Choose two of the passages (a) to (c) and answer briefly the questions that follow: Benedick : I…

Benedick : I can see yet without spectacles, and I see no such matter. There’s her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December. But I hope you have no intent to turn husband, have you? Claudio : I would scarce trust myself though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife. (i) Whom is Benedick referring to in the above lines? [1] (ii) Benedick says: ‘I see no such matter.’ What does he mean by it? [2] (iii) Explain the lines: [1½] “There’s her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December”. (iv) What does the comparison of Beatrice with May suggest about Benedick? [2] (v) What does Claudio mean by ‘sworn the contrary’? [2] (vi) Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the [1½] context of the passage: possessed; fury; intent

Don John : Come, let us to the banquet [Exeunt all but Claudio] Claudio : Thus answer I in name of Benedick, But hear these ill news with the ears of Claudio. ’Tis certain so; the prince woos for himself. Friendship is constant in all other things Save in the office and affairs of love. Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues. Let every eye negotiate for itself, And trust no agent; for beauty is a witch Against whose charms faith melteth into blood. This is an accident of hourly proof, Which I mistrusted not. Farewell, therefore, Hero. [Enter Benedick] Benedick : Count Claudio? Claudio : Yea, the same. (i) Where are the speakers? Describe Claudio’s state of mind. [1] (ii) What has Don John just revealed to Claudio? [2] (iii) Explain the lines: [1½] “Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues. Let every eye negotiate for itself, And trust no agent;” (iv) How does Don John succeed in conveying his thoughts to Claudio? What is his intention in doing so? [2] (v) Why is ‘beauty’ said to be a ‘witch’? Which aspect of Claudio is seen here? [2] (vi) Give the meanings of the following words as they are used in the [1½] context of the passage: ill; save; office;

Don John : Fie, fie, they are Not to be nam’d my lord, not to be spoke of, There is not chastity enough in language Without offence to utter them. Thus, pretty lady, I am sorry for thy much misgovernment. Claudio : O Hero! What a Hero hadst thou been If half thy outward graces had been plac’d About thy thoughts and counsels of thy heart! But fare thee well, most foul, most fair; farewell Thou pure impiety and impious purity For thee I’ll lock up all the gates of love, And on my eyelids shall conjecture hang To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm, And never shall it more be gracious. (i) Where are the speakers? What leads Claudio to speak in this manner? [1] (ii) What are the charges levelled against Hero by Don Pedro? [2] (iii) Explain the lines: [1½] “What a Hero hadst thou been If half thy outward graces had been plac’d About thy thoughts and counsels of thy heart!” (iv) What are the immediate reactions of Leonato and Hero to Claudio’s words? [2] (v) What impressions do we form about Leonato in this scene? [2] (vi) Give the meanings of the following words as they are used in the context [1½] of the passage: misgovernment; impiety; conjecture