ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 1 Important Question Answers

 

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• Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 1 Textbook Questions
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Related: 

• Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 1 Summary, Explanation
• Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 1 Character Sketch
• ICSE Class 10 English Lesson Notes

 

ICSE Class 10 English Drama  Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 1 Textbook Questions

 

ASSIGNMENTS

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who among the following is NOT waiting on the road for Caesar to pass?
(a) Soothsayer
(b) Artemidorus
(c) Lucius
(d) Popilius
Ans. (c) Lucius

2. Why does Artemidorus urge Caesar to go through his letter first?
(a) It is concerned with the conspiracy against Caesar
(b) It is concerning Rome
(c) It is concerns a matter of national importance
(d) It is he who came first to Caesar
Ans. (a) It is concerned with the conspiracy against Caesar

3. Cassius says that he fears their “purpose is discovered.” What is the “purpose”?
(a) To form a group of conspirators
(b) To murder Caesar
(c) To save Rome from Caesar
(d) To rope in Brutus for their conspiracy
Ans. (b) To murder Caesar

4. What does Cassius say he would do if their purpose is revealed?
(a) Make another plan
(b) Kill the one who revealed it
(c) Kill Casca
(d) Kill himself
Ans. (d) Kill himself

5. According to Caesar, what will be the effect of Metellus Cimber’s stooping and cringing on ordinary men?
(a) Incite others to stoop so low
(b) Inflame the pride of ordinary men
(c) Invoke the ordinary men to rebel
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) Inflame the pride of ordinary men

6. What would Caesar do with Metellus Cimber if he would pray on his brother’s behalf using humble flattery?
(a) Change the sentence of banishment
(b) Banish him too like his brother
(c) Will not change the sentence of banishment
(d) Reduce his sentence of banishment
Ans. (c) Will not change the sentence of banishment

7. With whom does Caesar compare himself in this scene of the play?
(a) Lion
(b) Sun
(c) Pole Star
(d) Moon
Ans. (c) Pole Star

8. How do the conspirators make requests to Caesar regarding Publius Cimber?
(a) Appealing to his divine right
(b) Appealing to his supreme self
(c) Feigned servility
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c) Feigned servility

9. Which attitude of Caesar is seen in his act of denying Metellus Cimber’s petition?
(a) Arrogance
(b) Pride
(c) Honesty
(d) Modesty
Ans. (b) Pride

10. How do the people of Rome run after Caesar’s murderers?
(a) As if an earthquake had occurred
(b) As if doomsday had come
(c) As if a large building had collapsed.
(d) As if a mountain had fallen on them.
Ans. (b) As if doomsday had come

11. How, according to Brutus, have they helped Caesar by murdering him?
(a) By preventing him from becoming a ruthless dictator
(b) By preventing him from the agony of losing kingship
(c) By saving Rome from being ruined.
(d) By preventing him from living in fear of death.
Ans. (d) By preventing him from living in fear of death.

12. According to Cassius, how would the people describe the group of Caesar’s murderers in future?
(a) Liberators of their country
(c) Savage of the first order
(b) Butchers who slayed Caesar
(d) Noble men of Rome
Ans. (a) Liberators of their country

13. How does Brutus seem to see the murder of Caesar?
(a) As a solemn act of purification of Rome
(b) As an act of great justice to him
(c) As an act of friendship
(d) All of the above
Ans. (a) As a solemn act of purification of Rome

14. According to Antony, how was Caesar brought by?
(a) Like a stag by hounds
(b) Like a dog by hunters
(c) Like a goat by butchers
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (a) Like a stag by hounds

15. What appears as the main cause of Brutus’ failure in this scene of the play?
(a) Lack of experience
(b) Lack of brutality
(c) Error of judgement
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (c) Error of judgement

 

CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. Caesar
[To the Soothsayer] The ides of March are come.
Soothsayer
Ay, Caesar, but not gone.
Artemidorus
Hail, Caesar! read this schedule.
Decius
Trebonius doth desire you to o’er-read,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit.

(i) Where does this conversation take place? Why did Caesar tell the Soothsayer. “The ides of March are come”? When had he met the Soothsayer before?
Ans. This conversation takes place on the street leading to the Senate House, just before Caesar enters. Caesar says, ‘The ides of March are come’ to the Soothsayer to mock him, reminding him that the feared day has arrived without harm. He had previously met the Soothsayer in Act 1, Scene 2, who had warned him, ‘Beware the ides of March’.

(ii) Who is Artemidorus? Whom does he represent in the play? What is the
importance of his “schedule”?
Ans. Artemidorus is a teacher of rhetoric in Rome. He does not represent a specific group but rather is an individual who has uncovered the assassination plot. ‘His schedule’ i.e. his letter is important because it names the conspirators and explicitly warns Caesar of their plan, offering him a final chance to save his life.

(ii) Why does Artemidorus request Caesar to read his “schedule” first? With reference to a previous scene, show how Artemidorus’ fears are justified.
Ans. Artemidorus asks Caesar to read his letter first because it ‘touches Caesar nearer’, meaning it is a matter of personal safety, unlike the public petitions others are presenting. His fears are justified by a previous scene i.e. Act 2, Scene 3, where he reads the letter aloud to himself, demonstrating his clear knowledge of the conspiracy and his desperation to save Caesar.

(iv) Mention the two reasons given by Caesar for not reading the “schedule” handed over by Artemidorus. Which trait of his personality is revealed by his act?
Ans. Caesar gives two reasons for not reading Artemidorus’s letter. First, he claims that matters concerning himself will be attended to last: ‘What touches us ourself shall be last served’. Second, he dismisses Artemidorus as mad when he insists. This action reveals Caesar’s arrogance and hubris. He prioritizes his public image as a selfless leader over his personal safety, an act of pride that leads to his downfall.

