ICSE Class 9 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 1, Scene 1 Important Question Answers
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Related:
- Julius Caesar Act 1, Scene 1 Summary, Explanation
- Julius Caesar Act 1, Scene 1 Character Sketch
- ICSE Class 9 English Lesson Notes
ICSE Class 9 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 1, Scene 1 Textbook Questions
ASSIGNMENTS
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What is the rule that Murellus refers to?
(a) Workers ought to wear signs of their trade
(b) A carpenter’s foot rule
(c) Citizens should bow before officials
(d) All of the above
Ans. (a) Workers ought to wear signs of their trade
2. What sarcastic reason does the cobbler give Flavius for leading citizens on the street?
(a) To get himself more work
(b) To rejoice in Caesar’s Triumph
(c) To celebrate the feast
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Ans. (a) To get himself more work
3. What does the cobbler say to show that he is a master craftsman?
(a) He is a surgeon of old shoes
(b) He mends soles
(c) Every shoe-wearing gentleman has worn his handiwork
(d) He needed more work
Ans. (c) Every shoe-wearing gentleman has worn his handiwork
4. Why, according to Murellus, would there be a plague?
(a) Due to the crowding in the streets
(b) Due to the ingratitude of citizens
(c) Due to the hollow banks of the Tiber
(d) Due to the flowers strewn on the way.
Ans. (b) Due to the ingratitude of citizens
5. Why did Flavius consider it necessary to remove all the decorations with Caesar’s statues?
(a) To turn the people against him
(b) To replace them with new decorations
(c) To quell Caesar’s ego and popularity
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c) To quell Caesar’s ego and popularity
6. According to Murellus for whom had the citizens of Rome waited patiently earlier?
(a) Caesar
(b) Brutus
(c) Pompey
(d) Antony
Ans. (c) Pompey
7. What did Murellus ask the commoners of Rome to do?
(a) To pray for Caesar’s well-being
(b) To run away to their houses
(c) To pray to God to avert their punishment
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Ans. (d) Both (b) and ©
8. Why did Flavius ask the commoners to shed tears of remorse?
(a) For the dishonour shown to Pompey
(b) For the rise of a dictator
(c) For the loss of their liberty
(d) For making Caesar too powerful
Ans. (a) For the dishonour shown to Pompey
9. Which quality of the common man is reflected in this scene?
(a) Admiration for Caesar
(b) Fickleness
(c) Hatred for Caesar
(d) Fear of Caesar
Ans. (b) Fickleness
10. Which type of atmosphere in Rome is seen in Act I, Scene 1 of the play?
(a) Peace and happiness
(b) Confusion and chaos
(c) Strife and disunity
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c) Strife and disunity
11. What is the central theme of the play reflected in this scene?
(a) Conflict between monarchists and republicans
(b) Conflict between anarchy and democracy
(c) Conflict between dictatorship and democracy
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (a) Conflict between monarchists and republicans
12. The opening scene of the play reflects on which of the following causes that led to the development of the play?
(a) Caesar’s triumph over Pompey’s sons
(b) Caesar’s suspicions
(c) Mounting hostilities to Caesar’s rule
(d) Fear of Caesar
Ans. (c) Mounting hostilities to Caesar’s rule
CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Flavius
Hence! home, you idle creatures, get you home.
Is this a holiday? What, know you not,
Being mechanical, you ought not walk
Upon a labouring day without the sign
Of your profession? Speak, what trade art thou?
First Citizen
Why, sir, a carpenter.
Murellus
Where is thy leather apron and thy rule?
What dost thou with thy best apparel on?
You, sir, what trade are you?
(i) Who are Flavius and Murellus? Where are they and what are they doing there? Why?
Ans. Flavius and Murellus are Roman tribunes, which were elected officials who protected the rights of the common people. They are in a public street in Rome, confronting a group of commoners. They are there to stop the citizens from celebrating Caesar’s victory over Pompey, believing that the public’s celebration is disloyal and disrespectful to the Roman Republic.
