I did say so,
When first I raised the tempest Say, my spirit,
How fares the king and’s followers?
Ariel :
Confin ’d together
In the same fashion as you gave in charge.
Just as you left them; all prisoners, sir,
In the line-grove which weather-fends
your cell;
They cannot budge till your release.
(i) Where are Prospero and Ariel? What is Prospero dressed in?
(ii) What does Prospero refer to when he says “I did say so ”? Who is the “king ” referred to by Prospero?
(iii) Comment on Prospero’s use of the expression, “my spirit.”
(iv) Explain: “In the line-grove…your cell”.
(v) What reaction does Ariel expect from Prospero on seeing his prisoners’ condition?
(vi) Mention one quality of Ariel as reflected in this extract.
Answer:
(i) Prospero and Ariel are at a venture on the island where Prospero’s alchemic experiments are in progress. Prospero is dressed in his magic robe.
(ii) Prospero refers to the moment for which he has been waiting since twelve years. The ‘king’ referred to by Prospero is his treacherous brother Antonio.
(iii) Prospero addresses Ariel as ‘my spirit’. The expression suggests that Prospero is in a pleasant mood and is glad at the performance of Ariel.
(iv) “In the line-grove which weather-fends your cell” means that amongst the dense grove of lime, which protects Prospero’s cell from bad weather. Here Ariel has made captive the enemies of his master Prospero.
(v) Ariel expects that Prospero will have pity on seeing his prisoners’ condition.
(vi) Ariel strictly carried out Prospero’s orders as instructed by him. Therefore, we can say that Ariel was obedient to Prospero.
(C)Ferdinand :
Wherefore weep you?
Miranda :
At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer
What I desire to give, and much less take
What I shall die to want. But this is trifling,
And all the more it seeks to hide itself.
The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning,
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence
l am your wife, if you will marry me;
(i) Where are Ferdinand and Miranda at the present moment? Who is the third person unseen by both of them?
(ii) Why is Miranda crying? What is it that she dared not to offer?
(iii) Explain : “……………. and much less take What I shall die to want.”
(iv) What is “it” referred to in the line “And all the more it seeks to hide …………..”
(v) What does “bashful cunning ” mean? What proposal does Miranda make?
(vi) What will she do if her proposal is rejected?
Answer :
(i) At the present moment Ferdinand is labouring as a slave of Prospero on the island and Miranda is there watching him. Prospero is the third person unseen by both of them.
(ii) Miranda is crying to see her love labouring as a log-man and she is quite helpless. She dares not to offer herself to Ferdinand as his wife.
(iii) The given expression shows Miranda’s innocent and selfless love for Ferdinand.
(iv) In the given part of statement ‘it’ is referred to as ‘true love’ which cannot be hidden, because the more you try to hide it the more it is exposed.
(v) “Bashful cunning” means pretence of shyness. By her innocence Miranda proposes about marriage to Ferdinand.
(vi) Miranda will die a virgin if her proposal is rejected.
(D)Sebastian :
Methinks, I do.
Antonio :
And how does your content
Tender your own good fortune?
Sebastian :
I remember
You did supplant your brother Prospero.
Antonio :
True;
And look how well my garments sit upon me,
Much feater than before; my brother’s servants.
Were then my fellows, now they are my men.
(i) Why does Sebastian say, “Methinks, I do ”?
(ii) What does Antonio mean by “And how does….. own good fortune ”?
(iii) What is meant by the term “supplant”? How did Antonio “supplant” his own brother?
(iv) Which “garments” does Antonio refer to? How do they fit him?
(v) Who are the “my men” referred to by Antonio? When were they his “fellows”? Comment on Antonio’s tone in this speech.
Answer:
i)By saying “Methinks I do”, Sebastian says that he fully understands what Antonio suggests when he asks, “For your advance-ment! Do you understand me”?
(ii) Antonio meant that Sebastian should be inclined to look favourably on his lucky chance for his advancement.
(iii) By the term ‘supplant’ it is meant that Antonio usurped the dukedom from his brother Prospero. Antonio treacherously took hold of the administration and usurped the dukedom of Milan from Prospero and left him and his three-year-old daughter in a broken boat at the mercy of the sea.
(iv) The garments referred to are the clothes that were provided for the wedding of the King’s daughter Claribel at Tunis. The garments fit him more suitably.
(v) Men who were once the men of Prospero are referred to as “my men” by Antonio. They were his ‘fellows’ when Prospero was the duke of Milan. Antonio’s tone, here, is of self-praise and contentment.
(vi) On Antonio’s saying as above, Sebastian says, “But for your conscience”, which suggests that his tone is sarcastic and satirical.
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