The Merchant of Venice Act IV Scene 2 Workbook Answers and Explanations

ACT IV Scene 2

Question 1. (i) Which deed is referred to in the extract? What are the contents of the deed? Why will Lorenzo be happy to have the deed?
Answer: The deed referred to in the extract is the legal document prepared by Portia. The contents of the deed are that Shylock's property will go to Lorenzo and Jessica after Shylock's death. Lorenzo will be happy with this deed as it is beneficial to him and Jessica.
In simple words: The deed is the legal document Portia created, stating that Shylock's assets will transfer to Lorenzo and Jessica upon his death. Lorenzo will be happy because it guarantees his and Jessica's future financial security.

🎯 Exam Tip: Accurately identify the deed and its specific provisions for Shylock's property, explaining why this outcome is favorable for Lorenzo.

Question 1. (ii) Give the meaning of:

(a) Inquire the Jew's house out.
(b) you are well o'erta'en.
Answer:
(a) Inquire the Jew's house out: Find out the location of Shylock's house.
(b) you are well o'erta'en: I am glad to have overtaken you.
In simple words: 'Inquire the Jew's house out' means to find Shylock's home. 'You are well o'erta'en' means "I'm glad I caught up with you."

🎯 Exam Tip: Provide precise and direct translations for both phrases.

Question 1. (iii) Where is Portia going that night? Why should she reach home before her husband? Under what pretext was she away from home?
Answer: Portia is going to Belmont that night. She should reach home before her husband so that he may not doubt her absence from Belmont. She was away from home under the pretext of going to a convent to do religious exercises and holy meditation till the arrival of their husbands.
In simple words: Portia is returning to Belmont and needs to arrive before Bassanio to maintain her disguise. Her excuse for absence was religious devotion at a convent.

🎯 Exam Tip: State Portia's destination, the reason for her urgency (maintaining secrecy), and her deceptive excuse for being away.

Question 1. (iv) What comedy follows later because of Bassanio having given the ring to Portia?
Answer: In Act V Scene 1, the comedy occurs due to Bassanio having given the ring to the lawyer. Portia accuses Bassanio for this saying if he knew the special qualities of the ring, the virtue of the one who gave the ring and his honour in keeping vows, he should not have parted with it. He defends himself saying that he parted with it reluctantly and gave it to the lawyer, who saved Antonio's life.
In simple words: Later, Portia playfully confronts Bassanio for giving away his wedding ring (which she, disguised, received). This creates comedy as he struggles to explain, unaware he gave it to his own wife.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the dramatic irony of the ring episode in Act V, where Portia's trick leads to humorous marital misunderstandings.

Question 1. (v) How does the ring episode become a part of the love episode?
Answer: The ring episode is an integral part of the love episode. It adds humour to the play and further promotes the love and commitment of the couples. Antonio agrees to be the guarantor for Bassanio that he will never again deliberately break the promise made to Portia and will never part with the ring again.
In simple words: The ring episode strengthens the romantic plot by adding humor and testing the couples' commitment. Antonio even pledges his soul as security for Bassanio's renewed promise not to lose the ring again.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain how the ring episode contributes to both the comedic and romantic elements, reinforcing themes of trust and commitment between the lovers.

Question 2. (i) To what does Portia refer when she says, 'That cannot be'? Why do you think, she says so?
Answer: By saying 'That cannot be', Portia is referring to Bassanio's request to her to have dinner with him. Portia tells Gratiano that it is not possible for her to accept Bassanio's request to come for dinner. She says so because she is in the disguise of a lawyer and did not want Bassanio to know her identity at this stage. Secondly, she wants to return to Belmont before the arrival of her husband.
In simple words: Portia means she cannot have dinner with Bassanio. She says this because, disguised as a lawyer, she must conceal her true identity and return to Belmont before her husband arrives.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly state Portia's two main reasons for refusing the dinner invitation: maintaining her disguise and her need to return home discreetly.

Question 2. (ii) Who is the 'youth' referred to in the extract? Why should the youth be shown Shylock's house?
Answer: The 'youth' referred to here is Nerissa. The youth should be shown Shylock's house so that she could give the draft deed to Shylock for his signature.
In simple words: The 'youth' is Nerissa, disguised. She needs to be shown Shylock's house to deliver the deed for him to sign, finalizing the transfer of his property.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify Nerissa in disguise and explain the practical purpose of her visit to Shylock's house regarding the legal deed.

Question 2. (iii) What trick is Nerissa planning? How would Portia and Nerissa challenge their husbands about their rings? How will this incident later on have a comic effect in the play?
Answer: Nerissa is planning to get the ring from Gratiano. Portia says that their husbands will keep swearing that they have given the rings to men as a gift but Portia and Nerissa will contradict them and swear just as vehemently that they are deceiving them. This incident provides a comic effect in the play in Act V Scene 1. Both Nerissa and Portia accuse their husbands for parting with their rings. But Bassanio and Gratiano swear that they have given the rings to boys and that too to express their gratitude to them for their services in saving Antonio from Shylock. They swear never to part with the rings again. The ring-episode provides comic relief after the serious trial scene.
In simple words: Nerissa plans to get Gratiano's ring, then she and Portia will playfully accuse their husbands of giving their rings to other women. This creates comic confusion in Act V when the wives, having received the rings themselves in disguise, tease their husbands for breaking their vows.

🎯 Exam Tip: Outline Nerissa's specific plan (getting Gratiano's ring) and detail how this playful deception will lead to humorous confrontations and accusations in a later scene, linking it to the wider comedic structure.