ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 1 Important Question Answers
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Related:
- Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 1 Summary, Explanation
- Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 1 Character Sketch
- ICSE Class 10 English Lesson Notes
ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 1 Textbook Questions
ASSIGNMENTS
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which hopes of Octavius are “answered”?
(a) The conflict between Brutus and Cassius
(b) The armies of the conspirators’ advance towards Philippi
(c) The surrender by the armies of the conspirators
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) The armies of the conspirators’ advance towards Philippi
2. What reason does Antony give for the enemy’s advance towards Philippi?
(a) To hide their fears and show their unity
(b) To hide their conflict and show their unity
(c) To show their patriotism and friendship
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (a) To hide their fears and show their unity
3. Cassius compares Antony’s sweet words with which of the following?
(a) Honey made by Sybla bees
(b) Honey made by Olympus bees
(c) Honey made by Hybla bees
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c) Honey made by Hybla bees
4. When does Octavius say his sword will go back into its sheath?
(a) When Caesar’s ghost will disappear
(b) When thirty-three wounds of Caesar have been avenged
(c) When another Caesar will appear
(d) When he becomes Caesar
Ans. (b) When thirty-three wounds of Caesar have been avenged
5. Who has been described by Cassius as “A peevish schoolboy”?
(a) Marcus Brutus
(b) Mark Antony
(c) Lucius
(d) Octavius Caesar
Ans. (d) Octavius Caesar
6. With whom has Cassius compared himself in this scene?
(a) Brutus
(b) Pompey
(c) Caesar
(d) Lucius
Ans. (b) Pompey
7. Cassius has changed his mind about the doctrine of Epicurus regarding which of the following?
(a) Superstitions
(b) Ghosts
(c) Republicanism
(d) Omens and Premonitions
Ans. (d) Omens and Premonitions
8. Who according to Cassius has formed a “canopy most fatal” over their heads?
(a) Two huge eagles
(b) Crows and kites
(c) Enemy soldiers
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) Crows and kites
9. How does Brutus define Cato’s act of committing suicide?
(a) Mean and short-sighted
(b) Sensible and timely
(c) Low and cowardly
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c) Low and cowardly
10. Why would Cassius and Brutus smile at each other if they meet again?
(a) It will be after their victory over their enemies
(b) It will be their farewell meeting
(c) It will mark an end of their differences
(d) It will be in front of their armies.
Ans. (a) It will be after their victory over their enemies
CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Octavius
They mean to warn us at Philippi here,
Answering before we do demand of them.
Antony
Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I know
Wherefore they do it: they could be content
To visit other places; and come down
With fearful bravery, thinking by this face
To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage;
But ’tis not so.
(i) Who are “they” referred to in line 1? What warning would they give? From where would they come to Philippi?
Ans. ‘They’ refers to the forces of the conspirators: Brutus and Cassius and their army. They would give a warning by initiating the battle or by presenting a challenging front, intending to intimidate or strike first. They would come down from the hills and upper regions where they had been positioned, descending to the plains of Philippi to fight.
(ii) Give the meaning of:
(a) Answering before we do demand of them.
(b) I am in their bosoms.
Ans. (a) This phrase means the enemy is responding or reacting before Octavius and Antony even have a chance to challenge them or make any demands. In the context of battle, it means the enemy is advancing and ready to fight immediately, preempting any formal challenge.
(b) This idiomatic phrase means ‘I know their secrets’ or ‘I know what they are truly thinking and intending’. Antony is asserting that he understands the enemy’s inner motivations and military plans, suggesting he has insight into their fears and strategies.
(iii) Whose military strategy has dictated that the battle should take place at Philippi? What had Brutus argued regarding this strategy?
Ans. The military strategy that dictated the battle should take place at Philippi was that of Brutus. Cassius had argued that they should wait in the hills and let the enemy’s forces (Octavius and Antony) deplete their supplies and wear themselves out by marching. Brutus, however, argued they should meet the enemy now at Philippi, believing their army was at its peak and arguing that the populace between their current position and Philippi was secretly hostile and would strengthen the enemy if they delayed.
