ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 Important Question Answers
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Related:
- Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 Summary, Explanation
- Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 Character Sketch
- ICSE Class 10 English Lesson Notes
ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 Textbook Questions
ASSIGNMENTS
Multiple Choice Questions
1. After Brutus’ speech at Caesar’s funeral, what do the citizens of Rome offer to do?
(a) To take a revenge on the murders
(b) To crown Brutus as king
(c) To fight for the freedom of Rome
(d) To crown Mark Antony as king
Ans. (b) To crown Brutus as king
2. According to Antony, what would the people of Rome do after reading Caesar’s will?
(a) They will kiss Caesar’s wounds reverently
(b) They will avenge his murder
(c) They will start destruction in Rome
(d) They will crown his best friend as king
Ans. (a) They will kiss Caesar’s wounds reverently
3. Whose blow was the most cruel to Caesar, according to Antony?
(a) Cassius’
(b) Brutus’
(c) Casca’s
(d) Decius’
Ans. (b) Brutus’
4. How does Antony describe Caesar’s wounds?
(a) Meek creatures
(b) Unfortunate mouths
(c) Poor dumb mouths
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c) Poor dumb mouths
5. Brutus in his funeral speech appealed to
(a) the Roman citizens’ civic pride
(b) the Roman citizens vulnerability
(c) the Roman citizens self-respect
(d) the Roman citizens past
Ans. (a) the Roman citizens’ civic pride
6. Which of the following reasons did Brutus give for killing Caesar despite being his friend?
(a) He did not like his ways
(b) He loves his freedom more than anything
(c) He loved Rome more than Caesar
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c) He loved Rome more than Caesar
7. For whom did Antony use the words ‘honourable men’ in the funeral speech for Caesar?
(a) All the conspirators
(b) All the people of Rome
(c) All those present there
(d) None of the above
Ans. (a) All the conspirators
8. Who has been referred to by Mark Antony as ‘Caesar’s angel’?
(a) Calpurnia
(b) Brutus
(c) Octavius
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) Brutus
9. Who said, “I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth…”?
(a) Brutus
(b) Cassius
(c) Caesar
(d) Antony
Ans. (d) Antony
CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1.Brutus
Be patient till the last.
Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause;
and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine
honour, and have respect to mine honour, that you may
believe. Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your
senses, that you may the better judge.
(i) Where is Brutus? Whom does he request to be patient and on what occasion is this speech made? What was the purpose of the speech?
Ans. Brutus is in the Forum, speaking to a crowd of Roman citizens from the pulpit. He requests them to be patient and silent so they can hear him out. This speech is made immediately after Caesar’s assassination, as Brutus attempts to justify the killing to the public and prevent a riot. The purpose of his speech is to defend his actions and convince the crowd that killing Caesar was necessary for the good of Rome.
(ii) How important was honour for Brutus? Give one example to justify your answer. In what way did his commitment to honour lead him to the present crisis?
Ans. Honour was of paramount importance to Brutus; it was the guiding principle of his life. He explicitly says, ‘Believe me for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour’. An example of his commitment is his belief that killing Caesar was a noble act for the sake of Rome, even though it meant betraying a dear friend. His unwavering commitment to what he perceived as honorable duty led him to join the conspiracy and assassinate Caesar, which ultimately led to the political crisis in Rome and his own downfall.
(iii) “Hear me for my cause.” What was his cause? Were his motives genuine? How can you justify your answer?
Ans. Brutus’s cause was to prevent Caesar from becoming a tyrant and to save the Roman Republic from what he saw as a dangerous, ambitious ruler. His motives were genuine in that he truly believed he was acting for the common good. He wasn’t motivated by personal jealousy or greed, unlike some of the other conspirators. His sincerity is evidenced by his famous line, ‘not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more’.
(iv) What was the reaction of his listeners in the beginning as well as at the end of the scene? How did the change in their attitude come about?
Ans. In the beginning, the listeners were angry and demanding answers, ready to condemn the conspirators. They were initially satisfied with Brutus’s logical and patriotic speech, even cheering him as a hero and wanting to crown him. However, their attitude changes drastically after Antony’s speech. Antony’s emotional appeal, use of sarcasm, and revelation of Caesar’s will turn their admiration for Brutus into a violent thirst for revenge against him and the other conspirators.