(v) Name two people in the scene who are trying to warn Caesar. Name two other people who defeat their efforts to do so. Which theme of the play is highlighted here? Explain it briefly.
Ans. Artemidorus and the Soothsayer are both trying to warn Caesar. Decius and Popillius defeat their efforts. Decius distracts Caesar with a humble suit from Trebonius, and Popillius, though seemingly friendly with the conspirators, speaks to Cassius, creating a diversion. This highlights the theme of fate versus free will. Despite multiple warnings and opportunities to avoid his fate, Caesar’s own free will, influenced by his arrogance, leads him to ignore these signs, showing how personal choices can fulfill a destined outcome.

2. Cassius
Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.
Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
For I will slay myself.
Brutus
Cassius, be constant.
Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;
For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.

(i) “If this be known”- What does “this” refer to? If it would be known when could happen?
Ans. ‘This’ refers to the conspirators’ plot to assassinate Caesar. If their plan were to be known, they would likely be arrested and executed. Cassius declares that he would rather kill himself than face capture or Caesar’s wrath.

(ii) What duty is assigned to Casca? Why should he be “sudden”?
Ans. Casca is assigned the duty of striking the first blow against Caesar. He is told to be sudden to ensure the assassination happens quickly, before any of the conspirators can be stopped or their plan thwarted.

(iii) What has Popilius Lena said and done which makes Cassius to fear? What did they think that Lena was saying? How does Brutus show them that there is nothing to fear?
Ans. Popillius Lena had just told Cassius, ‘I wish your enterprise today may thrive’, which Cassius interpreted as a sign that their conspiracy had been discovered. He feared Lena was warning Caesar of their plot. However, Brutus calms Cassius by observing that Popillius Lena is now speaking to Caesar, and Caesar’s face ‘doth not change’. This, along with Popillius Lena’s smile, convinces Brutus that their conversation was not about the conspiracy.

(iv) What was the task assigned to Trebonius? What petition did Metellus Cimber present to Caesar? In what way did he flatter Caesar?
Ans. Trebonius was assigned the task of drawing Mark Antony away from the Senate House so that he couldn’t protect Caesar. Metellus Cimber presented a petition to Caesar to repeal the banishment of his brother, Publius Cimber. Metellus tried to flatter Caesar by kneeling and using ‘lowly courtesies’ and ‘base spaniel fawning’.

(v) Give two of the arguments given by Caesar to reject the petition made by Metellus. Which trait of Caesar’s character is highlighted in these arguments?
Ans. Caesar gives two main arguments for rejecting Metellus’s petition. First, he compares himself to the northern star, claiming his decisions are as constant and unchanging as a fixed star in the sky. Second, he argues that he is not a weak-willed person who can be swayed by ‘low-crooked curtsies, and base spaniel fawning’. These arguments highlight Caesar’s immense pride and unwavering arrogance.

3. Caesar
But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix’d and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumber’d sparks,
They are all fire and every one doth shine;
But there’s but one in all doth hold his place.
So in the world; ’tis furnish’d well with men,

(i) What is the “northern star”? Give the meaning of: “Of whose true-fix’d and resting quality/ There is no fellow in the firmament.”
Ans. The northern star (Polaris) is a star in the Northern Hemisphere that appears to be fixed in the sky. Its position is used for navigation because it shows the true north. The phrase ‘Of whose true-fix’d and resting quality / There is no fellow in the firmament’ means that the northern star is unique in its unwavering, constant position; there is no other star in the sky that shares this quality.

(ii) Why does Caesar compare himself to the northern star? What is the occasion for such a comparison?
Ans. Caesar compares himself to the northern star to emphasize his unshakable resolve and consistency. He is saying that just as the northern star is the one constant in the sky, he is the only truly steadfast and unchanging leader in the world. He makes this comparison in response to the conspirators, particularly Metellus Cimber, who are kneeling and begging him to repeal his brother’s banishment. Caesar is using this analogy to justify his refusal, showing that he will not be swayed by flattery or emotional pleas.

(iii) State the comparison made by Caesar between the firmament and the world of men.
Ans. Caesar compares the firmament i.e. the sky to the world of men. He says that just as the sky is filled with countless shining stars, the world is full of men. However, just as there is only one northern star that holds its position, there is only one man i.e. Julius Caesar, who is unassailable and holds his rank without being ‘shaked of motion’.

(iv) Why is Caesar so stubborn in his attitude towards the conspirators? What purpose does his stubbornness serve on the dramatic effectiveness?
Ans. Caesar is so stubborn because he believes that showing any sign of weakness or changeability would undermine his authority and his reputation as a great leader. His stubbornness serves to heighten the dramatic effectiveness of the scene. It makes the conspirators’ act seem more justifiable specifically to them as a necessary evil to curb a tyrant’s power. It also sets up his famous last words, ‘Et tu, Bruté?’, making his fall from such a height of arrogance more tragic.

(v) What horrible event is about to take place in a short time? Who was the first to strike? Why is Antony absent from the scene? What could have happened if Antony were to be present on the scene?
Ans. The horrible event that is about to take place is the assassination of Julius Caesar. Casca was the first to strike. Antony is absent from the scene because Trebonius, one of the conspirators, was given the task of leading him away from the Senate house. If Antony had been present, he likely would have defended Caesar, which could have led to his own death or could have prevented the conspirators from successfully carrying out the assassination.

4. Brutus
Fates, we will know your pleasures.
That we shall die, we know; ’tis but the time
And drawing days out, that men stand upon.
Cassius
Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life
Cuts off so many years of fearing death.

