Class 11 & 12 Reading Poem No-6 QUALITY (600 Words Subjective/Objective Solved)

QUALITY

Quality of mercy is not strained

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest

It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.

`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;

But mercy is above the sceptred sway,

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings.

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God’s

When mercy seasons justice.

– W. Shakespeare

Word-Meanings

1.droppeth: dropped 2. throned: being made a king or a queen 3. sceptre: a decorated rod Carried by a king or a queen 4. temporal: connected with a physical world 5. attribute: symbol, quality 6. enthroned: to sit on a throne 7. monarch: ruler

Questions:

1. Choose the correct option:                              

(a) The sceptre stands for:

 (i) physical power                                                             (ii) material strength

(iii) physical power and material strength                   (iv) godly powers

(b) Both rain and mercy come from 

 (i) within                     (ii) above

(iii) depth                    (iv) sky

 (c) The word ‘attribute’ (inline 12) means:

 (i) colour                    (ii) distribute

(iii) quality                   (iv) quantity

(d) The word `temporal’ here refers to:

(i) earthly                    (ii) heavenly

(iii) temporary                        (iv) permanent

(e) The phrase `sceptred sway’ refers to the:

(i) power of God          (ii) use of a sceptre

(iii) the royal family    (iv) the king’s royal authority

 (f) The word ‘sway’ is a/an ………….

  (i) noun                      (ii) verb

(iii) adjective               (iv) verb and noun

2.Answer the questions briefly:

 (a) What is the ‘quality of mercy’?

 (b) How is mercy twice blessed?

(c) What is the route of mercy?

(d) Can a weak person show mercy? Why?

 (e) What happens when `mercy seasons justice’?

(f) What should be an attribute of a judge?

Answers:

1.(a) iii             (b) ii           (c) iii            (d) I            (e) iv            (f) iv

2.(a) Mercy is spontaneous, natural and automatic. It cannot be compelled.

(b) Mercy is doubly blessed as it blesses both the giver and the receiver. The taker is blessed by the giver and the giver is blessed by God. Hence, it is twice blessed.

(c) Mercy flows down from a power to a weak person.

(d) No, a weak person cannot show mercy. Mercy is the quality of a strong person.

(e) When mercy seasons justice, it gives divinity to an earthly person.

 (f) A judge should be guided by mercy.

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