(iv) What did Octavius hope that the enemy would do? What according to him is the intention of the enemy?
Ans. Octavius hoped the enemy would not come down to the plains but would keep the hills and upper regions, forcing Octavius and Antony to pursue them on difficult terrain. According to Octavius, the intention of the enemy is to warn them at Philippi, meaning they intend to challenge and fight them immediately on the plains, settling the matter now.
(v) What, according to Antony, is the planning of the enemy? Why does Antony feel so confident that he knows what the enemy intends to show?
Ans. According to Antony, the enemy’s planning is not rooted in true courage but in ‘fearful bravery’. They are coming down to Philippi to put on a false front or a bold public display to deceive the Triumvirate into thinking they are confident and strong. Antony feels confident that he knows their true intentions because he is ‘in their bosoms’; he understands their characters, especially Cassius, and knows that their apparent boldness is merely a desperate mask to conceal their underlying fear and weakness after their long retreat and gathering of forces.
2. Cassius
Now, Brutus, thank yourself:
This tongue had not offended so today,
If Cassius might have rul’d.
Octavius
Come, come, the cause: If arguing make us sweat.
The proof of it will turn to redder drops.
Look, ―
I draw a sword against conspirators;
When think you that the sword goes up again?
Never, till Caesar’s three-and-thirty wounds
Be well aveng’d; or till another Caesar
Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors.
(i) Whose is the “tongue” of which Cassius speaks? Give the substances of what the tongue had said which so “offended” Cassius.
Ans. The ‘tongue’ of which Cassius speaks belongs to Mark Antony. The substance of what the tongue had said was a series of vicious insults and accusations against the conspirators. Antony had just called them villains and flatterers, mocking them for fawning over Caesar while secretly preparing to stab him. He had also specifically pointed out the hypocrisy of Brutus for crying, ‘Long live! Hail, Caesar!’ while making a hole in Caesar’s heart.
(ii) Give a brief explanation of the earlier episode that Cassius is referring to when he reminds Brutus that he has only himself to thank for the present situation.
Ans. Cassius is referring to the moment immediately after Caesar’s assassination when Brutus overruled him. Cassius had argued that Antony should be killed along with Caesar because he was dangerous and a devoted follower. Brutus, however, appealed to his sense of honor, insisting that killing Antony would make their act seem too bloody and vengeful. Brutus convinced the others to spare Antony’s life, allowing him to speak at Caesar’s funeral, which led directly to Antony raising an army and turning the Roman public against the conspirators.
(iii) Give the comments made by Cassius, in his next speech, when he scornfully describes Octavius.
Ans. In his next speech, Cassius scornfully describes Octavius Caesar as ‘A peevish schoolboy’ who is ‘worthless of such honor’, implying that Octavius is immature, easily annoyed, and lacks the nobility to lead such an important conflict. He further groups Octavius with Antony, whom he calls ‘a masker and a reveler’, suggesting both are frivolous and undeserving opponents in a serious Roman war.
(iv) What does Octavius mean by “the cause”? State in your own words the meaning of the last two lines of the passage—“or till another Caesar … sword of traitors.”
Ans. By ‘the cause’, Octavius means the reason for their assembly and their fight: the need for vengeance and the defense of the Roman state against the conspirators. The last two lines ‘or till another Caesar / Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors’ mean that Octavius’s sword will not be sheathed until one of two things happens: either Caesar’s assassination is fully avenged, or another ‘Caesar’ meaning Octavius himself or any other great Roman leader is killed by the traitors i.e. Brutus, Cassius, and their followers, thereby increasing the bloodshed caused by their treasonous actions.
(v) Was Octavius successful in his task of vengeance? How does the play end?
Ans. The play ends with the forces of Octavius and Antony defeating the conspirators’ army at Philippi. Both Cassius and Brutus are defeated and subsequently take their own lives rather than face capture and public humiliation. The play concludes with Octavius, having proven his authority over Antony and eliminated his enemies, standing over Brutus’s body. Octavius and Antony declare a state funeral for Brutus and, most importantly, Octavius issues the final orders to the assembled army, cementing his position as the undisputed ruler of the Roman world, thus bringing the era of the Roman Republic to a definitive close.