(v) Give the meaning of: “Censure me in your wisdom.” Who passed censure on him? In what way has this changed the course of action in the play?
Ans. ‘Censure me in your wisdom’ means ‘judge me with your intelligence’. Brutus is asking the citizens to use their reason, not their emotions, to evaluate his actions. Antony, as the main character, passes the most significant censure on him, using his funeral oration to turn the public opinion. This act completely changes the course of the play: the Roman citizens, instead of supporting the conspirators, become a vengeful mob, forcing Brutus and Cassius to flee Rome and marking the beginning of the civil war that would lead to the downfall of the conspirators.
2.Brutus
Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony.
Do grace to Caesar’s corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Caesar’s glories, which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allow’d to make.
I do entreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
[Exit
(i) Why does Brutus intend to “depart alone”? Why are the listeners left behind? Which error of judgement made by Brutus is revealed by his instruction to the listeners?
Ans. Brutus intends to depart alone to show his humility and to avoid being seen as a new Caesar. He wants to demonstrate that his actions were for the good of Rome, not for personal gain or glory. The listeners are left behind to show respect to Caesar’s body and to hear Antony’s speech. This instruction reveals Brutus’s fatal error in judgment: his underestimation of Antony’s rhetorical skills and his naive belief that Antony would not turn the crowd against him.
(ii) Give the meaning of:
(a) Do grace to Caesar’s corpse, and grace his speech.
(b) …not a man depart.
Ans. (a) ‘Do grace to Caesar’s corpse, and grace his speech’ means to show respect and honor to Caesar’s body and to give Antony’s speech a courteous and respectful audience.
(b) ‘…not a man depart’ means that no one should leave. Brutus is entreating the crowd to stay until Antony has finished speaking.
(iii) What explanation had Brutus given in his speech for the murder of Caesar? What was the reaction of his listeners?
Ans. In his speech, Brutus explained that he killed Caesar because he feared Caesar’s ambition would enslave the Roman people. He argued that he loved Rome more than he loved Caesar and that the murder was a necessary act to preserve the Republic’s freedom. The listeners’ initial reaction was to support Brutus. They hailed him as a hero, wanted to erect a statue of him, and even proposed making him the new Caesar.
(iv) Who has given Antony permission to speak? Give any two conditions under which Antony is allowed to speak.
Ans. Brutus and the conspirators have given Antony permission to speak. The two conditions under which he is allowed to speak are that he must not blame the conspirators for Caesar’s death, and he must speak from the same pulpit as Brutus.
(v) State which of Caesar’s glories would Antony refer to in his speech a little later. What does he want to achieve by his speech?
Ans. Antony would refer to several of Caesar’s glories, including his victories that brought great wealth to Rome and his compassion for the poor. He also mentions Caesar’s refusal of the kingly crown. By his speech, Antony wants to achieve a complete reversal of public opinion. His goal is to incite the crowd to riot, avenge Caesar’s death, and turn against the conspirators, whom he subtly and sarcastically paints as traitors.
3. Antony
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them,
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious;
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it.
(i) As Antony ascends the platform to speak, what did the citizens feel and say about Caesar, Brutus and Antony?
Ans. As Antony ascends the platform, the citizens feel a mix of triumph and suspicion. They are fully convinced by Brutus’s speech that Caesar was a tyrant. They celebrate Brutus as a hero and say that Caesar’s better parts should be crowned in Brutus. Regarding Antony, they are suspicious but tolerant, believing he is only there to pay his respects. They say he must ‘speak no harm of Brutus’.
(ii) Why did the citizens stay behind to listen to Antony? In what way does Antony repel their suspicion in the beginning of his speech?
Ans. The citizens stay behind to listen to Antony because Brutus, their new hero, has asked them to. Antony repels their suspicion by beginning his speech with a line that seems to support the conspirators’ view, ‘I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him’. This makes him seem non-threatening and respectful of Brutus’s actions, which immediately earns him their trust and full attention.
(iii) Which evil, which Caesar is said to have done, lives after him? Give two examples of the good done by Caesar.
