International Marketing Notes

 

SECTTION-B

UNIT-1

1. What is international markets? Write the essentials of international marketing.
2. What is Global Marketing ? explain briefly about the various decisions associated with Global Marketing.
3. Explain the environmental factors of international marketing?
4. How do you identify the international consumer needs?

UNIT-2

1. What is meant by product? Explain new product development process and its key accepts in designing a product in context of International Market.
2. Describe various steps of promotional program.
3. What is Marketing Research? Explain its features and process in detail.
4. Define Advertisement? Explain in detail Advertisement with its objectives, types, importance and advantages?

 

UNIT-3

1. Distinguish international marketing and Domestic marketing?
2. What are the different stages of international product life cycle (IPLC)? Explain in detail international product promotion.
3. Role of export marketing in international trade.
4. Explain the concept of Internal Marketing. Also describe international marketing Strategies.

 

UNIT-4

1. Discuss the development of International Marketing?
2. Discuss the scope and reasons for entering into Global Marketing.
3. Discuss International marketing system.
4. Challenges in managing international distribution strategies.

 

UNIT-5

1. Why does organization go for Global Marketing?
2. Explain in detail International Marketing plan. Aspects in International Marketing planning?
3. Explain the importance of developing International Marketing planning.
4. Difference between domestic and International Marketing

 

 

1. How do you identify the international consumer needs?

A customer need is a motive that prompts a customer to buy a product or service. Ultimately, the need is the driver of the customer’s purchase decision. Companies often look at the customer need as an opportunity to resolve or contribute surplus value back to the original motive.

Researching customers

Successful businesses make profits by understanding their customers and identifying their needs. Good customer research helps you choose products, tailor your marketing, and develop sales tactics for the people in your market based on reliable, accurate information.

Customer research should be part of your overall market research and should be conducted regularly. While your market research looks broadly at your customers, competition and industry to identify who you will market to, customer research provides more in-depth information on the needs, wants, expectations and behaviours of your customers.

By identifying information about your consumers such as where they work, what they read and where they look at advertising, you can improve the strategies you use to attract them. It is also important to understand their purchasing behaviour and attitudes with regards to brands and products.Testing new product or marketing concepts with potential customers is also a good way to prepare for a launch to see if your work has potential to translate to success.

Identifying your customers’ needs and preferences allows you to tailor the strategies and tactics you use in your marketing plan. This will help you to:

• attract more customers
• set the best price for your products
• create the right marketing message
• increase how much your customers spend
• increase how often your customers spend
• increase your sales
• decrease your costs
• refine your approach to customer service.

Identifying  international customer needs:

International marketing research is conducted to determine the customer needs possessed by the customers belonging to the different markets; it becomes easy to understand similarities and dissimilarities in customer groups across countries.

Identifying customer needs

Before you start promoting your business you need to know what your customers want and why. Good customer research helps you work out how to convince your customers that they need your products and services.

Identify your customers

The first step of customer research is identifying your customers. Your market research should help you understand your potential customers. Further customer research can help you develop a more detailed picture of them and understand how to target them. It will also highlight key characteristics your customers share, such as:

• gender
• age
• occupation
• disposable income
• residential location
• recreational activities.

Understand why they shop

Once you’ve identified who your customers are, you can find out what motivates them to buy products and services. For example, consider if they make decisions based on:

• work demands
• family needs
• budget pressures
• social or emotional needs
• brand preferences.

Identify preferred shopping methods

As well as understanding why they shop, you will also want to understand how they shop. To learn about your customers’ preferred method and means of shopping, consider if they:

• shop online, over the phone or in stores
• make spontaneous or carefully considered buying decisions.

Consider their spending habits

Different types of customers will be willing to spend different amounts. Find out what financial capacity and spending habits your customers have. For example, consider:

• their average income
• the portion of their income they spend on the type of products or services you sell
• if they budget.

Find out what they think of you

Learn about your customers’ views and expectations of your business and rivals. For example, find out what they think of your:

• products and services
• customer service
• competitors.

A customer needs is used in product development and branding to provide an in-depth analysis of the customer to ensure that the product or message offers the benefits, attributes, and features needed to provide the customer with value.

 

5. What is meant by product? Explain new product development process and its key accepts in designing a product in context of International Market.

 

Ans:

Product:

” The word “product” stems from the verb “produce”, from the Latin prōdūce(re) “(to) lead or bring forth. ” Since 1575, the word “product” has referred to anything produced.

In marketing, a product is anything that can be offered to a market that might satisfy a want or need. In retail, products are called merchandise. In manufacturing, products are purchased as raw materials and sold as finished goods. Commodities are usually raw materials such as metals and agricultural products, but the term can also refer to anything widely available in the open market. In project management, products are the formal definition of the project deliverables that form the objectives of the project.

 

A product is composed of tangible/physical attributes like weight, dimensions and materials and intangible attributes such as fragrance, density and so on. Example: an automobile is composed of 3,000 pounds of metal or plastic measuring 190” Long, 75” wide and 59” high.

Definition:

A product is defined as the collection of physical, psychological, service, tangible, symbolic and intangible attributes which has created satisfaction as well as benefits to the buyer or the user.

A product is any good, service, or idea that can be offered to a market to satisfy a want or need.

Philip Kotler defines a product as anything that can be offered to a market for attention, acquisition, use or consumption that might satisfy a want or need includes physical objects, services, persons, places, organizations and ideas.

new product development :

New Products are the products which are introduced for first time in the market. The marketer outlines the development process of new product fo0r successfully introducing the products in the competitive market.

Stages in new product development :

Idea generation

 

The first step in new-product development is idea generation.

New ideas can be generated by:

1. Conducting marketing research to find out the consumers’ needs and wants.
2. Inviting suggestions from consumers.
3. Inviting suggestions from employees.
4. Brainstorming suggestions for new-product ideas.
5. Searching in different markets viz., national and international markets for new-product ideas.
6. Getting feedback from agents or dealers about services offered by competitors.
7. Studying the new products of the competitors.

 

2. Idea screening

 

Most companies have a “Idea Committee.” This committee studies all the ideas very carefully. They select the good ideas and reject the bad ideas.

Before selecting or rejecting an idea, the following questions are considered or asked:

1. Is it necessary to introduce a new product?
2. Can the existing plant and machinery produce the new product?
3. Can the existing marketing network sell the new product?
4. When can the new product break even?

If the answers to these questions are positive, then the idea of a new-product development is selected else it is rejected. This step is necessary to avoid product failure.

 

3. Concept testing

 

Concept testing is done after idea screening. It is different from test marketing.

In this stage of concept testing, the company finds out:

1. Whether the consumers understand the product idea or not?
2. Whether the consumers need the new product or not?
3. Whether the consumers will accept the product or not?

Here, a small group of consumers is selected. They are given full information about the new product. Then they are asked what they feel about the new product. They are asked whether they like the new product or not. So, concept testing is done to find out the consumers’ reactions towards the new product. If most of the consumers like the product, then business analysis is done.

 

4. Business analysis

 

Business analysis is a very important step in new-product development. Here, a detailed business analysis is done. The company finds out whether the new product is commercially profitable or not.

Under business analysis, the company finds out…

1. Whether the new product is commercially profitable or not?
2. What will be the cost of the new product?
3. Is there any demand for the new product?
4. Whether this demand is regular or seasonal?
5. Are there any competitors of the new product?
6. How the total sales of the new product be?
7. What will be the expenses on advertising, sales promotion, etc.?
8. How much profit the new product will earn?

So, the company studies the new product from the business point of view. If the new product is profitable, it will be accepted else it will be rejected.

 

5. Product development

 

At this stage, the company has decided to introduce a new product in the market. It will take all the necessary steps to produce and distribute the new product. The production department will make plans to produce the product. The marketing department will make plans to distribute the product. The finance department will provide finance for introducing the new product. The advertising department will plan the advertisements for the new product. However, all this is done as a small scale for Test Marketing.

 

6. Test marketing

 

Test marketing means to introduce the new product on a very small scale in a very small market. If the new product is successful in this market, then it is introduced on a large scale. However, if the product fails in the test market, then the company finds out the reasons for its failure. It makes necessary changes in the new product and introduces it again in a small market. If the new product fails again the company will reject it.

Test marketing reduces the risk of large-scale marketing. It is a safety device. It is very time-consuming. It must be done especially for costly products.

 

7. Commercialization

 

If the test marketing is successful, then the company introduces the new product on a large scale, say all over the country. The company makes a large investment in the new product. It produces and distributes the new product on a huge scale. It advertises the new product on the mass media like TV, Radio, Newspapers, and Magazines, etc.

 

8. Review of market performance

 

The company must review the marketing performance of the new product.

It must answer the following questions:

1. Is the new product accepted by the consumers?
2. Are the demand, sales and profits high?
3. Are the consumers satisfied with the after-sales-service?
4. Are the middlemen happy with their commission?
5. Are the marketing staffs happy with their income from the new product?
6. Is the Marketing manager changing the marketing mix according to the changes in the environment?
7. Are the competitors introducing a similar new product in the market?

The company must continuously monitor the performance of the new product. They must make necessary changes in their marketing plans and strategies else the product will fail.

 

1. What are the different stages of international product life cycle (IPLC)? Explain in detail international product promotion.

International product life cycle:

 

 

Product life cycle theory divides the marketing of a product into four stages: introduction, growth, maturity and decline. When product life cycle is based on sales volume, introduction and growth often become one stage. For internationally available products, these three remaining stages include the effects of outsourcing and foreign production. When a product grows rapidly in a home market, it experiences saturation when low-wage countries imitate it and flood the international markets. Afterward, a product declines as new, better products or products with new features repeat the cycle.

 

General Theory

 

When a product is first introduced in a particular country, it sees rapid growth in sales volume because market demand is unsatisfied. As more people who want the product buy it, demand and sales level off. When demand has been satisfied, product sales decline to the level required for product replacement. In international markets, the product life cycle accelerates due to the presence of “follower” economies that rarely introduce new innovations but quickly imitate the successes of others. They introduce low-cost versions of the new product and precipitate a faster market saturation and decline.

 

 

 

Growth

 

An effectively marketed product meets a need in its target market. The supplier of the product has conducted market surveys and has established estimates for market size and composition. He introduces the product, and the identified need creates immediate demand that the supplier is ready

 

to satisfy. Competition is low. Sales volume grows rapidly. This initial stage of the product life cycle is characterized by high prices, high profits and wide promotion of the product. International followers have not had time to develop imitations. The supplier of the product may export it, even into follower economies.

 

Maturity

 

In the maturity phase of the product life cycle, demand levels off and sales volume increases at a slower rate. Imitations appear in foreign markets and export sales decline. The original supplier may reduce prices to maintain market share and support sales. Profit margins decrease, but the business remains attractive because volume is high and costs, such as those related to development and promotion, are also lower.

 

Decline

 

In the final phase of the product life cycle, sales volume decreases and many such products are eventually phased out and discontinued. The follower economies have developed imitations as good as the original product and are able to export them to the original supplier’s home market, further depressing sales and prices. The original supplier can no longer produce the product competitively but can generate some return by cleaning out inventory and selling the remaining products at discontinued-items prices.

 

 

International Product Promotion Strategies

Companies develop marketing strategies to build a loyal customer base, to build relationships with those customers and to create value for the customer. Effective product and promotion strategies are essential in making sure your product is readily accessible in the global marketplace. Special considerations are necessary when marketing to global customers such as international issues of technology, transportation and regulation.

Extension

A straight product extension is presenting your product to a global marketplace without any changes. Some products are globally known and need no additional product or promotion changes. People want the product on a global basis, and once it is made available to them, it is purchased without having to create any additional marketing or promotion strategies.

Adaptation

Production and promotion adaptation strategies are used in a global market for a product that may be popular but needs to be adapted to meet local customs and demand. For example, customers of less affluent countries may need a product of similar quality that has been downscaled to be more affordable to purchase. Technology products must be altered to meet the specific language of the country being marketed to.

Invention

Another product and promotion strategy is inventing a new product to meet the needs of a particular country. For example, consumers in crowded commuting conditions might need a laptop product that better fits their travel situation, a more compact version of the typical laptop. This strategy also could take on the form of reinventing a popular product to meet the needs of a particular country or world region.

Pricing Considerations

Global product and promotion strategies must take into consideration the economic conditions of the country where products are introduced. For example, a price that might be discounted in the United States would be considered too high for poorer countries or perhaps not high enough in rich countries. To combat prices being too high in less affluent countries, a company could make a smaller or less complex version at a lower price.

 

 

5. What is Global Marketing ? explain briefly about the various decisions associated with Global Marketing.

Ans:

Meaning:

Global Markets are the markets where the buying and selling of goods and services occurs between two or more nations.

 

Global Marketing:

“Global Marketing” refers to marketing done across various countries rather than just focusing on marketing in the home country. The firms involved in global marketing, to market their products and services in foreign countries. The needs wants, preference and buying behavior of target customers differ from country to country and this makes the task of global marketing difficult. Global marketing is the last stage in the process internationalization of business and marketing as a challenge because global marketing involves planning a marketing strategy which is applicable and acceptable to all countries.

 

Global Marketing Decisions

The five steps involved in developing a global marketing program are as follows,

Step1: Identifying target market and place of customers.

Step 2: Product Planning for global markets.

Step 3: Pricing for global markets.

Step 4: Deciding the mode of entry into the global markets.

Step 5 : Promoting products/services in global markets/foreign markets.

