ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 5 Important Question Answers
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Related:
- Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 5 Summary, Explanation
- Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 5 Character Sketch
- ICSE Class 10 English Lesson Notes
ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 5 Textbook Questions
ASSIGNMENTS
Multiple Choice Questions
1. With what did Clitus, Dardanius and Volumnius refuse to oblige Brutus?
(a) To help Brutus flee from there
(b) To change sides with enemy
(c) To help Brutus end his life
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c) To help Brutus end his life
2. Who among the following was NOT among the “poor remains of friends” as referred to by Brutus?
(a) Dardanius
(b) Clitus
(c) Statilius
(d) Strato
Ans. (c) Statilius
3. Who is referred to by Clitus as “noble vessel full of grief”?
(a) Brutus
(b) Cassius
(c) A Antony
(d) Lepidus
Ans. (a) Brutus
4. To whom does Brutus refer to as his school fellow?
(a) Strato
(b) Volumnius
(c) Dardanius
(d) Cato
Ans. (b) Volumnius
5. Brutus says that he would attain greater glory than the “vile conquest” of whom?
(a) Octavius and Antony
(b) Caesar and Pompey
(c) Old Cato and his son
(d) None of the above
Ans. (a) Octavius and Antony
6. Who says, “I kill’d not thee with half so good a will”?
(a) Cassius
(b) Casca
(c) Cicero
(d) Brutus
Ans. (d) Brutus
7. What does Octavius say he would do with all those who were serving Brutus?
(a) Kill them
(b) Make them prisoner of war
(c) Make them his slaves
(d) Take them in his service
Ans. (d) Take them in his service
8. Whom does Octavius take into his household to serve him?
(a) Lucilus
(b) Strato
(c) Messala
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) Strato
9. What tribute does Antony pay Brutus?
(a) As a true gentleman
(b) As a true Roman
(c) As the noblest Roman
(d) As an honourable man.
Ans. (c) As the noblest Roman
10. According to Antony, how would Nature describe Brutus?
(a) Noble man
(b) Perfect man
(c) Gentleman
(d) True Roman
Ans. (d) True Roman
CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Brutus
Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.
Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes;
Our enemies have beat us to the pit:
It is more worthy to leap in ourselves,
Than tarry till they push us.
(i) Who is Volumnius? Why does Brutus show intimacy to him? What favour does Brutus expect from him?
Ans. Volumnius is an officer in Brutus’s army and, more importantly, an old school friend of Brutus. Brutus shows intimacy by reminding him, ‘Thou know’st that we two went to school together’, appealing to their shared history and deep, personal relationship. Brutus expects the favour that Volumnius will hold his sword hilt steady while Brutus runs onto it, thus helping him commit suicide with honor.
(ii) The ghost of Caesar appeared to Brutus twice. What did the ghost tell Brutus in Sardis? What does it indicate here in Philippi?
Ans. In Sardis, the ghost of Caesar simply told Brutus, ‘Thou shalt see me at Philippi’. Here in Philippi, the second appearance of the ghost, combined with the complete defeat of Brutus’s army, indicates to Brutus that his fate is sealed and his hour has come. He views the ghost as a supernatural sign that the forces of fate and retribution, initiated by Caesar’s murder, have finally caught up with him.
(iii) Name two of Brutus’ friends who have already refused to kill him. What does Volumnius say for not agreeing to carry out Brutus’ wish?
Ans. The two friends who had already refused Brutus’s request were Clitus and Dardanus. Volumnius does not agree to carry out Brutus’s wish, stating, ‘That’s not an office for a friend, my lord’. He means that such an act of helping a friend die is not a suitable or proper duty for a true companion.
(iv) Give the meaning of “Thou seest the world. Volumnius, how it as goes; Our enemies have beat us to the pit.”
Ans. Brutus tells Volumnius that he can see the terrible state of affairs in the world, specifically how their enemies, the forces of Octavius and Antony, have completely defeated them. Brutus likens their crushing defeat to being driven to the edge of a pit, indicating that their situation is hopeless and there is no escape.
(v) Briefly state the misfortunes enumerated by Brutus to Volumnius.
Ans. Brutus enumerates several key misfortunes to Volumnius that confirm his impending death and lead to his decision to commit suicide. First, he relates that the ghost of Caesar has appeared to him twice, once at Sardis and again here at Philippi, which he takes as an undeniable sign that his life is ending. Second, he observes the dire military situation, stating that their enemies have ‘beat us to the pit’, meaning their defeat is absolute and unavoidable. These misfortunes collectively convince Brutus that his ‘hour is come’, and that the only remaining choice is an honorable self-inflicted death rather than the dishonor of being captured.
2. Brutus
Countrymen,
My heart doth joy that yet in all my life,
I found no man but he was true to me.
I shall have glory by this losing day,
More than Octavius and Mark Antony
By this vile conquest shall attain unto.
