ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 1 Important Question Answers
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Related:
- Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 1 Summary, Explanation
- Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 1 Character Sketch
- ICSE Class 10 English Lesson Notes
ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 1 Textbook Questions
ASSIGNMENTS
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The raging passion of the mob in the earlier scene is replaced by which of the following in this scene?
(a) Hot-headedness of the conspirators
(b) Cold-hearted ruthlessness of the anarchists
(c) Peace and calm on the battlefield
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) Cold-hearted ruthlessness of the anarchists
2. Who among the following is NOT a part of the Second Triumvirate?
(a) Antony
(b) Brutus
(c) Octavius
(d) Lepidus
Ans. (b) Brutus
3. What does the list that Antony and Octavius are reading together contain?
(a) The names of Brutus’ friends
(b) The names of Caesar’s friends
(c) The names of people to be executed
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c) The names of people to be executed
4. “Your brother too must die.” Whose brother is referred to?
(a) Antony’s
(b) Lepidus’
(c) Octavius’
(d) Brutus’
Ans. (b) Lepidus’
5. On what condition does Lepidus agree that his brother should be executed?
(a) Mark Antony’s sister’s son should also be executed
(b) All the leaders of the coup should be executed
(c) All of Brutus’ friends should be executed.
(d) None of the above
Ans. (a) Mark Antony’s sister’s son should also be executed
6. What does Antony ask Lepidus to do?
(a) To execute all those who supported the coup
(b) To arrest all those who supported the coup
(c) To get Caesar’s sword from his house
(d) To get Caesar’s will from his house
Ans. (d) To get Caesar’s will from his house
7. What does Antony intend to do after getting Caesar’s will?
(a) Change Caesar’s will to fund the civil war
(b) Read it publicly
(c) Cut down the amount of money bequeathed by Caesar.
(d) Replace it with a fake will
Ans. (c) Cut down the amount of money bequeathed by Caesar.
8. To whom does Antony refer to as “unmeritable man”?
(a) Lepidus
(b) Cassius
(c) Octavius
(d) Brutus
Ans. (a) Lepidus
9. According to Antony, what is this “unmeritable man” fit for?
(a) To run here and there
(b) To do odd jobs
(c) To act as a messenger
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c) To act as a messenger
10. To whom does Antony compare Lepidus in this scene?
(a) A horse who runs away from the master
(b) A donkey who carries a load of gold
(c) A poor man who does not know the value of gold
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) A donkey who carries a load of gold
11. Which of the following adjectives is NOT used by Mark Antony for Lepidus?
(a) Store of provender
(b) Unmeritable man
(c) A property
(d) Barren-spirited fellow
Ans. (a) Store of provender
12. What does Octavius say about Lepidus in this scene?
(a) He is good for nothing
(b) He is a good task-master
(c) He is a good soldier
(d) He is a good organiser
Ans. (c) He is a good soldier
13. Which of the following is hinted in this scene?
(a) Tensions within the Second Triumvirate
(b) Tensions between Brutus and Cassius
(c) Mob fury
(d) None of the above
Ans. (a) Tensions within the Second Triumvirate
14. Which characteristic trait of Mark Antony is highlighted in this scene?
(a) Passionate and patriotic
(b) Ruthless and hypocritical
(c) Faithful and loyal
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (b) Ruthless and hypocritical
15. Mark Antony’s dismissal of Lepidus reflect which of the following traits of personality?
(a) Shrewd manipulator
(b) Power hungry
(c) Betrayer of friendship
(d) Both (b) and (c).
Ans. (d) Both (b) and (c).
CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Antony
These many, then, shall die; their names are prick’d.
Octavius
Your brother too must die; consent you, Lepidus?
Lepidus
I do consent-
Octavius
Prick him down, Antony.
Lepidus
Upon condition Publius shall not live, em
Who is your sister’s son, Mark Antony.
(i) What is meant by “their names are prick’d”? Why are these names prick’d? What does this show regarding the custom of Elizabethan times?
Ans. ‘Their names are prick’d’ means that a mark, or ‘prick’, has been placed next to a person’s name on a list, condemning them to death. The names are ‘prick’d’ to create a proscription list, a list of people who are to be executed as enemies of the state to consolidate the power of the Second Triumvirate. This reflects a Roman political custom of issuing lists of people to be killed or exiled, and while the play is set in Rome, Elizabethan audiences would have understood it as a ruthless act of political maneuvering, echoing similar power struggles and executions of the time, such as those during the reign of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
(ii) What was Antony’s reply to the condition put forward by Lepidus? What does Antony ask Lepidus to do then? Why?
