ICSE Class 9 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 1, Scene 2 Important Question Answers
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Related:
- Julius Caesar Act 1, Scene 2 Summary, Explanation
- Julius Caesar Act 1, Scene 2 Character Sketch
- ICSE Class 9 English Lesson Notes
ICSE Class 9 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 1, Scene 2 Textbook Questions
ASSIGNMENTS
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. Caesar dismissed the soothsayer when he warned him of the “ides of March” as a
(a) a daydreamer
(b) an ignorant
(c) a superstitious
(d) a feeble creature
Ans. (a) a daydreamer
2. What would happen when Antony would touch Calpurnia during the traditional footrace?
(a) She would be cured of insomnia
(b) She would be cured of epilepsy
(c) She would be cured of infertility
(d) She would be cured of timidity
Ans. (c) She would be cured of infertility
3. In this scene who has been compared to a rider of a stubborn horse?
(a) Caesar
(b) Cassius
(c) Brutus
(d) Casca
Ans. (c) Brutus
4. According to Brutus, which trait of Antony does he lack?
(a) Bravery
(b) Liveliness
(c) Tactfullness
(d) None of these
Ans. (b) Liveliness
5. What did Cassius accuse Brutus of in this scene?
(a) Being unfriendly towards him
(b) Being too selfish
(c) Being too busy
(d) Being irrational
Ans. (a) Being unfriendly towards him
6. What reason did Brutus give for being unfriendly towards Cassius?
(a) Triumphant return of Caesar
(b) Fear of losing his freedom
(c) His own conflicting emotions
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c) His own conflicting emotions
7. What is meant by ‘age’s yoke’ as spoken by Cassius?
(a) Oppression under Caesar’s rule
(b) The age of burden under monarchists
(c) The era of end of republicanism
(d) None of the above
Ans. (a) Oppression under Caesar’s rule
8. What does Cassius say to manipulate Brutus to his side?
(a) Brutus is God-like
(b) Brutus cannot see his own worthiness
(c) Brutus is more noble than Caesar
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) Brutus cannot see his own worthiness
9. To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.’ What is meant by rout and whom does it hold dangerous?
(a) Group; Caesar
(b) Enemy; Brutus
(c) Mob; Cassius
(d) Tribunes; Cassius
Ans. (c) Mob; Cassius
10. For whom does Brutus say, I love him well”?
(a) Antony
(b) Casca
(c) Cassius
(d) Caesar
Ans. (d) Caesar
11. Which virtue’ of Brutus is Cassius talking about in this scene?
(a) He loves Caesar more than himself
(b) He loves honour more than he fears of death
(c) He prefers death more than money
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (b) He loves honour more than he fears of death
12. Cassius compares himself to which ancestor of his when he talks about saving Caesar from drowning?
(a) Aeneas
(b) Prometheus
(c) Achilles
(d) Aphrodite
Ans. (a) Aeneas
13. According to Cassius, Caesar is mortal because he is subject to
(a) drowning and fever
(b) sickness and death
(c) temptation and fear
(d) superstition and fate
Ans. (a) drowning and fever
14. What does Cassius convince Brutus of by giving examples of Caesar’s drowning and sickness episodes?
(a) Caesar is brave and sturdy
(b) Caesar is prone to diseases
(c) Caesar is not liked by people
(d) Caesar is weak and vulnerable
Ans. (d) Caesar is weak and vulnerable
15. Which trait of Cassius’ personality is revealed in this scene?
(a) Clever opportunistic
(b) Clever Manipulator
(c) Fair idealistic
(d) Passionate politician
Ans. (b) Clever Manipulator
16. Which characteristic trait of Brutus is revealed when he is confronted with making moral choices?
(a) Slow, confused idealist
(b) Quick, active thinker
(c) Slow, deliberate thinker
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (c) Slow, deliberate thinker
17. Cassius says that Rome has space only for one great man. Who is the man Cassius is referring to?
(a) Brutus
(b) Caesar
(c) Antony
(d) Octavius
Ans. (b) Caesar
18. What does Caesar think about Cassius in this scene?
(a) He thinks too much and is dangerous
(b) He is too thin to be a capable warrior
(c) He is too passive to be given a task
(d) He is too passive to be a warrior
Ans. (a) He thinks too much and is dangerous
19. For whom does Caesar say that ‘Seldom he smiles’?
(a) Antony
(b) Brutus
(c) Cassius
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (c) Cassius
20. Casca’s description of Caesar declining the crown thrice, tells us which characteristic trait of Casca?
(a) He was a gossip-monger
(b) He had an irrational prejudice against Caesar
(c) He had a favourable impression about Caesar
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) He had an irrational prejudice against Caesar
21. What does Cassius’ soliloquy at the end of this scene predict?
(a) Brutus’ will not join them
(b) Caesar would quell their conspiracy
(c) Troublesome times ahead
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (c) Troublesome times ahead
CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Caesar
Forget not, in your speed, Antonius,
To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say,
The barren, touched in this holy chase,
Shake off their sterile curse.
Antony
I shall remember;
When Caesar says “Do this,” it is perform’d.
Caesar
Set on; and leave no ceremony out.
Soothsayer
Caesar!
(i) Where does the scene take place? Why have the characters, referred to in the extract, gone there?
Ans. The scene takes place in a public street in Rome during the feast of Lupercal. The characters have gathered there to celebrate this ancient Roman festival, which involves a traditional footrace.