(ii) Who are the “idle creatures”? Why are they called so? What makes the speaker ask if it is a holiday?
Ans. The ‘idle creatures” are the commoners of Rome, including a carpenter and a cobbler. They are called so because they are not at work on what should be a ‘labouring day’. Flavius asks if it is a holiday because the commoners are dressed in their best clothes and are gathered in the streets instead of being at their jobs.
(iii) Give the meaning of the following:
(a) Being mechanical……………
(b) a labouring day………
(c) sign of your profession………….
Pick out from the extract, an example of a sign of a profession.
Ans. (a) Being mechanical: Being a laborer or a working-class person who works with their hands.
(b) a labouring day: A normal workday, not a holiday.
(c) sign of your profession: The clothes, tools, or uniform that identify a person’s trade.
An example of a sign of a profession from the extract is the ‘leather apron and thy rule’ mentioned by Murellus, which are the tools of a carpenter.
(iv) Whom does Murellus address in the last line of the extract? What reply does he get? How does he react to the reply?
Ans. Murellus addresses the Cobbler in the last line, asking him for his trade. The Cobbler replies in a witty, indirect way, calling himself ‘a cobbler’ and ‘a mender of bad soles’. Murellus reacts with frustration, demanding a direct answer and calling him a knave, a dishonest or mischievous person.
(v) Giving an example each, show how Flavius and Murellus are men in authority. Who among them, do you think, exercises greater authority? Why?
Ans. Both Flavius and Murellus demonstrate authority by scolding the commoners and ordering them to go home. Flavius, for example, gives a direct command: ‘Hence! home, you idle creatures, get you home!’ Murellus shows his authority by interrogating the workers about their clothes and tools: ‘Where is thy leather apron and thy rule?’ Murellus seems to exercise greater authority in this specific interaction. While Flavius initiates the confrontation, Murellus takes the lead in interrogating the citizens with a more aggressive and demanding tone. His long, passionate speech to the commoners, which criticizes their disloyalty, is a powerful display of his commanding presence and is what ultimately makes the crowd disperse ‘tongue-tied in their guiltiness’.
2. Second Citizen
A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience;
which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.
Murellus
What trade, thou knave? thou naughty knave, what trade?
Second Citizen
Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you.
(i) What is meant by a “trade”? Of which trade is the second citizen? What is the pun involved with the word “soles”?
Ans. A ‘trade’ is a skilled job or profession, like carpentry or shoemaking. The Second Citizen is a cobbler, or a shoemaker. The pun on ‘soles’ has a double meaning: it refers to the soles of shoes and also sounds like ‘souls’, suggesting that he mends or helps people both physically by fixing their shoes and spiritually by being an honest, helpful person.
(ii) Why does the Second Citizen think that he “may use” the trade with a safe conscience?
Ans. He believes he can use his trade with a ‘safe conscience’ because his work is honest and helpful. He’s not cheating people or causing them harm. He simply fixes things and makes them better, which he considers a virtuous profession.
(iii) What is meant by “naughty knave”? What does this expression tell us about the attitude of the Romans towards artisans? Give two more examples of such expressions from the scene.
Ans. A ‘naughty knave’ means a mischievous or saucy person. This expression, along with others in the scene, shows a disrespectful attitude from the Roman officials (Flavius and Murellus) towards the working-class artisans. They view them as less important and not worthy of the same respect as citizens of higher status. The two other examples of such expressions are ‘idle creatures’ used by Flavius to call the commoners lazy and ‘You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things’ which is used by Murellus to insult their ingratitude and lack of loyalty.
(iv) Give the double meaning intended in the following expression:
…be not out with me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you.
Ans. This line has a clever double meaning. When the Cobbler says ‘be not out with me’, he means ‘don’t be angry with me’. The second part, ‘if you be out, sir, I can mend you’, also has two meanings. First, if Murellus is angry, the Cobbler can make him feel better (‘mend’ his mood). Second, in shoemaking, ‘out’ can refer to a shoe that is out of repair, which a cobbler can ‘mend’ or fix.
