think there is some“mistake”?

He is the horse. He thinks that there is some mistake as thehorse and its traveler usually stops in farmhouses; but as the traveler has stopped to see at the beauty of the woods, the horse thinks it to bea mistake.Q9. It is very quiet all around. Which lines emphasize this?

The last two lines of the extract “The only other sound’s thesweep of easywind and downy flake” emphasize that it is quiet allaround.Q10. What are the three sounds spoken of?

The three sounds are of (i) horse bells (ii) wind and (iii) theflakes of snow fallingQ11. What image is created by “downy flake”?

“Downy flake” refers to the snow fall, downy means silky, thusthe phrase mean that there is snow falling which is like silk. The imageis that of silky snow falling whichis beautiful.Q12. Where is the speaker at this time? What is he doing? What makes these woods attractive to the speaker?

The speaker is in front of the woods where he has stopped tofeast his eyes on the beauty of the woods. The snowfall has made the

woods look attractive.Q13. What is the significance of the word ‘But’ in the second line?


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What are the “promises” he has to keep?

The word “but” is significant as the speaker thinks that it ismore important for him to fulfill his responsibilities than to gratify hissoul by enjoying the beauty of the woods.Q14. The speaker has to make a decision. What does he decideto do? Why?

The speaker has decided to move ahead and not merely enjoythe beauty of the woods. He decided to do so as he has someresponsibilities to fulfill.

Q15. Why, in your opinion, does the poet repeat the line-“And miles to go before I sleep”?

The poet repeats the line as he wants to emphasize to himself aswell as to the readers that he has promises to fulfill.


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A DOCTOR’S JOURNAL ENTRY FORAUGUST 6, 1945

ANALYSIS

The poem, A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 is penned down in the form of an entry in a journal by a doctor for keepingrecords. The entry gave the readers a vivid picture of how the peoplewere taken aback when atomic bombs were dropped on their city of Hiroshima in 1945 during the Second World War.Narrative Technique:

Vikram Seth’s poetic style has many features like the use of prose-pattern, epithets, images, wit, humor and irony. The poem is in aform of journal entry made by a Hibakusha (a Japanese word for a

bomb survivor) on August 6, 1945. The use of this journal form for writing poetry is ingenious because this kind of poetry requires norhyme pattern or other poetic devices. The style is colloquial, clipped.The poem has no rhyming scheme or stanzas, it is a continuous narrationof what happened on a particular day.

In the beginning of the poem, one can see the account of the

impact of the atomic bombs on the city. The poet also uses Hyperbole(exaggeration) for highlighting the current situation.“The roof, the walls, and, as it seemed the world Collapsed in timber and debris, dust swirled

Around me.”

An atmosphere of horror, fear and panic too is created all around the narrator and the narrator gives a dreadful account of it in the nextfew lines.

“It took some time for me to understand

The friction on their burns caused so much painThey feared to chafe flesh against flesh again


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Those who could, shuffled in blank parade.”

Vikram Seth has personified ‘loneliness’ to describe thehelplessness of the survivors in A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6,1945.

“What choice had we? A dreadful lonelinessCame over me when she had gone. My mind

Ran at high speed, my body crept behind.”Lyrical in Spirit:

Lyric Poetry deals with the poet’s own feelings, his state of mind and perceptions. A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 isa poem about the poet’s own sorrows, feelings. The poem expressesthe personal torments and sufferings of the victims.Symbolism:

The poem is highly symbolic. The bombs that tore away thehuman beings of their clothes signifies that the whole of human racewho suffered. Note the symbolism in the following lines,-

“……..I saw, dismayed, A woman with a child stand in my path-

Both naked. Had they come back from the bath?…………………………..and now the thought aroseThat some strange thing had stripped us of our clothes.”The common thing between all these people was that they were

dumbfounded and silent. They were speechless. When someone is indeep sorrow he loses the power of speech, he becomes numb. Itsymbolizes that a powerful nation destroys the lives of the common

people, they still remain silent.“My legs gave way, I sat down the ground.Thirst seized me, but no water could be found.

My breath was short but bit by bit my strength


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Seemed to revive and I got up at length.”The above line shows the indomitable spirit of the doctor, induced

with determination that he regains strength finally. This symbolizesJapan, as one of the world leaders in today’s world.Human Goodness:

Even during such a crisis and chaos the goodness in humannature is not lost. There is still hope for care and concern in the mindsof the people. The doctor, though himself wounded, calls out for hiswife, and even thinks of helping out his staff in his hospital. A soldier

hands over a towel to the doctor to cover himself.The main theme of A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6,

1945 is the destruction caused by the atomic bombs on Hiroshima.The poem depicts both mental and physical agony. The poet hasdescribed the gruesome reality of the first nuclear explosion and its

power to destroy the whole human race. This bombing wiped outtwo cities and millions died. However, Japan endured the calamity,rose up, (bit by bit my strength/Seemed to revive) and rebuilt their shattered city and their world.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSQ1. Who is ‘Me”? Where is he at present? What time of the dayis it? What is the narrator enjoying as described immediately beforethese lines?

“Me” in the extract is the narrator of the poem “A Doctor’sJournal Entry for August 6, 1945” who experienced the atomic bombing.

He is at his home in a city (Hiroshima or Nagasaki) in Japan,which was bombed on 6th August 1945 during the Second World War.

It was morning. The Narrator says that the day was peacefuland beautiful, and it was a warm morning when the narrator, a doctor

by profession, got up and stretched himself and was relaxing at home.


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Q2. How is the natural scene, described before this extract,significant in the context of the poem?

The natural scene described just before the extract issignificant as it shows how the beauty of nature was destroyed in amoment by the man made culture of war and hatred and scientificdevelopments. The evil use of science is juxtaposed against the

beauty of nature.Q3. What are the strong flashes mentioned in the extract? Whydoes the narrator wonder whether those are magnesiumm flares?

The strong flashes mentioned in the extract are the atomic bombing that happened in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the Second World War on 6th August, 1945.

The narrator wonders whether they are magnesium flares as itis war time and he thinks that it is probably the magnesium flares thatare usual during wars. He dcan not think that the city is bombed withan atomic bomb.Q4. What harm did the flashes cause to the building? Why did the narrator exclaim that “the world collapsed”?

The flashes destroyed the buildings. The narrator exclaimed that“the wrold collapsed” as wherever he would see all around him, hecould see nothing but destruction and decay.Q5. What happened to the narrator’s body? What was thereaction on seeing all this?

The narrator’s clothes were burnt. A splinter had protruded into his thigh. Blood started sprikling from the right side. His cheek was torn and he removed dispassionately a piece of glass from his

body.Q6. Why is the narrator looking for his wife? What does his

attitude towards his wife indicate about his character?The narrator is looking for his wife to figure out if she is safe.


