ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 2 Important Question Answers
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Related:
- Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 2 Summary, Explanation
- Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 2 Character Sketch
- ICSE Class 10 English Lesson Notes
ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 2 Textbook Questions
ASSIGNMENTS
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which characteristic trait of Brutus is seen in this scene?
(a) Impulsive
(b) Calm
(c) Rational
(d) Patriotic
Ans. (a) Impulsive
2. What message does Brutus give to Messale for Cassius?
(a) Wait for him at Sardis
(b) Attack the enemy
(c) Send money to him
(d) All of the above
Ans. (b) Attack the enemy
3. Which error does Brutus make in this scene?
(a) He misinterprets his army’s message
(b) He misinterprets his army’s strength
(c) He ordered an attack on Octavius’ army too early
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (c) He ordered an attack on Octavius’ army too early
4. What is referred to by the term “legions” in this scene?
(a) Areas
(b) Troops
(c) Boundaries
(d) Battlefield
Ans. (b) Troops
CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Brutus
Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills
Unto the legions on the other side. [Loud alarum
Let them set on at once, for I perceive
But cold demeanour in Octavius’ wing,
And sudden push gives them the overthrow.
Ride, ride, Messala: let them all come down.
(i) Where does this scene take place? What is meant by “these bills”? What is referred to as “the legions on the other side”?
Ans. This brief but critical scene takes place on the field of battle at Philippi. The phrase ‘these bills’ refers to written dispatches or military orders that Brutus needs Messala to deliver. These orders contain the tactical instructions for the attack. ‘The legions on the other side’ refers to the divisions of Brutus and Cassius’s army that are positioned on the flank or a different part of the battlefield, separate from Brutus’s immediate command. Messala must quickly reach them to ensure a coordinated assault.
(ii) What instructions does Brutus give? To whom are these instructions to be Given?
Ans. Brutus issues an urgent, threefold command to Messala. First, Messala must ‘Ride, ride, Messala, ride’, emphasizing the critical need for speed. Second, he must deliver the written orders to the ‘legions on the other side’. The specific instruction contained in the orders is: ‘Let them set on at once’, meaning the distant divisions must launch an immediate and simultaneous attack. The instructions are to be given to the commanders of the other Republican legions.
(iii) Brutus hopes to have advantage at this juncture. What indications has he perceived in this regard?
Ans. Brutus believes he has spotted a fleeting opportunity, a crucial advantage in the battle. He perceives a ‘cold demeanor in Octavius’ wing’, meaning that the division of the opposing army led by the young Octavius is showing a lack of spirit, enthusiasm, or resolve. This perceived weakness suggests low morale or a shaky line that could collapse easily. Brutus believes that a ‘sudden push’ will capitalize on this vulnerability and secure their victory, giving his army ‘the overthrow’ i.e. the defeat of the enemy.
(iv) What warning did Octavius give to Brutus the previous night? How was the warning taken?
Ans. The line of questioning here appears to contain a factual error, as Octavius did not give Brutus a warning the previous night. The warning Brutus received was from the Ghost of Julius Caesar in Act 4, Scene 3, which appeared to him in his tent at Sardis. The Ghost sternly announced: ‘Thou shalt see me at Philippi’. Brutus, although briefly disturbed, retained his stoicism. He confirmed he would see the ghost again and then attempted to rationalize the sighting away, concluding that it was merely a creation of his overworked mind, before ordering the march to Philippi to commence.
(v) What changes do you notice in the character of Brutus in this scene?
Ans. In this scene, Brutus transforms from the philosophical, deliberative leader of earlier acts into an impulsive, decisive soldier. Throughout the play, Brutus has been defined by his tendency to overthink, his concern for honor over practicality, and his reliance on rhetoric. Here, however, he acts purely on a swift, military instinct, issuing sharp, repeated, and urgent orders i.e. ‘Ride, ride’, ‘set on at once’. This decisive action demonstrates his new commitment to the ‘tide in the affairs of men’ philosophy which is seizing the moment. Ironically, while he displays the energy necessary for command, this very impulsiveness leads to his fatal tactical error, as he acts prematurely and destabilizes the overall Republican battle plan.
ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 2 Extra Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. What is the main purpose of Brutus’s speech in this scene?
A. To bid Messala farewell before the battle.
B. To chastise Octavius’s forces for their weak position.
C. To issue an urgent, tactical command for a full-scale assault.
D. To mourn the loss of his earlier political ideals.
Ans. C. To issue an urgent, tactical command for a full-scale assault.
Q2. Who enters the scene with Brutus?
A. Titinius
B. CassiusAns
C. Messala
D. Lucilius
. C. Messala
Q3. What stage direction immediately precedes Brutus’s entrance, signaling the battle’s intensity?
A. A trumpet flourish
B. Thunder and lightning
C. Enter two Captains
D. Alarum
Ans. D. Alarum
Q4. What items does Brutus instruct Messala to take to the legions on the other side?
A. Swords and shields
B. News of Caesar’s ghost
C. Money for bribes
D. Bills (written orders)
Ans. D. Bills (written orders)
Q5. What is the tactical instruction contained within the ‘bills’?
A. To retreat to the hills.
B. To set on at once.
C. To wait for a better opportunity.
D. To parley with Antony.
Ans. B. To set on at once.
Q6. Brutus perceives a weakness in the opposing army, describing it as ‘cold demeanor’ in whose wing?
