ICSE Class 9 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 4 Important Question Answers
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Related:
- Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 4 Summary, Explanation
- Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 4 Character Sketch
- ICSE Class 9 English Lesson Notes
ICSE Class 9 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 4 Textbook Questions
ASSIGNMENTS
Multiple Choice Questions
1. On which errand does Portia send Lucius?
(a) To see if Calpurnia is there with Caesar.
(b) To see how his master Brutus is.
(c) To observe what suitors are pressing about Caesar.
(d) Both (b) and (c).
Ans. (d) Both (b) and (c).
2. In what condition is Portia in this scene of the play?
(a) Scared and angry
(b) Nervous and anxious
(c) Excited and fearless
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) Nervous and anxious
3. How does Portia react when she hears a noise coming from the Capitol?
(a) Cries out in terror
(b) Goes inside her house
(c) Portia pretends that she has not heard the noise.
(d) None of the above
Ans. (d) None of the above
4. Why does Portia wish to have a mountain placed between her heart and her tongue?
(a) She cannot cry on hearing the noise.
(b) She cannot shriek out of fear
(c) She cannot reveal the secret
(d) She cannot shout at her servant.
Ans. (c) She cannot reveal the secret
5. Who says, “I have a man’s mind, but a woman’s might”?
(a) Brutus
(b) Portia
(c) Caesar
(d) Lucius
Ans. (b) Portia
6. What does Portia feel is her weakness?
(a) To easily get excited
(b) To feel stressed at a small difficulty
(c) To keep Brutus’ secret to herself
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c) To keep Brutus’ secret to herself
7. What does the Soothsayer want to tell Caesar by saying “befriend himself?
(a) Be true to himself
(b) Be his own friend
(c) Take care of himself
(d) Behave friendly with all
Ans. (c) Take care of himself
8. What is the Soothsayer’s fear about himself?
(a) He would be crushed by the crowd that follows Caesar.
(b) He would not be able to present his petition to Caesar.
(c) He would not be able to see Caesar in the crowd
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (a) He would be crushed by the crowd that follows Caesar.
9. What is meant by “throng that follows Caesar at the heels”?
(a) His robe
(b) The crowd
(c) The conspirators
(d) The Senators
Ans. (b) The crowd
CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Portia
I prithee, boy, run to the Senate House;
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone:
Why dost thou stay?
Lucius
To know my errand, madam.
(i) Where does this scene take place? Give two examples to show that Portia is agitated.
Ans. This scene takes place on a public street in Rome, just outside Brutus’s house and near the Capitol. Portia’s agitation is evident in her very first lines. First, she tells Lucius, ‘Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone’. This shows her extreme urgency and impatience. Second, she immediately asks him, ‘Why dost thou stay?’ even though he has only paused to ask what she wants him to do. Her quick frustration and contradictory commands show that she is not thinking clearly and is very agitated.
(ii) What is the errand on which Portia is sending Lucius? What has motivated her to send Lucius urgently on the errand?
Ans. Portia sends Lucius on two errands. She first tells him to go to the Senate House to check on her husband, Brutus, who went out feeling ‘sickly’. She is deeply worried about his health. Second, she also asks him to ‘take good note’ of what is happening with Caesar and what people are approaching him. Her main motivation is her fear for Brutus’s safety and her desperate need for information. She is part of a dangerous secret and is frantic to know what is happening.
(iii) Whom does she meet a little later, which increases her tension? What does that person indicate that there is a possibility of an impending danger?
Ans. A little later, Portia meets the Soothsayer. His presence increases her tension. He tells Portia that he wants to talk to Caesar to ‘befriend himself’, which means he wants to warn Caesar to be careful and look out for his own safety. He also says that he fears ‘much that I fear may chance’ to Caesar, hinting at a danger that he cannot name but feels is coming. This vague but ominous warning heightens Portia’s anxiety because it confirms her own fears that a tragedy is about to happen.
(iv) Give two arguments put forward earlier to Brutus by Portia to indicate why she should know his secrets.
Ans. In a previous scene, Portia argues with Brutus about why she should know his secrets. First, she reminds him of their deep bond, telling him that she is his ‘true and honourable wife’. She says that their relationship is not just about eating and sleeping together but about sharing thoughts and secrets. Second, she proves her strength and loyalty by giving herself a voluntary wound in the thigh. She tells Brutus that if she can handle physical pain for him, she can certainly handle keeping a secret.
(v) What noise does Portia said to have heard a little later? Does Lucius hear the noise? What can you conclude about this situation?