Decision are taken at each step and these decisions are collectively known as global marketing decisions.

Step1: Identifying target market

In the first step, marketer need to identify the target market. Developed countries would be the profitable markets for developing countries because developed countries have more purchasing power, great infrastructure facilities and encourages imports. After identifying markets in order to find out what products have to be offered at each market. Due to development in technology locating foreign buyers has become an easy task. For example, with the help of internet, marketers today are able to locate and communicate with foreign buyers without making personal visits to foreign countries.

 

Step 2: Product Planning for Global Markets

In global marketing, product markets differ from one another in terms of demand patterns and customers view point about the product benefits. A marketer who wants to market its products in the global markets is required to identify the significance of product plan ing, decide which alternative has to be chosen i.e., product adaptation or standardization and design a plan for cross country segmentation. Product adaptation is a process wherein global product is localized. Standardization leads to development of product which reserves same level of demand from various product market segments.

Step 3: Pricing for Global Markets

                Deciding the product prices in the global markets is a crucial task. A marketer need to find out minimum and maximum export prices. After this negotiation on product prices takes place between exporter and importer. In case of products having differential value can be sold at higher prices in the foreign markets. Few non-price factors which have to be taken into consideration in global marketing are,

1. Product differentiation
2. Industrial goods
3. Consumer goods
4. Engineering products etc.

These factors influence the pricing decisions in global marketing.

Step 4: Deciding the Mode of Entry into the Global Markets

The two modes available to enter the global markets are

1. Direct Exporting: in direct exporting, product manufacturer take decision to export its products directly to global markets without taking any help from export house/trading houses.

 

2. Indirect exporting: In indirect exporting, manufacturer export its product to foreign markets/global markets indirectly i.e., through trading houses. Few government trading organizations such as MMTC, state trading corporation and national small industries corporation are working as export houses.

 

Step 5: Promoting Product/Services in the Global Markets

                A company which wants to go for direct exporting must make efforts to create awareness in the customers regarding the product. Compared to domestic marketing, promoting products in global markets is a complicated task. Some of the methods used for promoting products in the global markets are advertising; direct Mailing, trade fairs and exhibitions, sales promotion and personal selling. Among all these methods, advertising is the best method to promote products in the global markets.

 

1. Explain the environmental factors of international marketing?

 

Definitions:

1. International marketing environment is a set of controllable (internal) and uncontrollable (external) forces or factors that affect international marketing. International marketing mix is prepared in light of this environment.
2. International marketing environment consists of global forces, such as economic, social, cultural, legal, and geographical and ecological forces, that affect international marketing decisions.
3. International marketing environment for any marketer consists of internal, domestic, and global marketing forces affecting international marketing mix.

 

The formulation of market strategy is mainly dependent on both the internal as well as the external forces i.e., firm-related and market related forces. Internal environment and external environment helps to make strategic decisions related to the marketing environment. For example, based on internal and external environment aspects, company undertakes strategic decisions,

1. The competencies required to enter the foreign market.
2. Type of the marketing strategy required to adopt while entering the foreign market.
3. The most suitable strategies for implementing the product, pricing, promotion and distribution decisions.

Thus, there exists differences in the national and international marketing strategy in the marketing environment.

Environment of Global Marketing

Any company dealing or enters into global markeing should undertake the following:

1. Internal environment
2. Domestic environment
3. Foreign environment
4. Global environment

 

1. Internal Environment:

Firm related factors are termed as “internal environment”. For example, company’s ability to carry out international business and operations relies mainly on its internal aspects such as, mission and vision of the company, the attitude, capabilities and commitment of the senior executives and all the employees in the company, organizational structure, decision-taking and implementing aspects, financial, and other resources and capabilities.

Doing international business calls for restricted production and delivery schedules, commitment towards quality, effective and faster response to customer requirements, cost competitiveness, innovativeness and so on.

 

1. Domestic Environment:

When a company desires to carry-out its business in foreign countries it tends to follow the home-country environment in the foreign countries.

Domestic factors are related to the economy of the nation. Overall economic, social and cultural, demographic, political and legal, and other domestic aspects constitute domestic environment for international marketing. This environment affects international marketing mix in several ways.

Important domestic factors include:

1. Political climate/stability/philosophy
2. Government approach and attitudes toward international trade

iii. Legal system and business ethics

1. Availability and quality of infrastructural facilities
2. Availability and quality of raw-materials
3. Functioning of institutions and availability of facilities

vii. Technological factors

viii. Ecological factors, etc.

• Foreign Environment:

Foreign Environment implies environment related to the foreign market wherein, the elements of business environment varies between different markets.

For instance, US business environment is entirely different from the business environment of China, Russia, Middle East or other regions.

However, there is greater differentiation/variations of business environment even within a foreign country which is mainly due to rules and regulations applied for foreign trade and investment and other identical policies which are used to monitor and governs the business. Moreover, there exist variations among socio-cultural, demographic, economic and natural factors within and between the countries.

1. Global Environment:

Global factors that are related to the international business often referred to as global environment. These global factors include, the WTO principles and agreements, international conventions/treaties/agreements/declarations/protocols so on, business and economic situation influence of main developments such as war, considerable fluctuations in the oil prices, opinion of other countries etc.

Certain development also have global impact on the foreign trade, such as, considerable fluctuations in the price of crude-oil, the occurance of global economic crisis which spread throughout the year 2008, followed by a sharp decline in global trade in 2009, war or other political development.

An Indian company when desires to enter the global market should adopt the internationally acceptable standards and practices appropriate for different areas. For example, increase of accounting and reporting governances especially when it aims to enter the international capital market or enter into foreign collaboration, a company must adopt US GAAO (General Accepted Accounting Principles) for the issue of ADRs/GDRs.

 

6. What is international marketing? Write the essentials of international marketing?

 

International marketing is the application of marketing principles in more than one country, by companies overseas or across national borders. International marketing is based on an extension of a company’s local marketing strategy, with special attention paid to marketing identification, targeting, and decisions internationally.

 

 

According to the American Marketing Association (AMA) “international marketing is the multinational process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods, and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organizational objectives.”

Cateora (1997) defines international marketing as performance of business activities that direct the flow of company’s goods and services to consumers in more than one nation for profit.

Jain (1989) refers to international marketing as exchanges across national boundaries for the satisfaction of human needs and wants.

Terpestra (1972) looks upon international marketing as marketing carried on across the national boundaries.

Keegan (1997) comprehends that international marketing as going beyond the export marketing and becoming more involved in the marketing environment in which it is doing business.

 

Essentials of Intenational Marketing:

 

1. Identifying Global Customer Needs

International marketing research is conducted to determine the customer needs possessed by the customers belonging to the different markets, it becomes easy to understand similarities and dissimilarities in customer groups across countries.

Example: US company desires to sell washing machines in Europe, then US company must ha ve clear idea about how European wash their clothes i.e. they wash their clothes at high temperature at 60 degree centigrade compare to US.

Therefore, companies must clear analyze market segments across countries before placing their products at international level.

 

2. Satisfying Global Customers

When needs vary across countries and regions then, a company to satisfy global customers must adapt products, services and elements of the marketing mix. To reduce prices, a company must decide is it necessary to design a product at less manufacturing costs or produce it in a country where it is easier to achieve the target of less manufacturing costs.

There is a need for well-designed distribution and logistics system to make easy availability of goods and services at point-of-sale in adequate level of quantities.

Companies must provide the facility of global customer database and information systems to satisfy the needs of global customers by responding in accordance with their needs and purchasing decisions.

 

3. Being Better than the Competition

Companies must struggle against both the domestic and the global competitors. Companies must evaluate, monitor and respond to global competition by providing better value, developing superior brand image and product positioning, low prices, high quality, wide range of products, appreciable performance and superior distribution advertising and service.

Competitors are composed of state-owned enterprises, other multinationals and domestic firms with different targets like market share over profits.

 

4. Coordinating Marketing Activites

International marketing introduces a new level of complexity that takes place due to company’s coordinates their marketing activities across nations. There is involvement of this processes like centralization, delegation, standardization and local responsiveness to coordinate and integrate marketing strategies and introduce them across countries, regions and global market.

 

5. Recognizing the Constraints of the World Environment

When firms desire to enter the global market then, they must possess the ability to manage cultural and economic variance due to marketing infrastructure variances, financial restrictions due to exchange-rate variation and inflation-rate variation and influence of governmental policies, protectionist and industrial policies. All these aspects may generate complexities for companies towards market entry.

 

Further, international marketing covers some more activities that are listed below:

1. Exporting
2. Overseas manufacturing
3. Working with local partners
4. Licensing and franchising overseas
5. Imparting even, from foreign subcontractors
6. Counter trade.

International marketing for example, is engaged in exporting products to few countries then a company becomes an international marketer because it is directly involved in foreign markets by participating in specific activities like pricing, promotion, after sales service and manufacturing.

 

6. Describe various steps of promotional program.

 

Marketing Communication or promotion plays a very important role in marketing, both domestic and international. Even if a product is very good, it may not achieve full success unless the promotion is appropriate and adequate.

 

promotion refers to how marketers combine a range of marketing communication methods to execute their marketing activities. Different methods of marketing communication have distinct advantages and complexities, and it requires skill and experience to deploy them effectively.

 

Steps of promotional program:

                 The different steps involved in the promotional programme are as follows:

1. Identifying the target market
2. Determining and setting objectives
3. Developing the message for right communication effects and
4. Selecting the communication mix

 

Step 1: Identifying the target market

                Target market is an important aspect based on which the communication mix is decided. The target market should be identified after through research. In this step, the consumers having the same characters are identified and accordingly the segmentation is done. For example, in a tourism industry, the visitors characteristics are examined, clear market segment is identified and then, buying decision factors are identified.

Step 2: Determining and Setting Objectives

                In the second step, the objectives are determined and set. It is very essential to clearly define the marketing objectives in order to design and use an effective form of promotion.

Step 3: Developing the Message for Right Communication Effects

                The message acts as an instrument/device to change or transform a suspect customer to prospect customer. Thus, an effective message is designed to attain the desired objectives of the promotional efforts.

The success of the promotional campaign relies on the promotional message. The promotional campaign must communicate a message which build-up the customer’s confidence and increases the possibility of purchase. The convincing words which are mostly used by the marketers while creating the message and are found very effective by the research conducted by the university of Yale are: save, health, love, proven, discover, you, easy, results, safety, guarantee, money etc. thus, the promotional campaign increases the awareness and creates a positive image of the service which in turn affects the demand of the service.

Step 4: Selecting the Communication Mix

                For selecting an appropriate communication mix, it is very essential to follow the criteria mentioned below:

• Overall marketing objectives
• Nature of the service
• Characteristics of target market
• Nature and attitude of intermediaries
• Action of competitors
• Cost efficiency
• Integration and feasibility with other marketing elements.
• Effective implementation
• Legal, managerial and ethical consideration.

Guidelines for Service Communication

• Tangible clues must be given for perceiving the service and for making it understandable. Example: ICICI makes use of an umbrella for symbolizing protection.
• Regular communication must be done with the target audience by using logos, signs, packaging, etc.
• The firm should make a promise which is possible to be delivered.
• The word-of-mouth communication must be used as a means to convey message as it is commonly used by the consumers in services.
• In case of services, the employees are concouraged to deliver the promise and attain zero percent defection of customers which needs high employee-customer interaction in a user-friendly manner.

5. What is Marketing Research? Explain its features and process in detail.

International Marketing Research

Introduction

Today the environment in modern business arena is highly uncertain and rapidly changing. Advances in communications and information systems technology are further accelerating the pace of change. Expansion of business operations from home country toward other countries is making the uncertainty more prominent and stronger. This may be due to cultural, political, and legal differences. This makes it increasingly critical for management to keep abreast of changes and to collect timely and pertinent information to adapt strategy and market tactics in expanding local markets. As a consequence, international marketing research becomes essential for effective decision making when organizations start to internationalize toward foreign markets.

Definition of Marketing Research

According to American Marketing Association – “Marketing Research is the systematic gathering, recording and analyzing of data about problems relating to the marketing of goods and services”.

 

According to Philip Kotler – “Marketing research is a systematic problem analysis, model building and fact finding for the purpose of improved decision-making and control in the marketing of goods and services”.

 

According to Paul Green and Donald Tull – “Marketing research is the systematic and objective search for, and analysis of, information relevant to the identification and solution of any problem in the field of marketing”.

 

According to David Luck, Donald Taylor, and Hugh Wales – “Marketing Research is the application of scientific methods in the solution of marketing problems”.

 

Definition of International Marketing Research

 

International marketing research is the systematic design, collection, recording, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of information pertinent to a particular marketing decision facing a company operating internationally.

 

International Market Research is a particular discipline of Market Research, focusing on certain geographical areas.

 

International Market Research is concerned with consumer goods, but also with any resource or service within a value chain which will be commercially utilized or further processed – which is the area of industrial goods and B2B-Marketing.

International Marketing Research Process

Conduct preliminary research – Do some preliminary research on your topic of interest. For this you can go online and search existing survey reports related to your topic of interest. the searched reports may not be too specific to your requirement, but it might give you some ideas on how to go about your primary research.

 

Features of Marketing Research:

(1) Intensive Study- It involves systematic and intensive study of a marketing problem.

(a) Planned Process- We have planned procedure of investigation and analysis.

(b) Orderly Investigation- The procedure of marketing research has clearly-defined steps in proper sequence or order.

(c) Intensive Investigation- All the relevant factors involved in a marketing problem are observed closely.