(i) When does this conversation take place? In what state of mind are Brutus and Cassius?
Ans. This conversation takes place immediately after the conspirators have assassinated Caesar. They are in a state of confusion and uncertainty, having just committed the murder. They are also trying to process the gravity of their act and justify it.

(ii) What is meant by the “Fates”? State in your own words what the Fates were responsible for. According to the extract, what do men know and what do they fear?
Ans. The ‘Fates’ refer to the three goddesses in ancient Greek and Roman mythology who were believed to control the destiny of every human being from birth to death. They were responsible for weaving, measuring, and cutting the thread of life. According to the extract, men know that they shall die but fear when and how that will happen.

(iii) What positive note does Cassius strike in the death of Caesar? What does Brutus feel about it?
Ans. Cassius strikes a positive note by arguing that Caesar’s death is a benefit because it has ‘cut off so many years of fearing death’ for him. Brutus agrees, saying that if death is a benefit, then by killing Caesar, they have acted as his friends.

(iv) After the extract, what does Brutus ask the Romans to do? In what way does this seem to be a fulfilment of Calpurnia’s dream?
Ans. After this exchange, Brutus asks the Romans to stoop and bathe their hands and swords in Caesar’s blood and then go to the marketplace to proclaim ‘Peace, freedom, and liberty!’ This act seems to be a fulfillment of Calpurnia’s dream in which she saw Caesar’s statue bleeding from a hundred spouts and many Romans, smiling, bathing their hands in his blood.

(v) State briefly the role played by the assassination of Caesar in the story-line of Julius Caesar.
Ans. The assassination of Caesar is the central and most dramatic event of the play. It serves as the turning point that shifts the story from the conspiracy against Caesar to the civil war that follows. It sets the stage for the speeches by Brutus and Antony, which determine the fate of the conspirators. The assassination also forces the characters to confront the consequences of their actions and explore themes of loyalty, honor, and political ambition.

5. Cassius
Stoop, then, and wash. How many ages hence
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over,
In states unborn and accents yet unknown!
Brutus
How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
That now on Pompey’s basis lies along
No worthier than the dust!
Cassius
So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of us be call’d
The men that gave their country liberty.
Decius
What, shall we forth?
Cassius
Ay, every man away:
Brutus shall lead, and we will grace his heels
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.
[Enter a Servant]
Brutus
Soft! who comes here?

(i) When Cassius says, “Stoop, then, and wash,” to whom is he speaking? What exactly does he mean? Who had just suggested washing?
Ans. When Cassius says, ‘Stoop, then, and wash’, he is speaking to the other conspirators, including Brutus. He means for them to kneel down and smear their hands and swords with Caesar’s blood. Brutus had just suggested this act as a way to ‘bathe our hands in Caesar’s blood’ and ‘besmear our swords’, so they could go forth and proclaim their deed.

(ii) Explain the meaning of “states unborn”, “accents” and “Pompey’s basis.”
Ans. ‘States unborn’ refers to future nations and civilizations. ‘Accents’ means languages or dialects, suggesting that the story will be told in tongues not yet spoken. ‘Pompey’s basis’ refers to the base of the statue of Pompey, Caesar’s former rival, where Caesar has fallen. Caesar’s body lying there symbolizes the final triumph over his rival and the political legacy of his own ambition.

(iii) What does Brutus want to express when he says, “How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport”?
Ans. When Brutus says, ‘How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport’, he is expressing the idea that the assassination scene is so dramatic and significant that it will be re-enacted for entertainment by actors for generations to come. He sees the murder not just as a political act, but as a historical and theatrical event that will be immortalized.

(iv) What does Cassius believe “the knot of us” will be called and why?
Ans. Cassius believes that ‘the knot of us’ meaning their group of conspirators will be called ‘The men that gave their country liberty’. He believes this because he views their actions as a courageous and necessary act to free Rome from Caesar’s tyranny, thereby securing their place in history as heroes who fought for freedom.

(v) The entry of the servant of Antony may be said to mark the turning point of the whole play. Narrate, very briefly, in what way this is so.
Ans. The entry of Antony’s servant marks a crucial turning point because it introduces Antony back into the main action of the play. Until this point, the conspirators seem to have secured their victory. However, Antony’s arrival begins his masterful manipulation of the situation. His feigned loyalty and request to speak at the funeral, which Brutus grants against Cassius’s advice, ultimately lead to his fiery oration that turns the Roman populace against the conspirators, sparking the civil war that dominates the rest of the play.

6. Antony
O mighty Caesar! dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,
Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.
I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank:
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
As Caesar’s death’s hour; nor no instrument
Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world.

(i) Where does the mighty Caesar lie? What is meant by “this little measure”? Give one example each of Caesar’s conquests and his glories.
Ans. The mighty Caesar lies on the ground at the base of Pompey’s statue, inside the Senate House. ‘This little measure’ refers to Caesar’s lifeless body, which is now small and insignificant in death, a stark contrast to his immense life. An example of one of Caesar’s conquests is his victory over the Gauls, and a glory is his triumphant return to Rome after defeating Pompey’s sons.

(ii) Who are the “gentlemen” he addresses? What does he implore them to do? What does his request tell us about his character?
Ans. The ‘gentlemen’ Antony addresses are the conspirators who have just assassinated Caesar. He implores them to kill him if they intend to, claiming that there is ‘no hour so fit’ as the hour of Caesar’s death, and no better ‘instrument’ than their own swords, which have been ‘made rich’ with Caesar’s blood. This request tells us that Antony is not only grief-stricken but also cunning. He is subtly testing the conspirators, appearing to be a humble victim while positioning himself as a loyal friend of Caesar.