(ii) What is the “holy chase”? Who is assigned to take the “holy chase”? What is its significance?
Ans. The ‘holy chase’ is the traditional footrace that is part of the Lupercal festival. Antony is assigned to run in this race. Its significance, in the context of the play, is that it is believed to cure women of infertility. When Antony, a participant in the race, touches Calpurnia, she is expected to be cured of her inability to have children.
(iii) What instructions did Caesar give to Calpurnia earlier regarding the holy chase? Which characteristic trait of Caesar is revealed by his instructions?
Ans. Caesar instructs his wife, Calpurnia, to ‘stand you directly in Antonius’ way’ so that he can touch her during the race. This instruction reveals that Caesar is superstitious. He believes in the Roman traditions and rituals that claim to cure infertility, despite his public image of being a rational and all-powerful leader.
(iv) Give the meaning of:
(a) Shake off their sterile curse
Ans. Shake off their sterile curse: This phrase means to get rid of their inability to have children. ‘Sterile curse’ refers to the perceived curse or misfortune of being infertile, which the ritual is supposed to remove.
(b) “Do this”, it is perform’d.
Ans. ‘Do this’, it is perform’d: This phrase, spoken by Antony, shows his absolute obedience and loyalty to Caesar. It means that anything Caesar commands will be done immediately and without question.
(v) According to the extract, explain the type of relationship that existed between Caesar and Antony.
Ans. The extract reveals that the relationship between Caesar and Antony is one of absolute loyalty and devotion. Antony’s line, “When Caesar says ‘Do this,’ it is perform’d”, shows that he is completely obedient and acts as a faithful servant to Caesar. Antony’s willingness to perform this specific task for Calpurnia, as well as his general attitude, demonstrates his deep respect and dedication to Caesar.
2. Soothsayer
Beware the ides of March.
Caesar
What man is that?
Brutus
A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
Caesar
Set him before me; let me see his face.
Cassius
Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
(i) What is meant by “Beware the ides of March”? What is its significance in the play, Julius Caesar?
Ans. ‘Beware the ides of March’ is a famous line that means to be careful on March 15th. In the play, this warning from the soothsayer is a major example of foreshadowing. It hints that something terrible will happen to Caesar on that specific date. Its significance is that it directly points to the day of Caesar’s assassination and sets a sense of impending doom for the audience.
(ii) What was Caesar’s reaction to the soothsayer’s warning? What light does his reaction throw on Caesar’s character?
Ans. Caesar’s initial reaction to the warning is one of dismissal and curiosity. He asks, ‘What man is that?’ to identify the person who called out to him. Once the soothsayer is brought before him, Caesar listens but then confidently dismisses him as a ‘dreamer’. This reaction reveals Caesar’s hubris, which is his excessive pride or self-confidence and overconfidence. He believes he is above such superstitious warnings and that his power and destiny are not subject to fate.
(iii) What, in your opinion, is the soothsayer’s motive in warning Caesar to “beware the ides of March”? Which theme in the play is revealed through soothsayer’s warning and Caesar’s denial of it?
Ans. In my opinion, the soothsayer’s motive is to give a genuine warning to Caesar out of a sense of public duty or perhaps a supernatural intuition. He isn’t trying to manipulate Caesar but simply to inform him of a coming danger. This interaction reveals the central theme of fate versus free will. The soothsayer’s warning represents fate, suggesting that Caesar’s destiny is already predetermined. Caesar’s defiant dismissal of the warning, however, represents his belief in free will, that he is the master of his own destiny and can control events through his own actions and will.
(iv) Why does Caesar want the soothsayer to look at him? What does Caesar think of the soothsayer?
Ans. Caesar wants the soothsayer to look at him to assess the man himself, perhaps believing that he can judge the validity of the warning by looking into the man’s eyes. However, as noted before, Caesar ultimately thinks the soothsayer is a ‘dreamer’,a foolish, impractical person whose warnings are not to be taken seriously. This shows Caesar’s contempt for those who operate on instinct or superstition rather than logic and power.
(v) Give two other examples of warning about the danger which is in store for Caesar.
Ans. First warning that foreshadows Caesar’s death was Calpurnia’s dream. She dreams that Caesar’s statue is spouting blood from a hundred spouts, and many Romans are bathing their hands in it. She sees this as a terrible omen and begs Caesar not to go to the Capitol. Other warning that foreshadows Caesar’s death was Artemidorus’s letter: He writes a letter to Caesar listing the names of the conspirators and warning him of their plot. He tries to give the letter to Caesar on the way to the Capitol, but Caesar refuses to read it, stating that his personal concerns come last.
3. Cassius
Brutus, I do observe you now of late:
I have not from your eyes that gentleness
And show of love as I was wont to have.
You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
Over your friend that loves you.
Brutus
Be not deceiv’d if I have veil’d my look,
I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myself. Vexed I am
Of late with passions of some difference,
Conceptions only proper to myself,
Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviours;
(i) Where are Brutus and Cassius at this time? What does Cassius observe about Brutus?
Ans. Brutus and Cassius are in a public street in Rome, having just watched Caesar pass by. Cassius has observed that Brutus seems distant and not as friendly as he used to be. He notes a lack of ‘gentleness’ and ‘show of love’ in Brutus’s eyes, suggesting that Brutus is treating him like a stranger.
(ii) Why does Brutus not go along with Caesar to the games? With whom does Brutus contrast himself? How?