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The narrrator’s attitude towards his wife indicates that he loveshis wife too much and is caring about her.Q7. Describe the appearance of his wife. What has caused her appearance to be so? What does he tell her? How does their conversation indicate about human values?

The wife of the Doctor, Yecko San is being described as pale, bloodstained and frightened, who was holding her elbow.

It is the atomic bombing and the shock of it which caused her appearance to be so.

Their conversation shows two things about human values- (a)the cruelty and inhumanity of the warmongers and (b) the goodness,fighting spirit, helping nature of the people like doctor and his wife.Q8. Agaisnt what do they trip up in the street? How do they feelabout it? What has caused that object to be there? What does hethink that they should do now?

They trip up in the street against a head. They felt strange aboutit and said sorry later torealize that it was a dead man. A gate crashed on him and cuased the death.

The doctor thinks that he should get to hospital as they needed aid and he should help his staff in hospital.Q9. What are your feelings for the narrator and his wife? Givea reason to justify your feelings.

My feelings towards the narrator and his wife is that of sympathyas they, like other citizens of the two Japanese cities, were suffering

because of the war mongers who decided to use atomic bombs onthese two cities.Q10. How did fire spring up in the dust? Give two reasons that made the narrator intend to go the hospital.

Fire narrator intended to go to the hospital as (a) he himself is


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wounded and would need medical attention, and (b) being a doctor, hethought he should be in hospital to serve others in these trying times.Q11. Later, in the poem, he sees a soldier. What does the soldier do for him? Then what does he tell his wife? Why?

The soldier gives him a towel.he then tells his wife to go ahead as he has no strength to carry

on. He asks his wife to do so as she should get medical aid even if hecannot.Q12. Describe of the sights which he sees later.

After that he sees “shadowy forms of people” silently walkingwith their arms stretched straight out, dangling from their shoulders asthey cannot bear the friction of the burnt skins; and a woman and her child both naked.Q13. Why do you think, all do not feel ashamed of being naked?

They do not feel ashamed of being naked as (i) everyone’sclothes are burnt and all are naked (ii) more shameful act was of the

people who decided to bomb the city (iii) they are so numb by theexperience that feeling ashamed does not matter to them.

Q14. By referring to any two examples, show how the poet givesa detailed picture of what was happening.

The two examples are (a) shadowy forms of people” silentlywalking with their arms stretched straight out, dangling from their shoulders as they cannot bear the friction of the burnt skins and (b) awoman and her child both naked as their clothes are all burnt with

bombing.Q15. What are the “shadowy forms” referred to in the extract?What do the words, ghosts, scarecrows and the dumb indicate?

The naked suffering people of the bombed city parading with paid are referred to in the extract. The words “ghosts”, “scarecrows”,


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“dumb” indicate that the people of the city are suffering limitlessly because of the atomic bombing.Q16. What is the impact of his wife’s absence on him? What doesthe impact indicate about their relationship?

“A dreadful lonelines” came over the doctor in the absence of his wife. It shows that the doctor and his wife are too much in lovewith each other and in their suffering they needed each other.Q17. Which four people does the poet see on the way to thehospital? What was common to all? Why?

The four people that the poet sees on the way to the hospital aresoldier, a naked woman with his naked child, a naked man, and an old woman. All of them are naked and suffering from immense pain and are dumb with pain and shock. They are so as the atomic bombing hascaused all these.Q18. What/who do you think is responsible for causing so muchbloodshed? Does it prove that the tyrant is really powerful? Givea reason to justify your opinion.

The war mongers are responsible for causing so much bloodshed for no reason, but their own profit.

No, it does not prove that the tyrant is really powerful as thefighting spirit and helping nature of people proves however inhumanthe war mongers may be, their cruelty and violence will be countered

by people’s faith in humanity.


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IF THOU MOST LOVE ME.....ANALYSIS

Sonnets from Portuguese is a collection of 44 sonnets written byElizabeth Barrett Browning during the years 1845-1846 and published in 1850. The sonnets have been very popular since their publication.

Elizabeth Browning was a Victorian poet whose poetry was very popular in England as well as in the United States. All her sonnetsrevolve around her intense love for her would-to-be husband RobertBrowning.FORM & STRUCTURE:

The poem If Thou Must Love Me is a sonnet. A sonnet is afourteen-line poem with a normal rhyming pattern in iambic pentameter.The rhyme scheme in this sonnet is abba/abba/cdc/dc. This sonnet If Thou Must Love Me is a combination of Petrarchan and Shakespearean conventions. The fusion of these two conventions addsunity to the sonnets and seems to echo the unity of the couple portrayed in the poem.USE OF DIALOGUE:

The poet has used dialogue in the sonnet. She had put forth aquotation, an argumentation by a lover presented in a form of sonnet.Moreover, the sonnet seems like a discussion by the both parties abouttheir relationship. The poem is more about the lady’s opinion abouthow her man should love her. It seems like she is not happy with the

present idealism of her man.REPETITION:

The word ‘love’ has been repeated for at least ten times in the poem. It is used by the poet not just to praise the subject but has alsofocused on the intellectualism of what love should be. Barrett Browningis more concerned about the kind of love that lasts forever rather than‘love for love’s sake.’


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PERSONIFICATION:

Personification is that figure of speech where abstract ideas areattributed human qualities. Again ‘love’ has been personified in If ThouMust Love Me, when the speaker says, ‘love’s sake’ and ‘love’s eternity.’CUMULATIVE LISTING:

Cumulative Listing is a technique of listing similar ideas in poetry.Here in this sonnet, the poet has used this technique of CumulativeListing. It emphasizes a particular statement. In the first two lines of If Thou Must Love Me, the poet wants her lover not to love her for

love’s sake or for her physical attributes. In support of this statement,the speaker uses Cumulative Listing and enumerates her physicalcharacteristics in the poem- her smile, her pleasant voice etc. TheCumulative Listing reinforces the idea presented in the first two linesof the poem.THEMES:Theme of Love:

Love is the most dominant theme in Elizabeth Barrett Browning’ssonnets. This poem shows her suggestion to her lover about how heshould love her. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was disabled and had incurable diseases; therefore she was afraid that Robert Browningwould leave her. That is why she says that her lover must not love her for her smile or gentle voice as these qualities fade with time. Shewants Robert Browning to love her forever and such kind of love canonly exist when he would love her as a person and not for her looks.Women Rights:

During the Victorian period, women did not have the right to voteor had any right to own property. They were not given the right to studyclassical and commercial subjects; they could only study history,geography and general literature. During that period, women were nottreated equal to men. Therefore, Barrett Browning was against these


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social and gender differences and one will find that her writings were based on issues like child labour, ill treatment and oppression of women.

In this poem she mocks the idea of courtly love. Her sonnets giveimportance to the thinking of women and not to the male-dominated society. Here in the sonnet, If Thou Must Love Me, the speaker wantsher lover not to love her for superficial qualities or out of pity but for what she is as a person. Thus this poem questions the idea of a womanand demands the right of woman to speak and to be heard.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q1. To whom are these lines addressed to? How is he related tothe poet? Comment on their relationship.

