ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 2 Important Question Answers
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Related:
- Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 2 Summary, Explanation
- Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 2 Character Sketch
- ICSE Class 10 English Lesson Notes
ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 2 Textbook Questions
ASSIGNMENTS
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Who is referred to as Pindarus’ master?
(A) Brutus
(B) Cassius
(C) Antony
(D) Octavius
Ans. (B) Cassius
2. According to Brutus, what does a friend begin to do when his love begins to decline and diminish?
(A) He tries to part ways
(B) He uses corrupt means
(C) He uses forced formalities
(D) He does not bother for anything
Ans. (C) He uses forced formalities
3. With whom has Brutus compared an insincere man?
(A) Worthless horse
(B) Worthless runner
(C) Worthless friend
(D) None of the above
Ans. (A) Worthless horse
4. Which allegation is made by Cassius against Brutus?
(A) He has forgotten him
(B) He has wronged him
(C) He has betrayed him
(D) He has unnecessarily blamed him
Ans. (B) He has wronged him
5. What reply does Brutus give for Cassius’ accusation against him?
(A) He has returned what Cassius gave him
(B) He cannot do any wrong with his relatives
(C) He cannot do any wrong even to his enemies.
(D) None of the above.
Ans. (D) None of the above.
6. According to Cassius, what hides the wrong done by Brutus?
(A) Dignified appearance
(B) His fear
(C) His outer personality
(D) None of the above
Ans. (A) Dignified appearance
7. Why does Brutus tell Cassius to discuss his grievances in private?
(A) Their dispute should not reach their wives’ ears.
(B) The morale of their armies does not diminish.
(C) Their dispute is no dispute at all.
(D) None of the above.
Ans. (B) The morale of their armies does not diminish.
8. What change is noticed in Brutus’ behaviour from the earlier scenes?
(A) He has become more relaxed and organised
(B) He has become drastically serious
(C) He has become impatient and suspicious
(D) None of the above.
Ans. (C) He has become impatient and suspicious
CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Lucilius
He is at hand; and Pindarus is come
To do you salutation from his master.
(Pindarus gives a letter to Brutus]
Brutus
[Reading the letter] He greets me well. Your master, Pindarus,
In his own change, or by ill officers,
Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
Things done undone. But, if he be at hand,
I shall be satisfied.
(i) Who is Pindarus? Name his master. What message does he convey to Brutus?
Ans. Pindarus is an officer or servant of Cassius, who is his master. Pindarus’s message is a formal salutation from Cassius to Brutus, indicating that Cassius himself and his army are very close by and ready to meet Brutus.
(ii) Render the following lines in your own words:
“In his own change, or by ill officers,
Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
Things done undone.”
Ans. These lines mean that Brutus believes Cassius, either due to a change in his own character or because he’s been misled by corrupt subordinates, has given Brutus good reason to regret some of the actions they have taken together, implying that he wishes some past decisions could be reversed
(iii) Give two reasons to explain why the master of Pindarus did some things or did not do other things?
Ans. After the extract, Pindarus assures Brutus that his master, Cassius, will appear as he always has, ‘full of regard and honor’, suggesting that Cassius is still a man of his word. Later in the scene, Brutus asks Lucilius how Cassius received him. Lucilius reports that Cassius received him with courtesy and respect, but not with the usual warmth, familiarity, or free and friendly discussion that they shared in the past, leading Brutus to realize their friendship is strained.
(iv) What does Pindarus say about his master to Brutus after the extract? How did the master receive Lucilius?
Ans. After the extract, Pindarus assures Brutus that his master, Cassius, will appear as he always has, ‘full of regard and honor’, suggesting that Cassius is still a man of his word. Later in the scene, Brutus asks Lucilius how Cassius received him. Lucilius reports that Cassius received him with courtesy and respect, but not with the usual warmth, familiarity, or free and friendly discussion that they shared in the past, leading Brutus to realize their friendship is strained.
(v) Where does this scene take place? Why are Brutus and Cassius here?
Ans. This scene takes place near Brutus’s military camp, which is located near the town of Sardis in Asia Minor. Brutus and Cassius are here because they have joined their armies to form a combined military force. They have done this to prepare for the final decisive battle against the forces of the Second Triumvirate i.e. Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus, who are marching against them following the assassination of Julius Caesar.
2. Brutus
Thou hast describ’d
A hot friend cooling; ever note, Lucilius,
When love begins to sicken and decay,
It useth an enforced ceremony.
There are no tricks in plain and simple faith:
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;
But when they should endure the bloody spur,
They fall their crests, and, like deceitful jades.
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?
(i) Who has just described whom? What is meant by “A hot friend cooling”?