Ans. Brutus does not go to the games because he admits he is ‘not gamesome’ and lacks the ‘quick spirit’ of Antony. He contrasts himself with Antony, whom he sees as having a lively and quick-witted personality, a trait that he feels he lacks. This contrast reveals Brutus’s introspective and serious nature.
(iii) What does Cassius accuse Brutus of? What reply does Brutus give?
Ans. Cassius accuses Brutus of being unfriendly and too distant toward him. Brutus replies that Cassius should not be deceived, and that his troubled look and ‘soil’ on his behaviors are not because of his relationship with Cassius, but because of an internal conflict he is going through. He says that he is ‘with himself at war’.
(iv) Give the meaning of:
(a) You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand.
Ans. You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand: This means that you are acting too coldly and like a stranger toward me, your friend. The phrase implies a harsh and unfamiliar way of handling their relationship.
(b) “Vexed I am/Of late with passions of some difference.
Ans. Vexed I am / Of late with passions of some difference: This means that Brutus is currently bothered or troubled by conflicting emotions and thoughts that are unique to him and not known to others.
(v) What, do you think, is the motive of Cassius in professing friendship to Brutus? What type of a person is Cassius?
Ans. In professing friendship to Brutus, Cassius’s motive is manipulation. He is not simply concerned for Brutus’s well-being; he wants to use Brutus’s high status and public reputation to gain legitimacy for his plot against Caesar. Cassius knows that the Roman people will not support a conspiracy led by him alone, but they will follow noble Brutus. Therefore, he feigns concern and friendship to win Brutus over. Cassius is a clever and opportunistic manipulator. He is a keen observer of human nature and is able to exploit Brutus’s vulnerabilities, such as his patriotism and sense of honor, to achieve his own goals. He is driven by his intense dislike and jealousy of Caesar.
4. Brutus
What means this shouting? I do fear, the people
Choose Caesar for their king.
Cassius
Ay, do you fear it?
Then must I think you would not have it so.
Brutus
I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well.
(i) Where are Brutus and Cassius at this time? Why have they come together? Who are shouting?
Ans. At this point, Brutus and Cassius are in a public street in Rome, just after Caesar and his followers have passed. They have come together because Cassius deliberately stayed behind to have a private conversation with Brutus, with the goal of convincing him to join the conspiracy against Caesar. The people who are shouting are the commoners of Rome who are watching the Lupercal festival.
(ii) What reason does Brutus give here for the “shouting”? What was the real reason?
Ans. Brutus believes the shouting means that the Roman people are choosing Caesar to be their king, which he greatly fears. However, the real reason for the shouting, as explained later by Casca, is that the crowd is reacting to Mark Antony offering Caesar a crown three times, which Caesar refuses each time. The people cheer his refusal because they do not want a king.
(iii) Why was Brutus afraid that Caesar might become king? Why did he not want Caesar to become king?
Ans. Brutus is afraid of Caesar becoming king because he is a patriot who believes in the principles of the Roman Republic. The Republic, governed by elected officials, would be destroyed if it were to become a monarchy under a single ruler. Brutus fears that a king would gain absolute power, leading to tyranny and the loss of Roman liberty. He does not want Caesar to become king because it would betray the legacy of his ancestors, particularly Lucius Junius Brutus, who helped establish the Republic by overthrowing the last Roman king.
(iv) When Brutus says, “I would not Cassius; yet I love him well” he is undergoing a conflict of two emotions. What are they?
Ans. When Brutus says, ‘I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well’, he reveals his internal conflict between his love for Caesar as a friend and his love for Rome and its ideals. His two conflicting emotions are his personal affection and loyalty to Caesar versus his political principles and patriotism for the Republic. This struggle is at the core of his character.
(v) How did Cassius finally convince Brutus that Caesar should be killed?
Ans. Cassius convinces Brutus by appealing to his sense of honor and his fears for the Roman Republic. He uses a series of arguments to show that Caesar is not a god but a man with mortal weaknesses, recalling how he had to save Caesar from drowning and how Caesar once suffered from a fever. Most importantly, he frames the choice as a matter of destiny, telling Brutus that ‘The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves, that we are underlings’. By presenting the conspiracy as a noble and honorable act to save Rome, Cassius manipulates Brutus into believing that joining the plot is his patriotic duty.
5. Cassius
I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor,
Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber
Did I the tired Caesar. And this man
Is now become a god, and Cassius is
A wretched creature, and must bend his body,
If Caesar carelessly but nod on him.
(i) Who was Aeneas? Which legendary incident connected with Aeneas is referred to in the extract?
Ans. Aeneas was a legendary hero of Greek and Roman mythology. According to the legend, he was a Trojan hero who fled the city of Troy after its defeat by the Greeks. The legendary incident referred to in the extract is when Aeneas saved his elderly father, Anchises, from the burning city of Troy by carrying him on his shoulders. This act of piety and strength made Aeneas a revered figure, and he is considered the ancestor of the Roman people.
(ii) Why does Cassius compare himself to Aeneas?
Ans. Cassius compares himself to Aeneas to emphasize his own strength and to highlight Caesar’s weakness. Just as Aeneas carried his father to safety, Cassius claims he carried a ‘tired Caesar’ from the waves of the Tiber River. This comparison is a powerful rhetorical tool used to undermine Caesar’s image as an all-powerful figure and to elevate his own status as a hero.