(iii) Give the meaning of: “Who else must be let blood, who else is rank.” What in your opinion, is Antony’s reason for saying so?
Ans. The phrase, ‘Who else must be let blood, who else is rank’, means, ‘Who else must be killed because they are a threat or diseased?’ In this context, ‘rank’ means swollen or corrupt. Antony’s reason for saying this is to feign an understanding of the conspirators’ motives. He is pretending to believe that they killed Caesar out of a noble purpose to ‘let blood’ from a ‘diseased’ state and is offering himself up if they see him in the same way.

(iv) What does Antony’s expression, “the most noble blood of all this world’ indicate about Antony’s feelings for Caesar?
Ans. Antony’s expression, ‘the most noble blood of all this world’, indicates his profound admiration and deep love for Caesar. He views Caesar not just as a powerful leader but as the most honorable and worthy person to have ever lived. This phrase is a powerful statement of his loyalty and a direct refutation of the conspirators’ claim that Caesar was a tyrant.

(v) What did Brutus tell Antony about the conspirator’s feelings for Caesar? Was Brutus honest? Why?
Ans. Brutus told Antony that although their hands appeared bloody and cruel, their hearts were pitiful. He claimed that they loved Caesar but had to kill him out of ‘pity to the general wrong of Rome’, suggesting that they acted for the good of their country. In a way, Brutus was honest in his own mind. He truly believed his motives were noble and that his actions, though brutal, were a necessary sacrifice for Rome’s liberty. However, his honesty is limited by his naive trust and poor judgment, as he fails to see that Antony is using his words to set a trap.

7. Antony
My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
Either a coward or a flatterer.
That I did love thee, Caesar, O, ’tis true:

(i) What is meant by the word “credit”? Why does it now stand “on such slippery ground”?
Ans. The word ‘credit’ here means reputation or credibility. Antony says it stands on ‘slippery ground’ because, by making peace and shaking hands with Caesar’s murderers, he has put his own loyalty and character in a compromised position. His actions could be misinterpreted by others, especially Caesar’s spirit, as being disloyal.

(ii) What does Antony mean to say by the following words:
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
Either a coward or a flatterer?
Ans. Antony means that the conspirators must now think of him in one of two negative ways. Either he is a coward for not immediately avenging Caesar’s death, or he is a flatterer who is pretending to be their friend for his own gain, while inwardly hating them. He is subtly telling them that his current actions are a necessary deception.

(iii) What effect do Antony’s action and words have on his listeners?
Ans. Antony’s words and actions make the conspirators believe he is sincere. By shaking their bloody hands and expressing his grief over Caesar, he appears to be a loyal friend to them, willing to put aside his personal feelings for the sake of peace and political stability. This makes them lower their guard and grant his later requests.

(iv) What mistake did Brutus make by granting the request of Antony? What did Cassius warn him then? What was the consequence of the mistake?
Ans. The biggest mistake Brutus made was granting Antony permission to speak at Caesar’s funeral. Cassius warned him, ‘You know not what you do. Do not consent / That Antony speak in his funeral. / Know you how much the people may be moved / By that which he will utter?’ The consequence of this mistake was catastrophic i.e. Antony’s powerful oration turned the Roman populace against the conspirators, leading to a civil war and their eventual downfall.

(v) How did Antony prove that he could be both a coward and a flatterer?
Ans. Antony’s actions show that he is indeed both a coward and a flatterer in the moment. He acts as a flatterer by praising the conspirators and feigning friendship with them, shaking their hands and agreeing to their terms. He acts as a coward in the eyes of Caesar’s spirit by not immediately seeking revenge. However, this is all part of his strategy. By being a ‘flatterer’ and a ‘coward’ in the short term, he buys the time and opportunity to exact revenge later, proving his cunning rather than a genuine lack of courage.

8. Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay’d, brave hart;
Here did’st thou fall; and here thy hunters stand.
Sign’d in thy spoil, and crimson’d in thy lethe.
O world, thou wast the forest to this hart,
And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.
How like a deer, strucken by many princes,
Dost thou here lie!

(i) Who speaks these words: “Here wast thou bay’d?” What is the comparison implied in the expression? To what custom of the hunters does it refer?
Ans. Antony speaks these words. The comparison is between Caesar and a brave hart i.e. a male deer. It refers to the hunting custom where the deer, after being cornered and exhausted, is finally brought to bay by the hunting dogs and then killed by the hunters.

(ii) Explain the double meaning intended in the expression, “brave hart.”
Ans. The expression ‘brave hart’ has a powerful double meaning. First, ‘hart’ refers literally to a deer, which is what Antony has just compared Caesar to. Second, it is a homophone for ‘heart’, suggesting that Caesar was a courageous and noble person, the ‘heart’ of Rome.

(iii) Who are the hunters in the present crisis? Give the meaning of: “Sign’d in thy spoil, and crimson’d in thy lethe.”
Ans. The conspirators Brutus, Cassius, Casca, and others are the hunters. The phrase ‘Sign’d in thy spoil, and crimson’d in thy lethe’ means they have marked themselves by their destructive act and are stained with Caesar’s blood. ‘Lethe’ is the river of forgetfulness in Greek mythology, but here, Antony uses it to mean blood, implying the conspirators have plunged their hands into a river of blood that will be hard to forget.

(iv) In what way was the world, “the forest to this hart,” and “this indeed, “0 world, the heart of thee”?
Ans. The world was the ‘forest to this hart’ because it was the territory where Caesar, like a deer, roamed and gained his power and influence. He was a dominant figure in the world. The phrase, ‘and this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee’ means that Caesar was the very life and soul of the world, and by killing him, the conspirators have torn out its heart.