The lines are addressed to Robert Browning, another significant poet of the Victorian Era. Robert Browning is Elizabeth BarrettBrowning’s lover and later husband.

The love relationship between Elizabeth Barrett and RobertBrowning became so famous that till today many refer to them. AsElizabeth’s father was against the match they had to elope to getmarried.Q2. Why does the poet proclaim not to say certain things in love?

Do you agree? Why?The poet says that the lover should not proclaim that he loves

her for her beauty as outward beauty is an impermanent thing.Yes, I agree, as beauty lies not in how a person looks, but how a

person is. And a person should love someone not because of outward beauty.Q3. What does the phrase “falls in well with mine” suggest?

The phrase “falls in well with mine” suggests that the malelanguage of wooing does not matter to the poet and those tricks of

thoughts of the male lovers are nothing but wasted attempts as shecan see through them.


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Q4. What does the phrase “change for thee” signify? Is it asignificant phrase in the peom?

The phrase “change for thee” signifies “change for you.” Withtime people’s perception changes - what one finds beautiful today, onemay not find it tomorrow.

Therefore the poet says that if the lover loves her for her outward beauty then it may change very soon as neither outward beuaty is permanent and not one’s liking is permanent.Q5. What is the poet trying to suggest in the above lines?

The poet suggests that neither beauty, nor one’s perception of beauty is constant as they change with time. Therefore the poet saysthat a love based on outward beauty makes no sense as it may wither with time.Q6. What does the lines “so wrought, / May be unwrought so”signify?

The lines “so wrought” May be unwrought so” signifies that alove “fashioned in such terms (based on physical beauty) would soon

become out of fashion.”

Q7. What does the poet mean when she says not to love in pity?Why does she think so?The poet is of the opinion that if the lover loves her out of pity

then as soon as the melancholy of the poet withers away, there would be nothing more to love.

She thinks so because if the reason of love is pitying the beloved,then as soon as the reason of the pity withers away, the love will alsovanish.Q8. What would make the “creature” forget to weep?

When the creature, that is the person who is sad, is beingcomforted then the compassionate gesture, the sympathy would makeher forget to weep. In other words, the lover would make the beloved


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so happy, that she would forget the reasons of the sadness.Q9. Why would the comfort of the beloved be a reason of losingthe love? Do you agree with the poet?

The comfort of the beloved be a reason of losing the love is thatthe comfort would dry her tears and that way the reason for whichshe was loved will wither away, leading to a withering away of thelove.Q10. The second last line of the extract starts with a “but”. Why?

The second last line starts with a “but” as the poet prescribes before this line a series of things for which the lover should not lovethe poet and then says that she should be loved only for love’s sake.Q11. What does “love’s sake” mean? Do you agree to it? What isthe meaning of “evermore”?

The phrase “love’s sake” means “only for the sake of love.”Yes, one should agree to it as a love which is only for the sake of

love will last forever.“Evermore” means everlasting, for eternity.

Q12. What is “love’s eternity”? Can one achieve “love’s eternity”?

“Love’s eternity” is a love which is eternal, will never die.Yes, one can achieve “love’s eternity.”


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I BELIEVEANALYSIS

Capabilities of Human Beings:The poem I Believe depicts the theme of the uncountable

capabilities of man and his dreams and achievements. The poet believesa human being can rise to great heights, endure a number of hurdlesand reach their goal. In the first stanza, the poet says that a human

being can throw a pebble upwards, pierce through the heaven and watch the angels play. This actually means that humans can achievethe most difficult and sometimes even the unachievable goals. At aspiritual level, it means raising our conscience to a higher point and

becoming one with God.In fact, the poet wants to say that human beings can conquer all

parts of the universe if they believe in themselves, use their capabilitiesand work diligently. She means to say that humans can conquer all thethree realms of the earth- the atmosphere, the lithosphere and thehydrosphere. The poet also believes that humans can make this world heaven-like and themselves like angels.Feminist Reading:

The poem I Believe has been written by one of the eminentGaro poets and activists, Brucellish K Sangma. The poem voices theconcern about dreams and aspirations of a woman in a male-dominated society. A number of restrictions are imposed on women in a patriarchalsociety. Such a society is male-centred and they subordinate womenin all domains in their life: familial, religious, political and economical.The woman of today wants to free herself from such a society and achieve her dreams. She wants to reach the sky, dive into deep oceans,and conquer all the three realms of the earth. The poet believes today’s

women like the poet can achieve her goals.STYLE:


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Simplicity rules the poems of Brucellish K Sangma. It is atranslation from the original Garo poem, Anga Bebera’a into English

by the same poet. The poem consists of six stanzas and the poet hastaken ample care to use appropriate English words to convey her themeand message. The poem is composed in free verse i.e. it has no rhymescheme and no regular pattern of rhythm. It should be noted that eachstanza is a single sentence.ANAPHORA:

Anaphora is a figure of speech in which there is deliberate

repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of verses, paragraphs,clauses or sentences. Anaphora is frequently used in Bible and in

poetry strongly influenced by Bible. In this poem I Believe, ‘I believe’has been used repeatedly in the beginning of each stanza (exceptstanza 6) to convey the feelings, dreams and aspirations of the

poet.HAIKU:

A Haiku is a traditional poetic form , which originated in Japan.It is three-line poem with a total of 17 syllables. This poem I Believeconsists of six stanzas, each comprising of three lines. The differentstanzas are put together through the central theme which runsthroughout the poem. It is for this reason that the poem resembles theJapanese Haiku.CUMULATIVE LISTING:

I Believe has used the technique of Cumulative Listing. It istechnique which involves a kind of accumulation of broadly similar ideas. The device is used to emphasize the main idea of a poem.

Each stanza begins with the phrase ‘I believe’ and enlists anumber of things that the speaker is capable of doing. Thus, the ideas,

if put together can be seen forming a list or catalogue.SYMBOLISM:


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Symbolism refers to the use of symbols to represent ideas and qualities. The entire poem, I Believe, though written in simple and lucid words, has symbolic meaning.

Some of the symbolism are listed below:“I believe I can soar heightsTouch the silky clouds

And feel the stars” (Stanza 2): Here, heights symbolize ‘sky’meaning space without limit. ‘stars’ symbolize the list of achievers.

“I believe I can dive

Right into the depthsAnd swim with the sharks” (Stanza 3): Here, ‘depths’ symbolize

the ‘ocean of life’ and ‘sharks’ symbolize the hurdles and difficultiesfaced in life. The poet believes she can cross all hurdles that come onher way and achieve success.

“I believe I can claw into the earth’s bellyPick up the priceless gems

And adorn myself with them” (Stanza 4): ‘claw into the earth’s belly’ symbolize putting in labour and hard work to achieve something.‘Priceless gems’ symbolize the resources available on earth- metals,minerals and precious stones. ‘Adorn’ means to enrich oneself withthis resources.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSQ1. Who is the speaker? What is the context in which these linesare spoken?