(iii) Who is “this man”? What grudge does Cassius harbour against “this man”?
Ans. ‘This man’ refers to Julius Caesar. Cassius harbors a deep-seated grudge against Caesar. He is bitter and resentful that Caesar, a man he once had to save, has become a ‘god’ in the eyes of the Roman people, while Cassius himself feels like a ‘wretched creature’ who must bow to Caesar’s every whim. Cassius’s jealousy stems from the fact that he believes he is just as worthy of power and respect as Caesar is.
(iv) Just before the extract Cassius states that he is equal to Caesar in three aspects. What are these three aspects?
Ans. Just before this extract, Cassius claims that he is equal to Caesar in three aspects: they were both born free, they have both been fed just as well, and they can both endure winter’s cold just as well as Caesar. By listing these fundamental aspects, Cassius attempts to show Brutus that Caesar is not naturally superior in any way.
(v) In his speech, Cassius refers to an incident in which he was much superior to Caesar. Narrate the incident. What conclusion did Cassius draw about Caesar from that incident?
Ans. Cassius recounts a time when Caesar, in a moment of bravado, challenged him to jump into the ‘angry flood’ of the Tiber River and swim to the other side. Cassius, ‘accoutred as I was’, immediately plunged in, with Caesar following. The river’s current was strong, and Cassius, a stronger swimmer, had to rescue the exhausted Caesar, who cried out, ‘Help me, Cassius, or I sink!’ From this incident, Cassius concludes that Caesar is physically weak and not the invincible figure he now appears to be. He sees Caesar as a ‘sick girl’ who gained ‘the start of the majestic world’ despite being feeble.
6. Cassius
When went there by an age, since the great flood,
But it was fam’d with more than with one man?
When could they say, till now, that talk’d of Rome,
That her wide walls encompass’d but one man?
Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough,
When there is in it but one only man.
O, you and I have heard our fathers say,
There was a Brutus once that would have brook’d
Th’ eternal devil to keep his state in Rome
As easily as a king.
(i) What is referred to as “the great flood”? Why is this expression used in the text?
Ans. The ‘great flood’ refers to the story of Noah’s Flood, a biblical tale of a massive, world-destroying flood. Cassius uses this expression to emphasize that since the beginning of time, no single era has been dominated by just one famous person. He is making a hyperbole to exaggerate his point that throughout history, there has always been a balance of power, with multiple notable figures shaping events, unlike the present situation in Rome.
(ii) Who is referred to as “one only man”? Why is he so referred to?
Ans. The ‘one only man’ is Julius Caesar. He is referred to in this way because, according to Cassius, Caesar’s ambition and overwhelming popularity have made him the sole center of power and fame in Rome. Caesar’s dominance has eclipsed all other great Romans, making it seem as though Rome’s vast territory and reputation are now contained within a single person.
(iii) What arguments does Cassius give (just before the extract) to show Caesar is not superior to Brutus?
Ans. Just before this extract, Cassius makes several arguments to show that Caesar is not superior to Brutus. He first suggests that the names Brutus and Caesar are equally respectable, saying they are ‘as fair a name’ and ‘it doth become the mouth as well’. He also claims that when weighed, the names are ‘as heavy’, and when used for incantation, Brutus would “start a spirit as soon as ‘Caesar’.” Finally, he asks what ‘meat’ Caesar eats that allows him to become so great, implying that his power is not a result of any natural superiority but rather of the people’s weak will.
(iv) “There was a Brutus.” Who was this Brutus? What would he have done in Rome?
Ans. The ‘Brutus’ Cassius refers to is Lucius Junius Brutus, a legendary ancestor of the play’s hero. This Brutus was a key figure in Roman history who led the rebellion that overthrew the last Roman king, Tarquin the Proud, and established the Roman Republic. Cassius mentions him to remind the present-day Brutus of his noble lineage and the legacy of his family. He suggests that this earlier Brutus would have tolerated a king in Rome as little as he would have tolerated the ‘eternal devil’, thereby challenging the current Brutus to live up to his family’s reputation for protecting Roman liberty.
(v) With reference to one incident, state how Cassius was a shrewd manipulator.
Ans. Cassius proves to be a shrewd manipulator through his clever use of flattery and psychological appeals to Brutus’s sense of honor. A clear example is his use of the ‘mirror’ analogy. Brutus admits he cannot see his own worthiness, to which Cassius replies that he, as Brutus’s ‘glass’(or mirror), will reveal Brutus’s hidden greatness to him. By convincing Brutus that he, Cassius, is merely a tool for Brutus’s own self-discovery, Cassius places the moral responsibility on Brutus to act, all while hiding his own personal envy and ambition. This shows that Cassius is not just asking Brutus to join a conspiracy, but is making him believe it is a noble and necessary act of self-realization and patriotism.
7. Caesar
He reads much;
He is a great observer, and he looks
Quite through the deeds of men; he loves no plays,
As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music:
Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort
As if he mock’d himself, and scorn’d his spirit
That could be mov’d to smile at any thing.
Such men as he be never at heart’s ease
Whiles they behold a greater than themselves…
(i) Of whom is Caesar speaking? Which two traits of the man is he talking about?
Ans. Caesar is speaking about Cassius. Two traits he notes about him are that he is a ‘great observer’ who ‘looks quite through the deeds of men’ and that he is seldom happy or at ease, as he ‘seldom smiles’ and seems to mock himself for any emotion he shows.