Ans. Portia says she hears a ‘bustling rumor like a fray’, which sounds like a fight, coming from the Capitol. Lucius, however, hears nothing. This situation shows that Portia is so nervous and anxious that she is imagining the noise. Her mind is filled with fear about the conspiracy, and her heightened state of emotion makes her hear things that are not there. This moment highlights her inner turmoil and shows how her anxiety is causing her to lose touch with reality.
2. Portia
I would have had thee there, and here again,
Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.
[Aside] O constancy, be strong upon my side;
Set a huge mountain ‘tween my heart and tongue!
I have a man’s mind, but a woman’s might.
How hard it is for women to keep counsel!
Art thou here yet?
Lucius
Madam, what should I do?
Where is Portia sending Lucius?
(i) What does she tell Lucius to find out about Brutus and Caesar?
Ans. Portia tells Lucius to find out two things. First, she wants him to observe her husband, Brutus, and report if he ‘look well’. She is worried about him because he was acting sickly when he left. Second, she wants him to pay close attention to Caesar, noting what he is doing and who is pressing in on him. This is because Portia knows that a group of conspirators, including her husband, plans to harm Caesar.
(ii) Why is Portia externally distracted and internally anxious according to the extract?
Ans. In this extract, Portia is externally distracted because her mind is racing with worry. She can’t even give Lucius clear instructions, telling him she wishes he was already at the Capitol and back before she can even tell him what to do. Internally, she is suffering from extreme anxiety. She is holding a dangerous secret and is terrified that she might accidentally reveal it. She is in a state of high emotional stress and her thoughts are a jumble of fear and urgency.
(iii) Give the meaning of: “Set a huge mountain ‘tween my heart and tongue! What is the conflict from which Portia suffers as indicated in this statement?
Ans. The phrase ‘Set a huge mountain ‘tween my heart and tongue!’ means that Portia wishes for a strong, impossible barrier to be placed between her thoughts and her words. This shows her internal conflict. Her heart is filled with the secret of the assassination plot, and she is in a struggle to keep her tongue from revealing it. She is suffering from the fear of accidentally speaking the secret out loud, which would put her husband in grave danger.
(iv) State in your own words what Portia means by “a man’s mind but a woman’s
might.” What does she feel is her weakness? Why?
Ans. When Portia says, ‘I have a man’s mind, but a woman’s might’, she means that she has the courage, will, and intellect of a man, but the physical and social limitations of a woman. She feels she is strong enough mentally to handle the secret, but her role as a woman in Roman society makes her feel weak and powerless to act. She believes her weakness is her inability to ‘keep counsel’ i.e. a secret, as women were considered less capable of doing so. Her fear is that she will accidentally reveal the plot, which would endanger her husband’s life.
(v) In what way is a sense of urgency indicated in the first two lines of the extract? Where else, in the extract, does she show the same attitude?
Ans. A sense of urgency is strongly indicated in the first two lines of the extract. Portia says she wishes Lucius could have gone to the Capitol and returned ‘Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there’. This exaggerated statement shows how desperate she is for him to act immediately. Her urgency is also shown at the end of the extract when she impatiently asks him, ‘Art thou here yet?’, even though he is only waiting for her instructions. Her impatience and need for speed are clear signs of her high-strung emotional state.
3. Soothsayer
None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance.
Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow;
The throng that follows Caesar at the heels,
Of senators, of praetors, common suitors,
Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:
I’ll get me to a place more void, and there
Speak to great Caesar as he comes along. [Exit]
(i) Omens and soothsayers play a big role in Julius Caesar. What role does the soothsayer play here? What effect does his presence have on Portia and on the audience?
Ans. The Soothsayer acts as a messenger of fate and a sign of impending doom. He is a prophetic character who has already warned Caesar to ‘beware the Ides of March’. Here, he confirms the sense of danger without giving specific details. His presence has a powerful effect on both Portia and the audience. For Portia, he heightens her extreme anxiety and fear because his vague words confirm her worst suspicions about the danger facing Brutus and Caesar. For the audience, his appearance creates suspense and a feeling of inevitability, reminding them that the tragic event is about to happen and cannot be stopped.
(ii) To whom does the soothsayer address these words? Explain the first sentence in the extract in the light of what has already been said to him.
Ans. The Soothsayer addresses these words to Portia. The first sentence, ‘None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance’, is his answer to her question, ‘Why, know’st thou any harm’s intended towards him?’ He is being deliberately mysterious. He means that he doesn’t know for a fact that a specific person will harm Caesar, but he has a strong feeling and fear that something bad is going to happen to him. This response is vague yet ominous, showing that he knows more than he is saying.