Ans. Antony agrees to the condition put forth by Lepidus, saying, ‘He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him’. This shows his cold willingness to sacrifice his own family for power. He then asks Lepidus to go to Caesar’s house to fetch his will. He sends Lepidus away so that he and Octavius can speak freely about their true, low opinion of him without his knowledge.
(iii) What opinion does Antony hold of Lepidus? What does he propose to do with him after making use of him?
Ans. Antony holds a very low opinion of Lepidus. He views him as a ‘slight unmeritable man’, fit only for running errands and doing simple tasks. Antony proposes to use Lepidus to bear the ‘sland’rous loads’ and ‘groan and sweat under the business’ of ruling, essentially making him a scapegoat. After Lepidus has served his purpose, Antony intends to cast him aside ‘like to the empty ass, to shake his ears and graze in commons’.
(iv) Why did Antony send Lepidus to Caesar’s house? Which characteristic trait of Antony is revealed here?
Ans. Antony sends Lepidus to Caesar’s house to get him out of the way. He wants a private conversation with Octavius to discuss their true feelings about Lepidus and their plans for him. This action reveals Antony as a shrewd and manipulative leader. He is not a loyal ally but a pragmatist who uses people as pawns in his power game. His duplicity is clear as he acts cordially to Lepidus’s face while plotting against him behind his back.
(v) State briefly the comparison hinted between Brutus and Antony in this scene.
Ans. The scene highlights a key difference between Brutus and Antony regarding their motives and methods. While Brutus killed Caesar for the perceived noble cause of liberty for Rome and was tormented by the moral consequences, Antony and his allies are killing people purely for personal power and political gain. There is no sense of moral struggle or guilt; it is a cold, business-like transaction. Antony’s ruthless actions in this scene show that his ambition for power is far more selfish and corrupt than Brutus’s. Antony’s cruelty in sacrificing his own family member stands in stark contrast to Brutus’s moral idealism.
2. Antony
He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him.
But, Lepidus, go you to Caesar’s house;
Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine
How to cut off some charge in legacies.
Lepidus
What, shall I find you here?
Octavius
Or here or at the Capitol.
(i) Where are the three persons? What have they formed? Who “shall not live”?
Ans. The three men Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus are in Antony’s house in Rome. They have formed the Second Triumvirate, a three-man alliance to rule Rome after Caesar’s death. The person who “shall not live” is Publius, Antony’s sister’s son, whose name Lepidus demanded be put on the proscription list in exchange for consenting to the death of his own brother.
(ii) On a previous occasion, Antony has referred to Caesar’s will, when talking to the Roman citizens. Show the contrast between that reference and this.
Ans. Previously, in his funeral oration, Antony used Caesar’s will to ignite the fury of the Roman citizens. He appealed to their emotions, praising Caesar for his generosity and hinting at the fortunes he left for them, which moved them to mutiny. In this scene, Antony’s reference to the will is purely pragmatic and cold-hearted. He wants to ‘cut off some charge in legacies’, meaning he wants to reduce the money given to the people in the will to fund his own political and military goals. The contrast shows Antony’s hypocrisy: he once used the will to rally the public’s love for Caesar, but now he views it as a source of money to be exploited for his own power.
(iii) Explain the meanings of “determine” and “charge”. What trait of Antony’s character is shown in lines 3 and 4 of the given extract?
Ans. In this context, ‘determine’ means to decide or settle something, while ‘charge’ refers to an expense or a cost. Antony’s goal is to reduce the financial burden of Caesar’s legacies to the people. Lines 3 and 4 show Antony’s ruthless and manipulative nature. He sends Lepidus on a simple errand to get him out of the way, allowing Antony and Octavius to discuss their true feelings and plans about him freely. This reveals Antony’s strategic mind and his willingness to use and deceive his supposed ally.
(iv) What does Octavius say in defence of Lepidus to Antony?
Ans. Octavius says that Lepidus is a ‘tried and valiant soldier’. He briefly defends Lepidus’s worth, suggesting that he should not be so easily dismissed or cast aside. However, Octavius’s defense is weak and is quickly overcome by Antony’s more powerful arguments.
(v) State the three things that Antony says about Lepidus after his departure. What does it show about Antony’s character?