(ii) Do the earlier episodes in the play suggest that Caesar has judged this person’s character accurately? Explain briefly.
Ans. Yes, the earlier episodes in the play strongly suggest that Caesar has judged Cassius’s character accurately. Just before this scene, Cassius has been actively manipulating Brutus, using flattery and appeals to patriotism to subtly turn him against Caesar. This action confirms Caesar’s observation that Cassius is not ‘at heart’s ease’ while he sees a man greater than himself and is a dangerous plotter.
(iii) Immediately before this speech, what type of man has Caesar said he prefers? How is the man referred in this extract different from that?
Ans. Immediately before this speech, Caesar tells Antony that he prefers ‘men about me that are fat, sleek-headed men and such as sleep a nights”. This describes a person who is content and non-threatening. The man in the extract, Cassius, is the opposite: he has a ‘lean and hungry look’, is restless, and is always thinking, making him appear dangerous and a threat.
(iv) What personal physical weakness is revealed by Caesar in the remaining part of this speech? What contrast is created by this revelation with the last two lines of the extract?
Ans. In the remaining part of this speech, Caesar reveals that he is deaf in his right ear. The contrast created by this revelation is that Caesar, despite his great power and reputation as an unchallengeable leader, is just a man with a physical weakness. This physical imperfection stands in stark contrast to his powerful and commanding final lines: ‘I rather tell thee what is to be feared / Than what I fear, for always I am Caesar’. This shows his unwavering confidence and powerful ego, which contrasts sharply with his physical vulnerability.
(v) Give two other examples of Caesar’s physical weakness mentioned earlier in this scene.
Ans. Two other examples of Caesar’s physical weakness mentioned earlier in the scene are that he has epilepsy, ‘the falling sickness’ and that he nearly drowned in the Tiber River, crying out for Cassius’s help to save him.
TEST AND EVALUATION
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Cassius
Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion;
By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried
Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?
Brutus
No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself
But by reflection, by some other things.
(i) In what way did Cassius mistake Brutus’ feelings (passion)? How was the misunderstanding cleared by Brutus? (3)
Ans. Cassius mistook Brutus’s feelings by thinking that Brutus was being cold and unfriendly toward him. Brutus cleared up the misunderstanding by explaining that his troubled look was not directed at Cassius or anyone else, but was a result of an internal struggle. He said he was ‘with himself at war’, preoccupied with conflicting thoughts and emotions that were causing him to neglect his friends.
(ii) What was the consequence of this misunderstanding on Cassius? (3)
Ans. The consequence of this misunderstanding was that Cassius had kept his ‘thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations’ buried inside. These thoughts were about his concerns over Caesar’s growing power and his desire to take action, and he had been hesitant to share them with Brutus because of Brutus’s perceived coldness.
(iii) Give the meaning of:
for the eye sees not itself
But by reflection, by some other things. (3)
Ans. The line ‘for the eye sees not itself / But by reflection, by some other things’ is a metaphor that means a person cannot see their own true nature or value without the help of others. Just as a physical eye needs a mirror to see itself, a person needs a friend or someone they trust to show them their own hidden qualities and worth.
(iv) Who volunteers to be a mirror to reflect the qualities of Brutus to himself (Brutus)? Why?
Ans. Cassius volunteers to be a mirror for Brutus. He does this because he knows Brutus is highly respected and essential for the conspiracy against Caesar to succeed. He wants to show Brutus his ‘hidden worthiness’ and convince him that he is more noble and deserving of leadership than Caesar.
(v) According to Cassius, what do the people in high position in Rome say about Brutus, and about the condition of the people? (4)
Ans. According to Cassius, many highly respected people in Rome complain about Caesar’s rule, ‘groaning underneath this age’s yoke’ which represents oppression. These people wish that noble Brutus would recognize his own potential and see what they see in him, implying that they wish he would take action to free them from Caesar’s tyranny.
2. Cassius
I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus,
As well as I do know your outward favour.
Well, honour is the subject of my story.
I cannot tell what you and other men
Think of this life; but, for my single self,
I had as lief not be, as live to be
In awe of such a thing as I myself.
(i) Where are Brutus and Cassius at this time? Which virtue of Brutus is Cassius referring to in the first line? What is Cassius’ purpose in this speech? (3)
Ans. Brutus and Cassius are in a public street in Rome, having just left the public celebrations for the feast of Lupercal. The virtue Cassius refers to is Brutus’s deep love for honor and his willingness to prioritize it over his own life. Cassius’s purpose in this speech is to manipulate Brutus by appealing to this sense of honor, aiming to persuade him to join the conspiracy against Caesar.
(ii) Give the meaning of:
but for my single self,
I had as lief not be as live to be
In awe of such a thing as I myself. (3)
Ans. The lines ‘but for my single self, / I had as lief not be, as live to be / In awe of such a thing as I myself’ mean that for Cassius personally, he would rather die than live in fear or respect of someone who is no better than he is. Cassius believes he and Caesar are equals, and he finds it unacceptable to be subservient to him.
(iii) Give two incidents which Cassius uses later in this discussion to indicate that Caesar is as weak as any human being. (3)
Ans. Later in the discussion, Cassius uses two incidents to show Caesar’s human weakness. First, he describes how he had to save a struggling Caesar from drowning in the Tiber River. Second, he recounts how Caesar, while in Spain, suffered from a fever and a seizure, causing him to shake and cry out ‘as a sick girl’. These stories are meant to discredit Caesar’s god-like image.