(2) Scientific Approach- Marketing research adopts scientific method and objectivity in the solution of a marketing problem.

(a) Rational Outlook- Researcher or analyst has an objective attitude — rational outlook based on reason and logic.

(b) Defined Purpose- The purpose of inquiry and the problem under investigation are clearly defined.

(c) Accuracy- Accuracy (exactness) in calculation, in observation and in reporting is strictly ensured.

(d) Standardised Process- Marketing research process is standardised and can be repeated exactly in solving all problems.

(e) Scientific Attitude- The researcher has an open mind, critical attitude, creativity, absolute honesty and integrity — the hallmarks of scientific attitude and approach.

(3) Decision Tool- Marketing research is a tool for decision-making and control in the marketing of goods.

 

 Marketing Research Process:

Marketing research helps in arriving at the decision or solutions for various marketing problems.

The research process involves different stages which are:

1. Problem Formulation:

Formulation of the problem is the first step in the marketing research process. Unless and until the problem is well defined, there is no use of the research work. Well defined and formulated problems can be solved very easily and appropriately. The problem should be defined neither too broadly nor too narrowly. Problems may be of different type i.e. operating (recurring) problem or non-operating (non­recurring) problem.

Recurring problems includes problems relating to sales expenses, sales forecasting, sales volume, product quality, product line, price policy etc. Non-recurring or non-operating problems relate to problems such as change in consumption pattern, price changes, product innovation, changes in competitive forces etc.

2. Research Design:

A research design is the framework or blue print for conducting the market research project. Once the specific research objective has been defined, it is essential to arrive at the correct hypothesis, data collection method, sampling plan and research design instrument.

Formulating a research design involves following steps:

1. Define the information which is required.
2. Analysis of the secondary data.

iii. Qualitative research.

1. Method of collecting data.
2. Measurement and scaling procedure.
3. Questionnaire design.

vii. Sampling process and sample size.

viii. Plan of data analysis.

3. Data Collection:

Data can be collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data is the data which is collected for the first time with research purpose in mind. It is the first hand information. Secondary data is the data already collected by some other person for some other research problem. Primary data can be collected through different method – observation method or communication method. Interviews may be conducted either personal or through telephone or any other method to collect the required information.

4. Data Analysis:

Analysis of the raw data is very essential to arrive at the conclusion.

This analysis involves three phases, they are:

1. Classifying the data
2. Data summarization

iii. Advanced data analysis tools and techniques to highlight inter­relationship and quantitative significance.

1. Classifying the Data:

Classification of data includes editing, coding, transcription and verification of data. The most commonly used techniques here are quantitative, qualitative, geographical and chronological.

Quantitative classification are for quantitative data like number of units, number of respondents. Qualitative classification is for qualitative data like occupation, types of family etc. Geographical classification is the one where geographical location is used to classify the data. Chronological classification is on the basis of the time period when event took place.

1. Data Summarization:

For summarization of data various techniques are there like mean, median, mode, range, variance, standard deviation, mean deviation.

iii. Advanced Data Analysis Tools and Techniques:

This includes advanced method for analysing the data like factor analysis, discriminate analysis, correlation, regression, multiple regression.

5. Report Presentation and Recommendations:

A normal report includes the following:

(1) Title of the report

(2) Summary of conclusion

(3) Sample and characteristics

(4) Findings and observations

(5) Questionnaire

(6) Appendices

(7) Recommendation made may be accepted or rejected.

 

1. Define Advertisement? Explain in detail Advertisement with its objectives, types, importance and advantages?

Advertising is the action of calling public attention to an idea, good, or service through paid announcements by an identified sponsor.

Definition: 

According to Kotler –

Advertising is any paid form of non-personal presentation & promotion of ideas, goods, or services by an identified sponsor.

According to the Advertising Association of the UK –

Advertising is any communication, usually paid-for, specifically intended to inform and/or influence one or more people.

A simpler (and modern) definition of advertising can be – A paid communication message intended to inform people about something or to influence them to buy or try something.

Advertising is a means of communication with the users of a product or service. Advertisements are messages paid for by those who send them and are intended to inform or influence people who receive them, as defined by the Advertising Association of the UK.

An advertorial is a form of advertisement in a newspaper, magazine or a website which involves giving information about the product in the form of an article. Usually, a brand pays the publisher for such an article.

Definition of International Advertising

International advertising entails dissemination of a commercial message to target audiences in more than one country. Target audiences differ from country to country in terms of how they perceive or interpret symbols or stimuli, respond to humor or emotional appeals, as well as in levels of literacy and languages spoken. How the advertising function is organized also varies. In some cases, multinational firms centralize advertising decisions and budgets and use the same or a limited number of agencies worldwide. In other cases, budgets are decentralized and placed in the hands of local subsidiaries, resulting in greater use of local advertising agencies.
International advertising can, therefore, be viewed as a communication process that takes place in multiple cultures that differ in terms of values, communication styles, and consumption patterns. International advertising is also a business activity involving advertisers and the advertising agencies that create ads and buy media in different countries. The sum total of these activities constitutes a worldwide industry that is growing in importance. International advertising is also a major force that both reflects social values, and propagates certain values worldwide.

Characteristics Of Advertising

• Paid Form: Advertising requires the advertiser (also called sponsor) to pay to create an advertising message, to buy advertising media slot, and to monitor advertising efforts.
• Tool For Promotion: Advertising is an element of the promotion mixof an organization.
• One Way Communication: Advertising is a one-way communication where brands communicate to the customers through different mediums.
• Personal Or Non-Personal: Advertising can be non-personal as in the case of TV, radio, or newspaper advertisements, or highly personal as in the case of social media and other cookie-based advertisements.

 

Advertising activities can also be categorized into 5 types based on the advertisement medium used. These types of advertisements are:

• Print Advertising:Newspaper, magazines, & brochure advertisements, etc.
• Broadcast Advertising:Television and radio advertisements.
• Outdoor Advertising:Hoardings, banners, flags, wraps, etc.
• Digital Advertising:Advertisements displayed over the internet and digital devices.
• Product/Brand Integration:Product placements in entertainment media like TV show, YouTube video, etc.

Objectives Of Advertising

There are 3 main objectives of advertising. These are:

To Inform

Advertisements are used to increase brand awareness and brand exposure in the target market. Informing potential customers about the brand and its products is the first step towards attaining business goals.

To Persuade

Persuading customers to perform a particular task is a prominent objective of advertising. The tasks may involve buying or trying the products and services offered, to form a brand image, develop a favourable attitude towards the brand etc.

To Remind

Another objective of advertising is to reinforce the brand message and to reassure the existing and potential customers about the brand vision. Advertising helps the brand to maintain top of mind awareness and to avoid competitors stealing the customers. This also helps in the word of mouth marketing.

Other objectives of advertising are subsets of these three objectives. These subsets are:

• Brand Building
• Increasing Sales
• Creating Demand
• Engagement
• Expanding Customer Base
• Changing Customers’ attitudes, etc.

 

Importance Of Advertising

 

To The Customers

• Convenience: Targeted informative advertisements make the customer’s decision making process easier as they get to know what suits their requirements and budget.
• Awareness: Advertising educates the customers about different products available in the market and their features. This knowledge helps customers compare different products and choose the best product for them.
• Better Quality: Only brands advertise themselves and their products. There are no advertisements for unbranded products. This ensures better quality to the customers as no brand wants to waste money on false advertising.

 

To The Business

• Awareness:Advertising increases the brand and product awareness among the people belonging to the target market.
• Brand Image: Clever advertising helps the business to form the desired brand imageand brand personality in the minds of the customers.
• Product Differentiation: Advertising helps the business to differentiate its product from those of competitors’ and communicate its features and advantages to the target audience.
• Increases Goodwill: Advertising reiterates brand vision and increases the goodwill of the brand among its customers.
• Value For Money: Advertising delivers the message to a wide audience and tends to be value for money when compared to other elements of the promotion mix.

Advantages Of Advertising

• Reduces Per-Unit Cost: The wide appeal of advertisements increases the demand for the product which benefits the organization as it capitalizes on the economies of scale.
• Helps In Brand Building: Advertisements work effectively in brand building. Brands who advertise are preferred over those which doesn’t.
• Helps In Launching New Product:Launching a new product is easy when it is backed by an advertisement.
• Boosts Up Existing Customers’ Confidence In The Brand:Advertisements boosts up existing customers’ confidence in the brand as they get a feeling of pride when they see an advertisement of the product or the brand they use.
• Helps In Reducing Customer Turnover:Strategic advertisements for new offers and better service helps reduce customer turnover.
• Attracts New Customers:Attractive advertisements help the brand in gaining new customers and expanding the business.
• Educates The Customers:Advertisements inform the customers about different products existing in the market and also educates them in what they should look for in an apt product.

Disadvantages Of Advertising

• Increases The Costs:Advertising is an expense to the business and is added to the cost of the product. This cost is eventually borne by the end consumer.
• Confuses The Buyer:Too many advertisements with similar claims often confuses the buyer in what to buy and should he buy the product or not.
• Is Sometimes Misleading:Some advertisements use smart strategies to mislead the customers.
• Only For Big Businesses:Advertising is a costly affair and only big businesses can afford it. This makes small businesses out of competition with big businesses who get to enjoy a monopoly in the market.
• Encourages The Sale Of Inferior Products:Effective advertisements even lead to the sale of inferior products which aren’t good for the consumers.

 

 

5. Distinguish international marketing and Domestic marketing?

Marketing is defined as the set of activities which are undertaken by the companies to provide satisfaction to the customers through value addition and making good relations with them, to increase their brand value. It identifies and converts needs into products and services, so as to satisfy their wants.

 

There are two types of marketing namely, domestic and international marketing. Domestic marketing is when commercialization of goods and services are limited to the home country only. On the other hand, International marketing, as the name suggests, is the type of marketing which is stretched across several countries in the world, i.e. the marketing of products and services is done globally. In this article excerpt you can find the difference between domestic and international marketing in detail.

 

	Difference between International Marketing and Domestic Marketing
	Basis		Domestic Marketing		International Marketing
Definition		“It is concerned with the marketing practises within the researchers or Marketers home country (domestic market).”		“It is the performance of business activities designed to plan, price, promote and direct the flow of a company’s goods and services to consumers or users in more than one nation for a profit.”
Business operation		In  a single country		More than one country
Role of Politics		Political factors are of minor importance.		Political factors play a vital role.
Languages & Cultures		One language and culture.		Many languages and difference in cultures.
Financial Climate		Uniform financial climate. Less Capital is Required		Variety of financial climate. Huge Capital is Required
Risk Involved		Normal risk is involved.		Higher risks of different nature are involved.
Control of Marketing Activities		Control of marketing activities is easy as compared to international activities.		Control of marketing activities is difficult because of different factors like – regional, cultural, political, etc.
Government interference		Less		Comparatively high
Payment		Minimum payment and credit risks.		Considerable payment and credit risks.
Familiarity		Well familiarity with domestic market.		Lack of Familiarity with foreign markets, research becomes Essential.
Knowledge Requirement		Management knowledge is required.		Specific management knowledge and competence is required.
Use of Technology		Limited		Sharing and use of latest techonology.
Product Mix		Product mix is decided keeping in view the satisfaction and more sales.		Product mix is decided according to foreign market.
Product Planning and Development		Product planning and development according to domestic market.		Product planning and development according to foreign market.
Focus		Focus of interest is on general information.		Focus of interest is on strategic emphasis.
Market Aspect		Market is much more homogeneous and different segments.		Different or diverse markets fragmented in nature
Research		Required but not to a very high level.		Deep research of the market is required because of less knowledge about the foreign markets.

 

 

1. Role of export marketing in international trade.

 

ROLE OF EXPORT MARKETING IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE

 

TRADE Transfer of ownership of goods or services. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. INTERNATIONAL TARDE International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders. EXPORT In International Trade, “exports” refers to selling goods and services produced in the home country to other countries. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an “exporter“. IMPORT In International Trade, “imports” refers to buying goods and services produced in a foreign country to other countries. The buyer of such goods and services is referred to an “importer”. EXPORT MARKETING

 

Export marketing means exporting goods to other countries of the world as per the procedures framed by the exporting country as well as by the importing country. Export marketing has wider economic significance as it offers various advantages to the national economy. It has bought back several nations back from the dead. DEFINITION According to B. S. Rathor “Export marketing includes the management of marketing activities for products which cross the national boundaries of a country”. “Export marketing means marketing of goods and services beyond the national boundaries”.

 

FEATURES

 

1. Systematic Process – Export marketing is a systematic process of developing and distributing goods and services in overseas markets. The export marketing manager needs to undertake various marketing activities, such as marketing research, product design, branding, packaging, pricing, promotion

 

2. Large Scale Operations – Normally, export marketing is undertaken on a large scale. Emphasis is placed on large orders in order to obtain economies in large sole production and distribution of goods.

 

3. Dominance of Multinational Corporations – Export marketing is dominated by MNCs, from USA, Europe and Japan. They are in a position to develop worldwide contacts through their network and conduct business operations efficiently and
4. Trade barriers – Export marketing is not free like internal marketing. There are various trade barriers because of the protective policies of different countries. Tariff and non-tariff barriers are used by countries for restricting

 

5. Documentation – Export marketing is subject to various documentation formalities. Exporters require various documents to submit them to various authorities like bill of

 

Need / Importance of Export Marketing at the National Level:

 

• Earning foreign exchange – Exports bring valuable foreign exchange to the exporting country, which is mainly required to pay for import of capital goods, raw materials, spares and components as well as importing advance technical

 

• International Relations – Almost all countries of the world want to prosper in a peaceful environment. One way to maintain political and cultural ties and peace with other countries is through international

 

• Balance of payment – Large – scale exports solve BOP problem and enable countries to have favourable BOP position. The deficit in the BOT and BOP can be removed through large-scale exports.