Brucellish K. Sangma, the poet of “I Believe”, is the speaker.Brucellish K Sangma’s poem “I Believe” deals with what she

believes to be her duty as a human being. But before she talks about

her duty she says that she can achieve many things. It is in this contextthat the above lines are being written.


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Q2. What does it mean “to pierce the heavens”?“To pierce” is “to penetrate”. The poet believes that the pebble

(small stone), she intends to throw, has the force in it to penetrateheaven and create the possible gap for the poet to have a view of heaven. In this context the phrase “to pierce the heavens” is used.Q3. What heights does the poet want to achieve in these lines?

The poet, Brucellish K. Sangama, says that she has the willpower in her to throw a pebble upwards which would pierce the heaven and let her have a view of the angles playing. What she means here is that

if she wants, she can achieve heaven. In the same way, she says thatshe can soar to the heights of the silky clouds and can view the stars.Both her wishes can provide her certain kinds of pleasures.Q4. Comment on the intention of the speaker in these lines?

The poet, Brucellish K. Sangma’s intention in these lines is to presentthe impossible things that she could achieve if she wants to. She says thatshe has the resolve to dive into the deep sea and swim with the sharks and then she can also reach the mines to get the priceless gems with whichshe can beautify herself. The poet’s resolve and willpower to achievethings in her life is very much evident in these lines.Q5. Does the poet really want to swim with the sharks? State theidea of the poet behind these lines.

Brucellish K. Sangma though in the beginning of the poem statesthat she can do many impossible things; but she really does not intend to persue all those. Her ambition in life is not to achieve pleasure and riches for herself; but to fulfill her duty as a human being which shestates in the last stanza of the peom “I Believe.”

The poet says that she has the resolve to dive right into the seaand swim with the sharks, which shows that she is courageous and adventurous and is ready to undertake any challenge for the sake of

pleasure.


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Q6. What is “earth’s belly”? What is its importance? What is the poet’s intention?

The phrase “earth’s belly” refers to the mines, as mines areunderneath the surface of the earth.

The importance of the phrase “earth’s belly” is that it hasinnumerable riches in it. All the expensive metals with which we adornourselves are underneath the earth. Brucellish K Sangma says thatshe has the resolve in her claw and reach the “earth’s belly” to get

priceless gems to adorn herself.

Q7. What are the things the poet wnats to achieve? Does the poet really feel that she can do all these? If not, then what is the purpose of these lines?

The poet, Brucellish K. Sangma in the poem “I Believe” saysthat :

• She can pierce the heavens and see the angels play.• She can soar to the level of silky clouds and view the stars.• She can dive into the sea and swim with sharks.• She can even take out gems from mines to adorn herself.The poet thinks that she has the resolve, courage and

determination to undertake all these tasks for sake of pleasure, richesand enjoyment.

But, as the last stanza of the poem states, she sincerely believesthat her first duty is to fulfill her responsibility as a human being.Q8. What is “world’s treasures”?

The phrase “would’s treasures” refers not to the rich mines or to priceless gems or to any other expensive luxurious things of theworld; but they refer to the human beings who are more valuable thananything else according to the poet, Brucellish K Sangma.

Q9. What is the firm belief of the poet?The firm belief of the poet, Brucellish K Sangma, is that it is her


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first duty to fulfill her role as a human being - that is, to make the world a better place for fellow human beings to live in.Q10. What is the role assigned to the poet? What is the poet’sdream?

The role assigned to the poet is that of being a human being. Todistinguish ourselves from animals, we should not only pursue thingswhich are determined by our drives for hunger and pleasure; but tothink about our fellow human beings and make the world a better

place to live in.

The poet’s dream is that if all the people of the world start thinkingin the way the poet does then the world will be a better place to live.


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A PSALM OF LIFEANALYSIS

The title of A Psalm of Life is an appropriate one. A psalm is aninvocation to mankind to follow the path of the righteousness. Here,the speaker advises people to be heroes in their lives. He asks them tolie in the present, without thinking about the past or the future.

A poem teaching a moral lesson is called a didactic poem. APsalm of Life is a didactic poem. The poet’s task in the poem is toinstruct and guide, to inspire and modify. The poem teaches basic humanvalues and lays out a foundation for a prosperous, ethical life.STYLE:Form and structure:

The poem consists of nine stanzas of four lines each. The poemhas regular rhyming pattern. Each stanza follows the rhyme schemeabab. In every stanza, the first line rhymes with the third line and thesecond line with the fourth.Allusion:

Allusion is a reference to other works or cultures in prose and poetry. H.W Longfellow has used allusions to convey his message inthe poem.

‘Tell me not, in mournful numbers.’ In the above line, numbers refer to the verses in the Bible.‘Dust thou art, to dust thou returnest’The above line too has a Biblical reference.

FIGURES OF SPEECH:Similes: It is a figure of speech in which a likeness between two

different things is stated using the words ‘like’ or ‘as.’ Examples of similes in A Psalm of Life are,

1. Still, like muffled drums, are beating2. Be not like dumb, driven cattle!


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METAPHORS:Metaphor is that figure of speech where comparison of two

different things are implied but not clearly stated. Examples of metaphor in the poem are,

1. Life is but an empty dream.2. Soul id dead that slumbers…3. Art is long and Time is fleeting

ALLITERATION:Alliteration is the close repetition of the consonant sounds at the

beginning of words to facilitate narration. Examples of alliteration inthe poem are,

1. Grave is not its goal2. Find us further 3. Dumb driven cattle4. Learn to labour 5. Dust thou art, to dust thou returnest.

PARALLELISM:Parallelism is used when the speaker says

1. Life is real! Life is earnest!2. Still achieving still pursuing.H.W Longfellow points out that one has a duty to make this

world a better place to live in. A Psalm of Life is a whole collection of moral principles to be followed by all the people. The principles listed

by the poem are enumerated as follows,-*Life has a serious mission.*Life does not end with death.*We have a destiny irrespective of our joys and sorrows.*Time is too short for our long mission.*Become great by emulating great men.


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*Learn to labor and wait for results.*Act now, in the living present.*Be a hero in the struggle of life.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSQ1. What does the poet wish to signify by the term “mournfulnumbers”?

The poet uses the term “mournful numbers” to signify “sad songs”. It can also a metaphor for a fatalistic and a pessimistic viewof life.

Q2. Explain the third line of the extract.The third line of the extract “For the soul is dead that slumbers”

means “the person who is inactive is virtually dead”.Q3. What, according to the poet, is not what it appears to be?

How does he justify this statement?According to the poet, it may seem that with death comes an

end of life, but it is not so as soul is immortal. He justifies the statementwith the Christian belief that man emerges from the soil and eventuallyreturns to it upon death.Q4. Explain : “Life is real! Life is earnest!”