(iii) What is meant by “The throng”? What would the throng witness in a short time?
Ans. ‘The throng’ means a large, crowded group of people, like a mob. The Soothsayer describes it as including ‘senators, of praetors, common suitors’. This crowd will soon witness a shocking event: the assassination of Julius Caesar. The conspirators will surround Caesar, and the throng will be the first to see the bloody act as it happens in the public street.
(iv) What does the soothsayer want to tell Caesar? Why does he wish to get for himself a “place more void”?
Ans. The Soothsayer’s message to Caesar is a warning to ‘befriend himself’, which means to take care of himself and be aware of the danger he is in. He wants Caesar to be his own friend and protect himself. He wishes to find a ‘place more void’, or a less crowded place, because he fears the large throng following Caesar will ‘crowd a feeble man almost to death’. He knows he needs a clear space to be able to approach and speak to Caesar without being crushed by the crowd.
(v) Besides the soothsayer, there is another person waiting to communicate on the road with Caesar. Who is he? What does he want to tell Caesar and why?
Ans. Besides the Soothsayer, the person waiting to communicate with Caesar on the road is Artemidorus. He is a teacher of rhetoric who has discovered the names of the conspirators. He wants to give Caesar a letter that lists all the people who are plotting against him. He hopes to tell Caesar to read the letter quickly, as it contains information that could save his life.
ICSE Class 9 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 4 Extra Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. Why is Portia so anxious and agitated in this scene?
A. She fears Brutus is angry with her.
B. She is worried about her sick servant, Lucius.
C. She knows about the assassination plot and is terrified for Brutus.
D. She is late for an appointment at the Capitol.
Ans. C. She knows about the assassination plot and is terrified for Brutus.
Q2. What does Portia mean when she says she has ‘a man’s mind, but a woman’s might’?
A. She believes she is physically stronger than most men.
B. She has a strong intellect and will, but is limited by her powerlessness as a woman.
C. She is trying to insult her servant, Lucius.
D. She thinks women should have more political power.
Ans. B. She has a strong intellect and will, but is limited by her powerlessness as a woman.
Q3. What does Portia ask Lucius to observe about Caesar?
A. What he is wearing on the Ides of March.
B. Whether he seems to be in a good mood.
C. What he is doing and who is crowding around him.
D. If he plans to give a speech.
Ans. C. What he is doing and who is crowding around him.
Q4. How does Lucius react when Portia says she hears a noise from the Capitol?
A. He agrees that he hears it too.
B. He says he hears nothing.
C. He tells her to calm down.
D. He asks her to describe the noise in more detail.
Ans. B. He says he hears nothing.
Q5. Who is the ‘feeble man’ the Soothsayer fears will be crowded to death?
A. Brutus
B. Lucius
C. Himself
D. Caesar
Ans. C. Himself
Q6. What does the Soothsayer want to tell Caesar?
A. He wants to ask for money.
B. He wants to warn him to ‘befriend himself’ and be careful.
C. He wants to apologize for his previous warning.
D. He wants to congratulate him on his good fortune.
Ans. B. He wants to warn him to ‘befriend himself’ and be careful.
Q7. Why does Portia almost faint in this scene?
A. She sees Brutus approaching.
B. She has been running for a long time.
C. She is physically ill.
D. She is overcome with fear and anxiety.
Ans. D. She is overcome with fear and anxiety.
Q8. What does the Soothsayer’s cryptic warning, ‘much that I fear may chance’, suggest?
A. That he knows exactly what will happen.
B. That he is sure nothing bad will happen.
C. That he has a vague sense of impending danger.
D. That he is simply trying to scare people.
Ans. C. That he has a vague sense of impending danger.
Q9. Why does Portia tell Lucius to say she is ‘merry’ to Brutus?
A. Because she genuinely feels happy.
B. To reassure Brutus that she is holding up well and not worried.
C. To confuse Lucius.
D. Because she thinks it’s a funny joke.
Ans. B. To reassure Brutus that she is holding up well and not worried.
Q10. What is the central theme explored in Portia’s character in this scene?
A. The importance of honesty.
B. The struggle of a woman in a male-dominated society.
C. The power of friendship.
D. The fear of public speaking.
Ans. B. The struggle of a woman in a male-dominated society.
Extract Based Questions
Answer the following extract-based questions.
A.
LUCIUS
Madam, what should I do?
Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?
And so return to you, and nothing else?
PORTIA
Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,
For he went sickly forth. And take good note
What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him.