 

• Reputation in the world – A country which is foremost in the field of exports, commands a lot of respect, goodwill and reputation from other

 

• Employment Opportunities – Export trade calls for more production. More production opens the doors for more employment opportunities, not only in export sector but also in allied sector like banking, insurance etc.

 

Need / Importance of export marketing at Business / Enterprise Level

 

• Reputation – An organization which undertakes exports can become famous not only in the export markets, but also in the home market. For example, firms like Phillips, , Sony, coca cola, Pepsi, enjoy international

 

• Optimum Production – A company can export its excess production after meeting domestic demand. Thus, the production can be carried on up to the optimum product
• Spreading of Risk – A firm engaged in domestic as well as export marketing can spread its marketing risk in two parts. The loss is one part (i.e. in one area of marketing) can be compensated by the profit earned in the other part /

 

• Higher profits – Exports enable a business enterprise to earn higher prices for goods. If the exporters offer quality products, they can charge higher prices than those charged in the home market and thereby raise the profit

 

CHALLENGES TO EXPORT MARKETING

 

1. Technological differences- The developed countries are equipped with sophisticated technologies less developed countries, on the other hand, lack technical knowledge and latest equipments.

 

2. Reduction in export Incentives– Over the years, the Govt. of India has reduced export incentives such as withdrawal of income tax benefits for majority of exporters. The reduction in export incentives de-motivates exporters

 

3. Several competitions in global marketing– Export marketing is highly competitive. Indian exporters face three-faced competition while

 

4. Problem of product standards– Developed countries insist on high product standards from developing countries like India. The products from developing countries are subject to product tests in the importing

 

5. Problem in preparing Documents– Export involves a large number of documents. The exporter will have to arrange export documents required in his country and also all the documents as mentioned in the documentary letter of credit. In India, there are as many as 25

 

IMPORTANCE OF EXPORT MARKETING

 

• Increased Sales and Profits. Selling goods and services to a market the company never had before boost sales and increases revenues. Additional foreign sales over the long term, once export development costs have been covered, increase overall

 

• Enhance Domestic Competitiveness Most companies become competitive in the domestic market before they venture in the international arena. Being competitive in the domestic market helps companies to acquire some strategies that can help them in the international

 

• Gain Global Market Shares. By going international companies will participate in the global market and gain a piece of their share from the huge international

 

• Selling to multiple markets allows companies to diversify their business and spread their risk. Companies will not be tied to the changes of the business cycle of domestic market or of one specific country.
• Lower Per Unit Costs. Capturing an additional foreign market will usually expand production to meet foreign demand. Increased production can often lower per unit costs and lead to greater use of existing

 

 

1. Explain the concept of Internal Marketing. Also describe international marketing Strategies.

 

Internal marketing is the promotion of a company’s objectives, products and services to employees within the organization. The purpose is to increase employee engagement with the company’s goals and fostering brand advocacy.

 

Employees who are enthusiastic about their company and its offerings are likely to share that enthusiasm with their social networks. As a result, internal marketing can be an effective part of external branding and marketing efforts. However, internal marketing can only go so far since an employee’s attitude toward the organization is affected by every element of that individual’s experience working for the business. Keeping employees happy and engaged is important to external marketing efforts as well.

Common internal marketing efforts include:

• Ensuring that all employees know that their contributions are essential to the company’s success.
• Educating all employees about the company’s products and services.
• Reinforcing the concept that customers are, when all is said and done, the source of employees’ salaries.
• Providing adequate salaries and benefits, plus a pleasant work environment.
• Encouraging employee input on corporate policies, management and operation – including criticism.
• Acting on employee suggestions that have merit and publicly acknowledging the value of the input.
• Confirming that the corporate mandate and objectives are clearly described and disseminated throughout the organization.
• Providing opportunities for advancement, professional development and promotion.
• Ensuring that the corporate culture is consistent with work-life balance.
• Fostering communication and collaborationamong employees through various methods from formalized settings and to casual areas for gathering, such as lounges.

 

Internal marketing operates on the idea that customer opinions of a company are based on their experiences with the business, not just with the products. By treating employees as “internal customers”, internal marketing helps employees align with the company’s vision and operations. In turn, they provide their customers with a consistent and valuable experience. Internal marketing campaigns are often lead by a company’s human resources department, which is responsible for distributing information and providing training on the company’s objectives and strategies.

 

International Marketing Strategies

Marketing can be defined as a process of creating, delivering and communicating the value of a product or service by an organizational function to the customers for the purpose of selling the product or service in ways that also benefit the organization and its shareholders. In international marketing, also known as global marketing, the organizations find out the needs of the customers in foreign countries so that marketing is carried out across the national borderlines for providing the sustomers the required entities at right place and at the right time. In this strategy the organizations adopts techniques that are the extensions used in the home country. It includes market identification and market targeting, selection of entry mode, marketing mix decision and strategic decisions in order to compete in the international markets.

When creating a worldwide marketing plan, every organization needs to formulate its international marketing strategies. It involves a five step procedure. This includes market assessment product strategy, price strategy, place strategy and promotion strategy. The factors to be considered while formulating an international marketing strategy are briefly discussed below:

Market Assessment

This include a five step screening procedure:

1. The first step is the identification of the customers’ needs and to list out the items.
2. After listing out the basic items, the list is shortened in the next step by screening by analyzing the financial and economic condition of various potential markets.
3. Under the third steps, before entering any potential market the organization considers the legal and political forces of the host country.
4. In the similar way, under the fourth step also the organizations should consider the socio-cultural forces of potential markets.
5. If the organization finds a choice between two or more countries, then at the fifth step they should consider the markets where the competitions are less.

After all the screening steps, in the final selection the organization arranges trips to the actual locations where their executives can evaluate the potential markets for providing overseas goods and services.

Product strategy

Product strategy varies depending on the goods and the customers. To sell a particular product in a country some modifications are required in the product or its marketing strategy according to the requirements of the market.

Pricing Strategy

To price a product depend on many factors like the cost of raw materials, cost of developing the product, cost of transportation of the product etc. while pricing product government regulations, legal forces are also some of the limiting factors.

Place Strategy

While selling a product the multinational organizations should keep in mind to choose a place that is most convenient for the customers. To distribute the product so that it reaches the customers the organizations should fix proper distribution channels. The manner, by which the product is distributed, on the other hand, is influenced by the competitions in the market for similar types of product.

Promotion strategy

To stimulate the demand of a particular product or a service, a company adopts many strategies to attract the customers. Some strategies may be through advertisement and personal selling. By adopting such strategies multinational enterprises promote their goods and services in different countries.

Types of International Marketing Strategies

1. Individualized Marketing Strategy

Individualized marketing, as its name suggests, focuses each and every targeted market in detail which requires the company to gather an extensive amount of research data. Therefore, to maintain the balance between the profit and the costs involved in that research, the focus is kept to, just, two or three countries. Furthermore, a revised version of the product is created to match the needs of all the individual markets by keeping economic, political and social factors in the notice.

2. Global Marketing Strategy

Promoting a brand globally enables it to create a unified version of the product by ignoring most or nearly all of the differences between different countries is known as global marketing. Application of such international marketing strategies takes place just because of the reason that the world is now acting like a global village where customers are having a standardized taste and their ideas of assessing a product are getting more and more similar. This strategy cuts the costs of research significantly, but promotion needs enormous efforts to get the word for your product deep down in the markets.

These international marketing strategies are also known as Global Marketing Strategies and almost used in all over the world as marketing product or brand globally.

Tools for International Marketing Strategies

Even though the market gets bigger and bigger as the number of targeted countries increases, but the tools used for promotion are same.

1. Advertisements

One of the most powerful marketing tools that can help you achieve your dream of converting your product to sales is advertising it through different means. Put the word for your product in international newspapers, radio channels, anything that can get a poster on it and most importantly, the Internet because it houses hundreds of other means of marketing your brands like emails, websites, and many others. Furthermore, you can also run a contest for which entrants will have to share the news about your brand to their friends and family.

2. Price Promotions

The best way to get a buzz of the product is by putting up some promotions. Either you can give your product sales a huge boost through discounts or by giving your customers some timed trial or you can couple up your product with a freebie for every purchase.

3. Make use of tradeshows

There are many types of products that customers do not buy until they have tested by themselves especially cars. Actually, they are looking for the experience of the product to be purchased and that’s where tradeshows come into play. The company invites its customers to the trade show and let them experience the full potential of the brand.

4. B2B Marketing

B2B is an unusual tactic often used by bigger enterprises is to spread the word among individuals and organizations alike which allow them to sell their product to other commercial businesses, institutions, and other agencies, which can then either use this product or resell it.

5. Inbound marketing

Making use of the requests, for the new products, often made by the customers can undoubtedly lead to additional sales of services that you currently have. For example, when a customer contacts the bank to check the account balance, the bank’s contact center takes advantage of the chance and offers its customers to apply for any other service.

6. Outbound marketing

Reaching out to individual target groups is a lot more fruitful than addressing the whole world, since it lets the potential customers know that a particular business exists and can be a lot more advantageous to our cause. For this purpose, a list of prospects is developed that can provide a starting point for the brand and this list is, then, further refined to concentrate the search for new customers. The same was the case of Microsoft when it spread the word of its accounting software.

 

 

1. Discuss the development of International Marketing?

 

Definition: Market development is a strategic step taken by a company to develop the existing market rather than looking for a new market. The company looks for new buyers to pitch the product to a different segment of consumers in an effort to increase sales.

 

 

 

The development of International Marketing

Global Marketing is an extension and new vision of international marketing and it is being used since 1980’s.

• Domestic Marketing

Marketing activities of the firm specifically targeting the needs and wants of single market i.e., the firms domestic/home market and is often referred to as ‘domestic marketing’ and the firm here face individual set of issues related to economic, competitive and marketing aspects. Domestic marketing mainly focuses on a single set of national customers, even though it is serving the several segments of single market.

 

 

 

 

 

8. The Verger- Somerset Maugham’s Summary

Summary of Somerset Maugham’s The Verger

 

Introduction

Somerset Maugham is a famous English writer.  He has written many novels and short stories.  This short story is about a verger, who is an illiterate.  This story shows how an illiterate man can earn more money and wealth, because of his smart thinking.

 

Introduction of the Verger

Albert Edward is a verger of a small church.  A verger is someone who takes care of the church.  Albert has been working in the church for a long time.  He takes care of the church very well.  He takes great care of his uniform.  The story opens with the end of christening ceremony in the church.  The verger waits for the vicar to move, but the vicar is staying there.

 

The Past and the Present Vicar

The vicar of the church has taken his position in the recent past.  He is new to the church and to the position.  The verger is not comfortable with the new vicar.  He considers the old vicar as someone better than the new one.  The old vicar had never complained him and had always been good to him.  Though the new vicar is good in controlling the child who has come to christening, the verger is not comfortable with him and his manners.

 

Happenings between the Vicar and the Verger

The vicar calls the verger to his office.  Two wardens of the church also come to the vicar’s office.  The vicar says that he and the church management are not comfortable with the performance of the verger.  They consider him an illiterate, who cannot read and write.  The two wardens support the vicar.  The verger is helpless.

 

Verger’s Illiteracy

The verger accepts the fact that he is an illiterate.  He had joined the church when he was twelve and had not attempted to educate himself since then.  The previous vicar did not mind about his education.  The verger is also able to execute his job in the best way possible, even without proper education.  He assures the new vicar that he can continue to do his job well.

 

Verger Coming out of the Church

The vicar and the wardens do not accept his plea.  They almost threaten the verger.  Out of compulsion and repulsion, the verger moves out of the church.  He resigns his job as a verger.  He is confused about the future.  He does not know how to earn his living thereafter.  In utter confusion, he takes an unusual road to his house.  He is hopeless.

 

Verger a Wealthy Man

After sometime, he finds that he has taken the wrong route.  He is frustrated and he wants to ease himself.  He approaches a few shops and asks for a cigarette.  No shop sells him a cigarette.  It is then he strikes with an idea of opening cigar shops.  He opens a shop where there are no shops.  His business throngs well.  He sells more cigars and he becomes wealthy.  Later he approaches a few other places where they do not sell cigars and he puts up a new shop there.  He becomes a prospective business man.  He becomes very wealthy.  He hoards more money in the bank.

Conclusion

 

The verger deposits all his money in the bank.  One day the bank’s manager invites him for a meeting.  He informs the verger that he has save more than 10 thousand pounds in the bank.  This is a huge money.  The manger asks him to sign a few documents and the verger says that he is uneducated.  This surprises the manager and others.  They question him what he would have done if had not started this business.  The verger says that he would have remained a verger till the end of his life.

7. The Best Investment I ever made — A.J. Cronin Summary

The Best Investment I ever made

                                                                                                         — A.J. Cronin

 

“The Best Investment I ever made” is a story written by A.J. Cronin. This story narrates a touching episode from the author’s early life as a doctor in London.

