Question Bank of As You Like It

3. Explain to swear and forswear, according as marriage binds and blood breaks?
Ans: These lines were spoken by Touchstone to Duke Senior and his lords. He said that he had come to
join the other couples who would swear vows of loyalty to their marriage partners, but who would in
course of time break those vows and then also break the bonds of marriage as a result of continuing
quarrels after passion would break between them.
5. Who is introduced by Touchstone? What was the comparison of poor virgin?
Ans: Audrey is introduced by Touchstone.
Poor virgin was Audrey. He said that he had come with a plain maid, an ordinary and ugly woman but
she was his own. She belonged to him. He accepted Audrey whom no other man would take. The purity
and chastity in ugly Audrey was just like a rich man who lived in a poor cottage because of his
miserliness and just as a most precious pearl lived inside an ugly shell fish.
5. What is your opinion about Touchstone in this scene? Comment.
Ans: Touchstone is amusing in his speeches. Here Touchstone ridicules the woman he wants to marry.
Without any ill‐will he says that Audrey is poor and ugly but he is happy with her. He uses the
appropriate similes to prove his point. Touchstone proves that he the perfect jester by his courtly wit
and ability to talk well. Though he is realistic and unromantic, yet he has been able to amuse his
audience.
Q4. Read the extract and answer the following questions.
Duke Senior: By my faith, he is very swift and sententious.
Touchstone: According to the fool’s bolt, sir, and such dulcet diseases.
Jaques: But, for the seventh cause; how did you find the quarrel on the seventh cause?
1. Where are all these characters? What does the Duke mean by his statement?
Ans: The Duke, Touchstone and Jaques are in the Forest of Arden. This statement of the Duke has been
made for Touchstone that he is quick‐witted and that he is capable of making pithy remarks.
2. How does Touchstone explain the seven lies?
Ans: When Jaques asked Touchstone if he resolved the fight on the seventh cause, he replied that lie
passed through six stages and reached the seventh. He related that once he had told a courtier that his
beard was not appropriate, to which the courtier sent a message that it did not matter because it was
Touchstone’s personal opinion. That was a Reply Courteous. He told the courtier again that his beard
was not cut properly and the courtier replied that it was not to please Touchstone but himself. That
stage is Quip Modest. When he said that beard was not cut properly again, the courtier declared that
Touchstone’s judgement was totally unsound and that was Reply Churlish. Touchstone repeated his
comment and the courtier replied that Touchstone did not speak the truth, which was Reproof Valiant.
He sent a word again to the courtier and the courtier said that Touchstone lied, which was called
Counter Check Quarrelsome. Then came the stage of Lie Circumstantial and then Lie Direct.