(v) Give two characteristic traits, each with an example, of the common people in this scene.
Ans. They are fickle-minded which could be seen in the celebration of Caesar’s victory. Murellus notes that the same people who once climbed walls to see Pompey now cheer for the man who defeated him. Their loyalty is to the current victor, not to a specific person or cause. They are witty and good-humored. The Cobbler, in particular, demonstrates this with his clever puns and humorous answers. Instead of being intimidated by the officials, he uses his words to playfully mock them and show his intelligence, like when he calls himself a ‘surgeon to old shoes’.
3. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? What tributaries follow him to Rome,
To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels?
You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!
O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome,
Knew you not Pompey?
(i) Who speaks these lines? To whom are these words addressed? What type of rejoicing is referred to in the extract?
Ans. Murellus speaks these lines to the commoners of Rome. He is referring to the type of rejoicing that takes place during a Roman triumph, a victory parade for a conquering general. The citizens are celebrating Caesar’s victory over Pompey’s sons.
(ii) Who is “he” referred to in the first line of the extract? What message does the speaker want to convey to his listeners through these questions?
Ans. He refers to Julius Caesar. Through his questions, Murellus wants to convey a message of shame and ingratitude. He is highlighting that Caesar’s victory is not a glorious conquest against a foreign enemy, but a bloody civil war against other Romans. By asking ‘What conquest brings he home?’, Murellus is challenging the commoners to see that Caesar has not brought back spoils or new lands, but has instead triumphed over Pompey, a respected Roman leader.
(iii) What is the conquest referred to in the extract? Why has the conqueror not brought any territory to Rome by his conquest?
Ans. The conquest referred to is Caesar’s victory over the forces of Pompey the Great, which were led by Pompey’s sons. Caesar has not brought any new territory or ‘tributaries’ to Rome because this was a civil war, not a conquest of a foreign land. Caesar’s victory was a triumph over other Romans, a point that Murellus emphasizes to shame the crowd.
(iv) Give the meaning of:
What tributaries follow him to Rome,
To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels?
Ans. A tributary is a person from a conquered nation who is forced to pay a tribute (a tax or payment) to the Roman government. During a triumph, the procession would include these captured leaders. Murellus is sarcastically asking where the conquered foreign kings and enslaved captives are, as is traditional in a true triumph. He points out that Caesar’s victory lacks these signs of a legitimate conquest, because he has defeated fellow Romans rather than foreign enemies.
(v) Who are referred to as “the cruel men of Rome”? Why are they called so?
Ans. The commoners of Rome are referred to as ‘the cruel men of Rome’. They are called so because of their fickleness and cruelty. Murellus sees their behavior as heartless because they are celebrating the downfall of Pompey, a man they once loved and cheered for. Their joyous celebration of Caesar’s triumph over Pompey’s own family is a cruel and ungrateful act in Murellus’s eyes.
4. Murellus
And when you saw his chariot but appear,
Have you not made an universal shout,
That Tiber trembled underneath her banks,
To hear the replication of your sounds
Made in her concave shores?
And do you now put on your best attire?
And do you now cull out a holiday?
And do you now strew flowers in his way,
That comes in triumph over Pompey’s blood?
(i) Whose chariot was seen? When? What did “you” do on seeing the chariot?
Ans. The chariot belonged to Pompey. This happened in the past when Pompey returned to Rome as a conquering hero after his military victories. Upon seeing his chariot, the people made a ‘universal shout’, a massive, collective cheer.
(ii) What is meant by “universal shout”? State in your own words what happened as a consequence of the shout.
Ans. A ‘universal shout’ means a great, unified roar or cheer from everyone in the crowd. According to Murellus, the shout was so loud and powerful that the Tiber River seemed to shake in its banks as if in response to the sound echoing off its curved shores.
(iii) What is meant by “Pompey’s blood”? Who comes now in triumph?