(v) Why does the speaker arouse Cassius’ suspicion? What does Cassius ask the speaker as a result of the suspicion?
Ans. Antony’s emotional speech and his poetic praise for the murdered Caesar arouse Cassius’s suspicion. Cassius fears that Antony’s true intentions are not to be friends with them but to stir up the people against them. As a result, Cassius interrupts Antony and asks him directly, ‘What compact mean you to have with us? / Will you be prick’d in number of our friends? / Or shall we on, and not depend on you?’ He is essentially asking Antony to state his allegiance clearly.

9. Antony
And Caesar’s spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice
Cry “Havoc!” and let slip the dogs of war,
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.

(i) Why is Caesar’s spirit “raging for revenge”? When and to whom does Caesar’s spirit appear later in the play?
Ans. Caesar’s spirit is ‘ranging for revenge’ because his life was unjustly taken by the conspirators. He was killed not in a fair battle, but by friends who he trusted. His spirit, therefore, seeks to avenge this betrayal. Caesar’s spirit later appears to Brutus, first at his camp in Sardis before the Battle of Philippi, and then again on the battlefield, haunting him.

(ii) Who is Ate? Why is her name used in the context? What is meant by “confines”?
Ans. Ate is the Greek goddess of discord, mischief, and revenge. Her name is used in this context to personify the destructive forces that will be unleashed upon Rome. Antony is saying that the civil war to come will be fueled by this kind of blind rage and vengeful destruction. ‘Confines’ here refers to the territory of Italy, where this conflict will take place.

(iii) “With a monarch’s voice Cry “Havoc!” – This indicates absolute and authoritative
royal command for destruction. What does the expression foretell about the things to come?
Ans. The cry of ‘Havoc!’ was an ancient military command that gave soldiers permission to loot and slaughter without mercy. When Antony says Caesar’s spirit will cry ‘Havoc!’ with a ‘monarch’s voice’, it foreshadows a widespread, brutal, and authoritative command for destruction. This expression foretells that the upcoming civil war will be total, merciless, and will bring about immense suffering, bloodshed, and chaos.

(iv) Who are “the dogs of war”? Which foul deed is referred to and how will it “smell above the earth”?
Ans. The ‘dogs of war’ are a metaphor for the brutal, destructive forces of war, soldiers, violence, and all the terrible consequences that follow. The ‘foul deed’ is the assassination of Caesar. It will ‘smell above the earth’ because the massive number of dead bodies left unburied after the conflict will create a stench that rises from the ground, symbolizing the overwhelming and inescapable horror of the war.

(v) What would the consequences of these happenings be for the conspirators and as well as for Antony?
Ans. The consequences for the conspirators will be their ultimate defeat and death in the ensuing civil war. They will be hunted and killed as a result of the destruction Antony prophesies. For Antony, the consequences will be the opposite. He will gain power and become one of the three rulers of Rome. The chaos he unleashes will serve his purpose of avenging Caesar’s death and consolidating his own authority.

10. Antony
Yet, stay awhile;
Thou shalt not back till I have borne the corpse
Into the market-place: there shall I try,
In my oration, how the people take
The cruel issue of these bloody men…

(i) To whom is Antony speaking? Why is this person here? Where are they?
Ans. Antony is speaking to Octavius’s servant. This person is here because Octavius had sent him to find out about the situation in Rome following the assassination of Caesar. They are in the Senate house, where Caesar’s body lies.

(ii) What had Antony just said to this person before telling him to “stay awhile”? How did this person help Antony?
Ans. Before telling the servant to ‘stay awhile’, Antony had instructed him to ‘Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced’. The servant had just informed Antony that Octavius was ‘within seven leagues of Rome’. By staying, the servant helps Antony by giving him time to assess the public’s reaction to the assassination. Antony will then send the servant back to Octavius with an updated account of the political climate in Rome, which will help Octavius decide how to proceed.

ii) Explain the meaning of “oration”. What does this passage reveal to us about what Antony proposed to do?
Ans. An ‘oration’ is a formal public speech. In this passage, Antony reveals that he intends to test the public’s opinion of the assassination during his funeral speech. He will use his speech, not merely to mourn Caesar, but as a calculated tool to gauge how the people of Rome feel about the conspirators. This plan reveals Antony’s strategic and cunning nature.

iv) Earlier, Antony said, “Over thy wounds now do I prophesy.” Mention any three points of his prophesy.
Ans. Earlier in a soliloquy, Antony had made a prophecy over Caesar’s body. Three points of this prophecy were: first, a curse shall fall upon the limbs of men, leading to domestic fury and civil strife; second, blood and destruction shall be commonplace; and third, Caesar’s spirit, with the goddess of revenge, Ate, by his side, will cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war, leading to widespread devastation and unburied bodies.

(v) Which trait of Antony’s nature is shown in this passage? Give examples of two other occasions in the play where a different aspect of his character is shown-distinct from the one shown in this extract.
Ans. This passage shows Antony’s cunning, strategic, and patient nature. He is not impulsive; he carefully plans his next move based on a rational assessment of the situation. Another aspect of his character is seen earlier in the scene when he appears grief-stricken and submissive to the conspirators, shaking their bloody hands and offering himself up for death. This shows his ability to hide his true intentions. Later in the play, Antony shows his ruthless and merciless side when he coldly plans to kill his enemies and even reduce the legacies left by Caesar’s will to raise money, proving his lack of sentimentality when it comes to power.

TEST AND EVALUATION

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. Caesar
If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.
Metellus
Is there no voice more worthy than my own,
To sound more sweetly in great Caesar’s ear
For the repealing of my banish’d brother?

