QUALITY OF MERCY
Poem- 2
Karnataka Class 10 English
Solutions
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1) William Shakespeare was well known
a) dramatist of his time b) Poet
c) Sonnet writer d)
actor
Ans: a) dramatist of his time
2) “Quality of Mercy” is an extract from
a) Jullius Caesar b)
The Merchant of Venice
c) Merchant of Europe d) Sonnet
Ans: b) The Merchant of Venice
3) “Quality of Mercy” was written by
a) Thomas b)
Christine Rigden
c) Bernard Howe d)
William Shakespeare
Ans: d) William Shakespeare
4) Portia was the main character of
a) Quality of Mercy b)
Compassion
c) The Merchant of Venice d) Julius
Caesar
Ans: c) The Merchant of Venice
5) The throned monarch better than
a) his crown b)
his kingdom
c) his people d)
Mercy
Ans: a) his crown
6) The quality of mercy is not
a) in heaven b)
in earth
c) with the kings d)
strain’d
Ans: d) strain’d
7) His Sceptre shows the force of
a) kings b)
temporal power
c) divine power d)
Gods
Ans: b) temporal power
8) Mercy is
a) quality b)
attribute
c) twice blest d)
power
Ans: c) twice blest
9) If droppeth as the
a) gentle rain b)
monarch
c) kings d)
gods
Ans: a) gentle rain
10) It is enthroned in the
a) God himself b)
like Gods
c) heart of kings d)
Seasons Justice
Ans: c) heart of kings
11) Temporal means
a) view point b)
worldly power
c) temper d)
blessed
Ans: b) worldly power
12) Wherein doth sit the dread and
a) mercy above b)
heart of kings
c) fear of kings d)
likest God.
Ans: c) fear of kings
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS IN A WORD OR A SENTENCE EACH:
1) Why does mercy drop like rain from heaven, according
to Portia?
Ans: According to Portia, mercy is never
forced or compelled and so it drops freely like rain from heaven.
2) How is mercy ‘twice blessed’?
Ans: Mercy is twice blessed because it
blesses the one showing mercy and the one receiving mercy.
3) What does show the force of temporal power?
Ans: The scepter.
4) What attributes does the speaker liken to the sceptre?
Ans: The speaker attributes awe and majesty
to the sceptre.
5) How is mercy above the sceptred sway?
Ans: Mercy is divine and hence its power is
superior to the earthly power of kings symbolized by the sceptre.
6) What is the earthly power referred to?
Ans: The speaker refers to authority that is
vested in mortal beings like judges or kings as earthly power.
7) How is mercy an attribute of God Himself?
Ans: Mercy is an attribute of God Himself as
it is a divine quality, superior to all other human qualities, justifying the
idea that God has created man in His own image.
8) When do you find earthly power resembling God’s power?
Ans: We find earthly power resembling God’s
power when the quality of mercy is enthroned in the heart of kings.
9) What happens when mercy seasons justice?
Ans: When mercy seasons justice, the giver of
justice gets blessed and becomes divine.
10) Mention the three things of temporal power of a king.
Ans: Throne, Crown and Scepter.
11) What does the speaker compare the power of the king
to?
Ans: The speaker compares the power of the
king to the temporal power of the scepter.
12) Mercy
is compared to something in the first two lines of the poem what is it? How is
this comparison apt? Justify your answer.
Ans:
In the first
two lines of the poem, the poet says that mercy is like soft rain that falls
from the sky. This idea gives many meanings. First, just as rain is a natural
thing, mercy is also a natural quality in people. If a person cannot show
mercy, then he is not truly human.
Second, mercy is like rain
because it comes suddenly and gives comfort and peace, just like soft rain
does. Third, the rain from the sky shows God’s mercy on people. Since we all
want and enjoy God’s mercy, we should also show mercy to others. The Christian
teaching is simple: treat others the same way you want them to treat you.
13) The speaker
says that mercy is twice blessed. What does she mean by this?
Ans: When the
speaker says mercy is “twice blessed,” she means that mercy gives happiness to
both people. The one who receives mercy feels thankful, and the one who gives
mercy feels joy because he has acted like God’s messenger. In this way, mercy
blesses both the giver and the receiver.
14) ‘Sceptre shows
the force of temporal power’. In contrast, what or whose quality does mercy
stand for?
Ans: If the scepter
(king’s staff) shows worldly power, mercy shows the true and lasting value of a
king because it comes from his heart and makes him like God. A king is
considered divine only when he shows mercy and forgiveness. These ideas appear
again and again in Shakespeare’s works. This poem shows how much Shakespeare
respected people who were merciful. He believed mercy was the greatest quality
for the strongest, highest, and most powerful people in society.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN 2-3 SENTENCES EACH:
1) Why does the speaker say, ‘The quality of mercy is not
strained’?
Ans: The speaker says the quality of mercy is
not strained because he is of the opinion that mercy is a natural attribute of
human beings. That is why he compares mercy with the gentle rain from heaven.
2) What is meant by
‘mercy seasons justice’?