 

The doctor (author) once happened to attend a misguided youth who attempted suicide.  With much effort, the doctor succeeded in bringing the youth back to life. The youth narrated his unfortunate story to the doctor. After the death of both his parents, he got employed in a Solicitor’s office.  Due to bad company, he lost all his money in horse bettings.  He stole some money from his office safe and lost that too. Fearing of punishment, he attempted suicide by turning on the gas. After hearing the sad story, the doctor gave the young man Seven pounds, ten shillings, to put back in the office safe and start a fresh life.

 

Interestingly, after 25 years of gap, the doctor met the youth Mr. John.S, a happily married man, along with his wife.  The couple had been actively involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of child offenders.  The doctor felt that the small amount he had given to the unfortunate youth turned out to be the best investment he had ever made in his life.  Though it did not yield him any monetary dividends, it gave him immense satisfaction.

9. A willing Slave Summary

A willing Slave

This is a story of complete dedication of a woman to her family, stuffed with pathos. Ayah is known by no other name though she is serving the family for seventeen years. Her husband deserted her years ago, and he 193 works in Ceylon tea gardens. She maintains herself and her children by working in the employer’s family ‘for over twelve hours in the day’ getting ‘two meals a day, fifteen rupees a month and three saries a year’. She cheerfully performs, not only her job as Ayah, hut also several selfimposed tasks, like keeping an eye on the home-tutor to ensure that he does not torture the children, and keeping watch over servants for which she is quite unpopular with them. At the beginning o f every month, ‘a couple of rowdy-looking men’, whom she calls “those Saidapet robbers”, who really are her sons, come and take away most of her month’s pay. This is the only evidence that she has her own home at Saidapet, which she no doubt visits every three months for a few days. Though ‘a willing slave’ for her own family, for whom she tofts and slogs, she sub-consciously perhaps nourishes a hatred for them all. She calls her sons ‘those Saidapet robbers’. For her husband, who has deserted her, she uses the phrase ‘The Old Fellow’, with which she also keeps the employer’s children in fright to make them do her bidding, like sending them to sleep. The mention of the Old Fellow worked wonders, and child after child was kept in terror o f him. He was supposed to be locked up in a disused dog kennel in the compound. He was always shouting for the Ayah. He was ever ready to break the door open and carry her away. The Ayah always referred to him in scathing language: “I have beaten that scoundrel into pulp. Very bad fellow, disgusting monkey. …” . All this reveals her real disgust for her husband and reflects her constant anxiety that he may turn up any time and take her away from the happy and peaceful place of her employment. But when her fear materializes one day, she laughs ‘uncontrollably’ even when her employer scolds her for returning late from Saidapet; “even her dark face was flushed, and her eyes were bright” . She brings him with her from Saidapet to her employer, with pride: “Please, won’t you look at him?”  and pleads: “He wants me 194 to cook for him and look after him. … He went away years ago. … Who will take care of him now?”

And she leaves, “led by a husband proud o f his slave” . The story sharply focuses on the feet that a traditional Indian wife can be happy with her husband only, even if forsaken by him for a major part of her life to struggle and earn bread for herself and her family, and after knowing thoroughly well that she is wanted only to serve him in his old age, to cook and to nurse. For her husband she is only an instrument to fulfil his needs, and pathetically such is the case with her sons too. So in our lower middle class social stratum, a woman, be she a mother or a daughter or a wife, is mainly considered a slave of the family.

13. AS YOU LIKE IT SUMMARY & Characters

AS YOU LIKE IT SUMMARY

 

Rosalind and her cousin escape into the forest and find Orlando, Rosalind’s love. Disguised as a boy shepherd, Rosalind has Orlando woo her under the guise of “curing” him of his love for Rosalind. Rosalind reveals she is a girl and marries Orlando during a group wedding at the end of the play.

Act I

Orlando, the youngest son of the recently-deceased Sir Roland de Boys, is treated harshly by his eldest brother, Oliver. Bitter and angry, Orlando challenges the court wrestler, Charles, to a fight. When Oliver learns of the fight, Oliver tells Charles to injure Orlando if possible.

Duke Frederick has recently deposed his brother, Duke Senior, as head of the court. But he allowed Senior’s daughter, Rosalind, to remain, and she and Celia, the new Duke’s daughter, watch the wrestling competition. During the match, Rosalind falls in love with Orlando, who beats Charles. Rosalind gives Orlando a chain to wear; in turn, he is overcome with love.

Act II

Shortly after, Orlando is warned of his brother’s plot against him and seeks refuge in the Forest of Arden. At the same time, and seemingly without cause, Duke Frederick banishes Rosalind. She decides to seek shelter in the Forest of Arden with Celia. They both disguise themselves: Rosalind as the young man Ganymede and Celia as his shepherdess sister Aliena. Touchstone, the court fool, also goes with them.

Act III

In the Forest of Arden, the weary cousins happen upon Silvius, a lovesick shepherd. Silvius was in the act of declaring his feelings for Phoebe, a scornful shepherdess. Ganymede buys the lease to the property of an old shepherd who needs someone to manage his estate. Ganymede and Aliena set up home in the forest. Not far away, and unaware of the newcomers, Duke Senior is living a simple outdoor life with his fellow exiled courtiers and huntsmen. Their merriment is interrupted by the arrival of Orlando, who seeks nourishment for himself and his servant. The two men are welcomed by the outlaw courtiers.

Ganymede and Aliena find verses addressed to Rosalind hung on the forest branches by Orlando. Ganymede finds Orlando and proposes to cure Orlando of his love. To do this, Orlando will woo Ganymede as if he were Rosalind (even though “he” really is . . . Rosalind). Orlando consents and visits Ganymede/Rosalind every day for his lessons. In the meantime, the shepherdess Phoebe has fallen for Ganymede while the shepherd Silvius still pursues her.  Furthermore, Touchstone, the court fool, has dazzled a country girl, Audrey, with his courtly manners. Audrey deserts her young suitor, William, for him.

All the world’s a stage.

— AS YOU LIKE IT, ACT 2 SCENE 7

Act IV

When Duke Frederick hears Orlando disappeared at the same time as Rosalind and Celia, he orders Oliver to the forest to seek his brother. In the forest, Orlando saves Oliver’s life, injuring his arm in the process. Oliver runs into Ganymede and Aliena in the forest and relates this news. Rosalind (disguised as Ganymede) is overcome with her feelings for Orlando. Celia (disguised as Aliena) and Oliver quickly fall in love with one another. Rosalind decides that it is time to end her game with Orlando and devises a plan in which everyone will get married.

Act V

As Ganymede, Rosalind promises Phoebe that they will marry, Celia will marry Oliver, Touchstone will marry Audrey, and Orlando will marry Rosalind. She makes Phoebe promise that if they, for some reason, don’t get married, Phoebe will marry Silvius instead.

On the day of the wedding, and with the help of the god Hymen, Rosalind reappears in her female clothes. Duke Senior gives her away to Orlando, while Phoebe accepts Silvius. Orlando’s other older brother returns from college with the news that Celia’s father, Duke Ferdinand, has left court to become a hermit. Thus, everyone is happy (except maybe Phoebe, who marries someone she doesn’t love and Silvius, who marries someone who doesn’t love him). The play ends with a joyful dance to celebrate the four marriages.

As You Like It

 

Character List

 

 

CHARACTERS CHARACTER LIST

 

Rosalind –  The daughter of Duke Senior. Rosalind, considered one of Shakespeare’s most delightful heroines, is independent minded, strong-willed, good-hearted, and terribly clever. Rather than slink off into defeated exile, Rosalind resourcefully uses her trip to the Forest of Ardenne as an opportunity to take control of her own destiny. When she disguises herself as Ganymede—a handsome young man—and offers herself as a tutor in the ways of love to her beloved Orlando, Rosalind’s talents and charms are on full display. Only Rosalind, for instance, is both aware of the foolishness of romantic love and delighted to be in love. She teaches those around her to think, feel, and love better than they have previously, and she ensures that the courtiers returning from Ardenne are far gentler than those who fled to it.

 

Orlando –  The youngest son of Sir Rowland de Bois and younger brother of Oliver. Orlando is an attractive young man who, under his brother’s neglectful care, has languished without a gentleman’s education or training. Regardless, he considers himself to have great potential, and his victorious battle with Charles proves him right. Orlando cares for the aging Adam in the Forest of Ardenne and later risks his life to save Oliver from a hungry lioness, proving himself a proper gentleman. He is a fitting hero for the play and, though he proves no match for her wit or poetry, the most obvious romantic match for Rosalind.

 

Duke Senior –  The father of Rosalind and the rightful ruler of the dukedom in which the play is set. Having been banished by his usurping brother, Frederick, Duke Senior now lives in exile in the Forest of Ardenne with a number of loyal men, including Lord Amiens and Jaques. We have the sense that Senior did not put up much of a fight to keep his dukedom, for he seems to make the most of whatever life gives him. Content in the forest, where he claims to learn as much from stones and brooks as he would in a church or library, Duke Senior proves himself to be a kind and fair-minded ruler.

 

Jaques –  A faithful lord who accompanies Duke Senior into exile in the Forest of Ardenne. Jaques is an example of a stock figure in Elizabethan comedy, the man possessed of a hopelessly melancholy disposition. Much like a referee in a football game, he stands on the sidelines, watching and judging the actions of the other characters without ever fully participating. Given his inability to participate in life, it is fitting that Jaques alone refuses to follow Duke Senior and the other courtiers back to court, and instead resolves to assume a solitary and contemplative life in a monastery.

 

Celia –  The daughter of Duke Frederick and Rosalind’s dearest friend. Celia’s devotion to Rosalind is unmatched, as evidenced by her decision to follow her cousin into exile. To make the trip, Celia assumes the disguise of a simple shepherdess and calls herself Aliena. As elucidated by her extreme love of Rosalind and her immediate devotion to Oliver, whom she marries at the end of the play, Celia possesses a loving heart, but is prone to deep, almost excessive emotions.

 

Duke Frederick –  The brother of Duke Senior and usurper of his throne. Duke Frederick’s cruel nature and volatile temper are displayed when he banishes his niece, Rosalind, from court without reason. That Celia, his own daughter, cannot mitigate his unfounded anger demonstrates the intensity of the duke’s hatefulness. Frederick mounts an army against his exiled brother but aborts his vengeful mission after he meets an old religious man on the road to the Forest of Ardenne. He immediately changes his ways, dedicating himself to a monastic life and returning the crown to his brother, thus testifying to the ease and elegance with which humans can sometimes change for the better.

 

Touchstone –  A clown in Duke Frederick’s court who accompanies Rosalind and Celia in their flight to Ardenne. Although Touchstone’s job, as fool, is to criticize the behavior and point out the folly of those around him, Touchstone fails to do so with even a fraction of Rosalind’s grace. Next to his mistress, the clown seems hopelessly vulgar and narrow-minded. Almost every line he speaks echoes with bawdy innuendo.

 

Oliver –  The oldest son of Sir Rowland de Bois and sole inheritor of the de Bois estate. Oliver is a loveless young man who begrudges his brother, Orlando, a gentleman’s education. He admits to hating Orlando without cause or reason and goes to great lengths to ensure his brother’s downfall. When Duke Frederick employs Oliver to find his missing brother, Oliver finds himself living in despair in the Forest of Ardenne, where Orlando saves his life. This display of undeserved generosity prompts Oliver to change himself into a better, more loving person. His transformation is evidenced by his love for the disguised Celia, whom he takes to be a simple shepherdess.

 

Silvius –  A young, suffering shepherd, who is desperately in love with the disdainful Phoebe. Conforming to the model of Petrarchan love, Silvius prostrates himself before a woman who refuses to return his affections. In the end, however, he wins the object of his desire.

 

Phoebe –  A young shepherdess, who disdains the affections of Silvius. She falls in love with Ganymede, who is really Rosalind in disguise, but Rosalind tricks Phoebe into marrying Silvius.

 

Lord Amiens –  A faithful lord who accompanies Duke Senior into exile in the Forest of Ardenne. Lord Amiens is rather jolly and loves to sing.

 

Charles –  A professional wrestler in Duke Frederick’s court. Charles demonstrates both his caring nature and his political savvy when he asks Oliver to intercede in his upcoming fight with Orlando: he does not want to injure the young man and thereby lose favor among the nobles who support him. Charles’s concern for Orlando proves unwarranted when Orlando beats him senseless.

Adam –  The elderly former servant of Sir Rowland de Bois. Having witnessed Orlando’s hardships, Adam offers not only to accompany his young master into exile but to fund their journey with the whole of his modest life’s savings. He is a model of loyalty and devoted service.

Sir Rowland De Bois –  The father of Oliver and Orlando, friend of Duke Senior, and enemy of Duke Frederick. Upon Sir Rowland’s death, the vast majority of his estate was handed over to Oliver according to the custom of primogeniture.

Corin –  A shepherd. Corin attempts to counsel his friend Silvius in the ways of love, but Silvius refuses to listen.

Audrey –  A simpleminded goatherd who agrees to marry Touchstone.

William –  A young country boy who is in love with Audrey.

12. The Merchant of Venice Summary & Characters

The Merchant of Venice Summary

Antonio, an antisemitic merchant, takes a loan from the Jew Shylock to help his friend to court Portia. Antonio can’t repay the loan, and without mercy, Shylock demands a pound of his flesh. The heiress Portia, now the wife of Antonio’s friend, dresses as a lawyer and saves Antonio.