3. Cassius
Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign
Two mighty eagles fell’; and there they perch’d,
Gorging and feeding from our soldiers’ hands;
Who to Philippi here consorted us:
This morning are they fled away and gone;
And in their stead do ravens, crows, and kites
Fly o’er our heads, and downward look on us,
As we were sickly prey: their shadows seem
A canopy most fatal, under which
Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost.
Messala
Believe not so.
(i) In this extract, Cassius narrates something he has seen. What is it? Did he believe in the significance of such things earlier in his life? Why?
Ans. Cassius is narrating the ominous flight of birds over his army. Specifically, he saw two good signs i.e. two mighty eagles leave, and then their place was taken by three kinds of scavenger birds: ravens, crows, and kites. Earlier in his life, Cassius did not believe in the significance of omens or superstitions. He was a follower of the Epicurean philosophy, which taught that the gods do not intervene in human affairs, so natural events held no supernatural meaning for him.
(ii) Give the meaning of: “As we were sickly prey: their shadows seem/ A canopy most fatal.” What do these lines signify?
Ans. The line means that the scavenger birds are circling and looking down on the soldiers as if the army were weak, sick animals waiting to die, ready to be eaten. The sight of the birds’ collective shadows cast over the army creates an image of a ‘canopy most fatal’, meaning a deadly, inescapable shroud or covering. These lines signify Cassius’s deep fear, pessimism, and conviction of impending doom. He believes fate has turned against them and that their army is already destined for defeat and death.
(iii) What did Cassius see on the previous day and on that particular morning? What do these signs signify?
Ans. On the previous day, Cassius saw two mighty eagles land on their standard (flag) and feed from the soldiers’ hands. This was a good sign, traditionally signifying the favor of the gods and success. On that particular morning, he saw that the eagles had fled away, and in their place were ravens, crows, and kites. These birds of prey are bad omens, signifying imminent death, disaster, and defeat, as they feed only on carrion (dead bodies).
(iv) How can you conclude from what Cassius says, a little later, that he was prepared for a possible defeat?
Ans. Cassius shows he is prepared for defeat when he addresses Brutus directly after this speech. He asks Brutus to ‘reason with the worst that may befall’ and confronts him with a hypothetical: ‘If we do lose this battle, then is this / The very last time we shall speak together’. He then asks Brutus what his plan is if they lose. This final conversation and the subsequent, emotional farewell he exchanges with Brutus proves that Cassius is thinking past the fight and fully accepting the probability of their demise and separation.
(v) How does Brutus console him?
Ans. Brutus does not try to console Cassius by dismissing the omens or offering false hope. Instead, he addresses the inevitability of the day. First, he discusses his philosophical dilemma regarding suicide, but quickly moves to practical determination by declaring that he will never go ‘bound to Rome’ as a captive. Then, he performs the ultimate act of solidarity and courage: he offers Cassius an ‘everlasting farewell’, acknowledging that this moment might be their last together. He says that if they meet again, they will smile, but if they don’t, then their parting now was ‘well made’. This gesture of shared fate and resolve does not lift the doom but allows Cassius to face it with dignity alongside his friend.
4. Cassius
Then, if we lose this battle,
You are contented to be led in triumph
Thorough the streets of Rome?
Brutus
No, Cassius, no think not, thou noble Roman,
That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome;
He bears too great a mind. But this same day
Must end that work the ides of March begun;
And whether we shall meet again I know not.
Therefore our everlasting farewell take.
(i) What has Brutus just said which makes Cassius say the words given in the extract? Which Roman practice is referred to in Cassius’ speech?
Ans. Brutus has just declared his philosophical opposition to suicide, stating that he finds it ‘cowardly and vile’ to prevent the time of life out of fear of what might happen. Cassius, recognizing Brutus’s refusal to commit suicide, immediately challenges him with the worst possible consequence. The Roman practice referred to in Cassius’s speech (‘to be led in triumph / Thorough the streets of Rome’) is the Roman Triumph, a grand, ceremonial procession granted to victorious generals, where defeated enemies were famously marched in chains and humiliation before being executed or imprisoned.
