Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers

Act II Scene 2
Extract I
Launcelot:

Well, my conscience says, “ Launcelot, budge not……..is the devil himself.

1
1. Who is Launcelot Gobbo? What inner struggle is going on in his conscience?
What does his struggle show about the contemporary Christian practice?

2. Why does Launcelot want to run away from the Jew? What does his
conscience advise him to do?

3. Launcelot’s speech provides some comic relief in the play? Why was such a
relief need in the context of the play?

.4 Enumerate the reasons given by Launcelot’s conscience to stay on with the

master
5. Finally, whom does Launcelot obey-the devil or his conscience? How is the
theme of racial discrimination brought out in Launcelot’s decision to run away?

6 How is the theme of conflict between the good and the evil shown in this scene?

Extract II
Launcelot:
O heavens, this is my true begotten father!.........turn of no hand but turn down
indirectly to the Jew’s house.

1. Where are Launcelot and old Gobbo? What is meant by ‘true-begotten

father’? Why can’t old Gobbo recognize his son?

2. Why is old Gobbo looking for the way to Master Jew’s house? How does
Launcelot confuse the old man while giving directions to him to reach the Jew’s
house?

3. What was Gobbo’s reaction to the directions given to him by Launcelot? .

4. What present has Gobbo brought to give to the Jew? What does Launcelot
say to his father about it?
5. Launcelot plays a comic role in this scene. Give two examples of comedy
provided by him.

Extract III
Launcelot:

Ergo, master Launcelot…….a staff or a prop? Do you know me father?

1. Why does Launcelot use high-sounding words in his conversation with Gobbo?
What does Shakespeare want to convey to the audience in this context about
the habit of some people in his time?

2. Why does Launcelot call old Gobbo ‘father’ in the first line of the extract? Give
the meaning of :

According to Fates and Destinies, and such odd sayings, the Sisters Three and such
branches of learning,

3. How does Gobbo react to the news of the apparent loss of his son?

4. How does Launcelot show dramatically that he is Gobbo’s son? Why does the
former refer to his mother’s name in the context? .

5. How does Gobbo show by words and actions that he is fond of his son?

6. Give any two humorous situations from this scene.

Extract IV Gobbo:

Lord, how art thou changed!...........for I am a Jew, if I serve the Jew any longer.
1. What has just happened that makes Gobbo say that Launcelot has changed?
What present did Gobbo bring? To whom does he want to give it?

2. Give the meaning of:

a) My master’s a very Jew:

b) Give him a halter:
3. How can we conclude from the extract that Launcelot has been suffering in the
Jew’s service?

4. What do you find strange in the expression: You may tell every finger I have with
my ribs?

5. What special privilege would Launcelot have if he serves Bassanio? What would
happen if Launcelot were to serve the Jew ‘any longer’?

6. What kind of attitude against the Jews is shown in this scene?

Extract V
Launcelot:

Father, in. ……………….I’ll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye.
1. How has Launcelot shown that he could speak for himself to be employed by
Bassanio?

2. What impact is the palm-reading by Launcelot likely to make on the audience?

3. What does Launcelot predict about his wives and his escape from dangers to his
life?
4. What instructions did Bassanio give to the Gobbos and to his servants after
employing Launcelot?

5. Before this extract Launcelot referred to a proverb which is applicable both to

Shylock and to Bassanio. What was the proverb and how is it applicable to both of
them?

Extract VI
Bassanio:
Why, then you must . I be misconstrued in the place I go to and lose my hopes.

1. Give thecontext in which Bassanio speaks these words.

2. Give the meaning of:
To allay with some cold drops of modesty
Thys skipping spirit, .

3. Briefly summarise the advice given by Bassanio to Gratiano in the extract.

4. Why does Bassanio ask Gratiano to behave properly in Belmont?

 5. What assurance does Gratiano give to Bassanio about the latter’s advice?

6. What exception to Gratiano’s behaviour is accepted for the particular night?

Why?

1. Launcelot:
To be ruled by
my
conscience, I should stay with the Jew my master, who (God bless
the mark !) is a king of devil; and, to run away from the
Jew, I should be ruled by the fiend, who (saving your reverence)
is the devil himself. Certainly, the Jew is the very devil incarnation; and, in
my conscience, my conscience is but a kind of hard conscience, the offer
to counsel me to stay with the Jew. The fiend gives the more friendly
counsel: I will run, fiend; my heels are at your commandment; I will run.

Question 1.
Where is the speaker now? Who is he? Who is the ‘Jew my master’?

Question 2.
What is the conflict going on in the speaker’s mind? What do you think is the
reason for his confusion?

Question 3.
Why is the Jew called a ‘devil’s incarnation?
Question 4.
Give the meaning of, ‘I should be ruled by the fiend’ and ‘a kind of hard
conscience’ and
‘my heels are at your command’
Question 5.
What is the importance of this scene, in regard to the play?
2. Launcelot :
[Aside] O heavens ! this is my true-begotten father, who,
being more than sand-blind, high gravel-blind, knows me
not: I will try confusions with him.