Ans. After Lepidus’s departure, Antony says three things about him. First, he calls him an ‘unmeritable man’ only fit for errands, questioning whether he deserves to share the world’s rule. Second, he compares Lepidus to an ‘ass’ that is used to bear a heavy load but will be turned off and discarded once his purpose is served. Third, he says Lepidus is a ‘barren-spirited fellow’ who is merely a follower, a ‘property’ to be trained and taught. This shows that Antony is a shrewd, arrogant, and hypocritical manipulator. He uses people when they are useful to him and discards them when they are no longer needed, seeing them as tools rather than as equals or allies.
TEST AND EVALUATION
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Octavius
You may do your will;
But he’s a tried and valiant soldier.
Antony
So is my horse, Octavius; and for that
I do appoint him store of provender.
(i) When does this conversation take place? Why does Octavius say, “You may do your will”? (3)
Ans. This conversation takes place in Antony’s house, immediately after Lepidus has exited the stage to fetch Caesar’s will. Octavius says, ‘You may do your will’ because Antony has just finished a lengthy and scathing monologue about how little he thinks of Lepidus. Octavius’s statement indicates his reluctant submission to Antony’s plan to use and then discard Lepidus. It shows that while Octavius might not fully agree, he will not challenge Antony’s decision.
(ii) Who is the “tried and valiant soldier”? What has Antony just said about this person, and about what he intends to do with him, which makes Octavius to defend him? (3)
Ans. The ‘tried and valiant soldier’ is Lepidus. Before Octavius’s line, Antony has called Lepidus a ‘slight unmeritable man’ and questioned whether he is fit to rule. He has also said that they will use Lepidus to bear the ‘sland’rous loads’ of their proscription and then cast him off like a pack animal once he is no longer needed. This harsh assessment is what prompts Octavius to defend Lepidus’s military record.
(iii) How does Antony continue to compare him with his horse? (3)
Ans. Antony continues his comparison by equating Lepidus’s usefulness to that of a horse. He states that he gives his horse ‘store of provender’ i.e. food because it is a useful creature that he teaches to fight and obey his commands. He then says that Lepidus is ‘in some taste… just so’, meaning that Lepidus, like his horse, is a creature he must ‘teach, and trained, and bid go forth’. This comparison reinforces Antony’s view of Lepidus as a tool, not a partner, whose value is solely in his obedience and utility.
(iv) What trait of Antony’s nature does this scene reveal? Refer to two statements, not connected with “tried and valiant soldier,” made by Antony earlier in the scene and show how they illustrate the same trait. (3)
Ans. This scene reveals Antony’s ruthless and manipulative nature. Two earlier statements that illustrate this trait are: first, his cold-blooded agreement to kill his nephew, Publius, with the line, ‘He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him’. This shows his willingness to sacrifice family for power. Second, his plan to ‘cut off some charge in legacies’ from Caesar’s will shows that his actions are driven by cynical financial and political gain, not loyalty or honor.
(v) State an occasion later in the play when Octavius again disagrees with Antony. Mention any two characteristic traits of Octavius as depicted in this scene. (4)
Ans. Later in the play, at the Battle of Philippi, Octavius disagrees with Antony over the battle plan. Antony wants to hold a strong position on the left flank, but Octavius insists on taking the right, demonstrating his own ambition and strategic mind. Two characteristic traits of Octavius depicted in this scene are his pragmatism and caution. He is pragmatic enough to consent to the proscription and not challenge Antony’s leadership, knowing that their alliance is necessary to defeat Brutus and Cassius. He is also cautious, as seen in his final line, where he worries about enemies ‘that smile have in their hearts… Millions of mischiefs’, indicating his awareness of the political deceptions around him.
2. He must be taught, and train’d, and bid go forth;
A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds
On abjects, orts and imitations,
Which, out of use and stal’d by other men,
Begin his fashion. Do not talk of him
But as a property. And now, Octavius,
Listen great things. Brutus and Cassius
Are levying powers: we must straight make head.
(i) Who is the speaker of these line? Who is the ‘he’ being referred to here? What was ‘he’ compared to by the speaker just before this extract? (3)
Ans. The speaker is Mark Antony. The ‘he’ being referred to is Lepidus. Just before this extract, Antony compared Lepidus to an ass, a beast of burden used to carry heavy loads and then discarded.
(ii) On what errand has the speaker sent the “barren-spirited fellow”? (3)
Ans. The speaker, Antony, has sent the ‘barren-spirited fellow’ on an errand to Caesar’s house to fetch Caesar’s will. Antony intends to reduce or cut off some of the legacies promised in the will to fund their military campaign.