(iv) What happens immediately after Cassius’ speech? How does it help Cassius to rouse the feelings of Brutus against Caesar? (3)
Ans. Immediately after this speech, the characters hear a shout and a trumpet fanfare from the crowd offstage. This event helps Cassius in two ways: it allows him to ask Brutus if he fears the people are choosing Caesar for their king, which he knows will appeal to Brutus’s fears, and it confirms the public’s growing support for Caesar, which serves as proof of the danger Cassius is warning against.
(v) What stand does Brutus take, a few minutes later, which makes Cassius glad that his efforts have not been in vain? Which characteristic trait of Brutus is revealed through the stand he takes? (4)
Ans. A few minutes later, Brutus tells Cassius that he will not be moved further at the moment, but that he will consider what Cassius has said and hear him again at a later time. Brutus concludes by saying he would ‘rather be a villager’ than live as a son of Rome under the ‘hard conditions’ that Caesar’s rule is likely to bring. This stand makes Cassius glad because it shows his efforts have not been in vain. It also reveals Brutus as a slow, deliberate thinker who takes his time to consider moral choices carefully rather than acting on impulse.
3. Brutus
The games are done and Caesar is returning.
Cassius
As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve,
And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you
What hath proceeded worthy note today.
Brutus
I will do so. But, look you, Cassius…
(i) What are the “games” Brutus is talking about? Who speaks of the games earlier in the scene? Why? (3)
Ans. The ‘games’ Brutus is referring to are the traditional footraces that took place as part of the Feast of Lupercal. Antony speaks of the games earlier in the scene when he is told to run his race and to touch Calpurnia to cure her of her ‘sterile curse’.
(ii) Explain why Cassius says, “after his sour fashion”? What part did Casca have in the actual murder of Caesar? (3)
Ans. Cassius says ‘after his sour fashion’ because Casca is known for his blunt, sarcastic, and rude manner of speech. He is a bitter and cynical man who often speaks with a mocking tone, which Cassius knows will be apparent when he recounts what happened. In the actual murder of Caesar, Casca is significant because he is the first conspirator to stab Caesar.
(iii) What is the meaning of “worthy of note”? State briefly what Casca related, bringing out the “sour fashion”? (3)
Ans. Worthy of note means important or worth remembering. Casca relates that Mark Antony offered Caesar a crown three times, but Caesar refused it each time. He tells the story in a mocking and satirical way, making it sound like a ridiculous piece of ‘foolery’. He scoffs at the cheering crowd and Caesar’s hesitant refusal, suggesting that Caesar secretly wanted to take the crown but was putting on a show for the public.
(iv) To whom is Brutus drawing Cassius’ attention when he says, “But look you, Cassius”?
Give his comments on each of them. (3)
Ans. When Brutus says, ‘But, look you, Cassius’, he is drawing his attention to Caesar and his followers, who are returning from the games. Brutus observes that Caesar’s brow has an ‘angry spot’, and the rest of the group looks ‘chidden’ or scolded. He also notes that Calphurnia’s cheek is pale and that Cicero has ‘ferret and such fiery eyes’, suggesting that something has happened to upset them all.
(v) What information does Casca later give them about Marullus and Flavius? What trait of Caesar’s character is shown in this incident? (4)
Ans. Later, Casca gives them the information that Marullus and Flavius have been ‘put to silence’, meaning they have been either executed or banished for pulling decorations off Caesar’s statues. This incident shows Caesar’s cruelty and his intolerance for dissent. It demonstrates his growing power and his willingness to eliminate anyone who opposes his authority, even for a seemingly minor act.
4. Cassius
I will this night,
In several hands, in at his windows throw,
As if they came from several citizens,
Writings all tending to the great opinion
That Rome holds of his name; wherein obscurely
Caesar’s ambition shall be glanced at:
And after this let Caesar seat him sure;
For we will shake him, or worse days endure.
(i) When does Cassius speak these words? Whom is he referring to in the second line? What is the purpose of these writings? (3)
Ans. Cassius speaks these words in a soliloquy at the very end of Act 1, Scene 2, after Brutus has left the stage. He is referring to Brutus in the second line. The purpose of these writings is to manipulate Brutus into joining the conspiracy against Caesar. The letters will praise Brutus and subtly hint at Caesar’s ambition, making Brutus feel that it is his duty to act for the good of Rome.
(ii) Where are these writings to be thrown? What effect is produced on this person when he reads it? (3)
Ans. These writings are to be thrown into Brutus’s windows. When Brutus reads them, they will make him feel as though the people of Rome are calling on him to take a stand against Caesar’s ambition. This will likely make him feel a great sense of responsibility and push him to believe that joining the conspiracy is the honorable and patriotic thing to do.
(iii) Explain the meaning of “several hands” and “obscurely”. (3)
Ans. ‘Several hands’ means that the letters will be written in different types of handwriting, as if they came from various citizens, not just one person. ‘Obscurely’ means in a way that is not direct or obvious. The letters will only hint at Caesar’s ambition, rather than stating it outright, so that the message seems to come naturally from the public’s concerns rather than from a specific conspirator.
(iv) What aspect of Cassius’ character do the above words illustrate? (3)
Ans. The words illustrate that Cassius is a clever and manipulative schemer. He understands how to use psychology and deceit to achieve his goals. He knows that Brutus’s sense of honor and duty is his greatest vulnerability, and he is willing to use lies and trickery to exploit it.