(ii) State briefly to what extent Brutus bears a great mind.
Ans. Brutus bears a ‘great mind’ in the sense that he is too noble and honorable to suffer public humiliation and bondage. His great mind equates liberty with his honor. For Brutus, the shame of being paraded as a prisoner in a victor’s parade and then subjected to an ignominious end is a fate worse than death. Therefore, his great mind makes him unwilling to submit to the enemy’s complete political and personal control.
(iii) What was begun on the ides of March? How will the words of Brutus be prophetic?
Ans. The assassination of Julius Caesar began on the Ides of March. Brutus’s words will be prophetic because this day, the day of the Battle of Philippi, truly does end that work. The battle results in the complete defeat of the conspirators, leading directly to the deaths of Cassius and Brutus. By their suicides, the entire purpose of the conspiracy to restore the Republic fails, and the political chapter opened on the Ides of March is violently closed.
(iv) Do Cassius and Brutus meet again? Why?
Ans. No, Cassius and Brutus do not meet again. This moment marks their final, ‘everlasting farewell’. They are separated by the battle and die shortly thereafter. Cassius commits suicide when he mistakenly believes his friend Titinius has been captured. Brutus, after leading a second, desperate charge that fails, commits suicide to avoid capture by Octavius’s forces.
(v) Brutus and Cassius are affected by the latest events. This makes them act in a different way than their normal behaviour. Give one incident to illustrate this.
Ans. The strain of the war and the latest events, especially the overwhelming sense of doom before the final battle, have dramatically changed Cassius’s behavior. Cassius was a lifelong Epicurean, a philosophy that rejected superstition and the belief in omens. However, in this scene, he completely abandons his rational philosophy and becomes deeply superstitious, recounting the ill-omened sight of the scavenger birds i.e. ravens, crows, and kites replacing the majestic eagles. This total surrender to fear and superstition is a sharp departure from his normally pragmatic and rational behavior, illustrating the psychological toll the war has taken on him.
TEST AND EVALUATION
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Cassius
This is my birthday; as this very day
Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala:
Be thou my witness that against my will,
As Pompey was, am I compell’d to set
Upon one battle all our liberties.
You know that I held Epicurus strong,
And his opinion: now I change my mind;
And partly credit things that do presage.
(i) Who was Pompey? Why is he referred to in the extract? (3)
Ans. Pompey (Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus) was a great Roman general and statesman, and a member of the First Triumvirate along with Caesar and Crassus. He later became Caesar’s chief political rival in the Roman Civil War. Cassius refers to him because Pompey was compelled to fight Caesar at the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BCE, setting all his forces and the future of the Republic on one decisive battle, despite believing strategically that he should have avoided it. Cassius feels he is in the same unwilling, fatal position, forced to risk everything in one fight.
(ii) What is Cassius compelled to do? Who has compelled him? How? What would be the outcome of the decision which he is compelled to take? (3)
Ans. Cassius is compelled ‘to set / Upon one battle all our liberties’, meaning he is forced to risk the entire fight for the Roman Republic on this single Battle of Philippi. He has been compelled by Brutus, who successfully argued that they should abandon Cassius’s original strategy (waiting in the hills) and meet the enemy immediately on the plains. The outcome of this decision, which Cassius fears, would be the loss of the battle, the loss of their lives, and the end of Roman liberty.
(iii) Who is Epicurus? What was his view? If Cassius held the view point of Epicurus, what makes him now to change his mind? (3)
Ans. Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher who founded Epicureanism. His primary view, as related to this context, was that the gods do not interfere in human affairs, and thus, omens, superstitions, and fate are meaningless and should be dismissed. Cassius held this view, but he is changing his mind because of the terrifying omens he has just witnessed: the mighty eagles (good signs) have flown away, replaced by ravens, crows, and kites (scavenger birds and bad signs), which he now credits as things that ‘do presage’ (foretell doom).