Ans: The phrase “mercy seasons
justice” can be understood in many ways because the word “seasons”
has different meanings like adds flavor, improves, or softens. All these
meanings suit the idea. Justice becomes better and more beautiful when it is
mixed with mercy. Even if a judgment is correct, if it is too harsh, mercy
should make it softer and kinder.
3) ‘Mercy is the
mightiest of the mightiest’. How does the poet justify this?
Ans: Mercy is the
greatest of all powers because it is stronger than the powers a king has. The
throne, crown, and scepter show the king’s authority, but they only stand for
earthly power, which does not last long. True greatness comes when a king has
mercy in his heart, because mercy makes him like God.
ANSWER THE
FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN 5-6 / 6-8 SENTENCES EACH:
1) Describe how
Shakespeare depicts the quality of mercy.
Ans: The poem “Quality
of Mercy” shows the Christian value of forgiveness. Shakespeare says that
if man is created in God’s image, then he should also act like God. One way man
can be divine is by having mercy in his heart. Mercy comes naturally to people,
just like gentle rain from the sky. For a ruler, mercy is even more important
because he must join justice with kindness.
2) What does
qualify a monarch more – mercy or throne? Why?
Ans: The sceptre
(king’s staff) shows the king’s worldly power, but mercy shows his true and
lasting greatness because it comes from his heart and makes him like God. A
king is truly divine only when he has mercy. Mercy suits a king even more than
his crown. The sceptre is a sign of fear and authority, but mercy is higher
than that power. It lives in the king’s heart and gives him more worth than his
throne itself.
3) How does Portia
describe the quality of mercy?
Ans: Portia
explains mercy by using many comparisons. She says mercy is natural, like soft
rain falling from the sky. She also says mercy is divine, unlike the crown,
throne, and scepter which only show a king’s worldly power. Mercy is “twice
blessed” because it blesses both the person who gives it and the one who
receives it. When justice is mixed with mercy, it becomes a quality of God
Himself.
4) Read the first
two lines. Explain the simile (comparison) briefly.
Ans: In the first
two lines, the poet compares mercy to gentle rain from the sky. This has many
meanings. First, just as rain is natural, mercy is also natural in human
beings. A person without mercy cannot be called truly human. Second, mercy is
like rain because it comes suddenly and gives peace and comfort. Third, rain
from heaven shows God’s mercy on people. Since we want and enjoy God’s mercy,
we must also show mercy to others.
5) How do you
interpret the speaker’s interpretation of mercy as twice blessed?
Ans: When mercy is
shown, both people are blessed. The giver feels blessed, and the receiver also
feels blessed. That is why the speaker says mercy is “twice blessed.” It is
like nature: when the cloud is blessed, it gives rain to the earth, and when
the earth is blessed, it gives trees and fruits. In the same way, both the
giver and the receiver of mercy are blessed.
6) The speaker
compares the power of the king with the power of mercy, saying that mercy is
the mightiest of the mightiest. How does she justify this? (Read the last part
of the text carefully)
Ans: Kings have the
power to rule, and their scepter shows their royal authority and majesty. With
this power, they can create fear in the hearts of people. But mercy is a divine
quality. If a king has mercy in his heart, he becomes Godlike. Mercy is greater
than worldly power, and it makes kings truly mighty. That is why the speaker
says mercy is “the mightiest of the mightiest.”
7) Can you think of any story wherein
such virtues as mercy, compassion or sacrifice are high lighted? If so, narrate
them in the class.
Ans:
The story from Mail Online (April
27, 2014) is a powerful example of mercy and forgiveness. Mary Johnson, a
59-year-old mother, lost her only son, Laramiun Byrd, who was shot dead in 1993
by 16-year-old Oshea Israel during a party in Minneapolis. Israel was involved
in gangs and drugs and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He served 17 years
before being released.
At
first, Mary wanted justice and punishment for her son’s killer. But later, she
started a support group for mothers who lost children and helped them reach out
to the families of the killers. Being a devout Christian, she felt the need to
forgive and asked to meet Israel in prison. After some time, he agreed, and
they began meeting regularly.
When
Israel was released, Mary even helped him get a place to live next door to her.
They now share a porch and have become close friends. Mary says forgiveness is
not to excuse the crime, but to free herself from hate, which she calls “a
cancer inside.” She even wears a locket with pictures of both her son and
Israel.
Israel
admits he still struggles to forgive himself but works hard to change. He has a
job, studies in college, and speaks in prisons and churches about forgiveness.
Mary often joins him, and together they share their story to inspire others.
The
message: Forgiveness is powerful. It heals both the giver and the receiver.
8) This poem has fourteen lines. But
it is not a sonnet. Look at the ending of the lines and justify the above
statement.
Ans: The
poem “Quality
of Mercy”
does not follow the usual style of poetry. It has no quatrains (four-line
stanzas), no couplets (two-line stanzas), and no fixed rhyme scheme. Instead,
it is written in free
verse,
which means it has no set meter or rhyme and flows like natural speech. This is
because the poem is actually part of Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice.
Normally,
a Shakespearean sonnet has 14 lines. The first 12 lines are divided into three
quatrains, each with four lines, where the poet introduces a theme or problem.