Ans. The evil that is said to have lived after Caesar is his ambition, which Brutus used as the justification for his murder. Antony, however, will later reveal that Caesar’s true evil was not his ambition but his death at the hands of those who are now revered. Two examples of the good done by Caesar that Antony mentions are: first, bringing many captives home to Rome, whose ransoms filled the public treasury, and second, weeping when the poor cried, showing his deep compassion.
(iv) Why does Antony say “the noble Brutus”? Why does he use the expression “If it were so”? Why couldn’t he be frank in his remarks?
Ans. Antony says ‘the noble Brutus’ with ironic undertones. He uses the repetition of this phrase to subtly question Brutus’s motives and character. He uses the expression ‘If it were so’ because he is not convinced that Caesar was ambitious; he is merely acknowledging Brutus’s claim. He couldn’t be frank in his remarks because he was given permission to speak on the strict condition that he would not blame the conspirators. Being direct would have gotten him killed.
(v) Why do you admire Antony at this juncture? State briefly how he dealt with the crisis, he found himself in.
Ans. At this juncture, one can admire Antony’s brilliance as an orator and his cunning political strategy. He found himself in an extremely dangerous situation, surrounded by a hostile and volatile crowd that revered his enemies. He dealt with this crisis by using rhetoric to his advantage. Instead of directly attacking Brutus, which would have been suicidal, he used insinuation, irony, and rhetorical questions to turn the crowd against the conspirators, all while appearing to praise them. This clever manipulation of language allowed him to safely navigate a life-threatening situation and successfully achieve his goal of inciting the people to riot.
4. Antony
Let but the commons hear this testament-
Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read-
And they would go and kiss dead Caesar’s wounds,
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
Unto their issue.
(i) Which testament is referred to by Antony and who are referred to as “the commons”? Why does Antony not want to read the testament?
Ans. The testament referred to is Caesar’s will. ‘The commons’ refers to the common people of Rome, the plebeians. Antony initially says he does not want to read the will because he knows its contents will inflame their passions and turn them against the conspirators. By pretending to withhold it, he cleverly makes the crowd desperate to hear it. This builds suspense and anticipation, making the eventual reveal more impactful.
(ii) Give the meaning of: Bequeathing it as a rich legacy/Unto their issue.
Ans. ‘Bequeathing it as a rich legacy / Unto their issue’ means leaving it as a valuable inheritance to their children. Antony suggests that the memory of Caesar would be so precious to the Roman people that they would consider a simple hair or a napkin stained with his blood to be a priceless heirloom to be passed down to future generations.
(iii) Mention two of the purposes why the commons would dip their napkins in Caesar’s blood and beg a hair of his. Why is the blood of Caesar said to be sacred? (Refer to the speech of Brutus earlier, in which he indicates how Caesar should be murdered.)
Ans. The commons would dip their napkins in Caesar’s blood and beg a hair of his for two main purposes: as a holy relic of a beloved and fallen leader and as a token of remembrance and deep affection for him. The blood of Caesar is said to be sacred because Brutus, in an earlier speech, had suggested they should murder Caesar as a sacrifice for the good of Rome, not as a cruel act of butchery. This elevated Caesar’s death to a sacred, almost religious event in the minds of the citizens.
(iv) Besides the testament, which other item does Antony show later to the commons? How does that incite the commons?
Ans. Besides the testament, Antony later shows the commoners Caesar’s body, specifically his mantle (cloak), pointing out the specific places where each conspirator stabbed him. This act greatly incites the commons by turning an abstract crime into a deeply personal and visible tragedy. Seeing Caesar’s corpse, marred with wounds, transforms their rage into a violent fury.
(v) State briefly how Antony cleverly played on the emotions of the common people and show how they reacted as he desired.
Ans. Antony masterfully plays on the emotions of the common people by shifting his rhetoric from rational appeal to emotional manipulation. He uses pathos, or emotional appeal, to stir their hearts. First, he subtly uses irony to undermine Brutus’s logic. Then, he feigns humility, presenting himself as a simple man grieving for his friend. Finally, he uses the will and Caesar’s body as powerful props, providing tangible reasons for their anger. As a result, the people react exactly as he desires: they become an enraged mob, seeking to avenge Caesar’s death by burning the conspirators’ houses and running through the streets with fire and swords.