(iv) Give the meaning of:
Be thou my witness that against my will,
And partly credit things that do presage. (3)
Ans. ‘Be thou my witness that against my will’, this line means ‘Be my official proof or testimony that I am doing this against my own judgment or desire’. Cassius wants Messala to remember that he fought this battle because he was forced to, not because he believed it was the best strategy. ‘And partly credit things that do presage’. This line means ‘And now I partially believe in things that foretell the future or serve as omens’. It signifies Cassius’s abandonment of his old philosophy and his fearful acceptance that supernatural signs might be predicting their defeat.
(v) Comment briefly on the uncertainty which Cassius feels about the outcome of the battle that day. How do Brutus and Cassius wish each other farewell at the end of the scene? (4)
Ans. Cassius feels profound uncertainty and pessimism about the battle’s outcome. His fear is so great that it breaks his long-held philosophical conviction, forcing him to believe that the omens of the scavenging birds mean their army is destined to die. This uncertainty leads him to believe this is likely their final encounter, which he finds especially troubling as the day is also his birthday. Brutus and Cassius wish each other farewell with an emotional and definitive ‘everlasting farewell’. They agree to smile if they meet again (implying victory or survival), but if they do not, they affirm that their parting was ‘well made’, a final, poignant acknowledgment that their noble fight has reached its fateful end. This farewell is the acceptance of their probable doom.
2. Brutus
Even by the rule of that philosophy
By which I did blame Cato for the death
Which he did give himself: I know not how,
But I do find it cowardly and vile,
For fear of what might fall, so to prevent
The time of life, arming myself with patience,
To stay the providence of some high powers
That govern us below.
(i) Who is Cato? Give details of his philosophy. (3)
Ans. Cato referred to here is Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis (also known as Cato the Younger), Brutus’s brother-in-law and a staunch defender of the Roman Republic against Julius Caesar. Cato was a committed Stoic. Stoicism was a philosophy that emphasized virtue, reason, and duty above all else. It taught that a wise man should be apathetic, accept fate, and endure suffering patiently, focusing on what he could control rather than external events.
(ii) Why didn’t Cato follow that philosophy till the end of his life? Name two characters in the play who were the followers of that philosophy. (3)
Ans. Cato did not follow the principle of patiently accepting fate until the end of his life. After the defeat of the Republican forces by Caesar at Thapsus, Cato committed suicide rather than surrender or submit to Caesar’s tyranny. This act of self-slaughter, which Brutus calls ‘cowardly and vile’, went against the Stoic tenet of enduring life’s difficulties. The two characters in the play who were followers of the Stoic philosophy are Marcus Brutus himself and Cassius though Cassius later abandons it for Epicureanism, only to abandon that, too, for superstition.
(iii) How did Brutus and Cassius bid farewell to each other? Why were their words at the farewell prophetic? (3)
Ans. Brutus and Cassius bid farewell by exchanging an ‘everlasting farewell’, acknowledging that this was likely the last time they would ever speak. They agreed that if they met again, they would smile, but if not, their parting was ‘well made’. Their words were prophetic because they did not meet again alive. Both men were defeated at the subsequent battle and committed suicide shortly after, ensuring their farewell on the plains of Philippi was indeed their final one.
(iv) Give the meaning of:
For fear of what might fall, so to prevent
The time of life. (3)
Ans. This phrase means that a person, out of fear of potential future suffering, chooses to end their life prematurely. Brutus views this decision pre-emptively avoiding future misfortune by committing suicide as cowardly, contrasting it with his own stated intention to endure suffering by ‘arming myself with patience’.
(v) What does Brutus say to indicate that he was a true Roman soldier? Do you think he proved himself? Give reasons to justify your answer. (4)
Ans. Brutus indicates he was a true Roman soldier by declaring that he will never ‘go bound to Rome’ and that he ‘bears too great a mind’ to be led in triumph through the city streets as a prisoner. This refusal to suffer ultimate humiliation shows his Roman dedication to liberty and honor over life itself. Yes, he proved himself a true Roman in his death. Though he earlier condemned Cato’s suicide, Brutus’s overwhelming need to preserve his honor and avoid the shame of defeat ultimately made him reverse his philosophical stance. By ordering Strato to hold his sword so he could run upon it, Brutus committed suicide, dying a noble death on his own terms rather than submitting to the enemy, thereby upholding the Roman ideal of freedom from tyranny or captivity.
ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 1 Extra Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. Where does Act 5, Scene 1 primarily take place?
A. The Forum in Rome
B. The plains of Philippi
C. The streets of Sardis
D. The Capitol building
Ans. B. The plains of Philippi
Q2. Which character shows open defiance to an order given by Mark Antony in this scene?
A. Messala
B. Cassius
C. Octavius Caesar
D. Lucilius
Ans. C. Octavius Caesar
Q3. During the parley, Antony accuses Brutus and Cassius of which action during Caesar’s assassination?
A. Stealing Caesar’s will for personal gain
B. Fleeing Rome immediately after the murder
C. Fawning like hounds and showing their teeth like apes
D. Lying about the reasons for the conspiracy
Ans. C. Fawning like hounds and showing their teeth like apes
Q4. What tragic event does Cassius reveal happened on the very same day as the battle?
A. It is the anniversary of Pompey’s defeat.
B. It is his birthday.
C. It is the Ides of March.
D. It is the day he first met Brutus.
Ans. B. It is his birthday
Q5. Which type of birds, considered ill omens, does Cassius see circling his army, replacing the eagles?
A. Doves and swans
B. Hawks and falcons
C. Ravens, crows, and kites
D. Vultures and albatrosses
Ans. C. Ravens, crows, and kites
Q6. What does Octavius dramatically draw, vowing it will not be put up until Caesar’s wounds are avenged?
A. A scroll
B. A dagger
C. A standard
D. A sword
Ans. D. A sword
Q7. Brutus initially states that he finds suicide to be:
A. Noble and honorable.
B. Cowardly and vile.
C. A necessary evil.
D. Permitted by Stoicism.
Ans. B. Cowardly and vile
Q8. Despite his philosophical objections to suicide, what does Brutus declare he will not endure?
A. A long siege at Philippi
B. Being led bound to Rome in triumph
C. Fighting against his countrymen
D. Seeing Cassius die
Ans. B. Being led bound to Rome in triumph
Q9. Whose philosophy did Cassius say he ‘held strong’ but now partially changes his mind about due to the omens?
A. Plato
B. Aristotle
C. Epicurus
D. Socrates
Ans. C. Epicurus
Q10. What is the final exchange between Brutus and Cassius before they part to begin the battle?
A. A promise to surrender if the fight goes poorly.
B. A debate over military strategy.
C. An everlasting farewell.
D. An argument about Caesar’s ghost.
Ans. C. An everlasting farewell.
Extract Based Questions
Answer the following extract-based questions.
A.
MARK ANTONY
Villains! You did not so, when your vile daggers
Hack’d one another in the sides of Caesar.
You show’d your teeth like apes, and fawn’d like hounds,
And bow’d like bondmen, kissing Caesar’s feet;
Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind
Struck Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers!
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
Come, come, the cause. If arguing make us sweat,
The proof of it will turn to redder drops.
Look,
I draw a sword against conspirators;
When think you that the sword goes up again?
Never, till Caesar’s three and thirty wounds
Be well aveng’d…
Q1. Who are the ‘villains’ Antony refers to, and what imagery does he use to describe their actions during the assassination?
Ans. The ‘villains’ are Brutus, Cassius, and the other conspirators. Antony uses vivid animal imagery, likening them to apes showing their teeth, hounds fawning, and bondmen bowing and kissing Caesar’s feet before delivering the fatal blows. This suggests hypocrisy and base cruelty rather than noble action.
Q2. What is the significance of Antony singling out ‘damned Casca’ in his speech?
Ans. Antony singles out Casca to highlight the conspirators’ treachery. Casca was the first to strike, doing so behind Caesar, which emphasizes the cowardice and sneakiness of the assassination. By naming a specific conspirator and detailing the blow, Antony seeks to inflame the hatred of his own soldiers.