(i) Where and when is Brutus speaking? About whom is he speaking and to whom?
Ans. Brutus is speaking on the battlefield at Philippi just after his forces have been completely defeated by the armies of Octavius and Mark Antony. He is speaking about his few remaining, loyal friends Clitus, Dardanus, Volumnius, and Strato, who have refused to leave him despite the imminent danger and his request for them to help him end his life. He is addressing these same ‘Countrymen’ directly, giving them his final farewell.
(ii) What recent events have prompted Brutus to say, “I found no man but he was true to me”?
Ans. Brutus has been prompted to say, ‘I found no man but he was true to me’, because he has just made a desperate appeal to Clitus, Dardanus, and Volumnius to hold his sword for him, and although they refused the act, they did so out of love and loyalty, preferring to die themselves rather than harm him. This profound refusal, coupled with their presence until the last possible moment, assures Brutus that he was never betrayed by his personal following, providing him a moment of comfort and justification.
(iii) Would you include Cassius among those who were “true” to Brutus? Give your reasons briefly.
Ans. Yes, Cassius can generally be included among those who were ‘true’ to Brutus, though his motives were less pure. While Cassius initially helped plan Caesar’s assassination out of personal envy and ambition, once he allied with Brutus, he was unwavering in his support of the republican cause and Brutus as a general. Their relationship, though marked by a quarrel, was restored, and Cassius ultimately chose to commit suicide on the battlefield rather than face capture, proving his loyalty to the cause and his bond with Brutus in the final hours of the battle.
(iv) Who finally serves Brutus before Octavius and Mark Antony arrive on the scene?
Ans. The friend who finally serves Brutus by helping him die before Octavius and Mark Antony arrive on the scene is Strato. After all the others flee, Brutus convinces Strato to hold his sword while he runs upon it, turning his face away. Strato agrees to perform this solemn and final service for his master, making him the last loyal attendant to see Brutus alive.
(v) Do the speeches of Antony and Octavius which end the play prove Brutus’ words to be true as quoted in the last three lines of the above extract?
Ans. Yes, the closing speeches prove Brutus’s words to be true. Brutus claims he will ‘have glory by this losing day, / More than Octavius and Mark Antony / By this vile conquest shall attain unto’. Antony, the main victor, immediately validates this by giving Brutus the highest possible praise, calling him “the noblest Roman of them all’, and declaring that Brutus alone acted for the “common good.” Octavius further honors Brutus by commanding he be given a respectful military burial. This universal recognition of Brutus’s virtue, even by his enemies, grants him a moral and historical glory that surpasses the temporary political victory of Octavius and Antony.
3. Antony
This was the noblest Roman of them all,
All the conspirators, save only he,
Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
He only, in a general honest thought,
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mix’d in him, that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world, “This was a man!”
(i) When does Antony speak these words? Who was “the noblest Roman of them all”? Which people are included in the word, “all”
Ans. Antony speaks these words on the battlefield at Philippi just after the death of Brutus and upon finding his body. Brutus is referred to as ‘the noblest Roman of them all’. The word ‘all’ refers primarily to all the conspirators who participated in the assassination of Julius Caesar, including Cassius, Casca, Decius Brutus, Cinna, and the others, whom Antony contrasts with Brutus.
(ii) Give the meaning of:
He only, in a general honest thought,
And common good to all, made one of them.
Ans. The lines mean that Brutus was the only conspirator whose motivation for assassinating Caesar was sincere and selfless, driven by a belief that he was acting for the greater good and freedom of all Romans. While the others acted out of personal malice or envy toward Caesar’s power, Brutus joined the conspiracy only out of a high-minded, honest concern for the public welfare.
(iii) By referring to the Elizabethan way of thinking, state in what way was the “noblest Roman” a perfect human being
Ans. By referring to the Elizabethan way of thinking, the ‘noblest Roman’ i.e. Brutus was considered a perfect human being because his inner nature and character were perfectly balanced. Elizabethans believed that human personality was determined by the balance of the four elements i.e. earth, air, fire, and water, which corresponded to the four humours. The four humours are blood (passionate), phlegm (calm), yellow bile (anger), black bile ( gloomy or introspective). Brutus was an ideal person with all the four humours in perfect balance. Antony’s line, ‘the elements / So mix’d in him’, signifies that these internal components were harmoniously proportioned, resulting in a virtuous, rational, and gentle temperament which is the ideal of a complete man.
(iv) What does Octavius order with regard to the funeral of the noblest Roman? Does he deserve such a burial? Give a reason to justify your answer.
Ans. Octavius orders that Brutus be given a full military funeral with ‘all respect and rites of burial’. He commands that Brutus’s body should lie in his own tent for the night, ‘Most like a soldier, ordered honorably’. Yes, Brutus does deserve such a burial because, as Antony confirms, his motive was noble and his life was dedicated to Rome’s ideals, even if his actions were politically disastrous. The respectful burial honors Brutus’s patriotism and moral character, distinguishing him from a common traitor.