5. Antony
I tell you that which you yourselves do know;
Show you sweet Caesar’s wounds, poor poor dumb mouths,
And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue
In every wound of Caesar, that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
(i) Why are the wounds referred to as “poor dumb mouths”? If Brutus were Antony, what would have happened in every wound of Caesar?
Ans. Antony refers to the wounds as ‘poor dumb mouths’ because they are a silent testimony to the violence committed against Caesar; they cannot speak for themselves. This personification allows Antony to speak for them. He implies that if Brutus were in his place, and a skillful orator like him, he would have ‘put a tongue’ in every wound, meaning he would have made each stab wound speak volumes and successfully incite the citizens to rebellion.
(ii) What does Antony indirectly say to indicate that there should be a mutiny? Bring out the irony in his words in the extract.
Ans. Antony indirectly suggests a mutiny by saying, ‘but were I Brutus… there were an Antony / Would ruffle up your spirits… that should move / The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny’. He is essentially telling the crowd that a true avenger would incite them to riot, while feigning a lack of such power himself. The irony lies in the fact that Antony is doing exactly what he claims he cannot do. He is an expert orator, and he knows these words will have the very effect he pretends to be incapable of creating.
(iii) At the end, how does the mob leave the scene? What do they plan to do? What does Antony, being satisfied, say after the departure of the mob?
Ans. At the end, the mob leaves the scene in a state of violent fury. They plan to burn Caesar’s body in the holy place and use the firebrands to burn down the houses of the conspirators. Satisfied with his work, Antony says, ‘Now let it work! Mischief, thou art afoot, / Take thou what course thou wilt’.
(iv) Where does Antony go at the end of the scene? Whom does he join there? What happens to Brutus and Cassius?
Ans. At the end of the scene, Antony goes to Caesar’s house to join Octavius Caesar and Lepidus. A servant reports that Brutus and Cassius, having received news of the mob’s reaction, have fled like ‘madmen through the gates of Rome’.
(v) Mention, with examples, any three of the tactics used by Antony to make the common people slaves of passion and resentment.
Ans. Antony uses three main tactics to manipulate the common people and make them slaves of passion and resentment. First, he uses verbal irony, repeatedly calling the conspirators ‘honourable men’ while presenting evidence that contradicts this claim. For example, he mentions how Caesar brought captives home to fill the coffers, which doesn’t align with an ambitious leader, yet he continues to call Brutus ‘honourable’. This repetition plants seeds of doubt. Second, he employs emotional appeals by presenting himself as a grieving friend and using Caesar’s body and mantle as visual aids. By pointing to the ‘most unkindest cut of all’ from Brutus, he shifts the focus from political debate to personal betrayal. Finally, he uses a strategic reveal with Caesar’s will. By pretending to not want to read it, he makes the crowd’s desire to hear it overwhelming. When he finally reveals that Caesar left every Roman citizen money and his private property, he solidifies their resentment and turns their grief into a powerful, destructive rage.
TEST AND EVALUATION
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Antony
But yesterday the word of Caesar might
Have stood against the world; now lies he there,
And none so poor to do him reverence.
O masters, if I were dispos’d to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honourable men.
I will not do them wrong…
(i) Till the death of Caesar, his word was powerful. Mention an incident in which Caesar overruled the request of all the major conspirators. (3)
Ans. Caesar’s word was powerful enough to stand against the world. An incident that demonstrates his unwavering authority, even against the conspirators, occurred in Act II. Despite the pleas of his wife, Calpurnia, and the warnings of a soothsayer, Caesar overruled their requests and the advice of his friends, ultimately deciding to go to the Senate. He also ignored the letter of Artemidorus which listed the conspirators. This shows his confidence and refusal to be swayed.
(ii) Who are the “honourable men”? Why are they honourable’ in the context of this extract (3)
Ans. The ‘honourable men’ are the conspirators, including Brutus and Cassius, who assassinated Caesar. They are considered ‘honourable’ in the context of this extract because Antony is using the phrase ironically. By repeatedly and sarcastically calling them honorable while presenting evidence of their wrongdoing, he subverts the meaning of the word. He uses this verbal irony to subtly turn the mob against them without directly breaking his promise to Brutus not to blame them.