Question 1.
To whom is Launcelot referring? When does this person makes his entry?
What does he have in his hand?
Question 2.
Explain the meanings of ‘sand-blind’ and ‘gravel blind’. Of which category is
the newcomer?

Question 3.
What has the speaker decided to do now? What does the new¬comer ask the
speaker, at this time? How do you fell about Launcelot’s attitude towards his
father in this scene?
Question 4.
How does the speaker confuse the newcomer?

Question 5.
How does this interlude end?
3. Launcelot :
Well, well : but, for mine own part, as I have set up my
rest to run away, so I will not rest till I have run some
ground.

Question 1.
To what comment of Old Gobo does the speaker reply in this manner. Why
does he say, ‘I will not rest till I have run some ground’?
Question 2.
‘My master is a very Jew’. Comment on the line. According to him what
should his father do with the gift?
Question 3.
What is the halter? Why does Launcelot say that his father should do? Why?
Question 4.
Why does the speaker refer to his ribs? What do you think is the importance
of the character of Launcelot in the play?
Question 5.
What does he say about Bassanio at this time?
4. Bassanio :
I know thee well; Thou hast obtain’d thy suit:
Shylock thy master spoke with me this day,
And hath preferr’d thee, if it be
preferment To leave a rich Jew’s
service, to become The follower of so
poor a gentleman.
Question 1.
Who is the ‘thee’ in the extract? What had Shylock told about the thee?

Question 2.
Explain the meaning of the extract.

Question 3.
What proverb is quoted as an answer to this speech of Bassanio?

Question 4.
What instructions are given by Bassanio, soon after this? What does this
show of his character?

Question 5.
Just after this extract, Launcelot has predicted certain things for himself by
looking at his palm. What are they?

5. Gratiano :
Signior Bassanio, hear me :
If I do not put on a sober habit,
Talk with respect, and swear but now and then,
Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely,
Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes Thus with my hat, and
sigh, and say ‘amen’,
Use all the observance of civility,
Like one well studied in a sad ostent To please his grandam, never trust
me more.

Question 1.
Where is the speaker now? What had the speaker requested Bassanio a little
earlier?

Question 2.
What had Bassanio accused Gratiano, a little while ago? Why should Gratiano
change his habits? What changes should Gratiano make in his behavior and
why?

Question 3.
What is the result of this speech? Why is Gratiano requested to be merry at
dinner?

Question 4.
Gratiano appears in a different mood in Belmont. Describe that mood.

Question 5.
What does Gratiano mean by ‘sober habit’ and ‘sad ostent’?

Question 1 : Read the extract given below and answer the question that follow.

“Certainly the Jew is the very devil incarnal; and, in my conscience, my

conscience is but a kind of hard conscience, to offer to counsel me to stay
with the Jew. The fiend gives the more friendly counsel: I will run, fiend; my
heels are at your command; I will run.”

(i) Who is the speaker of these lines? Who is the ‘Jew’ being referred to here?
(ii) What dilemma is the speaker currently facing?

(iii) How does the speaker solve his dilemma?

(iv) The speaker says ‘I will run’. Where does he want to run? Is he trying to run
away from something or someone?

(v) Why is the speaker calling the ‘Jew’ a devil incarnal? Do you agree with him? A
Question 2 : Read the extract given below and answer the question that follow.

Bassanio : One speak for both. What would you?

Launcelot : Serve you sir.
Gobbo : That is the very defect of the matter, sir.
Bassanio : I know thee well; thou hast obtain’d thy suit:
Shylock thy master spoke with me this day,
And hath preferr’d thee, if it is preferment
To leave a rich Jew’s service, to become The follower of so poor a
gentleman.

(i) What does Gobbo mean when he says that it was the very defect of the matter?
(ii) What had made Launcelot leave his old master and come to Bassanio? Answer :
(iii) Why did Bassanio say, “One speak for both”?

(iv) Why had Launcelot preferred to work for Bassanio, who is not as rich as his old
master?

(v) Bassanio says that Shylock himself had referred Launcelot to Bassanio. Why did
Shylock want to get rid of Launcelot?

Passage 1.
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :

Launcelot :
Certainly the Jew is the very devil incarnal; and in my conscience, my
conscience is but a kind of conscience, to ofter to counsel me to stay
with the Jew The fiend gives the more friendly counsel: I will run, fiend,
my heels are at your commandment, I will run.
(i) Who is the few referred to in the first line? Why is he compared to
the devil

(ii) In the conflict between the devil and the conscience, who wins ?
What does Launcelot decide to do ?

(iii) What counsel does the conscience give to Launcelot ?

(iv) Who meets Launcelot, soon after this ? Answer: Old Gobbo meets
Launcelot soon after this.

(v) What does Launcelot mean by ‘the very devil incamal’ ?