Q3. What does Octavius mean by ‘If arguing make us sweat, / The proof of it will turn to redder drops’?
Ans. Octavius is saying that if their verbal argument is making them exert themselves, the true test will be the bloodshed of the battle, symbolized by ‘redder drops’. He is declaring that the time for talking is over and that the dispute will only be settled by combat and death.
Q4. What does Octavius’s gesture of drawing his sword symbolize at this moment in the play?
Ans. Octavius drawing his sword is a powerful symbolic act of commitment and defiance. It signals the definitive end of the diplomatic parley and the beginning of the war. It serves as a public oath that he will pursue revenge for his father’s death without compromise, cementing his role as the avenger.
Q5. Discuss the contrasting tones of Antony’s speech and Octavius’s declaration, and explain how their combined effect drives the scene forward.
Ans. Antony’s tone is highly emotional, rhetorical, and venomous. He uses insults and powerful imagery like apes, hounds, bondmen to discredit the conspirators’ motives as base and hypocritical, focusing on past actions to provoke anger. Octavius’s tone, in contrast, is cold, direct, and authoritative. His declaration is a forward-looking, definitive threat: he draws a sword and swears an oath of vengeance, setting a clear, non-negotiable condition for ending the conflict. Their combined effect is to close the door on any chance of peace or compromise. Antony ignites passion and hatred, while Octavius, with his gesture and solemn vow, firmly establishes the inevitability of the battle, thereby driving the opposing armies to war.
B.
CASSIUS
…This is my birthday; as this very day
Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala.
Be thou my witness that against my will
(As Pompey was) am I compell’d to set
Upon one battle all our liberties.
You know that I held Epicurus strong,
And his opinion; now I change my mind,
And partly credit things that do presage.
Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign
Two mighty eagles fell… This morning are they fled away and gone,
And in their steads do ravens, crows, and kites
Fly o’er our heads, and downward look on us
As we were sickly prey…
MARCUS BRUTUS
For ever, and forever, farewell, Cassius!
If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;
If not, why then this parting was well made.
Q1. What crucial personal detail does Cassius reveal at the beginning of this extract, and how does it intensify the moment?
Ans. Cassius reveals that the day of the battle is his birthday. This detail intensely focuses on the dramatic moment, making the battle not just a political crisis but a deeply personal, fateful final trial for him. It foreshadows that this significant day will likely be his last.
Q2. What change in Cassius’s personal philosophy does he admit to Messala?
Ans. Cassius confesses that he is abandoning the tenets of Epicureanism, the philosophy he held strong. Epicureanism rejected superstition and omens, but he now admits he is forced to ‘credit things that do presage’ due to the grim portents he has witnessed.
Q3. Describe the change in the birds Cassius observes and what the new birds symbolize.
Ans. Cassius first saw two mighty eagles which are the symbols of Roman strength and victory feeding from their hands. These have now been replaced by ravens, crows, and kites (scavenger birds). These new birds symbolize death, decay, and defeat, regarding the army as ‘sickly prey’ ready to die.
Q4. Why does Cassius reference Pompey in his speech to Messala?
Ans. Cassius references Pompey the Great because Pompey, like Cassius now, was compelled to stake everything, all of Rome’s liberties on a single, decisive battle (Pharsalus) against Caesar, a battle which he ultimately lost. This comparison underscores Cassius’s feeling that he is acting against his better judgment and foreshadows their inevitable defeat.
Q5. Analyze the emotional impact and dramatic function of the ‘everlasting farewell’ between Brutus and Cassius.
Ans. The ‘everlasting farewell’ is the emotional peak of the scene, serving as a final, heartfelt resolution between the two co-conspirators. It dramatically signals the ultimate gravity of their situation, as they recognize this may be the very last time they speak. Their words are infused with both Stoic acceptance and profound sadness. By consciously acknowledging the possibility of death and resolving to meet it with dignity, they elevate their relationship above the political struggle. This poignant moment serves to humanize the generals just before the slaughter, preparing the audience for the tragic outcomes of the final act and emphasizing the doomed nature of their enterprise.