(iii) Mention the tactics Antony uses to stir the mob to mutiny. To which aspect of the mob’s behaviour does he appeal? How? (3)
Ans. Antony uses subtle manipulation and reverse psychology to stir the mob. He pretends to be a simple man who is not a great orator. He tells the crowd that he will not do the conspirators wrong by stirring them to mutiny, but in doing so, he plants the idea of rebellion in their minds. He appeals to the mob’s emotions and sense of pity for Caesar. He moves them from reasoned judgment, which Brutus appealed to, to a powerful, passionate rage.
(iv) Antony says: “I will not do them wrong.” Whom, does he say, he would choose to do no wrong? What would he do instead? (3)
Ans. Antony says he will not do Brutus and Cassius wrong. Instead, he would choose to do wrong to the dead, wrong to himself, and wrong to the crowd. This is another example of his cunning reverse psychology. He’s effectively saying that their interests are less important than the conspirators’, which is a lie designed to enrage the people and make them demand that he right the ‘wrong’ he’s pretending to do them.
(v) What document does Antony have in his hand? Where does he find it? Why does he say that he does not intend to read it to his audience? (4)
Ans. Antony has Caesar’s will in his hand, which he found in Caesar’s closet. He says he does not intend to read it to his audience to create suspense and to manipulate the crowd’s curiosity. He claims that hearing the will would inflame them and make them go mad, which is precisely his intention. By feigning reluctance, he makes the people desperate to hear its contents and proves that the conspirators’ claim about Caesar’s ambition is false.
2. Antony
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle: I remember
The first time ever Caesar put it on;
Twas on a summer’s evening, in his tent,
That day he overcame the Nervii.
Look, in this place ran Cassius’ dagger through:
See what a rent the envious Casca made:
Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb’d…
(i) What are the feelings of the citizens for Antony at this point of his speech? How do they show their feelings? (3)
Ans. At this point in his speech, the citizens’ feelings for Antony have shifted from suspicion to sympathy and trust. They are moved by his apparent grief and his poignant words. They show their feelings by urging him to read the will and by gathering closer, making a circle around Caesar’s body as Antony requested, ready to hang on his every word.
(ii) What is the significance of the mantle referred to in the extract? Who were the Nervii? (3)
Ans. The mantle is a powerful symbol. It’s a tangible, personal item of Caesar’s that represents his humanity and his greatness. Antony uses it to connect with the crowd’s emotions. The Nervii were a fierce Belgic tribe whom Caesar defeated in a major battle during the Gallic Wars. By mentioning this victory, Antony reminds the crowd of Caesar’s military prowess and glory.
(iii) Why does Antony mention the names of Cassius, Casca and Brutus in the extract as he shows the mantle? What were his motives for doing so? (3)
Ans. Antony mentions the names of Cassius, Casca, and Brutus as he shows the mantle to personify the stabs and assign blame directly to each conspirator. His motive is to make the crime personal and immediate for the crowd. By showing the specific holes made by each dagger, he turns an abstract act of regicide into a brutal, treacherous murder committed by individuals the crowd knew and, in some cases, trusted.
(iv) Why is Brutus referred to as the “well-beloved”? Referring to Antony’s speech, describe in detail how the blood flowed, as soon as Brutus stabbed Caesar. (3)
Ans. Brutus is referred to as ‘the well-beloved’ because he was Caesar’s closest friend and a respected figure in Rome. Antony says that when Brutus stabbed Caesar, the blood flowed out as if it were ‘rushing out of doors to be resolved / If Brutus so unkindly knocked or no’. This vivid imagery suggests that Caesar’s very blood was trying to confirm if it was truly his beloved friend who had struck the blow.
(v) Why was the stabbing of Caesar by Brutus “the most unkindest cut of all.” How does Antony describe it? What does Antony ask the people to do at the end of this part of his speech? (4)
Ans. The stabbing by Brutus was ‘the most unkindest cut of all’ because it was an act of ingratitude and betrayal from a dear friend, which was more devastating to Caesar than any physical wound. Antony describes it as the moment that broke Caesar’s heart, causing him to be vanquished by ingratitude. At the end of this part of his speech, Antony asks the people to look at Caesar’s body, revealing it from beneath the mantle, stating, ‘Here is himself, marred as you see with traitors’.
ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 Extra Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. Why does Brutus say he killed Caesar?