Ans. Lucillius has just described Cassius and how he received him. Lucillius reported to Brutus that while Cassius was courteous, he lacked the usual warmth and familiar conversation they previously shared. ‘A hot friend cooling’ means that a friendship which was once passionate, close, and spirited is now losing its warmth, intensity, and enthusiasm, becoming distant and strained. Brutus uses this phrase to summarize Lucillius’s observation about Cassius.
(ii) When love begins to decline, what happens? What is said in the extract about sincere friendship?
Ans. When love or friendship begins to decline, the person who is insincere starts using an ‘enforced ceremony’, meaning they replace genuine affection with strained, unnatural, or overly formal manners and politeness. In contrast, the extract states that in sincere friendship, there are ‘no tricks’ ; it is honest, direct, and requires no elaborate, false shows of respect.
(iii) Explain how men who are insincere in their friendship may be compared to a horse.
Ans. Insincere men are compared to horses that are ‘hot at hand’, meaning they are spirited and energetic when they are being held easily, making a grand display of their strength and bravery. However, when they are put to a real test, like enduring the painful ‘bloody spur’ in a difficult race or battle, they give up, lose their courage, and fail or ‘sink in the trial’, just like ‘deceitful jades’ i.e. worthless, worn-out horses.
(iv) Whom is Brutus referring to as an insincere friend? What has happened to their relationship now? Why?
Ans. Brutus is referring to Cassius as the potentially insincere friend. Their relationship has become strained and distrustful. Brutus sees a distinct lack of genuine warmth and an unwelcome formality in Cassius’s behavior. The relationship has soured because Brutus has heard reports that Cassius has either changed personally for the worse or has used his power for corrupt purposes through his officers, causing Brutus to regret their past alliance.
(v) Compare the relationship between Brutus and Cassius to that between Antony and Octavius.
Ans. The relationship between Brutus and Cassius is one of old, personal friendship now strained by political and financial disagreements, but they share a common cause (republicanism) and generally respect each other’s status. In contrast, the relationship between Antony and Octavius is purely an alliance of political convenience driven by the shared goal of defeating the conspirators. While Brutus and Cassius’s dispute stems from a breakdown of personal honor, Antony and Octavius’s relationship is characterized by a more ruthless, strategic struggle for ultimate power, especially seen in how they coldly decide who must die and their eventual falling out over who will lead their forces.
3. Cassius
Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs;
And when you do them-
Brutus
Cassius, be content,
Speak your griefs softly; I do know you well.
Before the eyes of both our armies here,
Which should perceive nothing but love from us,
Let us not wrangle: Bid them move away;
Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
And I will give you audience.
(i) Which “sober form” of Brutus is referred to by Cassius? What are the wrongs? How does the sober form hide wrongs?
Ans. The ‘sober form’ Cassius refers to is Brutus’s serious, dignified, and outwardly moral appearance and demeanor. The ‘wrongs’ are the specific actions Brutus has recently taken against Cassius, particularly for supposedly punishing or condemning Cassius’s officer, Lucius Pella, for taking bribes. Cassius feels this action was an overstep of Brutus’s authority and an insult to him. Cassius suggests that Brutus’s well-known, honorable reputation and reserved manner (‘sober form’) serve as a mask or shield, preventing people from seeing the unjust or harsh deeds he commits, making his wrongs difficult to challenge.
(ii) What does Brutus say before this extract about the wrongs done by him? How is it an irony?
Ans. Before this extract, Brutus does not say anything about wrongs done by him; he speaks only of wrongs done by Cassius. He tells Pindarus that Cassius ‘Hath given me some worthy cause to wish / Things done undone’. The irony here is that Brutus, who has accused Cassius of corruption and dishonor, is immediately and fiercely accused of doing wrong by Cassius. Brutus expects honorable conduct from everyone else, but he is now suddenly on the defensive, showing that even the ‘noblest Roman’ is not above reproach, especially when their friendship is deteriorating.
(iii) Which two armies are referred to? Why should they perceive “nothing but love”?
Ans. The two armies referred to are the forces commanded by Brutus and the forces commanded by Cassius. They are the remnants of the republican faction that assassinated Caesar. They should perceive ‘nothing but love’ meaning perfect unity and affection because they have formed a single allied force to fight against Antony and Octavius. If the soldiers see their two highest leaders arguing or fighting, their morale would be severely damaged, and they would lose faith and confidence in the leadership, potentially weakening their unified war effort.
(iv) What is meant by “enlarge your griefs,/ And I will give you audience”? Why does the speaker want to give audience to Cassius in the privacy of his tent?
Ans. ‘Enlarge your griefs’ means speak about your complaints in detail or fully express your worries and resentments. ‘And I will give you audience’ means I will listen to you formally and attentively. Brutus wants to give audience to Cassius in the privacy of his tent precisely because he wants to prevent the public display of their division. As stated earlier, wrangling in front of their armies would damage morale and weaken their united front. The tent offers a secure, private space where they can safely resolve their deep, personal differences without external interference or judgment.