(iii) Give the meaning of:
On abjects, orts and imitations,
Which, out of use and stal’d by other men, Begin his fashion. Do not talk of him
But as a property. (3)
Ans. The lines mean that Lepidus is a man with a mind so unoriginal and lacking in substance that he feeds on and adopts ideas, objects, and styles that are old-fashioned and already rejected by others. He has no original thoughts of his own and simply imitates others. The phrase ‘do not talk of him but as a property’ emphasizes that Lepidus should not be considered a person with his own will or ideas but a mere tool or possession to be used by Antony and Octavius.
(iv) What are Brutus and Cassius up to at this moment? (3)
Ans. At this moment, Brutus and Cassius are ‘levying powers’, which means they are raising an army and gathering their forces. They are preparing to challenge the Second Triumvirate, consisting of Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus, and regain control of Rome.
(v) How does this scene reveal dark politics in action? (4)
Ans. This scene reveals the dark nature of politics through the ruthless and cynical actions of the new rulers. The three men, who are supposedly allies, are shown to be completely devoid of loyalty, as they casually agree to the execution of their own family members for power. Antony’s utter contempt for Lepidus, whom he calls ‘a slight unmeritable man’ and a ‘property’, shows the manipulative and hypocritical side of leadership. The way they use Lepidus as a scapegoat to bear the ‘sland’rous loads’ of their actions highlights how people are often treated as mere tools in the pursuit of political ambition. The entire scene is a cold-blooded demonstration that for these men, power is more important than family, honor, or friendship.
ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 1 Extra Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. Who are the three men present in Act 4, Scene 1?
A. Antony, Cassius, and Octavius
B. Brutus, Cassius, and Antony
C. Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus
D. Octavius, Brutus, and Lepidus
Ans. C. Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus
Q2. What are the three men doing at the beginning of the scene?
A. Planning their military strategy
B. Dividing Caesar’s estate
C. Pricking names for a list of those who must die
D. Writing a letter to Brutus and Cassius
Ans. C. Pricking names for a list of those who must die
Q3. Who does Lepidus consent to have killed?
A. His son
B. His brother
C. His father
D. His friend
Ans. B. His brother
Q4. Who does Antony consent to have killed?
A. His uncle
B. His cousin
C. His nephew
D. His brother
Ans. C. His nephew
Q5. What does Antony call Lepidus after he leaves the stage?
A. A loyal friend
B. A valiant soldier
C. A slight unmeritable man
D. A great leader
Ans. C. A slight unmeritable man
Q6. To what animal does Antony compare Lepidus?
A. A horse
B. A dog
C. A lion
D. An ass
Ans. D. An ass
Q7. What does Antony say Lepidus will do once his usefulness is over?
A. Rule a part of the world
B. Go back to his family
C. Be cast off like a donkey
D. Join the army
Ans. C. Be cast off like a donkey
Q8.Who defends Lepidus, calling him a ‘tried and valiant soldier’?
A. Antony
B. Cassius
C. Brutus
D. Octavius
Ans. C. Octavius
Q9. What major threat do Antony and Octavius decide they must face?
A. An uprising in Rome
B. A rebellion by the common people
C. Brutus and Cassius levying powers
D. An invasion from another country
Ans. C. Brutus and Cassius levying powers
Q10. What is the overall mood of this scene?
A. Joyful and celebratory
B. Tense and ruthless
C. Calm and peaceful
D. Sad and melancholic
Ans. B. Tense and ruthless
Extract Based Questions
Answer the following extract-based questions.
A.
ANTONY
These many, then, shall die; their names are pricked.
OCTAVIUS
Your brother too must die; consent you, Lepidus?
LEPIDUS
I do consent—
OCTAVIUS
Prick him down, Antony.
LEPIDUS
Upon condition Publius shall not live,
Who is your sister’s son, Mark Antony.
ANTONY
He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him.
But, Lepidus, go you to Caesar’s house;
Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine
How to cut off some charge in legacies.
Q1. What is the main purpose of this conversation?
Ans. The main purpose is to establish the political ruthlessness of the new rulers of Rome. They are creating a ‘proscription list’, a cold-blooded list of enemies to be executed, to consolidate their power. This scene shows their willingness to sacrifice even family members for political gain, setting a grim tone for their alliance.