Ans. ‘Pompey’s blood’ is a figurative way of referring to Pompey’s family, specifically his sons whom Caesar defeated in a civil war. Caesar is the one who now comes in triumph.
(iv) How do the people now prepare for the triumphal entry of the person?
Ans. The people are now preparing for Caesar’s triumph by putting on their best clothes, taking a holiday, and strewing flowers in his path. Murellus points out the hypocrisy of their actions, as they are doing the same things for the man who defeated their previous hero, Pompey.
(v) What does the speaker want to achieve by his speech given in the extract?
Ans. Murellus wants to make the commoners feel ashamed and guilty for their ingratitude and shifting loyalties. He is trying to remind them of their past love for Pompey and expose their present hypocrisy in celebrating the man who defeated him. By using emotional language and vivid memories, he hopes to discourage them from celebrating Caesar’s triumph and to diminish Caesar’s popularity.
5. Murellus
May we do so?
You know it is the feast of Lupercal.
Flavius
It is no matter; let no images
Be hung with Caesar’s trophies. I’ll about,
And drive away the vulgar from the streets.
So do you too, where you perceive them thick.
These growing feathers pluck’d from Caesar’s wing
Will make him fly an ordinary pitch;
Who else would soar above the view of men
And keep us all in servile fearfulness.
(i) “May we do so?” What was Murellus supposed to do? Why?
Ans. Murellus was supposed to help Flavius remove the decorations from Caesar’s statues. He asks for confirmation because this act would be a sign of public defiance and disrespect, especially given the ongoing celebrations.
(ii) What was the feast of Lupercal? How was the feast normally celebrated?
Ans. The Feast of Lupercal was an ancient Roman festival celebrated on February 15th. It was a fertility ritual in honor of the god Lupercus. During the feast, priests would run through the streets and lightly strike women with thongs made from goatskin, which was believed to help them conceive.
(iii) What is meant by “trophies”? Why does Flavius say that no images should be hung with Caesar’s trophies?
Ans. Trophies refers to the banners, garlands, and other celebratory decorations placed on Caesar’s statues to honor his recent military triumphs. Flavius wants these removed because he sees them as symbols of Caesar’s rising power. By taking them down, he hopes to diminish Caesar’s public image and reduce his popularity among the people.
(iv) Who are “the vulgar”? Why are they so called?
Ans. The vulgar refers to the common people or the lower class of Roman citizens. They are called this because they are seen as being unsophisticated, easily influenced, and lacking the political awareness of the nobles and officials.
(v) How does the scene (from which the above extract is taken) reflect the changing fortunes of men in power and how does it indicate the behaviour of the common people in Rome?
Ans. This scene perfectly illustrates the unstable nature of power in Rome. Pompey, a great general, was recently the people’s hero, but now his fortune has changed, and he has been defeated by Caesar. As a result, the common people’s behavior has changed too; they have completely switched their loyalty from Pompey to the new victor, Caesar. This shows how fickle and easily swayed the Roman public is. They do not have a deep, lasting loyalty to any one leader, but rather celebrate whoever is currently in power. This shift in allegiance is what Flavius and Murellus fear, as they believe it could lead to Caesar becoming an absolute ruler.
TEST AND EVALUATION
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Second Citizen
Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl: I meddle with no tradesman’s matters, nor women’s matters; but withal I am, indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neat’s leather have gone upon my handiwork.
Flavius
But wherefore art not in thy shop today?
Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?
(i) To which question does the Second Citizen give his reply in the first sentence in the extract? Give one example to show that the Second Citizen has earlier confused the officer by his strange replies. (3)
Ans. The Second Citizen is replying to the question ‘What trade art thou?’ or more specifically, ‘Thou art a cobbler, art thou?’ from Flavius. An earlier example of his confusing replies is when he said he was a ‘mender of bad soles’, which could mean both shoe soles and people’s souls.