Life is not an empty dream, but a reality which has a sense of purpose, and therefore one should live life “earnestly” that is, with positivism, vitality as well as sincerity.Q5. Why does the poet claim that life is real and earnest?

The poet claim that life is real and earnest and death is merelyan illusion as soul transpires from body; but it never dies. Thus death isnot the ultimate end of life; and therefore life is real and earnest.Q6. What does “dust” refer to? To which belief does the poet refer here?

“Dust” referred to in the extract is the metaphor for the universe.The poet refers to the Christian belief that after death man returns to


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the dust from where it comes.Q7. How does the poet refute the above mentioned belief?

The poet refutes the Christian belief of “from the dust, to thedust” by saying that human body is made of dust and will return todust, but the soul is immortal and will never die.Q8. How, according to the poet, should we live our lives?

The aim of our lives should be constant earnest striving in the present, so that the future becomes increasingly better. The goal of the life should be to live earnestly every day.

Q9. What is compared to the sound of muffled drums? And why?Out hearts beats are compared to the sounds of muffled drums

as with the passage of time we are progressing towards our grave.Q10. What is the destination of “our hearts”? Is it the finaldestination?

The destination of “our hearts” is the grave. It may be thedestination, but it does not matter, what matters is how earnestly onehas lived life.Q11. Explain in brief the meaning of the expression “dust thouart, to dust returnest.”

Human body is made of dust and after death returns to dust. Itis a Christian belief.Q12. To what does the poet compare the world? Why is such acomparison made?

The poet compares the world to a battlefield. Such a comparisonis made as the poet considers the world a battlefield in which onestays temporarily with a specific purpose and each day one fights a

battle to live earnestly.Q13. Explain “bivouac of life.”

“Bivouac” means “an encampment in the open air without tents”.


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What the poets means by “bivouac of life” is “the battle field of life”.Q14. What is indicated by the expression, “dumb, driven cattle”?

The expression “dumb, driven cattle” indicates the cattle that go by blind faith and not by reason.Q15. How does the poet wish us to act in the struggle of life?

In the struggle of life, according to the poet, we should notsurrender, but we should fight like heroes.Q16. Why does the poet urge us to take interest only in our

present?

The poet urges us to take interest only in our present as the present is the solution to the past, and future must invariably be fineshould we have done justice to the present.Q17. Explain : “Heart within and God o’erhead!”

To live an earnest life in the present we should have faith in our actions (heart within) and at the same time have infinite grace and mercy (God o’erhead) of God.Q18. What do the lives of great men teach us?

The lives of great men teach us that we can only leave our mark

in this world through our good deeds.Q19. What does the poet mean by “footprints onthe sands of time”?The phrase “footprints on the sands of time” signifies the name

and fame that one leaves behind after one is dead in the course of human history (sands of time).Q20. What is referred to as the “solemn main”? Who is sailing asthe ‘main”?

Life is compared to “solemn main” (sea) as it is grim in its depthand vastness.

The shipwrecked brother (referring to fellow human beings whohave strayed from the right path) is sailing.


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Q21. With reference to the extract, explain the meaning of “shipwrecked brother”.

“Shipwrecked brother” is used here to mean fellow human beings who have strayed from the right path and courted disaster.Q22. Why does the poet refer to the “footprints on the sands of time”?

The poet refers to the “footprints on the sands of time” as hegives importance to human history, the mark one leaves in human historythrough one’s heroic deed of living life earnestly.

Q23. How can we make our “brothers take heart again”?We cah make our “brothers take heart again” by setting the

right example of living life earnestly.Q24. Explain, “with a heart for any fate”.

“With the readiness to face any eventuality that might befallus.”Q25. What virtue of patience does the poet bring out in theselines?

The virtue of patience the poet brings out in these lines is thatone should carry on doing good with courage and determination and wait patiently for the fruits of labour as it will arrive even though itmay take some time.Q26. Name the poem and poet. State the central idea of the poem.

The poem is “A Psalm of Life” by H.W. Longfellow. The centralidea of the poem is to urge the readers to live hardworking, earnestand patient lives in accordance with righteousness and God’s grace asit will provide meaning to life.


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THE LAST LEAF

Q. Do you agree tha t a work of art is only for the sake of beauty? Comment in relation to O. Henry’s “The Last Leaf.”

It is true that a work of art is valuable for its beauty; but at thesame time art also has a social fucntion, to educate. An artistic work which is simply beautiful is art; but an artistic work which saves thelife of a person is more beautiful than that as it has served a muchmore significant function that just soothing someone’s eyes and heart.Thus Behrman’s last leaf on the ivy tree is truly a masterpiece as itsaves the life of Jhonsy.

A masterpiece is a great work for art, like a painting, sculptureor piece of music or writing (poetry, fiction, etc.). It is the height of someone’s artistic abilities. It is the artist’s highest achievement and the best in his ability as an artist. All the artists in the story “The lastLeaf” want to create masterpieces and strive towards it. Old Behrmanhas done so throughout his life, but before death he does somethingwhich is truly a masterpiece. He paints a leaf in the ivy tree whichinstills faith in Johnsy and she recovers from her illness. During the

process of painting it on a windy, rainy cold night, Behrman is infected by pneumonia and he dies, but his work of art saves someone whomhe cares for. Therefore it is a masterpiece. Behrman’s artistic piece

proves that art is not only for the sake of beauty, it serves much moresignificant function than that.

THE KABULIWALA

Q. Do you agree that the ending of the story “The Kabuliwala”exquistely renders the richness of the inner world of man?

Rabindranath Tagore’s short story deals with a relationship

between a five year old child Mini and a Kabliwala (an Afghan),Rahamat. Rahmat’s little daughter back at home in Afghanistan is


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essential to the story, though she never appears in the story. TheKabuliwala’s love for his daughter is manifested in showering his loveto Mini. But when a strange incident lands the Kabuliwala in jail,Mini forgets all about him. Kabuliwala again appears on the weddingday of Mini and realizes that his daughter also must have grown up bythat time. Mini’s father, the narrator could realize this and consequentlycurtails some expenditure of the festivities of the wedding to sponsor the Kabuliwala’s return journey back to his country.

As a short story writer, Tagore was a practitioner of psychological

and social realism as his stories depict poignant human relationshipswithin a simple plot. The sort story “The Kabuliwala” begins abruptly,develops around incidents and ends with a twist. It starts with Mini asa girl and her developing friendship with the Kabuliwala and suddenlythere is a twist in the story as the Kabuliwala was sent to prison Yearsafter we meet the Kabuliwala on Mini’s wedding day. The twist happensas the story is not anymore about friendship but portrays a father’slove for his daughter who is living far off. Tagore pays more attentionto the richness of the inner world of man, to emotions and less to outward events. The artistic mastery of Tagore’s stories is visible in their

successful endings.THE BET

Q. Give the character sketches of the lawyer and the banker. How do they differ? With which character are your synpathies?Give reason for your answer.

