Explain the allusions to men and events contained in the following passages: (a) Old John of Gaunt (i. I. 1). (b) Cousin of Hereford, what dost thou object Against the duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray? (c) Since last I went to France to fetch his Queen (i. 1. 131). (d) That he did plot the duke of Gloucester's death (i. I. 100). The rebels which stand out in Ireland (1. 4. 38). Our substitutes at home shall have blank charters (I. 4. 47). 3. We have stayed ten days, (g) Nor the prevention of poor Bolingbroke (h) (i) And yet we hear no tidings from the king (ii. 4. 1). To fight with Glendower and his complices (iii. 1. 42). State the various accounts that have come down to us of the manner of Richard's death. Which appears to you to be the most probable? 4. Explain any difficulties in grammar, construction, or allusion, in the following passages, that appear to you to need illustration: (a) As well appeareth by the cause you come (i. 1. 26). (b) Upon remainder of a dear account (i. 1. 130). Cite any instances of the similar use of dear from this Play. (c) But since correction lieth in those hands (d) Which made the fault that we cannot correct, Put we our quarrel to the will of heaven, That it may enter Mowbray's waxen coat (i. 3. 74). (e) Imp out our drooping country's broken wing (ii. 1. 292). (f) Landlord of England art thou now, not king: (g) By his attorneys-general to sue His livery (ii. 1. 203). (h) Like perspectives, which rightly gazed upon (i) I task the earth to the like, forsworn Aumerle; (k) As may be holloa'd in thy treacherous ear Give the various readings of this passage. And love to Richard Is a strange brooch in this all-hating world (v. 5. 65). 5. Write a paraphrase of the following passage, and explain the obscurities of construction: I. I wasted time, and now doth time waste me; For now hath time made me his numbering clock: Is pointing still, in cleansing them from tears (v. 5. 49). KING HENRY IV.; PART I. (a) To put down Richard, that sweet lovely rose, (b) The shore at Ravenspurgh (iv. 3. 77). (c) That great magician, damned Glendower, Whose daughter, as we hear, the Earl of March Explain with dates the historical allusions to persons and events contained in the above passages. Why was Henry IV. called Bolingbroke? How long did the rebellion of Glendower last? Does Shakespeare make any mistake respecting the age of the Prince of Wales at the battle of Shrewsbury? Whose chronicle does he chiefly follow? Can you give any instances of the transfer of a passage from one to the other? 2. Paraphrase and explain: The skipping king......popularity (iii. 2. 60-69). 3. Explain the following passages: (a) Balked in their own blood (i. 1. 69). (b) And is not a buff jerkin a most sweet robe of durance (i. 2. 48). (c) Shall we buy treason, and indent with fears What reading has been proposed instead of 'fears?' (d) Burgomasters and great oneyers (ii. 1). (i. 3. 87). (e) I have removed Falstaff's horse, and he frets like a gummed velvet (ii. 2. I). (f) This is no world To play with mammets and to tilt with lips (g) A Corinthian, a lad of mettle (ii. 4). (ii. 3. 94). (h) Didst thou never see Titan kiss a dish of butter, pitifulhearted Titan, that melted at the sweet tale of the sun's? (ii. 4.) (i) O villain, thou stolest a cup of sack eighteen years ago, and wert taken with the manner (ii. 4. 345). 4. (k) All furnished, all in arms: All plumed like estridges that with the wind Bated like eagles having lately bath'd (iv. 1. 98). (7) More ragged than an old-faced ancient (iv. 2). (m) Turk Gregory never did such deeds in arms as I have done this day (v. 3. 46). What reasons have been brought forward for supposing that the character of Falstaff was drawn from a real personage? Do any passages in the play warrant such a conclusion? KING HENRY IV.; PART II. 1. When, and in what form, was the play first published? Show by a quotation from Ben Jonson that it had been played at an earlier date. Give the title of the original edition. 2. Write an essay on the character of Sir John Falstaff. Explain and illustrate: For Oldcastle died a martyr, and this is not the man. (Epilogue.) 