More detail: 3 minute read

Act I

In Venice, a merchant named Antonio worries that his ships are overdue. As his colleagues offer comfort, his young friends—Bassanio, Graziano, and Lorenzo—arrive. Bassanio asks Antonio for a loan, so that he can pursue the wealthy Portia, who lives in Belmont. Antonio cannot afford the loan. Instead, he sends Bassanio to borrow the money on the security of Antonio’s expected shipments.

At Belmont, Portia and her maid, Nerissa, discuss the suitors who have come in response to Portia’s father’s strange will. The will says Portia may only marry a man who chooses the correct casket made from three possible options: gold, silver, and lead. Much to Portia’s distress, all her suitors are unsatisfactory. However, she does fondly remember a time when Bassanio came to Belmont, and that leaves her with some hope.

Bassanio approaches Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, about the loan. Shylock holds a grudge against Antonio for his lending practices and apparent antisemitism. Still he offers Bassanio the loan. Instead of charging interest, seemingly as a kind of joke, he asks for a pound of Antonio’s flesh if the loan isn’t repaid within three months. The bond is agreed to (who wouldn’t agree to that?) and Bassanio prepares to leave for Belmont with his friend Graziano.

All that glisters is not gold

— MERCHANT OF VENICE, ACT 2 SCENE 7

Act II

Meanwhile, one of Shylock’s servants, Launcelot, wishes to change masters and persuades Bassanio to employ him. Shylock’s daughter, Jessica, also longs to leave home. She wants to become a Christian and marry Antonio’s friend Lorenzo. Before he departs to serve his new master, Launcelot takes a letter to Lorenzo that contains plans for Lorenzo and Jessica to elope that night. When Shylock goes out, Jessica escapes to elope, taking gold and jewels with her. The following day, Bassanio sets sail for Belmont, while Shylock rages over the loss of his daughter and the treasures she has stolen.

In Belmont, one of Portia’s suitors (the Prince of Morocco) chooses the golden casket, while another (the Prince of Aragon) selects silver. Both chose the wrong casket and are unsuccessful. As Aragon leaves, Bassanio is announced. Portia eagerly goes to greet him.

If you prick us, do we not bleed?

— MERCHANT OF VENICE, ACT 3 SCENE 1

Act III

After a few days, Shylock hears that his daughter Jessica is squandering her stolen wealth in Genoa. He begins to rail bitterly against Christians. He reminds Antonio’s friends that if the loan is not repaid on time, he will insist on the original agreement of one pound of flesh.

Back in Belmont, Bassanio chooses the lead casket, and in so doing, he wins Portia. His friend Graziano asks for Portia’s maid Nerissa to be his wife. Portia gives her ring to Bassanio, making him promise never to give it to another. As Lorenzo and Jessica come to Belmont, news arrives that Antonio’s ships have been lost at sea, and he is now bankrupt. They are also told Shylock insists on the fulfilment of his bond and has had Antonio arrested. Bassanio and Graziano leave in haste to help Antonio. Portia and Nerissa resolve to follow afterwards, disguised as lawyers.

Act IV

In the court in Venice, Shylock demands his pound of flesh. The Duke, presiding over the court, seeks legal advice from the lawyer “Balthazar,” who is Portia in disguise. Portia pleads for Shylock to have mercy on Antonio. Bassanio offers his wife’s money, which would more than pay the debt, but Shylock refuses to accept. Antonio’s death is only prevented as Balthazar explains the bond is for flesh but not for a single drop of blood. So Shylock cannot collect the pound of flesh.

For threatening the life of a Venetian, Shylock forfeits his goods to Antonio and Bassanio. Antonio refuses his share of compensation and asks for it to be put in a trust for Lorenzo and Jessica. He also demands that Shylock becomes a Christian. Broken and in submission, Shylock leaves the court. Bassanio and Graziano thank the lawyers, who ask for their rings as legal fees. Bassanio and Graziano refuse until Antonio intervenes and makes them give the rings to the lawyers.

Act V

Undisguised, Portia and Nerissa return home at night to find Lorenzo and Jessica enjoying the tranquillity of Belmont. When their husbands arrive, Portia and Nerissa scold them for giving away their rings, pretending they had been given away to other women. Before long, they reveal themselves as the lawyers from the trial. Antonio receives news that his ships have returned safely after all (looks like we didn’t need to go through all this mess in the first place!). The play ends as the three couples prepare to celebrate their marriages.

Character List

The Merchant of Venice

 

 

CHARACTERS CHARACTER LIST

Shylock – A Jewish moneylender in Venice. Angered by his mistreatment at the hands of Venice’s Christians, particularly Antonio, Shylock schemes to eke out his revenge by ruthlessly demanding as payment a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Although seen by the rest of the play’s characters as an inhuman monster, Shylock at times diverges from stereotype and reveals himself to be quite human. These contradictions, and his eloquent expressions of hatred, have earned Shylock a place as one of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters.

 

Portia – A wealthy heiress from Belmont. Portia’s beauty is matched only by her intelligence. Bound by a clause in her father’s will that forces her to marry whichever suitor chooses correctly among three caskets, Portia is nonetheless able to marry her true love, Bassanio. Far and away the most clever of the play’s characters, it is Portia, in the disguise of a young law clerk, who saves Antonio from Shylock’s knife.

 

Antonio – The merchant whose love for his friend Bassanio prompts him to sign Shylock’s contract and almost lose his life. Antonio is something of a mercurial figure, often inexplicably melancholy and, as Shylock points out, possessed of an incorrigible dislike of Jews. Nonetheless, Antonio is beloved of his friends and proves merciful to Shylock, albeit with conditions.

 

Bassanio – A gentleman of Venice, and a kinsman and dear friend to Antonio. Bassanio’s love for the wealthy Portia leads him to borrow money from Shylock with Antonio as his guarantor. An ineffectual businessman, Bassanio proves himself a worthy suitor, correctly identifying the casket that contains Portia’s portrait.

 

Gratiano – A friend of Bassanio’s who accompanies him to Belmont. A coarse and garrulous young man, Gratiano is Shylock’s most vocal and insulting critic during the trial. While Bassanio courts Portia, Gratiano falls in love with and eventually weds Portia’s lady-in-waiting, Nerissa.

Jessica – Although she is Shylock’s daughter, Jessica hates life in her father’s house, and elopes with the young Christian gentleman, Lorenzo. The fate of her soul is often in doubt: the play’s characters wonder if her marriage can overcome the fact that she was born a Jew, and we wonder if her sale of a ring given to her father by her mother is excessively callous.

 

Lorenzo – A friend of Bassanio and Antonio, Lorenzo is in love with Shylock’s daughter, Jessica. He schemes to help Jessica escape from her father’s house, and he eventually elopes with her to Belmont.

 

Nerissa – Portia’s lady-in-waiting and confidante. She marries Gratiano and escorts Portia on Portia’s trip to Venice by disguising herself as her law clerk.

 

Launcelot Gobbo – Bassanio’s servant. A comical, clownish figure who is especially adept at making puns, Launcelot leaves Shylock’s service in order to work for Bassanio.

 

The Prince Of Morocco – A Moorish prince who seeks Portia’s hand in marriage. The prince of Morocco asks Portia to ignore his dark countenance and seeks to win her by picking one of the three caskets. Certain that the caskets reflect Portia’s beauty and stature, the prince of Morocco picks the gold chest, which proves to be incorrect.

 

The Prince Of Arragon – An arrogant Spanish nobleman who also attempts to win Portia’s hand by picking a casket. Like the prince of Morocco, however, the prince of Arragon chooses unwisely. He picks the silver casket, which gives him a message calling him an idiot instead of Portia’s hand.

 

Salarino – A Venetian gentleman, and friend to Antonio, Bassanio, and Lorenzo. Salarino escorts the newlyweds Jessica and Lorenzo to Belmont, and returns with Bassanio and Gratiano for Antonio’s trial. He is often almost indistinguishable from his companion Solanio.

Solanio – A Venetian gentleman, and frequent counterpart to Salarino.

 

The Duke Of Venice – The ruler of Venice, who presides over Antonio’s trial. Although a powerful man, the duke’s state is built on respect for the law, and he is unable to help Antonio.

 

Old Gobbo – Launcelot’s father, also a servant in Venice.

 

Tubal – A Jew in Venice, and one of Shylock’s friends.

 

Doctor Bellario – A wealthy Paduan lawyer and Portia’s cousin. Doctor Bellario never appears in the play, but he gives Portia’s servant the letters of introduction needed for her to make her appearance in court.

 

Balthasar – Portia’s servant, whom she dispatches to get the appropriate materials from Doctor Bellario.

11. Macbeth Summary & Characters

Macbeth Summary

 

Three witches tell the Scottish general Macbeth that he will be King of Scotland. Encouraged by his wife, Macbeth kills the king, becomes the new king, and kills more people out of paranoia. Civil war erupts to overthrow Macbeth, resulting in more death.

Act I

On a bleak Scottish moorland, Macbeth and Banquo, two of King Duncan’s generals, discover three strange women (witches). The witches prophesy that Macbeth will be promoted twice: to Thane of Cawdor (a rank of the aristocracy bestowed by grateful kings) and King of Scotland. Banquo’s descendants will be kings, but Banquo isn’t promised any kingdom himself. The generals want to hear more, but the “weird sisters” disappear.

Soon afterwards, King Duncan names Macbeth Thane of Cawdor as a reward for his success in the recent battles. The promotion seems to support the prophecy. The King then proposes to make a brief visit that night to Macbeth’s castle at Inverness. Lady Macbeth receives news from her husband about the prophecy and his new title. She vows to help him become king by whatever means are necessary (*ominous music*).

Act II

Macbeth returns to his castle, followed almost immediately by King Duncan. The Macbeths plot together to kill Duncan and wait until everyone is asleep. At the appointed time, Lady Macbeth gives the guards drugged wine so Macbeth can enter and kill the King. He regrets this almost immediately, but his wife reassures him. She leaves the bloody daggers by the dead king just before Macduff, a nobleman, arrives. When Macduff discovers the murder, Macbeth kills the drunken guards in a show of rage and retribution. Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, flee, fearing for their own lives; but they are, nevertheless, blamed for the murder.

Act III

Macbeth becomes King of Scotland but is plagued by feelings of insecurity. He remembers the prophecy that Banquo’s descendants will inherit the throne and arranges for Banquo and his son Fleance to be killed. In the darkness, Banquo is murdered, but his son escapes the assassins. At his state banquet that night, Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo and worries the courtiers with his mad response. Lady Macbeth dismisses the court and unsuccessfully tries to calm her husband.

Act IV

Macbeth seeks out the witches who say that he will be safe until a local wood, Birnam Wood, marches into battle against him. He also need not fear anyone born of woman (that sounds secure, no loop-holes here). They also prophesy that the Scottish succession will still come from Banquo’s son. Macbeth embarks on a reign of terror, slaughtering many, including Macduff’s family. Macduff had gone to seek Malcolm (one of Duncan’s sons who fled) at the court of the English king. Malcolm is young and unsure of himself, but Macduff, pained with grief, persuades him to lead an army against Macbeth.

Act V

Macbeth feels safe in his remote castle at Dunsinane until he is told that Birnam Wood is moving towards him. Malcolm’s army is carrying branches from the forest as camouflage for their assault on Macbeth’s stronghold. Meanwhile, an overwrought and conscience-ridden Lady Macbeth walks in her sleep and tells her secrets to her doctor. She commits suicide. As the final battle commences, Macbeth hears of Lady Macbeth’s suicide and mourns.

In the midst of a losing battle, Macduff challenges Macbeth. Macbeth learns Macduff is the child of a caesarean birth (loophole!), realises he is doomed, and submits to his enemy. Macduff triumphs and brings the head of the traitor Macbeth to Malcolm. Malcolm declares peace and goes to Scone to be crowned king.

Character List

 

 

CHARACTERS CHARACTER LIST

Macbeth – Macbeth is a Scottish general and the thane of Glamis who is led to wicked thoughts by the prophecies of the three witches, especially after their prophecy that he will be made thane of Cawdor comes true. Macbeth is a brave soldier and a powerful man, but he is not a virtuous one. He is easily tempted into murder to fulfill his ambitions to the throne, and once he commits his first crime and is crowned King of Scotland, he embarks on further atrocities with increasing ease. Ultimately, Macbeth proves himself better suited to the battlefield than to political intrigue, because he lacks the skills necessary to rule without being a tyrant. His response to every problem is violence and murder. Unlike Shakespeare’s great villains, such as Iago in Othello and Richard III in Richard III, Macbeth is never comfortable in his role as a criminal. He is unable to bear the psychological consequences of his atrocities.

 

Lady Macbeth –  Macbeth’s wife, a deeply ambitious woman who lusts for power and position. Early in the play she seems to be the stronger and more ruthless of the two, as she urges her husband to kill Duncan and seize the crown. After the bloodshed begins, however, Lady Macbeth falls victim to guilt and madness to an even greater degree than her husband. Her conscience affects her to such an extent that she eventually commits suicide. Interestingly, she and Macbeth are presented as being deeply in love, and many of Lady Macbeth’s speeches imply that her influence over her husband is primarily sexual. Their joint alienation from the world, occasioned by their partnership in crime, seems to strengthen the attachment that they feel to each another.

 

The Three Witches –  Three “black and midnight hags” who plot mischief against Macbeth using charms, spells, and prophecies. Their predictions prompt him to murder Duncan, to order the deaths of Banquo and his son, and to blindly believe in his own immortality. The play leaves the witches’ true identity unclear—aside from the fact that they are servants of Hecate, we know little about their place in the cosmos. In some ways they resemble the mythological Fates, who impersonally weave the threads of human destiny. They clearly take a perverse delight in using their knowledge of the future to toy with and destroy human beings.