A. Because Caesar stole from the Roman treasury.
B. Because Caesar was a military dictator.
C. Because Brutus loved Rome more than he loved Caesar.
D. Because Caesar was planning to kill Brutus and Cassius.
Ans. C. Because Brutus loved Rome more than he loved Caesar.
Q2. What rhetorical device does Antony use most effectively in his speech?
A. Sarcastic repetition of ‘honorable men’.
B. Direct threats to the plebeians.
C. Telling a long, personal story about his friendship with Caesar.
D. Ignoring Brutus’s arguments completely.
Ans. A. Sarcastic repetition of ‘honorable men’.
Q3. What does Antony show the crowd to prove Caesar’s generosity?
A. Caesar’s jewels.
B. Caesar’s will.
C. Caesar’s sword.
D. A letter from Caesar to his wife.
Ans. B. Caesar’s will
Q4. How does the crowd’s opinion of Brutus change during the scene?
A. They support him at the beginning and at the end.
B. They never support him.
C. They initially support him but turn against him after Antony’s speech.
D. They are always suspicious of him.
Ans. C. They initially support him but turn against him after Antony’s speech.
Q5. What is the ‘most unkindest cut of all’ according to Antony?
A. The stab from Cassius.
B. The stab from Casca.
C. The stab from Brutus.
D. The stab from Cinna.
Ans. C. The stab from Brutus.
Q6. What does Antony’s famous line, ‘I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him’, reveal about his true intentions?
A. He genuinely wants to give a short, simple speech.
B. He is being ironic and actually intends to praise Caesar to turn the crowd against the conspirators.
C. He is afraid of Brutus and the conspirators and must be careful with his words.
D. He believes Caesar was a flawed leader.
Ans. B. He is being ironic and actually intends to praise Caesar to turn the crowd against the conspirators.
Q7. How do the plebeians react immediately after Antony reveals the contents of Caesar’s will?
A. They decide to mourn Caesar in silence.
B. They vow to get revenge and riot.
C. They become fearful and flee Rome.
D. They demand to speak with Brutus.
Ans. B. They vow to get revenge and riot.
Q8. What is the last gift Caesar left for the Roman people in his will?
A. His house and fortune.
B. His military equipment.
C. His private gardens and orchards.
D. His entire book collection.
Ans. C. His private gardens and orchards.
Q9. Why does Brutus leave before Antony’s speech is over?
A. He has to attend to another matter.
B. He is arrogant and believes he has already won the crowd.
C. He is afraid of Antony.
D. He wants to show the plebeians he trusts Antony.
Ans. D. He wants to show the plebeians he trusts Antony.
Q10. What does the plebeians’ swift change of allegiance from Brutus to Antony suggest about them?
A. They are deeply intellectual and thoughtful.
B. They are easily manipulated and emotional.
C. They are unwavering in their political beliefs.
D. They are strong military leaders.
Ans. B. They are easily manipulated and emotional.
Extract Based Questions
Answer the following extract-based questions.
A.
[Enter Antony and others, with Caesar’s body.]
Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony, who,
though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the
benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth, as
which of you shall not? With this I depart — that, as I slew
my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same
dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need
my death.
All
Live, Brutus! live, live!
[Brutus descends from pulpit.]
First Plebeian
Bring him with triumph home unto his house.
Second Plebeian
Give him a statue with his ancestors.
Third Plebeian
Let him be Caesar.
Fourth Plebeian
Caesar’s better parts
Shall be crown’d in Brutus.
First Plebeian
We’ll bring him to his house with shouts and clamors.
Brutus
My countrymen —
Second Plebeian
Peace, silence! Brutus speaks!
First Plebeian
Peace, ho!
Brutus
Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony.
Do grace to Caesar’s corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Caesar’s glories, which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allowed to make.
I do entreat you not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
[Exit Brutus.]
Q1. What does Brutus’s speech reveal about his character?
Ans. Brutus’s speech reveals his belief in his own noble motives and his unwavering commitment to Rome. He frames his actions as a selfless act for the public good and is so confident in his righteousness that he believes his logic alone will satisfy the crowd. He’s also portrayed as somewhat naive, as he trusts Antony to speak without anticipating the full extent of his rhetorical power.
Q2. What is the significance of the plebeians’ reactions to Brutus’s speech?