(i) Where does this scene take place? What is it that Metellus is begging for? What does Caesar feel about Metellus’ way of begging? (3)
Ans. This scene takes place in the Senate House in Rome. Metellus is begging for the repeal of his brother’s banishment. Caesar views Metellus’s begging with disdain, seeing it as a form of lowly, fawning flattery.

(ii) What is Caesar’s attitude towards Metellus? What evidence do you find for such an attitude in the extract? (3)
Ans. Caesar’s attitude toward Metellus is one of contempt and arrogance. The evidence is in his words, ‘I spurn thee like a cur out of my way’, which likens Metellus to a worthless dog. His assertion, ‘Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause / Will he be satisfied’, shows his pride and inflexibility, reinforcing his view of Metellus’s pleas as a waste of time.

(iii) Give the meaning of:
If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. (3)
Ans. The lines mean, ‘If you bend, pray, and fawn like a dog for him, I will kick you out of my way like a stray dog’. The phrase ‘bend and pray and fawn’ describes a servile, humble manner, while ‘spurn thee like a cur’ is a forceful rejection, treating Metellus as a low-class, unwanted creature.

(iv) What has Caesar already said about petitions presented to him with utter humility? (3)
Ans. Caesar has previously stated that such humble entreaties and lowly courtesies might influence ordinary people, but they will not sway him. He believes that to be influenced by such flattery would be to show ‘rebel blood’, suggesting it would be a betrayal of his true, constant nature.

(v) Metellus’ question in the extract serves an important role in the execution of the plan hatched by the conspirators. State how. (4)
Ans. Metellus’s question is crucial because it serves as the cue for the other conspirators to join in the plea. When he asks, ‘Is there no voice more worthy than my own’, he is inviting Brutus and Cassius to come forward and make their own pleas for Publius Cimber. This collective kneeling and begging is a ruse to get all the conspirators in close proximity to Caesar, allowing them to carry out the assassination.

2. Servant
Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel;
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down;
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
Say I love Brutus, and I honour him;
Say I fear’d Caesar, honour’d him, and, lov’d him;

(i) What reason had been given earlier to explain Antony’s absence? Why was the servant sent? (3)
Ans. Antony was absent because Trebonius, one of the conspirators, was given the task of leading him away from the Senate House to prevent him from defending Caesar. The servant was sent by Antony to test the conspirators’ intentions and to ask for a safe audience with Brutus. Antony wanted to see if he could approach them without being harmed.

(ii) Give examples from the play to illustrate three qualities of Brutus that Antony speaks of. Give one example of each. (3)
Ans. The three qualities of Brutus mentioned by the servant are noble, wise, valiant, and honest. An example of his nobility is his concern for the Roman Republic over his personal feelings for Caesar. An example of his wisdom is his attempt to make the assassination seem like a noble sacrifice rather than a brutal murder. An example of his valour is his willingness to take the final responsibility for the deed.

(iii) Did Antony really love and honour Brutus? What does he say later about Brutus in this connection? (3)
Ans. No, Antony did not really love and honor Brutus. He was feigning friendship to manipulate the conspirators. Later in the scene, Antony reveals his true feelings in a soliloquy, where he calls the conspirators ‘butchers’ and vows revenge. He also mentions how his reputation now stands on ‘slippery ground’ for shaking hands with them.

(iv) Give examples from the play to prove that Antony fear’d, honour’d and loved Caesar. Give one example of each. (3)
Ans. Antony’s actions and words throughout the play prove his loyalty to Caesar. He feared Caesar in the sense that he respected his immense power; for example, he submits to Caesar’s whims in the opening scene. He honored Caesar by serving as his right-hand man and celebrating his triumphs. He loved Caesar deeply, as shown by his genuine grief and emotional outburst over Caesar’s body and his subsequent single-minded pursuit of revenge.

(v) Antony mentions four qualities of Caesar. Express briefly how far you agree
with each of the four? (4)
Ans. The servant mentions four qualities of Caesar: mighty, bold, royal, and loving. Caesar was undoubtedly mighty due to his military conquests and political power. He was bold in his actions, such as crossing the Rubicon, but this boldness often bordered on arrogance. He was not officially royal, as he had refused the crown, but his actions and dictatorial tendencies gave him a royal bearing and ambition. He could be loving, as shown by his affection for Antony and his willingness to pardon Brutus after the civil war with Pompey. However, this love was often mixed with pride and a sense of superiority.

3. Brutus
Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;
I never thought him worse.
Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
He shall be satisfied, and, by my honour,
Depart untouch’d.
Servant
I’ll fetch him presently.
[Exit
Brutus
I know that we shall have him well to friend.

(i) Who is referred to as the “master”? In what way is he wise? If he was valiant, why is he not present at this point of time? (3)
Ans. The ‘master’ is Mark Antony. He is wise because he doesn’t immediately rush to avenge Caesar but instead sends his servant to gauge the situation and secure his own safety. Although he is valiant, he is not present at this moment because Trebonius, one of the conspirators, was given the task of leading him away from the Senate House to ensure he couldn’t defend Caesar during the assassination.

(ii) Why has the master sent his servant? What condition has he put forward (through the servant) to enable him (i.e. the master) to come to the scene? (3)
Ans. Antony sent his servant to express his love and loyalty to Brutus, and to request a safe meeting. The condition he put forward through the servant was that if Brutus could guarantee his safety and explain why Caesar was killed, Antony would come to him and be his loyal follower.

(iii) What is the meaning and the implication of: “He shall be satisfied”? How ironic is Brutus’ statement: “We shall have him well to friend”? (3)
Ans. The phrase ‘He shall be satisfied’ means that Antony’s questions about why Caesar was killed will be answered, and he will have a full explanation. Brutus’s statement, ‘We shall have him well to friend’, is deeply ironic because Brutus is completely wrong. He believes Antony will be a loyal ally, but Antony has no intention of befriending them and is, in fact, already planning his revenge.