 

Banquo – The brave, noble general whose children, according to the witches’ prophecy, will inherit the Scottish throne. Like Macbeth, Banquo thinks ambitious thoughts, but he does not translate those thoughts into action. In a sense, Banquo’s character stands as a rebuke to Macbeth, since he represents the path Macbeth chose not to take: a path in which ambition need not lead to betrayal and murder. Appropriately, then, it is Banquo’s ghost—and not Duncan’s—that haunts Macbeth. In addition to embodying Macbeth’s guilt for killing Banquo, the ghost also reminds Macbeth that he did not emulate Banquo’s reaction to the witches’ prophecy.

 

King Duncan – The good King of Scotland whom Macbeth, in his ambition for the crown, murders. Duncan is the model of a virtuous, benevolent, and farsighted ruler. His death symbolizes the destruction of an order in Scotland that can be restored only when Duncan’s line, in the person of Malcolm, once more occupies the throne.

 

Macduff – A Scottish nobleman hostile to Macbeth’s kingship from the start. He eventually becomes a leader of the crusade to unseat Macbeth. The crusade’s mission is to place the rightful king, Malcolm, on the throne, but Macduff also desires vengeance for Macbeth’s murder of Macduff’s wife and young son.

 

Malcolm – The son of Duncan, whose restoration to the throne signals Scotland’s return to order following Macbeth’s reign of terror. Malcolm becomes a serious challenge to Macbeth with Macduff’s aid (and the support of England). Prior to this, he appears weak and uncertain of his own power, as when he and Donalbain flee Scotland after their father’s murder.

 

Hecate – The goddess of witchcraft, who helps the three witches work their mischief on Macbeth.

 

Fleance – Banquo’s son, who survives Macbeth’s attempt to murder him. At the end of the play, Fleance’s whereabouts are unknown. Presumably, he may come to rule Scotland, fulfilling the witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s sons will sit on the Scottish throne.

 

Lennox – A Scottish nobleman.

 

Ross – A Scottish nobleman.

 

The Murderers –  A group of ruffians conscripted by Macbeth to murder Banquo, Fleance (whom they fail to kill), and Macduff’s wife and children.

 

Porter – The drunken doorman of Macbeth’s castle.

 

Lady Macduff –  Macduff’s wife. The scene in her castle provides our only glimpse of a domestic realm other than that of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. She and her home serve as contrasts to Lady Macbeth and the hellish world of Inverness.

Donalbain –  Duncan’s son and Malcolm’s younger brother.

10. Julius Caesar Summary

Julius Caesar Summary

Jealous conspirators convince Caesar’s friend Brutus to join their assassination plot against Caesar. To stop Caesar from gaining too much power, Brutus and the conspirators kill him on the Ides of March. Mark Antony drives the conspirators out of Rome and fights them in a battle. Brutus and his friend Cassius lose and kill themselves, leaving Antony to rule in Rome.

Act I

The tribunes of Rome, Marullus and Flavius, break up a gathering of citizens who want to celebrate Julius Caesar’s triumphant return from war. The victory is marked by public games in which Caesar’s protégé, Mark Antony, takes part. On his way to the arena, Caesar is stopped by a stranger who warns him that he should ‘Beware the Ides [15th] of March.’

Fellow senators, Caius Cassius and Marcus Brutus, are suspicious of Caesar’s reactions to the power he holds in the Republic. They fear he will accept offers to become Emperor. He has been gaining a lot of power recently and people treat him like a god. Cassius, a successful general himself, is jealous of Caesar. Brutus has a more balanced view of the political position. The conspirator Casca enters and tells Brutus of a ceremony held by the plebeians. They offered Caesar a crown three times, and he refused it every time. But the conspirators are still wary of his aspirations.

Act II

Cassius, Casca, and their allies plant false documents to manipulate Brutus to join their cause to remove Caesar. After doing so, they visit Brutus at night in his home to persuade him of their views. There they plan Caesar’s death. Brutus is troubled but refuses to confide in his devoted wife, Portia. On 15 March, Caesar’s wife, Calpurnia, urges him not to go to the Senate. She has had visionary dreams and fears the portents of the overnight storms.

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.

— JULIUS CAESAR, ACT 1 SCENE 2

Act III 

Caesar is nevertheless persuaded by flattery to go to the Capitol. At the Capitol, he is stabbed by each conspirator in turn. As Brutus gives the final blow, Caesar utters the famous phrase:

Et tu, Brute?

— JULIUS CAESAR, ACT 3 SCENE 1

Act III

Against Cassius’s advice, Brutus allows Mark Antony to speak a funeral oration for Caesar in the market place. He is allowed under the condition that first Brutus must address the people to explain the conspirators’ reasons and their fears for Caesar’s ambition. After Brutus speaks, the crowd becomes calm and supports his cause. However, Antony, in his speech, questions the motives of the conspirators and reminds the crowd of Caesar’s benevolent actions and of his refusal to accept the crown. He also reads them Caesar’s will, in which Caesar leaves public land and money to each Roman citizen. Antony’s speech stirs the crowd into a murderous riot, and the conspirators are forced to flee from the city.

Act IV

Brutus and Cassius gather an army in Northern Greece and prepare to fight the forces led by Mark Antony. Antony has joined with Caesar’s great-nephew, Octavius, and with a man called Lepidus. Away from Rome, Brutus and Cassius are filled with doubts about the future and quarrel over funds for their soldiers’ pay. After making amends, they prepare to engage Antony’s army at Philippi, despite Cassius’ misgivings about the site. Brutus stoically receives news of his wife’s suicide in Rome. He then sees Caesar’s ghost as he tries to rest and is unable to sleep on the eve of the conflict.

Men at some time are masters of their fates.

— JULIUS CAESAR, ACT 1 SCENE 2

Act V

In the battle, the Republicans (led by Brutus) appear to be winning at first. But when Cassius’ messenger’s horse seems to be overtaken by the enemy, Cassius fears the worst and gets his servant to help him to a quick death. After finding Cassius’s body, Brutus commits suicide. He believes this to be the only honourable option left to him. Antony, triumphant on the battlefield, praises Brutus as ‘the noblest Roman of them all’ and orders a formal funeral before he and Octavius return to rule in Rome.

 

CHARACTERS

Brutus – A supporter of the republic who believes strongly in a government guided by the votes of senators. While Brutus loves Caesar as a friend, he opposes the ascension of any single man to the position of dictator, and he fears that Caesar aspires to such power. Brutus’s inflexible sense of honor makes it easy for Caesar’s enemies to manipulate him into believing that Caesar must die in order to preserve the republic. While the other conspirators act out of envy and rivalry, only Brutus truly believes that Caesar’s death will benefit Rome. Unlike Caesar, Brutus is able to separate completely his public life from his private life; by giving priority to matters of state, he epitomizes Roman virtue. Torn between his loyalty to Caesar and his allegiance to the state, Brutus becomes the tragic hero of the play.

Julius Caesar –  A great Roman general and senator, recently returned to Rome in triumph after a successful military campaign. While his good friend Brutus worries that Caesar may aspire to dictatorship over the Roman republic, Caesar seems to show no such inclination, declining the crown several times. Yet while Caesar may not be unduly power-hungry, he does possess his share of flaws. He is unable to separate his public life from his private life, and, seduced by the populace’s increasing idealization and idolization of his image, he ignores ill omens and threats against his life, believing himself as eternal as the North Star.

Antony – A friend of Caesar. Antony claims allegiance to Brutus and the conspirators after Caesar’s death in order to save his own life. Later, however, when speaking a funeral oration over Caesar’s body, he spectacularly persuades the audience to withdraw its support of Brutus and instead condemn him as a traitor. With tears on his cheeks and Caesar’s will in his hand, Antony engages masterful rhetoric to stir the crowd to revolt against the conspirators. Antony’s desire to exclude Lepidus from the power that Antony and Octavius intend to share hints at his own ambitious nature.

Cassius – A talented general and longtime acquaintance of Caesar. Cassius dislikes the fact that Caesar has become godlike in the eyes of the Romans. He slyly leads Brutus to believe that Caesar has become too powerful and must die, finally converting Brutus to his cause by sending him forged letters claiming that the Roman people support the death of Caesar. Impulsive and unscrupulous, Cassius harbors no illusions about the way the political world works. A shrewd opportunist, he proves successful but lacks integrity.

Octavius – Caesar’s adopted son and appointed successor. Octavius, who had been traveling abroad, returns after Caesar’s death; he then joins with Antony and sets off to fight Cassius and Brutus. Antony tries to control Octavius’s movements, but Octavius follows his adopted father’s example and emerges as the authoritative figure, paving the way for his eventual seizure of the reins of Roman government.

Casca – A public figure opposed to Caesar’s rise to power. Casca relates to Cassius and Brutus how Antony offered the crown to Caesar three times and how each time Caesar declined it. He believes, however, that Caesar is the consummate actor, lulling the populace into believing that he has no personal ambition.

Calpurnia –  Caesar’s wife. Calpurnia invests great authority in omens and portents. She warns Caesar against going to the Senate on the Ides of March, since she has had terrible nightmares and heard reports of many bad omens. Nevertheless, Caesar’s ambition ultimately causes him to disregard her advice.

Portia – Brutus’s wife; the daughter of a noble Roman who took sides against Caesar. Portia, accustomed to being Brutus’s confidante, is upset to find him so reluctant to speak his mind when she finds him troubled. Brutus later hears that Portia has killed herself out of grief that Antony and Octavius have become so powerful.

Flavius – A tribune (an official elected by the people to protect their rights). Flavius condemns the plebeians for their fickleness in cheering Caesar, when once they cheered for Caesar’s enemy Pompey. Flavius is punished along with Murellus for removing the decorations from Caesar’s statues during Caesar’s triumphal parade.

Cicero – A Roman senator renowned for his oratorical skill. Cicero speaks at Caesar’s triumphal parade. He later dies at the order of Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus.

Lepidus – The third member of Antony and Octavius’s coalition. Though Antony has a low opinion of Lepidus, Octavius trusts his loyalty.

Murellus – Like Flavius, a tribune who condemns the plebeians for their fickleness in cheering Caesar, when once they cheered for Caesar’s enemy Pompey. Murellus and Flavius are punished for removing the decorations from Caesar’s statues during Caesar’s triumphal parade.

Decius – A member of the conspiracy. Decius convinces Caesar that Calpurnia misinterpreted her dire nightmares and that, in fact, no danger awaits him at the Senate. Decius leads Caesar right into the hands of the conspirators.

BBA English – Answers to important questions

Answers to important questions

Ls-4. My Last Duchess

12. Who is the speaker in my las duches ?   Ans: The speaker of “My Last Duchess” is an Italian duke, the Duke of Ferrara. He’s showing a picture of his late wife, the last duchess, to an emissary of a Count, whose daughter the Duke wishes to.
13. Describe the behavior of the last duchess. Ans: The duke wants to justify killing the young duchess, but he instead manages to show her as a sweet and loving person whom we might enjoy meeting if she were still alive.
14. How is power presented in “My Last Duchess”? Ans: “My Last Duchess” is about the power that the speaker, a Duke, had and still has over his dead wife, the eponymous Duchess. The Duke keeps a painting of the Duchess behind a curtain which “none

Ls-8. The Verger

25. What was Albert Foreman’s profession? Ans: Albert foreman was the Verger of St. Peter’s church, Neville Square. He had been working as a verger for 16 years. He started his career as a page boy. Then he became first footman from the fourth and then worked as a butler in aristocratic houses. Foreman took pride in being Verger of the sophisticated church, St. Peter’s, Neville Square.
26. Why does the new vicar want Foreman to leave his position? Ans:The new vicar says that a reputed church like St. Peter’s cannot have an illiterate verger. He says that they can’t take the risk of some accident that might happen because of verger’s ignorance. It’s the matter of church’s reputation. So the vicar wants Foreman to learn to read and write. But as Foreman is reluctant to learn, the vicar has asked him to leave his position. He strongly believes that an illiterate cannot be a verger of a reputed church.
27. How does Foreman expand his business?Ans:  Foreman starts his life as a tobacconist after he gets relieved as a verger. In a year, he is able to make good money and he starts another shop in another lane. He appoints a manger there. Then he thinks that he can run more shops if he is able to run more than one. So, whenever he finds time, he walks the long lanes of London searching a street where there is no tobacco shop. Then he starts another shop there. This way, he is able to expand his business. He becomes the owner of ten shops in a span of ten years.

 

Ls-9. A Willing Slave

28. What type of commitment does Thayi shows towards her husband? Ans:Thayi’s husband for most of her marriage has left her. Yet when he returns she accepts his arrival with open arms. Thayi is still committed to her husband despite the fact that he has abandoned her for so long. Thayi leaves her job as a servant to look after her husband which shows her commitment towards him. She feels that she must be there for him, even though her husband has not shown the same commitment to Thayi which she was showing him.
29. How does Mistress treat Thayi? Ans: Thayi was treated by her mistress may also be important. When Thayi was missing for three days rather than being concerned about Thayi’s well-being her mistress was more concerned about why she wasn’t shown up to perform her duties. At all stages the mistress of the house thinks only of herself.
30. Who is a willing slave? What was her work?Ans: Ayah/ Thayi is a willing slave. Ayah is known by no other name though she is serving the family for seventeen years. She maintains herself and her children by working in the employer’s family ‘for over twelve hours in the day’ getting ‘two meals a day, fifteen rupees a month and three saries a year’. She cheerfully performs, not only her job as Ayah for employer’s children, but also several self-imposed tasks, like keeping an eye on the home-tutor to ensure that he does not torture the children, and keeping watch over servants for which she is quite unpopular with them.