The lawyer is a man of firm determination as he not only saysthings but proves them by action. He goes for voluntary self-imprisonment for fifteen years to prove his point and at the same timefor his greed for money. For greed, he gives away his precious youth,his freedom and all form of enjoyment of life without any associationwith any other human being. His acceptance of the bet shows his


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determination, his truthful nature, but also points out his greed for material possessions.

As against the lawyer, the banker is rackless with his money. Hehosts the party for discussion on capital punishment and moreover totrap the lawyer. He goes in for an unnecessary bet just to prove thatdeath penalty is better than life imprisonment. While laying theconditions for the agreement. When we meet him later in the story asan older man, we see a change in his fortunes which makes him flouthis principles and wickedly think of killing the prisoner just before the

accomplishment of his captivity period. But at the same time it can besaid that he is a life-like human being.

I sympathize with the lawyer as he has ambitions to realize hisdream of material possessions and in the process of acquiring it throughthe bet realizes the vanity of it and left it. He is a man of determinationand action by giving up two millions to prove the fleeting and futilenature of material possessions.

THE TIGER IN THE TUNNEL

Q. But life had to go on. State how Ruskin Bond brings out thisidea in his story “The Tiger in the Tunnel”?

Ruskin Bond in the short story “The Tiger in the Tunnel” talksabout the bravery of Baldeo, a tribal man, who works as a nightwatchman in a wayside station. His job is to look after the safe passageof trains from the tunnel. There is the fear of a tiger near the tunneland one night when Baldeo was on his duty, he was attacked by thetiger and killed; though Baldeo could also hurt the tiger and it gotkilled being hit by the train. Baldeo’s twelve year old son Tembu, took up the position of being a night watchman in the same station after hisfather’s death as he has to look after the family after his father has

passed away. It is a true that there are many disasters waiting on such


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a way-side station; but the fear of that cannot deter people from carryingon with life. Similarly, Baldeo is dead, but his family must carry onliving and thus Tembu had to be courageous enough to take up the jobas life has to go on.

PRINCES SEPTEMBER

Q. When one loves someone one should set him or her free. Love is not about captivity, it is about freedom. Do you agree?Give a reasoned answer with reference to the short story “PrincessSeptember”.

The short story “Princes September” is a fairy tale where aSiamese Princess’ parrot died and she wept bitterly. A small bird cameto her room and sang melodious songs to make her happy. The bird used to fly around with princess September in the place and sing songsfor her. But her jealous sisters advised her to keep the bird in a goldencage, which had been gifted by her father. When the bird was caged,he stopped singing, and did not eat or drink. The bird prayed for hisfreedom and said that he could only sing when he is free. Finally, whenPrincess September saw that the bird was suffocating in the golden

cage and was about to die, she set him free. The bird was thankful tothe Princes and srayed with her and sang for her. The story ends happilywhen we see Princess September married to the King of Cambodiaand living a happy life with him. Thus the story proves that when oneloves someone, one should set him or her free and love can blossomthe best when there is freedom.


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Act-III Scene-IPoints:

Salarino and Salanio enter and wonder what Rialto is abuzz withSalarino answers that

1. There are unconfirmed reports that Antonio has had his richships wrecked in the narrow seas of Scotland called theGoodwins

2. This strip of water is risky and shallow and this is where manyship wrecks have taken place

3. Salarino compares the many ships with the dead remains of thehuman bodies in a metaphor

4. He personifies gossip as Report, a woman, who may or may not be trueSalanio wishes that

1. Report (the personified Gossip) was as untrue a woman as ever knapped (nibbled/bit) Ginger (a reference to old women inElizabethan England), or one who tried to convince her neighborsabout her loyalty to marriage by weeping on the death of her third husband. (Since she is thrice married she is disloyal.)

2. He however wants to avoid the long phrases and talk directly.

3. He confirms that Antonio, the honest merchant, has lost hismoney

4. He wishes that he was so distinguished and capable as to beable to save his dear friend.Important words and phrases: Knapped: nibble; Prolixity: long

phrasesImportant figures of speech: Metaphor: Salanio compares thedirect and straightforward manner of talking with a highway;Personification: Salanio continues to address gossip as a womanSalarino and Salanio spot Shylock and ask cross themselves inmock fear. (This gesture reflects the typical prejudice that Jewswere subjected to. Shylock is compared with the devil here.)


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Salanio asks Shylock what the news prevails among themerchantsShylock takes it as a slight and answers that the merchants aretalking and gossiping about Jessica’s flight (elopement).Salarino insults Shylock punning on the word flight (escape and flying off), saying that he knew the ‘the tailor’ (an indirectreference to Lorenzo) that had stitched the wings of the bird (Jessica) that flew away with.Salanio also continues the pun (and the insult) and mocks Shylock suggesting that Shylock knew that Jessica was in that age when

daughters elope with their lovers (the pun being that the mother bird knows that the fledgling will fly away)Shylock responds with his own pun on the word ‘dam’ and cursesJessica (dam: the mother bird; damn: the curse)Salarino and Salanio tell Shylock that

1. He is in no position to judge Jessica2. That the difference between Jessica’s ‘flesh’ (here character)

and his is as stark as between ‘ivory’ and ‘jet’3. That the difference between her blood and Shylock’s is as plain

as it is between Rhenish wine and Red wine

Shylock tells Salarino and Salanio that he has run into a bad dealwith AntonioHe calls Antonio a bankrupt, a prodigal, who once used to insultShylock and call him a ‘userer’ (a term of insult). Antonio used to lend money out of courtesy to people, damaging Shylock’s

business. Now he will have a hard time saving himself from the penaltySalarino hopes that Shylock will not pursue the bond in letter and spirit if the Bond is forfeited. He wonders what a pound of flesh is good for.Shylock’s answers and reveals his intentions in the following

speech:To bait fish withal: (he will catch fish with Antonio’s flesh) if it


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will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. ( Antonio’s fleshwill satisfy Shylock’s revenge if nothing else)He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million; {Antonio

had insulted Shylock and caused him a massive loss to the tune of half a million (fig of speech, hyperbole)} laughed atmy losses, mocked at my gains , (Antonio has made fun of Shylock’s losses and joked about his profits as he is a userer)scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, (Shylock’s race and

his business deals have been at the receiving end of Antonio’s hatred) cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; (His enemies

ha ve been excite d and fri end s ha ve been ma deunresponsive) and what’s his reason? I am a Jew. (And this has all been done as Shylock is a Jew)(From here Shylock asks a series of Rhetorical Questions)Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, (Is not a

Jew a human being; does he not have eyes, hands and organs?) dimensions, senses, affections, passions? (does he not have a human shape, sense organs, choices and feelings?)fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, (does he

not eat what others eat? Is he not hurt with the same weapons that hurt others?) subject to the same diseases, healed by the

same means , (is he not subject to the same diseases and cures that others are used to?) warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? (does not the weather behavewith the Jew as it does with everybody else?)If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we notlaugh? (if you penetrate a Jews body with a needle it will

bleed; if you tickle a Jew he will laugh) if you poison us, dowe not die? ( the effect of poison on the body of the Jew is

that same as it is on the body of others) and if you wrong us,shall we not revenge? (and if a Jew is wronged (ill treated),

he will seek revenge much as any other man would do the

same)If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. (Since


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a Jew is no different from the others in respect of his humanqualities, he will be very like the others is respect to revenge)If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge.(Shylock refers to the one quality that Christians are

supposed to have: humility. But they don’t have it. They are revengeful.)If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be byChristian example? Why, revenge. ( Therefore, Shylock argues

that by the Christian example, the Jew shall show no mercyif a Christian has wronged him.)