(iv) Who else is present at this time? How is there a disagreement between Brutus and the person present on this decision about “the master”? (3)
Ans. Cassius is also present at this time. He and Brutus disagree on the decision to allow Antony to speak. Cassius is suspicious of Antony and warns Brutus that allowing him to speak at the funeral is a grave mistake that could turn the people against them. However, Brutus trusts Antony’s supposed good intentions.

(v) With reference to the extract, how does the master show that he is shrewd and intelligent? (4)
Ans. Antony shows he is shrewd and intelligent in this extract by not rushing into a dangerous situation. He uses his servant as a proxy to test the conspirators’ mood and intentions. By having the servant offer him up as a potential next victim, Antony subtly appeals to Brutus’s sense of honor and wisdom. This strategic maneuver secures his safe entry into the heart of the conspiracy, giving him the opportunity to carry out his plan for revenge.

4. Brutus
O Antony, beg not your death of us.
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
As, by our hands, and this our present act,
You see we do, yet see you but our hands
And this the bleeding business they have done…
Cassius
Your voice shall be as strong as any man’s
In the disposing of new dignities.

(i) In what manner has Antony just spoken to the conspirators? How do you
explain his attitude to them at this juncture? (3)
Ans. Antony has just spoken to the conspirators in a tone of surrender and resignation. He has offered himself up to be killed, saying that there is no more fitting time or place to die than at the hands of the ‘choice and master spirits of this age’, next to Caesar’s body. His attitude is a calculated mix of feigned loyalty and genuine grief, meant to disarm the conspirators and make them believe he is no threat to them.

(ii) What do these statements of Brutus and Cassius reveal about their natures? (3)
Ans. Brutus’s words reveal his idealistic and noble nature. He is trying to justify the assassination as a painful but necessary act done for the good of Rome, not out of malice. He wants Antony to see beyond the bloody appearance of their hands to the pitiful hearts that drove them to the deed. Cassius’s words, in contrast, reveal his pragmatic and politically savvy nature. He isn’t concerned with the moral justification of the act; instead, he immediately tries to secure Antony’s loyalty by offering him a share of political power.

(iii) What difference of opinion is there between Brutus & Cassius later in this scene? (3)
Ans. The main difference of opinion between Brutus and Cassius later in this scene is over whether to allow Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral. Cassius is firmly against it, fearing that Antony will use his speech to turn the people of Rome against them. Brutus, however, trusts Antony and believes that allowing him to speak will show the conspirators’ magnanimity and win the people’s support.

(iv) What role does Antony play in this scene? (3)
Ans. Antony plays a crucial role in this scene as a shrewd and cunning manipulator. He enters appearing submissive and harmless, using flattery and emotional appeals to get close to the conspirators. By feigning friendship and grief, he secures permission to deliver a funeral oration, which he secretly plans to use to incite the public to avenge Caesar’s death and start a civil war.

(v) Explain “bleeding business” and “disposing of new dignities.” (4)
Ans. ‘Bleeding business’ refers to the bloody act of assassinating Caesar. Brutus uses this phrase to acknowledge the gory, violent nature of their deed while separating it from their supposedly noble intentions. ‘Disposing of new dignities’ means distributing new honors, offices, and political positions in the new government. Cassius is telling Antony that if he joins them, he will have an equal say in who gets these new positions of power.

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ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 1 Extra Questions and Answers

Multiple Choice Questions

Q1. Who first stabs Caesar?
A. Brutus
B. Cassius
C. Casca
D. Cinna
Ans. C. Casca

Q2. What does Caesar say as he is being stabbed?
A. “Veni, vidi, vici.”
B. “Et tu, Bruté?”
C. “I am as constant as the northern star.”
D. “Ambition’s debt is paid.”
Ans. B. “Et tu, Bruté?”

Q3. Why does Artemidorus fail to get Caesar to read his letter?
A. Artemidorus is stopped by a guard.
B. Caesar dismisses him as a madman.
C. The letter is not addressed to Caesar.
D. Artemidorus gets scared and runs away.
Ans. B. Caesar dismisses him as a madman.

Q4. What is the main reason Brutus gives for killing Caesar?
A. He was jealous of Caesar’s power.
B. He believed Caesar was a tyrant.
C. Caesar had banished his brother.
D. He was following Cassius’s orders.
Ans. B. He believed Caesar was a tyrant.

Q5. What does Brutus tell the conspirators to do after the assassination?
A. Run away and hide.
B. Bathe their hands in Caesar’s blood.
C. Go to the marketplace and cry ‘Treason!’
D. Wait for Antony to arrive.
Ans. B. Bathe their hands in Caesar’s blood.

Q6. Who draws Antony away from the Senate house just before the assassination?
A. Brutus
B. Popillius
C. Trebonius
D. Cinna
Ans. C. Trebonius

Q7. What does Antony ask the conspirators for permission to do?
A. Take Caesar’s body away.
B. Speak at Caesar’s funeral.
C. Join their conspiracy.
D. Avenge Caesar’s death.
Ans. B. Speak at Caesar’s funeral.

Q8. Why is Cassius against letting Antony speak at the funeral?
A. He fears Antony will turn the people against them.
B. He thinks Antony is not a good speaker.
C. He believes Antony will betray them.
D. He wants to speak himself.
Ans. A. He fears Antony will turn the people against them.