Ans. The plebeians’ reactions demonstrate their volatile and emotional nature. They are easily swayed by Brutus’s compelling and logical appeal, initially hailing him as a hero and even wanting to crown him the new Caesar. Their quick change of allegiance shows they are more driven by the immediate force of a powerful speaker than by a deep, unwavering political conviction.
Q3. How does Brutus’s decision to allow Antony to speak contribute to the play’s dramatic irony?
Ans. Brutus’s decision is a key moment of dramatic irony because the audience knows that Antony poses a great threat to the conspirators, while Brutus remains blissfully unaware. He believes that by allowing Antony to speak, he is demonstrating his own fairness and solidifying his position as a respected leader, but this act of generosity ultimately leads to his downfall.
Q4. Explain Brutus’s claim, ‘I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death’.
Ans. Brutus’s claim is a profound statement of his honor and patriotism. He means that he is willing to die for Rome in the same way he killed Caesar, with the same dagger, if the country ever decides that his death is for the greater good. This demonstrates his complete dedication to his ideals and his belief that no individual, not even himself, is above the needs of the state.
Q5. In this excerpt, analyze the contrast between Brutus’s self-perception and the plebeians’ perception of him.
Ans. In this excerpt, Brutus’s self-perception is that of a noble patriot who made a difficult but necessary decision for the good of Rome. He sees himself as a principled man of honor, willing to sacrifice his best friend and even his own life for the republic. The plebeians’ perception is more impulsive and less philosophical. They see him as a hero who freed Rome from a tyrant. Their reaction, however, is not based on a deep understanding of his principles but on their emotional response to his rhetoric. They hail him as a savior and want to reward him with the very power he claimed to fight against. This contrast highlights the gap between Brutus’s principled idealism and the crowd’s more superficial, emotionally driven support.
B.
Antony
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interrèd with their bones —
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious.
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answered it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest —
For Brutus is an honorable man;
So are they all, all honorable men —
Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me.
But Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man.
He hath brought many captives home to Rome,
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill.
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept;
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man.
You all did see that on the Lupercal
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And sure he is an honorable man.
Q1. What is the effect of Antony’s repeated phrase, ‘For Brutus is an honorable man’?
Ans. Antony’s repeated phrase is a masterful use of verbal irony. By repeating it, he slowly drains the words of their original meaning. The more he presents evidence contradicting Brutus’s claim of Caesar’s ambition, the more the phrase sounds sarcastic and hollow, subtly planting doubt in the minds of the plebeians about the conspirators’ true character.
Q2. How does Antony present himself in the opening of his speech?
Ans. Antony presents himself as a humble and impartial speaker who has come with permission from the conspirators to simply say a few words about his deceased friend. He claims he is not there to praise Caesar but to bury him, which makes the crowd lower their guard and listen to his seemingly neutral perspective, allowing him to subtly manipulate them.
Q3. What three pieces of evidence does Antony use to counter the claim of Caesar’s ambition?
Ans. To counter Brutus’s claim of Caesar’s ambition, Antony uses three specific pieces of evidence: Caesar bringing back captives and their ransoms to fill Rome’s public treasury, his compassion and weeping for the poor, and his famous act of thrice refusing the kingly crown during the festival of the Lupercal.
Q4. What is the central paradox Antony highlights in the first part of his speech?
Ans. Antony highlights the paradox that Brutus and the conspirators claimed to kill Caesar for his ambition, yet all the evidence Antony presents points to a compassionate, generous, and humble leader. This contrast between the stated motive for the murder and Caesar’s benevolent actions is designed to make the crowd question the honor of the assassins themselves.
Q5. Explain how Antony’s speech is designed to be more persuasive to the crowd than Brutus’s speech was.
Ans. Antony’s speech is designed to be more persuasive because it appeals to emotion rather than just logic. While Brutus uses reason and abstract ideas like ‘honor’ and ‘patriotism’, Antony connects with the crowd on a personal level. He speaks as a grieving friend, uses concrete examples of Caesar’s good deeds, and repeatedly uses sarcasm to make the audience question the conspirators without him ever having to directly accuse them. He makes the crowd feel a personal connection to Caesar’s loss and injustice, which is a much more powerful motivator for action than Brutus’s lofty political ideals.