(v) How does this extract compare the fortunes of Brutus and Cassius with that of Antony and Octavius in the earlier scene?
Ans. This extract highlights the deteriorating, fractured fortune of Brutus and Cassius. They are now fighting with each other, showing a breakdown in unity and wasting time on personal grievances just before a massive battle. In contrast, the earlier scene (Act 4, Scene 1) showed Antony and Octavius forging a new, ruthless alliance (the Second Triumvirate). While their relationship was also strained by political rivalry, they were actively organizing their government like listing proscribed citizens and efficiently planning their military strategy to hunt down and destroy Brutus and Cassius. Thus, the extract contrasts the Republican conspirators’ division and personal conflict with the Triumvirs’ cold, efficient, and focused political and military consolidation of power.
ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 2 Extra Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. What is the state of the relationship between Brutus and Cassius when the scene opens?
A. Completely unified and trusting.
B. Strained and filled with suspicion.
C. Cordial but overly formal.
D. Already resolved after a previous quarrel.
Ans. B. Strained and filled with suspicion.
Q2. Who first conveys a message to Brutus from Cassius in this scene?
A. Lucius
B. Lucillius
C. Pindarus
D. Titinius
Ans. C. Pindarus
Q3. When Brutus speaks of ‘A hot friend cooling’, he is referring to whose change in affection?
A. Antony’s love for Rome.
B. Cassius’s friendship for him.
C. Lucius’s loyalty.
D. Lucillius’s respect for Cassius.
Ans. B. Cassius’s friendship for him.
Q4. According to Brutus, what is the key characteristic of ‘plain and simple faith’?
A. It is often misleading.
B. It uses an enforced ceremony.
C. There are no tricks in it.
D. It relies on a gallant show.
Ans. C. There are no tricks in it.
Q5. To what does Brutus compare ‘hollow men’ (insincere people) who make a great show but fail when tested?
A. Sinking ships.
B. Deceitful jades
C. Falling stars.
D. Sickening and decaying love.
Ans. B. Deceitful jades
Q6. Where are Brutus and Cassius planning for their armies to be quartered that night?
A. Philippi
B. Rome
C. Sardis
D. Athens
Ans. C. Sardis
Q7. What is Cassius’s immediate accusation upon meeting Brutus?
A. Brutus is afraid to fight Antony.
B. Brutus has been plotting against him.
C. Brutus has wronged him.
D. Brutus’s army is disorganized.
Ans. C. Brutus has wronged him.
Q8. Brutus demands that he and Cassius move their dispute to his tent primarily because:
A. They need to consult military maps there.
B. He fears spies are listening to them.
C. The armies should perceive nothing but love from them.
D. He wants Lucius to witness the conversation.
Ans. C. The armies should perceive nothing but love from them.
Q9. Cassius claims that Brutus’s ‘sober form’ serves what purpose?
A. It inspires his soldiers’ loyalty.
B. It hides the wrongs Brutus commits.
C. It shows his wisdom and leadership.
D. It reminds Cassius of Caesar.
Ans. B. It hides the wrongs Brutus commits.
Q10. Who are assigned to guard the tent entrance while Brutus and Cassius speak privately?
A. Pindarus and Lucillius.
B. Lucius and Titinius.
C. The First and Second Soldiers.
D. Only Brutus’s personal guards.
Ans. B. Lucius and Titinius.
Extract Based Questions
Answer the following extract-based questions.
A.
BRUTUS
Thou hast described
A hot friend cooling. Ever note, Lucillius,
When love begins to sicken and decay,
It useth an enforcèd ceremony.
There are no tricks in plain and simple faith.
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle.
But when they should endure the bloody spur,
They fall their crests and, like deceitful jades,
Sink in the trial.
Q1. What observation did Lucillius make that prompted Brutus’s speech, and what does Brutus mean by calling Cassius ‘A hot friend cooling’?
Ans. Lucillius observed that Cassius received him courteously but lacked the usual personal warmth and familiar, friendly conversation he was accustomed to. By calling Cassius ‘A hot friend cooling’, Brutus means that Cassius, who was once passionate and close, is becoming distant and reserved. This signifies that the intense, affectionate nature of their friendship is decaying under the stress of their military and political troubles.
Q2. Explain Brutus’s metaphor concerning the use of ‘enforced ceremony’ when friendship fades.
Ans. Brutus’s metaphor means that when genuine affection begins to die, friends resort to stiff, artificial politeness and formalities i.e. ‘enforcèd ceremony’, to mask their true feelings of distance or dissatisfaction. He contrasts this with ‘plain and simple faith’, which is honest and requires no contrived show. The ceremony acts as a weak, manufactured substitute for the sincerity they once shared, indicating the relationship is now merely a formality.