(v) Give two methods used by Cassius to win over Brutus. (4)
Ans. Cassius uses two main methods to win over Brutus. The first is to appeal to his sense of honor and patriotism. He tells Brutus that the ‘fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves, that we are underlings’, suggesting that Brutus, as a noble Roman, has a duty to act. The second method is to discredit Caesar by exposing his physical weaknesses. He recounts how he had to save Caesar from drowning in the Tiber River and how Caesar once suffered from a fever, thereby portraying Caesar as a frail and vulnerable man, not the god-like figure the public sees.
5. Casca
I could tell you more news too; Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Caesar’s images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it.
(i) When does Casca say this? To whom? (3)
Ans. Casca says this near the end of the scene, just before he leaves Brutus and Cassius. He says it to both Brutus and Cassius.
(ii) Narrate briefly the “news” that Casca has already related. (3)
Ans. The news Casca had already related was the story of Mark Antony offering Caesar a crown three times. Casca described it in his usual blunt and cynical style, mocking the ceremony and stating that he believed Caesar secretly wanted the crown, despite refusing it for show.
(iii) Explain “pulling scarfs off Caesar’s images” and “put to silence”. (3)
Ans. ‘Pulling scarfs off Caesar’s images’ refers to removing the ceremonial decorations that had been placed on the statues of Caesar. These decorations were worn as a sign of his triumph, and Flavius and Marullus removed them as an act of protest. ‘Put to silence’ is a euphemism meaning they were silenced permanently, likely by being executed or banished from Rome.
(iv) What does “put to silence” reveal about Caesar’s character? (4)
Ans. ‘Put to silence’ reveals that Caesar is a tyrant who is intolerant of dissent. It shows that he is willing to use harsh, disproportionate punishment to maintain his power and authority. Instead of simply scolding or warning the tribunes, he ensures they can no longer speak out against him, which demonstrates his growing ruthlessness and disregard for Roman law and tradition.
(v) What reason for their action does Flavius give in the opening scene of the play? How were Flavius and Marullus punished for their act? (4)
Ans. In the opening scene of the play, Flavius states that they are removing the decorations because they do not want to celebrate Caesar’s triumph over Pompey’s sons. They believe that the people’s love for Caesar is fickle and that they should be celebrating the Roman Republic, not a man who has defeated other Romans. For their act, the tribunes Flavius and Marullus were indeed ‘put to silence’; they were either executed or officially removed from their positions and exiled from Rome, and their fates are never reversed.
ICSE Class 9 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 1, Scene 2 Extra Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. Who does Brutus compare Caesar to while describing his weakness?(PYP 24-25)
A. Lion
B. God
C. Thunderstorm
D. Serpent’s Egg
Ans. D. Serpent’s Egg
Q2. What is meant by ‘age’s yoke’ as spoken by Cassius? (PYP 24-25)
A. Oppression under Caesar’s rule
B. Pride of experience
C. The age of burden under monarchists
D. The era of republicanism
Ans. A. Oppression under Caesar’s rule
Q3. Which one of these does Cassius NOT call Caesar behind his back?(PYP 24-25)
A. Sick girl
B. Tyrant
C. Wretched creature
D. Underling
Ans. D. Underling
Q4. Brutus: What means this shouting? I do fear the people…..
What is Brutus’s fear? (PYP 24-25)
A. That the people have crowned Julius Caesar their king
B. That the people have dethroned Julius Caesar.
C. That Julius Caesar has declined the kingship offered to him.
D. That Julius Caesar has been killed the mob.
Ans. A. That the people have crowned Julius Caesar their king
Q5. Cassius: I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old Anchises bear….
What brave action of Aeneas Casius referring here? (PYP 24-25)
A. Aeneas carrying Greek soldiers on his shoulders.
B. Aeneas carrying his old father Anchises on his shoulders from the burning city of Troy.
C. Aeneas setting fire to the city of Troy.
D. Aeneas carried on his shoulders big chunks of things that were buming.
Ans. B. Aeneas carrying his old father Anchises on his shoulders from the burning city of Troy.
Q6. Why does Cassius send notes through Cinna, at the end of Act 1?(PYP 24-25)
A. To warn Caesar about Brutus’ betrayal so that he could take necessary action
B. To assure Brutus that plans for the conspiracy were in place
C. To remind Caesar meet at the Capitol at the appointed time
D. To convince Brutus that the Romans needed him to join the conspiracy.
Ans. D. To convince Brutus that the Romans needed him to join the conspiracy.
Q7. The expression,’It was Greek to me’, is an idiom used when a person.
A. is unable to understand what has been said
B. is able to understand the language Greek
C. is unable to learn the Greek language
D. is able to follow what has been said
Ans. A. is unable to understand what has been said
Q8. According to Brutus, Antony has a _________.
A. is not very active
B. lean and hungry look
C. lacks a lively temperament
D. has a lively temperament
Ans. C. lacks a lively temperament
Q9. Who first warns Caesar to “Beware the ides of March”?
A. Brutus
B. A Soothsayer
C. Calpurnia
D. Cassius
Ans. B. A Soothsayer
Q10. What is Cassius’s primary motivation for wanting to conspire against Caesar?
A. He fears Caesar’s ambition to become king.
B. He is jealous of Caesar’s power and fame.
C. He wants to save Rome from a tyrannical ruler.
D. He seeks to make himself the new leader of Rome.
Ans. B. He is jealous of Caesar’s power and fame.
