ISC TEMPEST ACT II SCENE I QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

 

ACT II SCENE I

 

SEBASTIAN

Whiles we stood here securing your repose,

Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing

Like bulls, or rather lions. Did ’t not wake you?

It struck mine ear most terribly.

ALONSO

I heard nothing.

ANTONIO

Oh, ’twas a din to fright a monster’s ear,

To make an earthquake! Sure, it was the roar

Of a whole herd of lions.

ALONSO

Heard you this, Gonzalo?

GONZALO

Upon mine honor, sir, I heard a humming,

And that a strange one too, which did awake me.

I shaked you, sir, and cried. As mine eyes opened,

I saw their weapons drawn. There was a noise,

That’s verily. 'Tis best we stand upon our guard,

Or that we quit this place. Let’s draw our weapons.

 

Q. 1 Why has Prospero sent Ariel to Gonzalo and Alonso? What does Ariel do to awaken Gonzalo?

Ans. Prospero has already come to know by his magic the danger which threatens Gonzalo who had been Prospero’s friend, so he has sent Ariel to preserve the lives of both Gonzalo and Alonso. Prospero does not want that his scheme should be remain unfulfilled. Ariel begins to sing a song in Gonzalo’s ear to awaken him.

Q. 2 Who are ready to carry out their plan? Who takes steps to them? Why does Gonzalo feel surprised after being awakened?

Ans. Sebastian and Antonio are ready to carry out their plan. They are standing with their swords drawn to kill Alonso and Gonzalo. Ariel takes steps to stop them from carrying out their nefarious scheme. When Gonzalo is awakened by the song sung by Ariel into his ears, he (Gonzalo) feels surprised because he sees Sebastian and Antonio standing with their swords drawn.

Q. 3 What reason do Sebastian and Antonio tell of drawing their swords when they are suspected by Alonso and Gonzalo?

Ans. When Sebastian and Antonio re seen with their swords drawn, they are looked with suspicion by Gonzalo and Alonso. At first Sebastian tells them that as they stood here to guard them during their sleep, they heard only a little before, a sudden and loud noise very much like the roaring of bulls or more probably that of lions. Then Antonio follows, him saying that this was a noise so terrible as to frighten even a monster’s ears and this noise  could even have shaken the earth and it was surely like the roaring of a multitude of lions. Then, seeing the danger, they have drawn their swords. Perhaps, after hearing the terrible noise, they ( Gonzalo and Alonso) wake up from their sound sleep.

 Q. 4 What does Gonzalo tell Alonso about the strange noise? What did he see on opening his eyes?

Q. 5 What does Gonzalo suggest?