Q3. Whom does Brutus refer to as ‘hollow men’, and how are they initially compared to horses?
Ans. Brutus refers to insincere or dishonest people as ‘hollow men’, those whose loyalty and honor are superficial. They are initially compared to ‘horses hot at hand’ spirited horses that appear brave and strong when they are not being seriously tested. These men ‘Make gallant show and promise of their mettle’ i.e. they show great bravery and promise of quality to impress others, just as a fiery horse makes a great display of its energy.
Q4. Explain the analogy of ‘deceitful jades’ sinking in the trial when enduring the ‘bloody spur’.
Ans. A ‘jade’ is a worthless, worn-out, or deceitful horse. The ‘bloody spur’ represents a harsh test or a moment of great danger and challenge. Just as these deceitful horses look strong but fail when the rider forces them with the spur, ‘hollow men’ reveal their true lack of courage and integrity. They ‘fall their crests’ (lose heart) and ‘Sink in the trial’, proving they were never genuinely brave or loyal when facing real adversity.
Q5. How does this speech establish the central conflict of the scene and foreshadow the outcome for the conspirators?
Ans. This speech immediately establishes the tension and distrust that defines the scene. Brutus’s insightful analysis of Cassius as a ‘hot friend cooling’ shows he is prepared for a confrontation, understanding that their political alliance is failing due to a moral breach. The metaphor of the ‘hollow men’ and the ‘deceitful jades’ foreshadows the eventual failure of the republican cause. Brutus implies that he fears Cassius’s corruption means their side lacks the genuine commitment and moral strength needed to ‘endure the bloody spur’ of the war against Antony and Octavius. If the foundations of their leadership are built on insincerity, as he suspects, their forces are bound to fail when the ultimate trial arrives at Philippi.
B.
CASSIUS
Most noble brother, you have done me wrong.
…
Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs;
And when you do them—
BRUTUS
Cassius, be content.
Speak your griefs softly. I do know you well.
Before the eyes of both our armies here,
Which should perceive nothing but love from us,
Let us not wrangle. Bid them move away.
Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
And I will give you audience.
Q1. What is Cassius’s primary emotion and immediate action upon arriving, and what is the nature of his accusation?
Ans. Cassius’s primary emotion is anger or resentment, which he expresses immediately upon arrival. His action is to launch a direct, public accusation against Brutus, declaring, ‘Most noble brother, you have done me wrong’. The nature of the accusation is serious and personal, implying a betrayal of their alliance or an injustice regarding military command or discipline.
Q2. Explain what Cassius means by ‘this sober form of yours hides wrongs’.
Ans. Cassius is criticizing Brutus’s outwardly dignified, reserved, and highly moral appearance I.e. ‘sober form’. He believes that Brutus’s reputation for being noble and strictly honorable actually serves as a shield or a mask. This public image, Cassius argues, allows Brutus to commit unfair or unjust actions i.e. the ‘wrongs’ without being questioned or challenged, as people automatically assume the upright Brutus cannot be guilty.
Q3. What is Brutus’s immediate response to Cassius’s accusation, and what is his rationale for this response?
Ans. Brutus immediately cuts Cassius off, telling him to ‘be content’ and to ‘Speak your griefs softly’. His rationale is that they are standing ‘Before the eyes of both our armies’, which must see ‘nothing but love’ from their leaders to maintain high morale and unity. Brutus prioritizes military discipline and the image of solidarity over immediate personal conflict resolution.
Q4. What solution does Brutus propose for addressing their conflict, and what is the meaning of ‘enlarge your griefs’?
Ans. Brutus proposes that they should stop arguing publicly i.e. ‘wrangling’ and that both commanders should order their respective armies to move away. The solution is for them to retire to Brutus’s private tent, where Cassius can then ‘enlarge your griefs’, which means explain your complaints fully, in great detail, and without interruption, while Brutus promises to listen attentively.
Q5. Discuss the contrast in leadership styles between Brutus and Cassius revealed in this extract and the implications for their military success.
Ans. This extract starkly contrasts the leadership styles of Brutus and Cassius. Cassius is emotional, impulsive, and confrontational, immediately launching into a personal attack without regard for the soldiers watching. This shows a lack of self-control that could easily undermine morale. Brutus, conversely, is composed, disciplined, and pragmatic. He instantly recognizes the danger of their public argument and forcefully asserts his authority to contain the dispute, demonstrating a focus on military protocol and strategic image. While Brutus’s discipline ensures temporary order, the underlying personal and ethical conflict that Cassius expresses threatens the very foundation of their alliance, suggesting that their disunity and internal friction could ultimately prove fatal when facing the highly centralized command of Antony and Octavius.