Extract Based Questions
Answer the following extract-based questions.
A.
Caesar: Let me have men about me that are fat.
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o’ nights;
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much such men are dangerous
Antony: Fear him not, Caesar; he’s not dangerous;
He is a noble Roman, and well given. (PYP 24-25)
Q1. Where have Caesar and Antony returned from? What did Brutus notice about Caesar’s countenance? Who would explain the reason for that look on his face?
Ans. Caesar and Antony have returned from the Feast of Lupercal, a public event where a traditional footrace was held. Brutus noticed that Caesar had an ‘angry spot’ on his brow and that his followers looked like a ‘chidden train’. Brutus and Cassius plan to ask Casca to explain the reason for Caesar’s expression.
Q2. Why did Caesar want fat and sleek-headed men around him? Why did he not like Cassius?
Ans. Caesar prefers fat and ‘sleek-headed men’ because he believes they are content and not ambitious, and therefore pose no threat to his power. He does not like Cassius because his lean and ‘hungry look’ suggests he is not at ease with his current position, and he ‘thinks too much’, which Caesar views as dangerous.
Q3. Caesar tells Antony that he does not fear Cassius but of all men he would avoid him more than any man, give three reasons why he would avoid Cassius and why he is dangerous?
Ans. Caesar believes Cassius is dangerous because he reads much, is a great observer who looks quite through the deeds of men, and he hears no music and loves no plays. Such men are dangerous because they are never at peace while they behold someone greater than themselves and are prone to plotting.
Q4. What does Caesar ask Antony to tell him at the end of his speech? Why does Caesar fear no one?
Ans. At the end of his speech, Caesar asks Antony to come to his right side and tell him his true opinion of Cassius, as his left ear is deaf. Caesar claims he fears no one because he believes he is invincible and powerful simply by being Caesar, a name that embodies supreme strength and authority.
Q5. Of the two men Caesar and Antony, who proceed to be a better judge of Cassius’s character? Give two reasons for your answers?
Ans. Of the two men, Caesar proves to be a better judge of Cassius’s character. Firstly, Caesar’s suspicions accurately pinpoint Cassius as a dangerous plotter driven by discontent and jealousy. His analysis that Cassius is lean, hungry, and thinks too much is completely correct. Secondly, Caesar’s foresight is immediately confirmed by the audience’s knowledge that Cassius has just spent the entire scene manipulating Brutus and revealing his plan to overthrow Caesar. Antony’s trusting nature, which leads him to declare Cassius not dangerous, is proven to be completely wrong. Antony fails to see the ambition and resentment that Caesar correctly identifies.
B.
Brutus: What means this shouting? I do fear the people
Choose Caesar for their king
Cassius: Ay, do vou fear it?
Then must I think you would not have it so.
Brutus: I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well (PYP 24-25)
Q1. Where are Brutus and Cassius? What does Brutus ‘fear’ is the reason for “this shouting” ? Later in the scene Brutus hears a second shout. What does he think this is about?
Ans. Brutus and Cassius are in a public street in Rome, having remained behind after Caesar and his followers have exited. Brutus fears that the shouting means the people have chosen Caesar for their king. Later in the scene, Brutus hears a second shout and believes it is for some new honors that are heaped on Caesar, showing his continued concern about Caesar’s growing power.
Q2. Later in the scene, how do Brutus and Cassius come to know of the actual reason for all the shouting? Who gives them the details ? How had they drawn this man’s attention ?
Ans. Brutus and Cassius learn the actual reason for the shouting from Casca. They had drawn his attention by pulling on his sleeve as he passed by with Caesar’s group. Casca explains that the shouts were not for Caesar being made king, but for his refusal of the
crown that Antony offered him three times.
Q3. ‘I would not Cassius, yet I love him well.’ What does this line reveal about Brutus’s mental state? How did Brutus describe his state of mind earlier in the scene?
Ans. When Brutus says, ‘I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well’, he reveals his internal conflict between his love for Caesar as a friend and his love for Rome and its republican ideals. Earlier in the scene, Brutus described his state of mind by saying he was ‘with himself at war’, a metaphor for the struggle between his personal feelings and his public duty.
Q4. What does Cassius say to prove that Caesar was as weak as any other human being?
State any one physical disability of Caesar’s that is mentioned in this scene.
Ans. To prove Caesar’s weakness, Cassius recounts two incidents. He tells of a time when Caesar, struggling to swim in the Tiber River, had to be rescued by Cassius. He also tells of a time when Caesar had a fever in Spain and cried out for a drink ‘as a sick girl’. The one physical disability of Caesar’s mentioned in this scene is ‘the falling sickness’ (epilepsy), which caused him to fall down and foam at the mouth.
Q5. Important character traits of Cassius are revealed in this scene. Mention any two. What is your opinion of the man? Give a reason to justify your answer.
Ans. Two important character traits of Cassius revealed in this scene are his manipulative nature and his deep resentment. He uses flattery and psychological appeals, like convincing Brutus he is a ‘mirror’ to his own greatness, to manipulate him. He also shows deep resentment towards Caesar, viewing him as a man of ordinary birth who has become an undeserving ‘god’.In my opinion, Cassius is a dangerous and self-serving man. He is a master of deceit who, while claiming to act for the good of Rome, is primarily motivated by his own personal jealousy of Caesar’s power.