Ls-10. Julius Caesar

31. Who was Julius Caesar?Ans:Julius Caesar, was a Roman statesman and military general who played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. Thus, he became the most powerful man in the Roman Republic after the death of Pompey.
32. Who killed Caesar?Ans: The assassination of Julius Caesar, which occurred on this day in 44 B.C., known as the Ides of March, came about as a result of a conspiracy by as many 60 Roman senators. Led by Cassius and Marcus Brutus, they fatally stabbed Caesar in Rome, near the Theatre of Pompey.
33. What was the will of Caesar?Ans: Antony produces Caesar’s and descends from the pulpit to stand next to Caesar’s body. He describes Caesar’s horrible death and shows Caesar’s wounded body to the crowd. He then reads Caesar’s will, which bequeaths a sum of money to every citizen and orders that his private gardens be made public. The crowd becomes enraged that this generous man lies dead; calling Brutus and Cassius traitors, the masses set off to drive them from the city.

Ls-11. Macbeth

34. Describe the first meeting of Macbeth with the witches?

    Answer) The witches met Macbeth for the first time in the blasted heath when Macbeth and Banquo were coming back after crushing a rebellion led by the Thane of Cawdor and assisted by the King of Norway. The first witch hailed Macbeth as the Thane of Glamis. The second witch called him the Thane of Cawdor and the third witch hailed him as the future King. Then turning to Banquo, the witches said that Banquo would be lesser than Macbeth yet greater, not so happy yet much happier, and he would be the father of future kings. Macbeth was amazed and puzzled at the prophecies and wondered how he could be the king when Duncan was living and having two sons to succeed him to the throne.

35. “Macbeth is more guided by his wife and less by his ambition”–Do you support this statement? Give reasons.

    Answer) Though this is the general perception that Macbeth is more guided by his wife and less by his ambition, we think this statement is far away from the truth. If Macbeth did not have strong ambition within, his wife could not have instigated him to commit the murder of Duncan. In fact, Macbeth was planning so from the moment he was hailed by the witches as the King of Scotland. Later in the play Macbeth kills Banquo, Macduff’s family and other people without any instigation from Lady Macbeth. He is remorseless and remains self assured of his indestructibility. Therefore, though Lady Macbeth was responsible, it was Macbeth’s ambition which guided him throughout.

36. What role does the witches play in “Macbeth”?

    Answer) The witches play a very important role in “Macbeth”. Had they not been there, perhaps, Macbeth’s ambition of becoming the king would have remained suppressed in his heart. The witches act as a catalyst and increase Macbeth’s desire. It is because of the witches that Macbeth decides so early to plunge into criminality and realize his ambitions. The witches first make Macbeth hope, then give him the confidence only to lead him slowly and steadily towards his tragedy. But the witches cannot be held absolutely responsible for Macbeth’s fall. Unlike Banquo, Macbeth could not show the strength of character and falls prey to the dark desires of his mind.

 

Ls-12. Merchant of Venice

37. Where are Antonio and his friends? What does Antonio says about his sadness? Ans: Antonio and his friends are in a street in Venice. Antonio says that his sadness makes him depressed and dull. He further says that he is yet to learn about the origin and nature of his sadness.
38. Give the conditions to which Antonio is bound. How wise was Antonio to bind himself to such conditions?

    Ans: Antonio is bound to a bond according to which if he fails to repay the amount in due time, Shylock will be entitled to take an exact pound of flesh from any part of Antonio’s body that he may wish. It was very unwise of Antonio to misjudge Shylock’s intentions and sign such a fatal bond.

39. What is the lottery of Portia’s destiny? How does it prevent her from the right of voluntary choosing? Ans: Lottery of Portia’s destiny refers to the lottery devised according to her deceased father’s will. According to the lottery, each suitor has to choose from amongst the three caskets of gold, silver and lead the one containing Portia’s portrait. The suitor who will make the correct choice will win Portia’s hand in marriage. The Lottery of caskets designed by her father, Thus prevents Portia from exercising her freedom of choice. The suitor, who will make the right choice will win her as wife.

 

Ls-13. As You Like It

40. Why does Oliver wish to see an end of Orlando ?Ans: Oliver suffers from avarice, malice and  jealousy, and hates his brother Orlando. Orlando is more popular and is loved by the people. His nobility and generosity are a threat to Oliver. Nothing would be better for Oliver than to see the death of  Olrlando at the wrestling match.
41. How was the banished Duke and his followers live in the forest of Arden?Ans: in the forest of Arden the banished Duke and his followers lived a free and peaceful life. The life was more relaxing than the life of court. They spent their summer lying under the shade of the trees. They watched the playful sports of the forest-deer. When the cold winds of winter blew, the Duke would say that the chilling winds were his true counselors. They did not flatter, but represented his condition truly. He could draw lessons from nature and he found tongues in trees, books in flowing streams, sermons in stones and good in everything.
42. Who were the tow participants in the wrestling match? Whom did Celia and Rosalind try to dissuade? What was the result?Ans: The two participants in the wrestling match were an inexperienced young man called Orlando and an experienced wrestler.Celia and Rosalind tried to dissuade Orlando from the wrestling match.Though Rosalind and Celia requested Orlando not to take part in the wrestling match, he refused to listen to them. He argued that he would not feel ashamed if he was defeated by his antagonist and if he would die there was none to lament for his death. But ultimately making everyone surprised, the young man performed wonders. He defeated his opponent in such a way that he could not even talk for sometime. Rosalind gave his the chain from her neck in recognition of his success.

 

UNIT I

SECTION A (10*2=20M)

 

Ls-1 . How to be a Doctor

1. What progress does Stephen Leacock tells about science?
2. What were the diseases which were eradicated 100 years ago?
3. How the fever was cured 70 years ago?
4. How much time it takes to become a Doctor?

Ls-2. My Visions for India

5. What was Abdul Kalam’s first vision?
6. What was Abdul Kalam’s Second vision?
7. What did Abdul Kalam invent on the request of an Orthopedic Surgeon?

Ls-3. Woman, not the weaker sex

8. What are the noble qualities of women?
9. Is it right to say that women are the weaker sex?
10. Why didn’t women know their traits and strengths?
11. What is the solution to make women powerful?

Ls-5. The Toys

15. Why did the father scold his son?
16. Where was the son weeping?
17. What comforted the child?
18. Why did the father do all night ?

Ls-6. I, too

19. Whose problems and difficulties were discussed in Poem ‘I Too’?
20. Where should the African American eat earlier?
21. Who will recognize the beauty and vitality of Blacks?

Ls-7. The Best Investment I ever made

22. The narrator observed the man and described him in vivid terms. How did he describe him?
23. What did Cronin learn about the man after questioning him further?
24. Why does the author say that it was the best investment he had ever made?

SECTION B (5*16=80M) (Answers will be in the Lesson wise Summarys )

Unit-1

1. What should be done immediately to make women equal and powerful?  https://degmateng.wordpress.com/2020/03/03/summary-ls-2-women-not-the-weaker-sex-mk-gandhi/
2. Explain in detail Abdul Kalam visions. https://degmateng.wordpress.com/2020/03/03/1321/
3. Summarize Stephen Leacock’s how to be a Doctor. https://degmateng.wordpress.com/2020/03/03/summary-ls-1-how-to-be-a-doctor-stephen-leacocks/

Unit-2

4. How did Coventry Patmore explain the mercy of God through an incident?
5. Explain Langston Hughes’s poem ‘I Too’.
6. How does Browning show the relationships between men and women in `My Last Duchess?`

Unit-3

7. Why does A.J.Cronin describe his investment ‘the best’?  https://degmateng.wordpress.com/2020/03/21/7-the-best-investment-i-ever-made/
8. What was Albert Foreman’s profession? What did Foreman wanted to become? Illistrate the Verger story.                      https://degmateng.wordpress.com/2020/03/21/8-the-verger-somerset-maughams-summary/
9. Explain how the Ayya served in the master’s house? What did she do with her salary and why did she went with her husband.  https://degmateng.wordpress.com/2020/03/21/9-a-willing-slave-summary/

Unit-4

10. Give the Characteristic sketch of Julius Caesar and Brutus  https://degmateng.wordpress.com/2020/03/21/10-julius-caesar-summary/
11. Briefly explain what happens in Julius Caesar?  https://degmateng.wordpress.com/2020/03/21/10-julius-caesar-summary/
12. Summarize the play Macbeth.    https://degmateng.wordpress.com/2020/03/21/11-macbeth-summary-characters/
13. Give the Characteristic sketch of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.  https://degmateng.wordpress.com/2020/03/21/11-macbeth-summary-characters/

Unit-5

14. Explain the play ‘Merchant of Venice’ of william Shakespeare.  https://degmateng.wordpress.com/2020/03/21/12-the-merchant-of-venice-summary-characters/
15. Briefly explain the characters of Antonio, Bassanio and Portia. https://degmateng.wordpress.com/2020/03/21/12-the-merchant-of-venice-summary-characters/
16. Describe the play ‘As you Like it’.  https://degmateng.wordpress.com/2020/03/21/13-as-you-like-it-summary-characters/
17. Explain Rosalind, Orlando and Oliver from the play As you like it. https://degmateng.wordpress.com/2020/03/21/13-as-you-like-it-summary-characters/

BBA English Semester -4 Important Questions

BBA English Semester -4

Important Questions

UNIT I

SECTION A (10*2=20M)

 

Ls-1 . How to be a Doctor

1. What progress does Stephen Leacock tells about science?
2. What were the diseases which were eradicated 100 years ago?
3. How the fever was cured 70 years ago?
4. How much time it takes to become a Doctor?

Ls-2. My Visions for India

5. What was Abdul Kalam’s first vision?
6. What was Abdul Kalam’s Second vision?
7. What did Abdul Kalam invent on the request of an Orthopedic Surgeon?

Ls-3. Woman, not the weaker sex

8. What are the noble qualities of women?
9. Is it right to say that women are the weaker sex?
10. Why didn’t women know their traits and strengths?
11. What is the solution to make women powerful?

Ls-4. My Last Duchess

12. Who is the speaker in my las ducheas
13. Describe the behavior of the last duchess.
14. How is power presented in “My Last Duchess”?

Ls-5. The Toys

15. Why did the father scold his son?
16. Where was the son weeping?
17. What comforted the child?
18. Why did the father do all night ?

Ls-6. I, too

19. Whose problems and difficulties were discussed in Poem ‘I Too’?
20. Where should the African American eat earlier?
21. Who will recognize the beauty and vitality of Blacks?

Ls-7. The Best Investment I ever made

22. The narrator observed the man and described him in vivid terms. How did he describe him?
23. What did Cronin learn about the man after questioning him further?
24. Why does the author say that it was the best investment he had ever made?

Ls-8. The Verger

25. What was Albert Foreman’s profession?
26. Why does the new vicar want Foreman to leave his position?
27. How does Foreman expand his business?

 

Ls-9. A Willing Slave

28. What type of commitment does Thayi shows towards her husband?
29. How does Mistress treat Thayi?
30. Who is a willing slave? What was her work?

Ls-10. Julius Caesar

31. Who was Julius Caesar?
32. Who killed Caesar?
33. What was the will of Caesar?

Ls-11. Macbeth

34. Describe the first meeting of Macbeth with the witches?
35. “Macbeth is more guided by his wife and less by his ambition”–Do you support this statement? Give reasons.
36. What role does the witches play in “Macbeth”?

 

Ls-12. Merchant of Venice

37. Where are Antonio and his friends? What does Antonio says about his sadness?
38. Give the conditions to which Antonio is bound. How wise was Antonio to bind himself to such conditions?
39. What is the lottery of Portia’s destiny? How does it prevent her from the right of voluntary choosing?

 

Ls-13. As You Like It

 

40. Why does Oliver wish to see an end of Orlando ?
41. How was the banished Duke and his followers live in the forest of Arden?
42. Who were the tow participants in the wrestling match? Whom did Celia and Rosalind try to dissuade? What was the result?

 

SECTION B (5*16=80M)

Unit-1

1. What should be done immediately to make women equal and powerful?
2. Explain in detail Abdul Kalam visions.
3. Summarize Stephen Leacock’s how to be a Doctor.

Unit-2

4. How did Coventry Patmore explain the mercy of God through an incident?
5. Explain Langston Hughes’s poem ‘I Too’.
6. How does Browning show the relationships between men and women in `My Last Duchess?`

Unit-3

7. Why does A.J.Cronin describe his investment ‘the best’?
8. What was Albert Foreman’s profession? What did Foreman wanted to become? Illistrate the Verger story.
9. Explain how the Ayya served in the master’s house? What did she do with her salary and why did she went with her husband.

Unit-4

10. Give the Characteristic sketch of Julius Caesar and Brutus
11. Briefly explain what happens in Julius Caesar?
12. Summarize the play Macbeth.
13. Give the Characteristic sketch of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

Unit-5

14. Explain the play ‘Merchant of Venice’ of william Shakespeare.
15. Briefly explain the characters of Antonio, Bassanio and Portia.
16. Describe the play ‘As you Like it’.
17. Explain Rosalind, Orlando and Oliver from the play As you like it.