(ii) Give the meaning of: “All that I live by is with the awl.” What subtle humour is hinted at in this sentence? (3)
Ans. ‘All that I live by is with the awl’ means that his entire livelihood comes from his work as a shoemaker, using an awl (a tool used to poke holes in leather). The subtle humor is that he is finally giving a direct answer after frustrating the officials with puns, but he still can’t resist mentioning a shoemaking tool.
(iii) Why does the speaker call himself a surgeon? Explain clearly the implied comparison. (3)
Ans. The Cobbler calls himself a ‘surgeon’ to create a humorous comparison between his work and that of a doctor. A surgeon operates on a patient to ‘recover’ or save them from a dangerous condition. Similarly, the Cobbler ‘recovers’ old shoes from a ‘great danger’ of being unusable by repairing them. The implied comparison is that his work is as vital and skilled in its own way as a doctor’s.
(iv) Give the meaning of the following: “As proper men as ever trod upon neat’s leather, have gone upon my handiwork.” What is indicated about speaker’s craftsmanship in the given sentence? (3)
Ans. ‘As proper men as ever trod upon neat’s leather, have gone upon my handiwork’ means that many respectable men have walked on shoes that he has made or repaired. ‘Neat’s leather’ is cowhide, a common material for shoes. This statement indicates that the Cobbler is a master craftsman whose work is of high quality and has been used by many high-class gentlemen.
(v) What answer does the Second Citizen give to the following question of Flavius: “Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?” Why is the reply humorous? (4)
Ans. When asked, ‘Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?’ The Cobbler first gives a humorous and sarcastic reply: ‘Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into more work’. This reply is humorous because he is playfully admitting that he is causing the problem (making their shoes wear out) to benefit himself with future work. He is more interested in his trade than in the political reasons for the gathering, a point that frustrates the tribunes.
2. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault,
Assemble all the poor men of your sort;
Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears
Into the channel, till the lowest stream
Do kiss the most exalted shores of all.
See whe’r their basest metal be not mov’d;
They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness.
Go you down that way towards the Capitol;
This way will I: disrobe the images
If you do find them deck’d with ceremonies.
(i) Who is speaking in the extract? To whom is he speaking in the first part of the extract, and to whom in the second? (3)
Ans. The speaker is Flavius. He is speaking to the commoners in the first part of the extract (‘Go, go, good countrymen…’), and to his fellow tribune, Murellus, in the second part (‘Go you down that way…’).
(ii) What advice has the speaker given earlier to these people so that they might show remorse for their fault? If that advice was not taken, what would happen? (3)
Ans. Earlier, Murellus advised the people to ‘Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, / Pray to the gods to intermit the plague / That needs must light on this ingratitude’. The implication is that if they do not show remorse for their ingratitude toward Pompey, the gods will punish them with a plague.
(iii) Explain in your own words the following lines: (3)
Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears
Into the channel, till the lowest stream
Do kiss the most exalted shores of all.
Ans. The lines, ‘Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears / Into the channel, till the lowest stream / Do kiss the most exalted shores of all’, are a vivid exaggeration. Flavius is telling the commoners to go to the banks of the Tiber River and cry so much that their tears will raise the river’s water level. This is a hyperbolic way of telling them to show deep remorse for their disloyalty to Pompey.
(iv) Give the meaning of: (3)
(a) their basest metal
(b) vanish tongue-tied
(c) deck’d with ceremonies.
Ans. (a) their basest metal: This refers to the lowest or most common part of their character, like the lowest-quality metal. Flavius is questioning whether the commoners have any goodness or decency in them.
(b) vanish tongue-tied: This means they disappeared without saying anything, silenced by their guilt and shame.
(c) deck’d with ceremonies: This means decorated with ceremonial items like garlands, ribbons, or trophies from Caesar’s victories.
(v) Why are the images enrobed on this day? What is the reason for the speaker to tell his companion to “disrobe the images”? (4)
Ans. The images (statues) are decorated because it is the Feast of Lupercal and a day of celebration for Caesar’s triumph. Flavius tells Murellus to ‘disrobe the images’ to diminish Caesar’s public image and reduce his popularity. By removing the celebratory decorations, they hope to show the public that Caesar is not a god and to ‘pluck’ his ‘feathers’ so he cannot ‘soar’ too high and become a tyrant.
