Wednesday, July 7, 2010

As You Like It - Answer to Contextual Question Act II Scene I



Solved Contextual Questions

Extract: Here feel we but the penalty of Adam,
The seasons’ difference, as, the icy fang
And churlish chiding of the winter’s wind;
Which, when it bites and blows upon my body,
Even till I shrink with cold, I smile and say
‘This is no flattery: these are counsellors
That feelingly persuade me what I am.’
Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which like a toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;

i) Where does this scene take place? Who are present at the scene? What has made them to come to the place?


            The scene takes place in the Forest of Arden.

            The Duke senior, Amiens and other Lords, dressed like Foresters, are present at the scene.

            The usurping Duke Frederick, who has banished the Duke senior, forces him to take refuge here. Amiens and the other Lords, who are all loyal to the Duke senior, have followed him to Arden as they immensely dislike the vile and wicked Frederick.

ii) Give the meaning of:

a) The seasons’ difference: punishment consisted in the change of seasons on the earth.

b) That feelingly persuade me: teach me through my senses.

c) And churlish chiding of the winter’s wind: the icy sting and the severe buffeting of the winter wind.

iii) Who was Adam? What is referred to as the penalty of Adam?

            Adam was the first human male created by God.

            The penalty of Adam consists of the hardships suffered by him due to the change of seasons. Having disobeyed God’s command, Adam and Eve (his female companion) were expelled from the Garden of Eden, his original home. According to the Bible, only one season, namely the balmy spring, prevailed on earth before the fall of the first two human beings whom God had created after His image.

iv) What inconvenience is caused to the Duke by the harsh weather? Why does he call such inconveniences as counsellors?

            The severe buffeting of the winter wind makes the Duke shiver with cold. It seems to pierce his flesh and bones when his old limbs begin to shrink with cold.

            Such inconveniences appear to him as counsellors because the severity of the elements here does not hide itself under any false show of warmth following the example of the courtiers who falsely flatter their sovereign. On the contrary, these cold winds are the wise advisors who make him realize how frail he is.  

v) By referring to the extract, compare the Duke’s life in the court with his life in the forest.

            Whereas the Duke’s life in the court was constrained, calculated and full of rivalry and hypocrisy, his life in the forest is free from the political intrigues (manoeuvrings), and perils of the court life. The Duke feels that even the hardships of nature in the forest are kinder than flatterers and false counsellors of the court.

vi) Give two traits of the Duke’s character as highlighted in the extract.

            The two traits that the Duke demonstrates in the extract are his philosophical attitude toward life’s reversals and a sense of adaptability which makes it possible for him to live contentedly in the Forest of Arden in spite of all the inconveniences that he has to suffer there.

© Somnath Mitra 2010: All rights reserved.


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Tuesday, July 6, 2010

As You Like It: Act I / Scene III - Solved Write a Brief Note Type Questions


Q. Duke Frederick banishes Rosalind from his dukedom. How do the following respond to the punishment?

a) Rosalind

            Rosalind responds to her punishment firmly and yet with a calmness of mind that further endears this charming lady to us. She is no longer the submissive Rosalind as we knew her but turns to be quite assertive when it comes to the question of her father’s honour. She goes to great length to prove that she is not a traitor, talking reasonably and precisely all the time and in the process, exposes the malicious biasness of her wicked uncle toward her. Her polite assertion that Duke Frederick should not treat her poverty and wretchedness as signs of her treason shows how balanced and self-possessed as a person she is.

b) Celia

            The young lady, who is fiercely loyal to her cousin Rosalind, at first, pleads her father to repeal the banishment on her (Rosalind) but when this goes unheeded by the wicked Frederick, she boldly admonishes her father for his spiteful deeds toward the Duke Senior and his incomparable daughter. Celia’s totally identifying with Rosalind’s woes and giving her whole-hearted support to her cousin at the risk of attracting her father’s displeasure, wins our admiration. Celia suggests that Rosalind and she should go to meet the banished Duke in the forest of Arden, and this shows how resourceful she is.
  
Q. Briefly show the intimate bond that exists between Celia and Rosalind.

           That an intimate bond exists between the two cousins, is proved time and again by the way the two princesses extend their love and support to each other. Celia begs her father to allow Rosalind to stay in the court and even threatens him that she would accompany Rosalind if she is banished. On the other hand, Rosalind demonstrates her caring and concern for Celia by always discussing with her candidly and honestly all that could affect their lives favourably or adversely.    


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Sunday, July 4, 2010

As You Like It / Act I Scene III / Solved Short Notes Type Question



1.  Give the reasons which made Duke Frederick to banish Rosalind.

            The malicious and vindictive Duke feels that Rosalind’s personality would

eclipse Celia’s virtues and this is the primary reason of his banishing Rosalind

from his court. There is perhaps another fact which further fires his vindictive

nature. He suspects Rosalind’s attraction for Orlando, the son of his enemy. The

man who had earlier kept Rosalind at the court to give company to his daughter

and used to call her ‘daughter and cousin’ now feels otherwise. Duke Frederick is

strongly motivated to hate Rosalind for the same reason which made Oliver to

hate Orlando. This strong motivation comes to the fore when we hear him speak

to Celia in the following manner.

            “Thou art a fool; she robs thee of thy name,

            And thou wilt show more bright and seem more virtuous

            When she if gone.”

2. How does the scene show that Celia and Rosalind are very responsible young

ladies?

                       The firm yet polite way in which Rosalind tries to protect his father’s

honour, clearly demonstrates her sense of propriety and responsibility. She shows

her affection for her father when she says that her father is not a traitor and treachery

is not something that is inherited by children from their fathers. Her calm assertion

that her uncle should not use her poverty and helplessness for branding her as a

betrayer wins our admiration. On the other hand Celia’s unflinching (unwavering)

loyalty to Rosalind shows that she too is a responsible girl. She appeals to her father

for repealing the punishment so unethically thrust upon her and even threatens him

that she would accompany Rosalind if she is banished. Again the way the two sisters

devise a way to escape from the clutches of the cruel Duke, and the common sense

with which they execute their plan, could not have happened without being

their being conscientious and responsible.

© SOMNATH MITRA



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