The villany you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard butI will better the instruction. (The evil behavior taught by theChristians will be practiced against them. And Shylock will

be more aggressive than the Christians in his execution of revenge.)Tubal, a friend of Shylock’s and a Jew, enters. Shylock asks himif he has been to Genoa to look for Jessica and Lorenzo.Tubal announces that he cannot find Jessica.Shylock rants against his daughter, and he wishes her dead ashe bemoans his losses. He refers in particular to

1. A diamond that cost him two thousand ducats in Frankfort thatJessica has carried with her

2. The Jewish race, Shylock says, has felt the curse so strongly for the first time (in light of his personal loss). Shylock uses a Biblicalallusion to carry the point home. He refers to the Curse of God on the Jews that condemned them to exile.)

3. He wishes Jessica dead at his foot with the jewels in ear 4. He wishes that she was placed in her coffin (hearsed) at his

foot with his money in the coffin5. He laments that he has spent an incalculable sum in her search

and has not been able to find his daughter, who has robbed him.

He calls his misfortune ‘loss upon loss’.Tubal informs Shylock of Antonio’s great loss. One of his other


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ships, coming from Tripolis, has been reported missing.Shylock is especially embittered when Tubal reports that Jessicaspent eighty ducats in one night. Shylock is saddened by thenews but the news of Antonio’s loss gladdens him.Tubal informs him of Antonio’s many creditorsHe informs him also about a turquoise (a precious metal) ringJessica has taken with her—given to Shylock in his bachelor days by a woman named Leah, presumably Jessica’s mother— and has traded that ring for a monkey.Shylock’s spirits brighten, however, when Tubal reports thatAntonio’s ships have run into trouble and that Antonio’s creditorsare certain Antonio is ruined.He asks Tubal to hire him a lawyer to pursue his bond well inadvance (fourteen days before the bond is forfeited)He declares that he will pursue the bond to the bitter end. Hewill try to eliminate Antonio as it will lead him to better profits(Antonio used to oppose Shylock’s moneylending.)He asks Tubal to see him at the Synagogue (the Jewish temple).

Act III Scene IIPoints

Portia: I pray you.....................................stay you from election.In Belmont, Portia begs Bassanio to delay choosing the casketfor a day or two. If Bassanio chooses incorrectly, Portia reasons, she will losehis company.She tells him that she feels that she will not lose him (althoughshe stops initially short of confessing love)Her instincts that Bassanio will make the right selection cannot

be said to be guided by hate, if not loveShe confesses that a maiden in the affairs of love and marriagehas no speech ‘tongue’ to express herself; only ‘thought’She would like to detain Basaanio for a month or two before he


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risks his chances in casket selectionShe wishes she could teach Bassanio how to choose right butexpresses her helplessness as she will break her oath to the willof her father If Bassanio moves towards making the wrong casket selectionand fails to get Portia, Portia will have the wish and the desire of

breaking the oath she has been under. Thus Bassanio’s failurewill ‘make’ Portia wish a sin (sin of breaking her oathBassanio’s ‘eyes’ (his gaze) should be ‘beshrewed’ (treated asthe culprit) as it has cast a spell on Portia

Portia declares openly that she is not her own mistress now.She gives her ‘one half’ to Bassanio and the other half thatcomes to her goes to him too. Portia is entirely his.She curses the time (the naughty times) that puts barriers between‘the owners’ and ‘their rights’ {between Bassanio and Portia}Despite her declaration, if Portia and Bassanio can’t get together,the blame should lie on Fortune not on PortiaIf it is proved so Portia blames Fortune, not herself (as she hasdedicated herself to Bassanio already)She blames her desire of keeping Bassanio with her for extended

period of time for her long speech as she intends to hold him back from choosing the casket for as long as she canIn response to Portia Bassanio says that he is living on the ‘rack’,a torture bed, hinting at his emotional torture (he is desperate tomake the selection)Portia plays along the torture bed metaphor and asks Bassaniowhat treason (crime) has been mixed with his loveBassanio answers that the only treason (crime) there has ever

been is that he has doubted his success in love. He argues thatmuch as there will never be friendship between fire and ice,there will never be treason in Bassanio’s love

Portia still playfully refers to the Rack. She says that as men onthe rack will say anything to ensure their life and save them


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from torture so will Bassanio say anything to save himself Playing the rack metaphor further Bassanio asks Portia to‘promise me life’ (tell him the secret of the caskets)Portia: Away then.........................................makest the frayPortia asks Bassanio to proceed for casket selection and saysthat he must choose the one that she is locked inShe tells Bassanio that he will find her if he loves her She asks for music while Bassanio makes the casket selectionsaying that music will bring about romance in the effort:

1. If Bassanio loses he will be like the dying swan whose gravewill be Portia’s tears (simile)

2. If Bassanio wins he will be like a new crowned monarch beforewhom his subjects will bow

3. Music will be like the sound of the drums into the ears of thedreaming bridegroom summoning him to marriage on the day of the wedding, if Bassanio winsShe remarks on how Bassanio moves towards the caskets,comparing Bassanio with Hercules (the young Alcides) whenhe saved the Trojan Princess, Hesoine, from virgin sacrifice tothe Sea Monster (she uses a classical allusion). At that time the

whole of Troy gathered to mourn (howl) at the spectacle.Presently Portia compares herself with the virgin who is aboutto be sacrificed and people around her (Nerissa and others)with the Dardinian (Trojan) wives who are so tense and miserablethat their faces are tear-streaked. She asks Bassanio to approach the caskets in the manner of Hercules and conveys to him that she is much more anxiousthan he is considering that she is merely a spectator and not a

participant in the exercise.Notes on the song

The song guides Bassanio towards the right selection of thecasket. It tells him that ‘Fancy’ (attraction) is false and dies


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very much in the cradle where it is born. Therefore, they should not pay attention to Fancy (attraction). {Bassanio should not

pay any attention to the charm and the fancy of the gold and thesilver caskets}Bassanio: So may..........................Joy be the consequence

