Mercy Questions & Answers

Hi Everyone!! This article will share Mercy Questions & Answers.

This poem is a sonnet written by William Shakespeare. In my previous posts, I have shared the questions & answers of The Prayer For Strength, A Nation’s Strength and A Strange Trail so, you can check these posts as well.

Mercy Questions & Answers

Word Galaxy

  • It droppeth – mercy is shown
  • Become – suit; to enhance the appearance of someone
  • Not strain’d – not forced
  • ’Tis mightiest in the mightiest – mercy is more powerful than the most powerful kings
  • Sceptre – the royal wand, strong arm of the king that weilds power, authority
  • Crown – symbolizes the supreme power of the king
  • Attribute to God – a divine quality
  • Enthroned – seated (in the hearts of kings)
  • Doth – does
  • Mercy – kindness
  • Dread – fear

Question 1: Where does the quality of mercy come from? Who are blessed by it?

Answer: The quality of mercy comes from the heaven and takes a place in the heart of that person who deserves it. It is blessed on the people who give it and on those who take it. It is a divine quality which gives pleasure to both the giver and the receiver.

Question 2: How according to the poet is mercy better than the crown of the mightiest (the king)?

Answer: Mercy is better than the crown of the mightiest (the king) because the throned king has the power to rule and can show his mighty power for creating threat and fear in the hearts of the people. However, mercy is a divine quality and it can overrule the temporal power. If the monarchs imbibe mercy in their heart then, they can earn the love and respect of the people around.

Question 3: What does scepter stand for? How does it affect the kings?

Answer: Sceptre stands for the authority used by the kings to show their earthly power. It affects the kings and make them dreadful as many a times they do not use their powers fairly. Moreover, this power keeps them away from mercy.

Question 4: When does earthly power look like God’s?

Answer: Earthly power looks like God’s when while punishing the culprits, mercy is enthroned in the heart of kings.

Question 5: How is mercy above the “sceptred sway”?

Answer: The sight of scepter creates fear and dread in people whereas mercy is a divine quality. It doesn’t create fear and thus it is above the ‘sceptred sway’. It is a quality of God himself. Thus, a king who enthrones mercy in his heart, has a quality of God in himself.

Question 6: What happens when mercy seasons justice?

Answer: God is just and merciful even in punishing the sinners. He is guided by mercy. Therefore, if a king seasons his justice with mercy, he can become like God himself.

Question 7: What is the central idea of the poem?

Answer: The poem underlines the importance of mercy in human behaviour. Mercy is a heavenly quality and it springs in the heart as naturally as the gentle rain falls from the heaven. It doesn’t work under any compulsion. Mercy is a double blessing. It blesses both the giver and the taker. The taker is relieved of his pain or misery and the giver wins the love of God. Thus, mercy is ‘twice blest’. It is a special quality of God Himself. God is just and merciful even in punishing the sinners. He is guided by mercy. Therefore, if a king seasons his justice with mercy, he can become like God himself.

Mercy adorns a king better than his crown. The rod of authority in his hand can only create fear in the hearts of men but the quality of mercy can win for him willing slaves. Thus, mercy is more powerful than the king’s sceptre.

So, these were Mercy Questions & Answers.

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