Q9. To what does Caesar compare himself to show he is unchangeable?
A. The sun
B. A lion
C. The northern star
D. The sea
Ans. C. The northern star

Q10. What does Antony do after the conspirators leave the scene?
A. He begins to weep openly.
B. He kneels beside Caesar’s body and promises revenge.
C. He runs away in fear.
D. He starts preparing Caesar’s body for burial.
Ans. B. He kneels beside Caesar’s body and promises revenge.

Extract Based Questions

Answer the following extract-based questions.

A.
BRUTUS
People and senators, be not affrighted.
Fly not; stand still; ambition’s debt is paid.
DECIUS
Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go
And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.
BRUTUS
He is addressed. Press near and second him.
CINNA
Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.

Q1. What is meant by ‘ambition’s debt is paid’? What does this line reveal about Brutus’s motive?
Ans. Brutus declares that ‘ambition’s debt is paid’ to justify Caesar’s assassination to the public. He believes Caesar’s death was a necessary payment to prevent him from becoming a tyrant. This line reveals that Brutus’s motive was not personal hatred or jealousy, but a principled, albeit misguided, belief that he was acting to preserve the Roman Republic from what he perceived as Caesar’s overreaching ambition.

Q2. What is the ‘suit’ that Metellus Cimber is asked to present? Why does this particular request serve as the beginning of the conspirators’ plan?
Ans. The ‘suit’ is Metellus Cimber’s petition to Caesar to repeal the banishment of his brother, Publius Cimber. This request is the perfect ruse because it allows the conspirators to gather closely around Caesar under the guise of supporting a humble plea. By kneeling and appearing subservient, they can get into a position to strike without arousing suspicion.

Q3. Why does Cinna state that Casca will be the first to raise his hand? What does this action symbolize for the conspirators?
Ans. Cinna’s statement confirms that the conspirators have a pre-arranged order of attack. Casca, being known for his more crude and blunt nature, is chosen to deliver the first blow, a signal for the others to follow. This action symbolizes the conspirators’ shared commitment to the deed and their unity in carrying it out, as they all participate in the violent act to share the responsibility.

Q4. What does Brutus’s first line, ‘People and senators, be not affrighted’, show about his state of mind and his goals after the assassination?
Ans. Brutus’s words show that he is not in a state of panic or regret. Instead, he is focused and resolute. His primary goal is to immediately control the narrative and calm the public’s fear and confusion. He wants to present the assassination not as a chaotic act of murder but as a deliberate and justifiable political act for the good of Rome, which he hopes will win him support.

Q5. How do the events in this extract reveal the difference between Brutus and Cassius? What do their reactions suggest about their contrasting leadership styles?
Ans. The events in this extract, and the subsequent ones, clearly reveal the contrasting leadership styles of Brutus and Cassius. Brutus is an idealist who prioritizes moral justification and public perception. His leadership style is based on appealing to noble principles, as seen in his attempt to present the murder as a public service. He is naive and trusts in the goodness of others. Cassius, on the other hand, is a pragmatic and cynical political schemer. His leadership is focused on practical outcomes and is driven by suspicion and foresight. He constantly warns Brutus against actions he believes will be detrimental, like trusting Antony. Their differing styles ultimately lead to Brutus making a fatal error in judgment, which Cassius immediately recognizes, foreshadowing the civil war to come.

B.
ANTONY
O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,
Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.
—I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank.
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
As Caesar’s death’s hour, nor no instrument
Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world.

Q1. What does Antony mean by ‘conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, / Shrunk to this little measure’?
Ans. Antony is expressing shock and sorrow at the sight of Caesar’s dead body. He is reflecting on how all of Caesar’s immense achievements, his military conquests, his public honors, and the treasures he won have been reduced to nothing. ‘This little measure’ refers to Caesar’s corpse, which now occupies a tiny space in death compared to the vast power and influence he had in life.

Q2. What is the effect of Antony’s emotional outburst on the conspirators? Does he truly intend for them to kill him?
Ans. Antony’s emotional outburst is a calculated strategy. He is using his grief to appear harmless and loyal to Caesar, thereby disarming the conspirators. He doesn’t truly intend for them to kill him, but by offering his life, he is both subtly questioning their motives and securing his own safety. He is challenging them to either prove their noble intent or reveal their true, brutal nature.

Q3. Why does Antony refer to the conspirators’ swords as ‘made rich with the most noble blood of all this world’?
Ans. Antony refers to their swords as ‘made rich’ with Caesar’s ‘noble blood’ to express his deep admiration for Caesar and to subtly condemn the conspirators. By calling Caesar’s blood ‘most noble’, he directly refutes the conspirators’ claim that Caesar was a tyrant and implies that they have committed a monstrous and unjustifiable act. He is praising Caesar and shaming them at the same time.

Q4. What does Antony’s question, ‘Who else must be let blood, who else is rank’, imply about his understanding of the conspirators’ motives?
Ans. This question implies that Antony understands the conspirators’ public justification for the murder: they killed Caesar because they believed he was a political disease that needed to be purged from Rome. Antony is pretending to agree with this perspective by offering himself if they believe he is also ‘rank’ or corrupt. This shows his political shrewdness and his willingness to play along to get what he wants.

Q5. How does Antony’s speech in this extract serve as a turning point for his character and for the plot of the play?
Ans. Antony’s speech here is a crucial turning point for both his character and the plot. For his character, it marks his transition from a secondary, loyal friend of Caesar to the play’s primary antagonist. Up until this point, he has been a faithful but largely passive character. Now, he reveals his intelligence and cunning, using his feigned grief to manipulate the conspirators and secure a position of power. For the plot, this speech sets the stage for the rest of the play. It leads to the conspirators granting him permission to speak at the funeral, an event that single-handedly turns the Roman populace against them. The civil war that ensues is a direct result of Antony’s strategic and emotional performance in this scene.

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