Bassanio says:What appears does not always become trueThe world (society) is misled by outward embellishments(decoration)The most corrupt plea (request) in law is that which is uttered smoothly and presented in a melodious voice to conceal the evilintentIn religion errors are sanctioned by pious looking men who justifythem citing the text (religious books)The most plain vice (sin) is that which appears as virtue on theoutsideCowards with scary hearts and temperaments try to look bravesporting the beard of Hercules and Mars (the God of war)Beauty is not always natural; it is created and purchased in theform of cosmetics (by the weight)

The outward appearance could be miraculous if beautiful and those who are beautiful in this way are light of character (notserious people)The crispy/snaky/golden locks (the blonde hair) that sway in thewind on the heads of beautiful women may actually be artificial;their true possessor might be dead with her head in the tomb(sepulchre)In this manner ornament (fake show) is very like (simile) the

peaceful and misleading shore to an actually stormy sea; the beautiful scarf on the face of an Indian beauty (ordinary lookingwoman)

Outward charm is the falsehood that cunning people assume to


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befool the wise.Gold should therefore be rejected as it was once the curse for king Midas (allusion to the King whose touch would converteverything to Gold)Silver should also be rejected as it is a common metal thatexchanges hands in the form of coinsLead, which threatens instead of promising anything, with itslackluster appearance impresses Bassanio more than the finewords written on the gold and silver He chooses lead and wishes himself joy.

Portia: How...................................surfeitPortia says that:

All her feelings except those leading to love have vanished Feelings such as those that led her to doubt Bassanio, becomerashly hopeless, shiver in fear and harbor jealousy have all fled awayShe wants her love to be moderate and not drive her intoexcessive ecstasy (Figure of speech Apostrophe: love isaddressed here directly)The joy of love should be like gentle rain upon her (figure of

speech, metaphor: joy of love is to fall on her like soft rain)She has felt the blessing of love in excess; it must be less or shewill be surfeited (too full with it).

Bassanio: What find I here..........................ratified by youPoints:

Bassanio finds Portia’s picture in the casketHe calls the artist who has drawn Portia’s sketch ‘a demi God’He calls the artist ‘a demi God’ as the artist has succeeded incapturing Portia very closely in the image (that Bassanio hasfound)

1. Bassanio wonders if Portia’s eyes are moving2. Or whether he feels that they are moving (Bassanio comments


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upon liveliness in the picture. The picture is so full of life that itsstillness is gone.)Portia’s lips in the picture are parted only by her sweet breath;such a barrier is welcome even between two sweet friends(metaphor again: the upper lip and the lower lip are the twofriends that are separated by Portia’s fragrant breath)Bassanio compares the painter (who has done the portrait) withthe spider (metaphor again), who has woven a golden web inPortia’s hair to capture the hearts (feelings) of men. Portia’s golden hair thus capture the feelings of men faster than

gnats (insects trapped in cobwebs)Bassanio wonders how the painter could have done the eyes;how he was able to resist the brilliance of Portia’s gaze. InBassanio’s love stricken assessment, Portia’s one eye should have had the power to steal both the eyes of the painter and,thus, the painting should have had only one eye.Finally Bassanio says that he is far from able to convey the

beauty of the portrait much as the portrait is far from able toconvey Portia’s beauty: the degree by which he cant convey the

beauty of the portrait corresponds with the degree by which the portrait cant convey Portia’s beauty.He picks up the scroll and reads it finally, calling it the essenceand gist of his destiny

The Scroll:1. Bassanio is told that his choice has not been influenced by his

outward appearance2. On his true choice Bassanio stands a fair chance of success3. This ‘fortune’ (Portia and her wealth) falls to him he should be

happy and satisfied 4. Bassanio’s happiness should augur him well; his luck has and

will fetch him happiness

5. He should turn to Portia and claim her with a loving kiss


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A gentle scroll……………………….. ratified by youBassanio calls the scroll ‘gentle’ and turns to Portia to claim her as instructed He intends to accept her in marriage and asks her to accept himHe uses a SIMILE to convey that his state is like that of acontender who has impressed the general public but is not quiteable to believe that he has done so, although people haveappreciated himContinuing the simile Bassanio says that such a contender isGiddy (nauseated/exhausted) in his response to the crowd and dazed, not quite able to understand that the ‘peals of praise’(sound of applause) are meant for himBassanio calls Portia ‘thrice fair’ and tells her that his confusionis as great as that of the above mentioned contender He asks her to confirm/ratify and sign his achievement for him

Portia:You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand, (Portia refers to

her own condition and state here; asking Bassanio to look over her perspective)Such as I am (in her state as Portia, the heiress of Belmont ):

though for myself aloneI would not be ambitious in my wish (For the woman Portia,who has inherited her father’s estate, she does not want

anything more from life),To wish myself much better (she has no need to want to be

better); yet, for youI would be trebled twenty times myself (For his sake/ so as to

be worthy of him, she wants that she should be sixty times her better in her attitude and approach);A thousand times more fair (a thousand times prettier), tenthousand times more rich (ten thousand times richer);That only to stand high in your account (so that she could win


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his complete affection),I might in virtue, beauties, livings, friends,Exceed account (people might say that Portia is the full of qualities/ pretty/has friends and inheritance) ; but the full sumof me (but in totality )Is sum of something, which, to term in gross, (her value put

crudely)Is an unlesson’d girl, unschool’d, unpractised; {is that she is anuneducated/ untaught girl; unexposed to society and cultures(she undervalues herself)}Happy in this, she is not yet so old But she may learn (Her biggest happiness being that she is

not so old that she may not learn) and; happier than this (still happier thinking),She is not bred so dull but she can learn (that her upbringing

has given her the means to learn);Happiest of all is that her gentle spiritCommits itself to yours to be directed (and her greatest source

of happiness is that she and her essence is Bassanio’s to direct),

As from her lord, her governor, her king (that Bassanio is her Lord, Governor and King).Myself and what is mine to you and yoursIs now converted (Everything that is hers is Bassanio’s) : butnow I was the lord Of this fair mansion, master of my servants (before Bassanio

succeeded Portia was the owner of the house, servants and her own Queen)Queen o’er myself: and even now, but now,This house, these servants and this same myself

Are yours, my lord: (But at this very moment she giver herself and all her possessions to Bassanio)


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I give them with this ring; (Her allegiance to Bassanio is marked by the giving of this ring)Which when you part from, lose, or give away,Let it presage the ruin of your loveAnd be my vantage to exclaim on you. (If, and as and when,

Bassanio lo ses the ring , the loss will give Port ia the justification to accuse Bassanio and lead to the destruction of their love)Bassanio: Madam you have bereft………….. Bassanio’s dead

Points:Bassanio confesses that Portia has robbed him of all words;that he has no ability to thank her He blushes (blood speaks to you in my veins)He also says that he is terribly confused in his though

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