Q2. What does this exchange reveal about the relationship between the three men?
Ans. This exchange reveals that their relationship is one of political convenience, not genuine loyalty. They are willing to betray their closest family ties to secure their own positions. The conversation is a chilling negotiation where a life is traded for a life, demonstrating a complete lack of moral boundaries among them.
Q3. What does Lepidus’s immediate consent to his brother’s death suggest about his character?
Ans. Lepidus’s immediate consent suggests that he is either politically apathetic or deeply ambitious, willing to do whatever is necessary to be part of the ruling triumvirate. It also shows a shocking lack of emotion and empathy. He acts as if trading his brother’s life is a simple business transaction, not a devastating personal choice.
Q4. What does the line ‘look, with a spot I damn him’ reveal about Antony’s character?
Ans. This line reveals Antony’s cold, detached, and utterly merciless nature. The act of ‘damning’ someone with a simple pen stroke shows how little he values human life, even that of his own nephew. He sees people as mere names on a list, easily erased and forgotten for the sake of power.
Q5. Explain the significance of Antony sending Lepidus to fetch Caesar’s will. What does this action foreshadow about Lepidus’s future role?
Ans. Antony sending Lepidus to fetch the will is a strategic move that serves two purposes. First, it gets Lepidus offstage so Antony and Octavius can speak freely about their true feelings for him. Second, it highlights Lepidus’s subservient role; he is not a peer but a subordinate sent on an errand. This action foreshadows that Lepidus will remain in a lesser position, used by the other two as a means to an end. Antony’s later comparison of him to an ‘empty ass’ proves that he views Lepidus as a tool to be used and discarded once he has served his purpose. The entire scene establishes that while Lepidus is technically one of the three rulers, he holds no real power.
B.
ANTONY
This is a slight unmeritable man,
Meet to be sent on errands. Is it fit,
The threefold world divided, he should stand
One of the three to share it?
OCTAVIUS
So you thought him,
And took his voice who should be pricked to die
In our black sentence and proscription.
ANTONY
Octavius, I have seen more days than you;
And though we lay these honors on this man
To ease ourselves of divers sland’rous loads,
He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold,
To groan and sweat under the business,
Either led or driven, as we point the way.
Q1. According to Antony, what is Lepidus’s primary purpose?
Ans. Antony believes that Lepidus’s primary purpose is to act as a scapegoat. Antony states that they have laid the ‘honors on this man to ease ourselves of divers sland’rous loads’. In essence, Lepidus will bear the blame and negativity for their cruel decisions, allowing Antony and Octavius to remain politically clean.
Q2. What does Antony’s comparison of Lepidus to ‘the ass bears gold’ signify?
Ans. The comparison signifies that Lepidus is merely a beast of burden. Just as a donkey carries valuable treasure without understanding its worth, Lepidus carries the weight of the triumvirate’s political decisions without possessing the intelligence or will to be a true leader. He is a tool, not a partner.
Q3. What does Octavius’s line, ‘So you thought him’, suggest about his character?
Ans. Octavius’s line suggests that he is a shrewd observer who remembers Antony’s previous actions. He reminds Antony that he once considered Lepidus worthy enough to participate in the ‘black sentence and proscription’. This reveals Octavius’s calculated nature and his ability to hold Antony accountable, even in a subtle way.
Q4. How does Antony justify his condescending attitude towards Lepidus to Octavius?
Ans. Antony justifies his attitude by asserting his superior experience, stating, ‘I have seen more days than you’. This line is a direct challenge to Octavius’s authority and judgment. Antony suggests that his greater age and wisdom allow him to see the true, weak nature of Lepidus, which Octavius is too young to perceive.
Q5. What is the dramatic function of this exchange between Antony and Octavius? How does it reveal the fragile nature of their alliance and set the stage for future conflict?
Ans. The dramatic function of this exchange is to expose the deep-seated mistrust and fragile power dynamics within the triumvirate. Antony’s open contempt for Lepidus, who is a third of their alliance, shows that their partnership is not one of loyalty but of pure convenience. Octavius’s brief defense of Lepidus reveals a budding rivalry with Antony; though he defers to him now, he is clearly not an unquestioning subordinate. This conversation foreshadows future conflict and dissolution of their alliance. The shared goal of defeating Brutus and Cassius is the only thing holding them together, and once that is achieved, their fundamental differences and mutual suspicion will likely lead to a power struggle. The entire scene sets up a sense of instability and impending betrayal.