A. Antony’s
B. Octavius’s
C. Lepidus’s
D. Cassius’s
Ans. B. Octavius’s
Q7. What outcome does Brutus predict if his army makes a ‘sudden push’?
A. A temporary ceasefire
B. A successful parley
C. Octavius’s regrouping
D. The enemy’s overthrow
Ans. D. The enemy’s overthrow
Q8. What does the phrase ‘Let them all come down’ refer to the command for?
A. The enemy surrendered their weapons.
B. All divisions of Brutus’s army descend to the plain and fight.
C. Messala to dismount his horse.
D. The rain began to extinguish the torches.
Ans. B. All divisions of Brutus’s army descend to the plain and fight.
Q9. Which two qualities does Brutus most clearly display through his language in this brief, urgent scene?
A. Cowardice and melancholy
B. Eloquence and indecision
C. Decisiveness and urgency
D. Philosophical doubt and contemplation
Ans. C. Decisiveness and urgency
Q10. What does the urgency in Brutus’s orders imply that he believes the ‘cold demeanor’ of the enemy is?
A. A sign of their complete surrender.
B. A trick to lure his army into a trap.
C. A fleeting, temporary weakness that must be exploited immediately.
D. The result of the battle already being won.
Ans. C. A fleeting, temporary weakness that must be exploited immediately.
Extract Based Questions
Answer the following extract-based questions.
A.
Alarum. Enter BRUTUS and MESSALA
BRUTUS
Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills
Unto the legions on the other side.
Loud alarum
Let them set on at once;
Q1. What is the significance of the repeated command ‘Ride, ride, Messala, ride’?
Ans. The repetition emphasizes the extreme urgency of the situation. Brutus needs Messala to travel as quickly as possible across the battlefield to deliver the critical written orders, or ‘bills’, to the other divisions before the opportunity to strike the enemy is lost.
Q2. What are the ‘bills’ that Brutus asks Messala to deliver?
Ans. The ‘bills’ are written dispatches or military orders. They instruct the legions on the other side of the army to ‘set on at once’, meaning they are to launch an immediate and simultaneous attack against the enemy forces, ensuring a coordinated assault.
Q3. Explain the atmosphere created by the stage direction, Alarum. Loud alarum.
Ans. The Alarum (a trumpet call to battle) establishes a setting of chaos and immediate combat. The ‘Loud alarum’ reinforces this atmosphere, signaling that the battle is not just imminent, but has already begun or is at a fever pitch, demanding instant action from Brutus.
Q4. To which specific part of their army is Messala ordered to ride?
Ans. Messala is ordered to ride to ‘the legions on the other side’. This indicates that Brutus’s army is divided, and this critical order must be delivered to the troops who are currently positioned on the flank or far side of the main body of their forces.
Q5. Briefly discuss Brutus’s qualities as a military leader as shown in this part of the scene, referencing his language and decisions.
Ans. Brutus demonstrates both decisiveness and urgency as a military leader. His language is commanding, using the imperative ‘Ride, ride’ repeatedly to stress speed. His key decision to launch a coordinated attack ‘set on at once’ shows his ability to perceive a fleeting advantage and issue an immediate, clear tactical command to capitalize on it. Unlike the more introspective Brutus of earlier acts, he acts here with a soldier’s instinct, prioritizing swift execution over philosophical contemplation, proving his competence in the heat of battle.
B.
…for I perceive
But cold demeanor in Octavius’ wing,
And sudden push gives them the overthrow.
Ride, ride, Messala: let them all come down.
Exeunt
Q1. What specific weakness does Brutus perceive in the enemy’s army?
Ans. Brutus perceives a ‘cold demeanor’ in ‘Octavius’ wing’. This suggests that Octavius’s division of the army is showing a lack of spirit, enthusiasm, or resolve, indicating low morale or a shaky defensive line.
Q2. What does Brutus believe will be the result of a ‘sudden push’?
Ans. Brutus believes that a ‘sudden push’, a swift, aggressive, and coordinated charge, will result in the enemy’s defeat. He sees a temporary weakness that a rapid, all-out attack can exploit to secure victory.
Q3. What does Brutus mean when he says, ‘let them all come down’?
Ans. This phrase is the final, sweeping command for action. It means that all the divisions, especially those Messala has alerted, must descend upon the enemy from their current positions, likely the hills or higher ground, to join the decisive battle below.
Q4. What is the tactical purpose of Brutus launching an attack now instead of waiting?
Ans. The purpose is exploitation of advantage. By attacking immediately, Brutus aims to maximize the effect of Octavius’s ‘cold demeanor’, which might soon be remedied. A timely assault prevents the enemy from regrouping or regaining their morale, turning their temporary weakness into a catastrophic rout.
Q5. Explain how Brutus’s perception and immediate order contribute to the theme of Fortune in War that runs throughout the play.
Ans. This moment is Brutus’s crucial attempt to seize the opportunity, or ‘tide in the affairs of men’, that he spoke of in an earlier scene. He recognizes that Fortune has offered them a moment of vulnerability in the enemy line. His order is an act of free will to exploit this chance. However, the tragedy of the scene is that, historically, Brutus’s wing acted too soon and charged before Cassius’s wing was ready. This premature push ultimately proves that even the best intentions and most decisive actions can be undone by the chaos and unpredictable nature of war, reinforcing the play’s ultimate tragic theme.