Hark, boy! What noise is that?
LUCIUS
I hear none, madam.
PORTIA
Prithee, listen well.
I heard a bustling rumor like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
(PYQ 2025)
Q1. Where are Portia and Lucius? Who is Lucius? Why is he confused?
Ans. Portia and Lucius are at Brutus’s house in Rome. Lucius is Brutus and Portia’s servant boy. He is confused because Portia’s instructions are contradictory. She tells him to run to the Capitol and then immediately asks him to return with a report. His confusion stems from this conflict: he cannot both go and come back at the same time.
Q2. Why is Portia so tensed?
Ans. Portia is tensed because her husband, Brutus, has gone to the Capitol to participate in a conspiracy to assassinate Julius Caesar. Brutus has been unwell and secretive, which has caused her great concern. She is aware of the dangerous and serious nature of his undertaking, making her extremely anxious about his safety and the outcome of the conspiracy.
Q3. What had she uttered about ‘a man’s mind’ and ‘a woman’s body’?
Ans. Earlier in the play, Portia had a conversation with Brutus where she expressed her distress over his strange behavior. To prove her strength and worthiness to share in his troubles, she inflicted a wound upon herself. She said, ‘I have a man’s mind, but a woman’s body’, meaning that while her spirit and resolve are as strong as a man’s, she is constrained by the physical and societal limitations of being a woman. She argues that her mind is capable of handling the secrets he carries, and she is not weak, despite her gender.
Q4. Why is Portia worried about Brutus? How has Brutus added to her anxiety?
Ans. Portia is worried about Brutus because he is ‘sickly’ and has been acting strangely. She knows he is involved in something dangerous and is afraid for his well-being. Brutus has added to her anxiety by his secrecy, his physical illness, his refusal to confide in her, and his involvement in a plot that could lead to his death or disgrace. His secretive and troubled behavior has made her feel powerless and isolated from his inner world.
Q5. What other instructions were given to Lucius?
Ans. Portia gives Lucius several other instructions, which reflect her anxiety and concern. First, to bring back words on how Brutus looks, specifically whether he looks well. Second, to ‘take good note’ of what Caesar is doing. Lastly, To note which suitors are pressing in on Caesar.
B.
SOOTHSAYER: None that I know will be; much that I fear may chance.
Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow;
The throng that follows Caesar at the heels,
Of senators, of praetors, common suitors,
Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:
I’ll get me to a place more void, and there
Speak to great Caesar as he comes along.
Q1. To whom is the Soothsayer speaking, and what is the meaning of his first sentence?
Ans. The Soothsayer is speaking to Portia. His first sentence, ‘None that I know will be; much that I fear may chance’, is a cryptic response to her question about whether he knows of any harm intended for Caesar. It means he has no concrete knowledge of a plot, but he has a powerful feeling and fear that something bad is going to happen to Caesar.
Q2. What is the Soothsayer’s main concern about the crowd following Caesar?
Ans. The Soothsayer’s main concern is that he will not be able to get close enough to Caesar to deliver his warning. He fears that the large and dense crowd, or ‘the throng’, of senators, officials, and other people will be so overwhelming that he, a ‘feeble man’, might be crushed to death before he gets the chance to speak to Caesar.
Q3. What is meant by ‘the throng that follows Caesar at the heels’?
Ans. ‘The throng’ refers to the large, dense crowd of people who are following Caesar closely. This includes various individuals, from high-ranking senators and praetors to ordinary people seeking favors or attention from him. The phrase ‘at the heels’ emphasizes how closely they are packed behind him as he moves through the street.
Q4. Why does the Soothsayer say he needs to find ‘a place more void’?
Ans. The Soothsayer wants to find ‘a place more void’, which means a less crowded or empty spot on the street. He believes this is the only way he will be able to approach Caesar without being caught in the crush of the crowd. He needs a clear path to deliver his important warning.
Q5. How does the Soothsayer’s brief appearance contribute to the play’s themes of fate and foreshadowing?
Ans. The Soothsayer’s appearance significantly contributes to the play’s themes of fate and foreshadowing. His presence reinforces the idea that Caesar is destined for a tragic end, as he is the same character who previously warned him to ‘beware the Ides of March’. His second, desperate attempt to warn Caesar shows the unstoppable nature of fate; he knows something is coming, but his efforts to intervene seem futile. By revealing his vague fears, the Soothsayer builds suspense and tension for the audience, who are aware of the impending assassination. His character serves as a constant, supernatural reminder that the universe itself is sending warnings that are tragically ignored.