The last two lines form a couplet that gives the solution or conclusion. The
rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet is abab cdcd efef gg.
This
style is called the English
or Shakespearean sonnet, which is different from the Italian or Petrarchan sonnet. The Petrarchan sonnet is
divided into two parts: an octave (eight lines) with the rhyme scheme abbaabba and a sestet (six lines)
with the rhyme scheme cdcdcd.
So,
the poem “Quality
of Mercy”
is free verse, unlike Shakespeare’s usual sonnet form.
READ THE FOLLOWING EXTRACTS AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS
GIVEN BELOW THEM:
1) The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath.
a) What does the poet mean by the word ‘strained’?
b) Explain the simile in the second line of the passage.
Ans: a) Mercy is not mercy when pressure is
put upon a person to show mercy, when he is under strain to show mercy.
b) True mercy comes spontaneously from the merciful person to the offender. It
comes as quietly and naturally as the rain comes gently and freely to the place
beneath the sky. Here the poet compares mercy and the gentle rain that drops
from heaven.
2) ‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The
throned monarch better than his crown.
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
a) What do the crown and sceptre symbolize?
b) What is temporal power?
Ans: a) Crown and sceptre symbolize kingly
power. The crown is worn by the king. A new king is always crowned. Sceptre is
an ornamental staff held by the king. It again is a symbol of his authority.
b) Temporal power is earthly power.
3) And earthly power doth then show likest God’s
When mercy seasons justice.
a) When do you find earthly power resembling God’s power?
b) What kind of justice does the poet recommend?
c) What happens when mercy seasons justice?
Ans: a) We find earthly power resembling
God’s power when the quality of mercy is enthroned in the hearts of kings.
b) The poet recommends justice that is seasoned with mercy. He means that justice
that is too harsh is not justified even if the wrongdoer deserves punishment.
c) When mercy seasons justice, the giver of justice gets blessed and becomes
divine.
4) “It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the
place beneath. It is twice blest”
a) What is compared to the gentle rain from heaven?
b) Why does the speaker feel it is twice blest?
c) ‘It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven’.
What is the figure of speech used here?
Ans: a) Mercy.
b) According to the speaker, not only the person who shows mercy but also the
person who receives mercy is blest. Hence it is twice blest.
c) Simile.
5) ‘It’s mightiest in the mightiest’
a) Who is mighty?
b) How is it mighty?
Ans: a) Mercy.
b) The quality of mercy is divine. Hence it is more powerful than all the
symbols of power on earth.
6) It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.
a) How does it bless the one who gives?
b) How does it bless the one who takes?
Ans: a) The giver is blessed as he has the
sense of fulfillment of being God’s messenger as he has acted with divinity.
b) The receiver is blessed with a sense of gratitude.
7) “And earthly power doth then show likest God’s When
mercy seasons justice.”
a) When does earthly power become like divine power?
b) How should the king’s judgement be?
c) What happens when mercy seasons justice?
Ans: a) When earthly power is filled with
mercy it becomes divine power.
b) The king’s judgement should be seasoned with mercy.
c) When mercy seasons justice, kingly power seems most like God’s power.
8) “The quality of mercy is not strain’d
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.”
a) What is ‘mercy’ compared to?
b) Why does the poet say that mercy is not strain’d?
c) What is the meaning of the word ‘strain’d’ in this context?
Ans: a) Gentle rain from heaven.
b) Because it is divine power given by God.
c) Forced/compelled.
SUMMARY
The “Quality of Mercy” is one of the most famous
speeches written by William Shakespeare. It appears in his play The Merchant of Venice,
spoken by the character Portia. In this speech, Shakespeare presents the
greatness of mercy and explains why it is the noblest virtue of all.
Portia
says that mercy cannot be forced. It is not something that comes by power or
pressure. Instead, it is natural and free, like gentle rain falling from
heaven. This comparison shows that mercy is a divine gift. Just as rain gives
life and refreshment to the earth, mercy brings peace and comfort to both the
giver and the receiver. It is “twice blessed” because it blesses the one who
receives kindness and also blesses the one who shows it, by giving him joy and
satisfaction.
Portia
also explains the difference between earthly power and divine power. Kings and
rulers may have thrones, crowns, and scepters as symbols of their authority.
These can create fear and respect in the minds of people. However, such power
is temporary and limited. True greatness lies not in creating fear but in
showing mercy. When rulers show mercy, they rise above earthly power and become
like God Himself, because mercy is a divine quality. It gives rulers dignity,
love, and respect from their people.
Furthermore,
Portia says that justice alone can sometimes be harsh. If punishment is given
without kindness, it may cause suffering. But when justice is combined with
mercy, it becomes noble, fair, and balanced. Therefore, mercy is greater than
justice.
Through
this speech, Shakespeare highlights that mercy is natural, divine, and
everlasting. It is the most valuable quality a human being can have. Mercy
makes people godlike, respected, and truly humane.
Thus,
the “Quality
of Mercy”
teaches us that kindness and forgiveness are higher than power, and mercy is
the greatest virtue of all.
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