ICSE Class 9 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 1, Scene 1 Extra Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between statements (1) and (2).
Statement 1: Flavius tells Murellus that they would have to take all the
decorations off Caesar’s statues.
Statement 2: Flavius fears that Caesar’s growing powers would result in a life of
servitude for all Romans. (PYQ 2024-25)
A. Statement 1 is true and Statement 2 is false
B. Statement 2 is true and Statement 1 is false.
C. Statement 2 is the cause for Statement 1.
D. Statement 1 and Statement 2 are independent of each other.
Ans. C. Statement 2 is the cause for Statement 1.
Q2. What are the commoners celebrating in Act 1, Scene 1? (PYQ 2024-25)
A. Caesar’s victory over the sons of Pompey
B. Caesar’s victory over Pompey
C. The Feast of the Lupercal
D. The Ides of March
Ans. A. Caesar’s victory over the sons of Pompey
Q3.Pompey was ______________ (PYQ 2024-25)
A. Julius Caesar’s general
B. A Great Roman general and statesman
C. Defeated by Caesar in Egypt
D. An officer in Julius Caesar’s army.
Ans. B. A Great Roman general and statesman
Q4. Disrobe the images
If you do find them deck’d with ceremonies.
Who speaks these lines to whom? (PYQ 2024-25)
A. Flavius to Murellus
B. Marulus to Flavius
C. Flavius to the wandering workmen.
D. Murellus to the citizens
Ans. A. Flavius to Murellus
Q5. “Go, go, good countrymen, and for this fault
What is the fault that Flavius is refering to? (PYQ 2024-25)
A. removing the decorations from the statues of Caesar
B. showing ingratitude to Pompey
C. wandering around the streets on a working day
D. The impertinent way in which citizens spoke to the tribunes
Ans. C. wandering around the streets on a working day
Q6. For whom had these same people waited for in the years gone by? (PYQ 2024-25)
A. Flavius and Marulus
B. Julius Caesar
C. the tradesmen
D. Pompey
Ans. D. Pompey
Q7. The Tribunes rip down the banners celebrating Caesar’s arrival because (PYQ 2024-25)
A. his name was spelled incorrectly
B. Caesar had forbidden decorations
C. they were only to be hung in the palace, not on the streets
D. they wanted to weaken his powers
Ans. D. they wanted to weaken his powers
Q8. Who is the speaker of the following line?
“But what trade are thou?” (PYQ 2024-25)
A. Casca
B. Murellus
C. Flavius
D. Carpenter
Ans. B. Murellus
Q9. The Cobbler’s dialogue is full of what literary device?
A. Alliteration
B. Puns
C. Metaphor
D. Hyperbole
Ans. B. Puns
Q10. Why are Flavius and Murellus upset with the commoners at the beginning of the scene?
A. The commoners are celebrating a holiday that they did not approve of.
B. The commoners are insulting Caesar’s military victories.
C. The commoners are out of work and not wearing their professional attire.
D. The commoners are rioting in the streets
Ans. C. The commoners are out of work and not wearing their professional attire
Extract Based Questions
A.
Murellus- May we do so?
You know it is the feast of Lupercal.
FLAVIUS – It is no matter: let no images
Be hung with Caesar’s trophies.
Q1. What instruction has Flavius given to Marulus before this extract? (PYP Unit Test)
Ans. Before this exchange, Flavius instructed Murellus to ‘disrobe the images’ of Caesar if they found them decorated with ceremonial items. This was to remove the public symbols of Caesar’s triumph and reduce his growing popularity among the commoners, which they feared would lead to a life of servitude for all Romans.