3. How does Sir Hugh Evans criticise Pistol's diction? (Merry Wives, i. 1.) Is it possible that Shakespeare drew Pistol from certain of his contemporaries? If so, shew the point of the satire. What is the original of the following passage? Quote. 4. These be good humours, indeed! Shall pack-horses, Which cannot go but thirty miles a-day, Compare with Cæsars, and with Cannibals, What was the name of the Lord Chief Justice? How far is he a historical personage? 5. With whom is Justice Shallow identified? Specify the points of resemblance. 6. Give a summary (with dates) of the historical events alluded to in the following passage: God knows, my son, By what by-paths and indirect crook'd ways I met this crown; and I myself know well How troublesome it sat upon my head (iv. 5. 184). From what historian did Shakespeare borrow his facts? 7. Give instances from this play of anachronisms and historical inaccuracies. 8. Explain, correcting if necessary, and mentioning important emendations: (a) I was never manned with an agate till now (i. 2). (b) I am a proper fellow of my hands (ii. 2). (c) Marry, my lord, Althæa dreamed she was delivered of a fire-brand (ii. 2). (d) Dol. You muddy rascal, is that all the comfort you give me? Fal. You make fat rascals, Mistress Doll (ii. 4). (e) He's no swaggerer, hostess; a tame cheater, i' faith; you may stroke him as gently as a puppy greyhound (ii. 4). (f) 'A would have clapped i' the clout at twelve score (iii. 2). (g) She never could away with me (iii. 2. 213). (h) When I lay at Clement's Inn (iii. 2. 299). When was this use of the word to lie superseded? (i) 'A came ever in the rearward of the fashion, and sung those tunes to the overscutched huswives that he heard the carmen whistle, and sware they were his fancies or his goodnights. And now is this Vice's dagger become a squire (iii. 2). 9. Explain the following words and phrases, and state anything you know about their history: costermonger-the Lubber's head- Ephesians — pagan —Sneak's noise-old utis-Trigonthewes-beavers-biggin-rigol - Bezonian-imp (i. 2; ii. 1; ii. 2. id.; ii. 4; id.; id.; iii. 2; iv. 1; iv. 5; id.; v. 3; v. 5). KING HENRY IV.; PART II. I. Give the pedigree of the English language, so as to shew the chief sources of its vocabulary. State exactly its obligations to Latin. Whence is the word reward? 2. What does Professor Max Müller mean by "phonetic decay" and "dialectic regeneration"? What are known as the Romance languages? Distinguish between the Langue d'oil and Langue d'oc. 3. Trace some of the changes in the structure of the English language between the reigns of Edward III. and Elizabeth. Whence and how did the English drama arise? 4. Mr Knight considers the development of the character of Henry V. to be Shakespeare's chief purpose in the plays of Henry IV. How can this be sustained? Compare Shakespeare's view of the character with the view taken by historical writers. Briefly narrate the circumstances of the quarrel between Bolingbroke and the duke of Norfolk. 5. Discuss the degree in which cowardice is a part of the character of Falstaff. What are the virtues of "good sherris-sack"? 6. Discuss fully the following passages : (a) a rascally yea-forsooth knave! to bear a gentleman in hand, and then stand upon security! (i. 2.) (b) and, for thy walls, a pretty slight drollery, or the story of the prodigal, or the German hunting in water-work, is worth a thousand of these bed-hangings and these fly-bitten tapestries (ii. 1). (c) Away, you rascally Althea's dream! (ii. 2. 93.) (d) Yea; and you knew me, as you did when you ran away by Gads-hill (ii. 4. 332). (e) Most shallowly did you these arms commence, Fondly brought here, and foolishly sent hence (iv. 2. 118). (f) The people fear me; for they do observe Unfather'd heirs, and loathly births of nature (iv. 4. 121). (g) England shall double gild his treble guilt (iv. 5. 129). 7. Explain fully the phrases:-'gan vail his stomach-here will be old utis-a shove-groat shilling-Sir Dagonet in Arthur's show-and now is this Vice's dagger become a squire. Is "there comes no swaggerers here" good grammar? (ii. 4. 83.) 8. Explain, and (where you can) derive the words:-forspent -foretell-rowel-head-a three-man beetle-sneap-a pantler -accommodated-a tester-set abroach-atonement-allow bezonian-canopies-shrieve-biggin-rigol. |