Q2. What does Flavius volunteer to do after the extract? (PYP Unit Test)
Ans. After the extract, Flavius volunteers to personally drive away the vulgar, who are the commoners from the streets. He instructs Murellus to do the same wherever he sees large crowds. This is part of their overall plan to reduce Caesar’s public support and authority, aiming to pluck his power before he can rise too high.
Q3. Why is Murellus hesitant to remove the decorations from the statues?
Ans. Murellus is hesitant because it is the Feast of Lupercal, a sacred and ancient Roman holiday. He is concerned that interfering with the public celebrations on such a significant day would be seen as an act of sacrilege or defiance and could get them into trouble with the authorities.
Q4.What does Flavius’s response reveal about his character?
Ans. Flavius’s response reveals that he is determined and politically focused. By saying ‘It is no matter’, he shows that he cares more about curbing Caesar’s power than about respecting a traditional Roman holiday. His willingness to break with tradition for a political goal highlights his strong resolve and single-minded purpose.
Q5. How is Flavius more assertive than Murellus? Why do you think so? (PYQ Unit Test)
Ans. Flavius is more assertive than Murellus in this exchange. While Murellus questions the legality or wisdom of their plan by asking, ‘May we do so? You know it is the feast of Lupercal’, Flavius immediately dismisses his concerns. Flavius’s response, ‘It is no matter’, shows his determination and willingness to defy tradition and law for their cause. He takes charge by assigning roles for their plan, saying, ‘I’ll about, / And drive away the vulgar…So do you too’. This proactive, commanding tone highlights his greater assertiveness and political conviction compared to Murellus’s cautious questioning.
B.
MURELLUS
Where is thy leather apron and thy rule?
What dost thou with thy best apparel on?
—You, sir, what trade are you?
COBBLER
Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as
you would say, a cobbler.
MURELLUS
But what trade art thou? Answer me directly.
COBBLER
A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe
conscience, which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad
soles.
Q1. Why is Murellus questioning the Cobbler about his clothing?
Ans. Murellus questions the Cobbler because he’s wearing his best apparel instead of the typical clothes for his trade. On a working day, Romans were expected to wear the ‘sign of their profession’, such as a leather apron for a cobbler. Murellus is angry that the citizens are dressed for a holiday and idling in the streets instead of working. This shows his irritation with their celebration of Caesar.
Q2. What is the literal meaning of the Cobbler’s line, “I am but… a cobbler”?
Ans. The Cobbler’s line literally means that he is a shoemaker. When he says he is ‘but, as you would say, a cobbler’, he is speaking humbly, as if his trade is inferior to that of a ‘fine workman’. However, he uses this humble tone to cleverly deflect Murellus’s direct question and to show his witty intelligence.
Q3. What does the Cobbler’s phrase ‘mender of bad soles’ mean on a figurative level?
Ans. Figuratively, the phrase ‘mender of bad soles’ is a clever pun on the word ‘souls’. The Cobbler humorously suggests that he is not just a shoemaker who repairs the soles of shoes, but also a moral figure who metaphorically helps to mend the spiritual souls of people. This witty and defiant reply allows him to assert his dignity and worth in a playful way.
Q4. How does the Cobbler’s response to Murellus’s question show his intelligence and wit?
Ans. The Cobbler uses a clever pun on the word soles. By calling himself a ‘mender of bad soles’, he doesn’t just refer to repairing shoes but also hints at helping people’s spiritual souls. This witty wordplay allows him to playfully outsmart the angry tribune, showing he is not intimidated by authority despite his lower social status.
Q5. What does the Cobbler mean by saying he uses his trade with a ‘safe conscience’, and what does this reveal about his character?
Ans. When the Cobbler says he uses his trade with a ‘safe conscience’, he means he is an honest and trustworthy craftsman. He is proud that his work is not deceptive and that he earns his living in a way that is morally sound. This reveals that despite his lower social status, he possesses a strong sense of personal integrity and takes pride in his labor, which contrasts with the tribunes’ view of the commoners as idle creatures. He isn’t intimidated by authority and uses his wit to assert his self-worth.