(v) Briefly state how the play propagates the idea that disloyalty and conspiracy do not succeed.
Ans. The play propagates the idea that disloyalty and conspiracy do not ultimately succeed because the conspirators are destroyed by the very act they committed. All the major conspirators Brutus, Cassius, Casca, and others meet violent ends, either through suicide or by being killed by Caesar’s avengers Antony and Octavius. The play shows that the assassination, driven by disloyalty to a powerful leader and the state, only leads to civil war and the complete downfall of the conspirators, thus proving the original act of violence to be fatal to their cause and themselves.
TEST AND EVALUATION
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Strato
Give me your hand first: fare you well, my lord.
Brutus
Farewell, good Strato.-Caesar, now be still;
I kill’d not thee with half so good a will. [He runs on his sword and dies
(i) Referring to the ghost of Caesar and the battles, state the significance of the words, “Caesar, now be still.” (3)
Ans. The words ‘Caesar, now be still’ are highly significant as they mark the final moment of retribution for Caesar’s murder. The ghost of Caesar had appeared twice to Brutus, at Sardis and again at Philippi, essentially acting as the force of fate guiding Brutus to his defeat. By committing suicide, Brutus is acknowledging that Caesar’s spirit has been avenged and can now rest. His death fulfills the prophecy implied by the ghost and definitively ends the civil war, signaling the ultimate triumph of Caesar’s cause over the republican conspiracy.
(ii) Give the meaning of “I kill’d not thee with half so good a will.” For whom does Brutus use these words? (3)
Ans. The line ‘I kill’d not thee with half so good a will’ means that Brutus embraced his own death with far more sincerity, peace, and willingness than he felt when he participated in the assassination of Caesar. Brutus uses these words for the spirit of Julius Caesar himself. This statement serves as Brutus’s final confession: he killed Caesar reluctantly, believing it was a necessary evil for Rome, but he kills himself gladly and honorably to escape capture, indicating he finds more moral righteousness in his own suicide than in his political crime.
(iii) How does Brutus die? Who all reach the site immediately after Brutus’ death? (3)
Ans. Brutus dies by running upon his own sword, which is held for him by his loyal servant, Strato. This is a quick and honorable death, in accordance with Roman tradition, to avoid being captured. Immediately after Brutus’s death, the victorious forces of the Second Triumvirate arrive on the scene. The leaders who reach the site are Mark Antony, Octavius, along with Messala and Lucilius, and their army.
(iv) Caesar triumphs over the death of Brutus. Comment how the play ends with this message. (3)
Ans. The play ends with the distinct message that Caesar triumphs over Brutus’s death because the spirit and cause of Caesar ultimately destroy the conspirators and establish a new Roman order. Brutus’s death, though honorable, is the final payment for the assassination, confirming that the violence against Caesar was self-defeating. The final words and actions of Octavius and Antony confirm the success of Caesar’s avengers, as they now control Rome’s future, while the republican ideals championed by Brutus are permanently extinguished.
(v) What sort of burial will Brutus get? What does this show about Brutus’ status in the society? (4)
Ans. Brutus will receive a highly honorable military funeral. Octavius orders that Brutus’s body be treated ‘with all respect and rites of burial’ and that his bones will lie in the general’s own tent, ‘Most like a soldier, ordered honorably’. This shows that despite being the leader of the defeated conspiracy, Brutus retains an extremely high status in Roman society, even in the eyes of his enemies. Antony’s eulogy elevates him as ‘the noblest Roman of them all’, signifying that his virtue and honorable intentions transcend the treason of his political actions, ensuring his legacy as a great and respected figure.
ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 5 Extra Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. What is the main reason Brutus gives for wanting to die rather than flee?
A. He fears the ghost of Caesar will kill him first.
B. He has run out of supplies and soldiers.
C. It is more honorable to kill himself than be captured by the enemy
D. He wishes to be buried next to Cassius.
Ans. C. It is more honorable to kill himself than be captured by the enemy
Q2. Why did Brutus believe his final hour is confirmed?
A. He saw Antony and Octavius approaching.
B. Strato betrayed him to the enemy.
C. The torchlight from Statilius failed to return.
D. The ghost of Caesar appeared to him twice.
Ans. D. The ghost of Caesar appeared to him twice.
Q3. Which of the following men explicitly refused Brutus’s request to hold the sword for his suicide?
A. Messala
B. Strato
C. Lucilius
D. Volumnius
Ans. D. Volumnius
Q4. What final joy does Brutus express just before his death?
A. His confidence in the future of the Republic.
B. His belief that his life was morally pure.
C. His pride that no man he knew was ever false to him.
D. His knowledge that Antony would respect him.
Ans. C. His pride that no man he knew was ever false to him.
Q5. Whom does Brutus’s last words, ‘I kill’d not thee with half so good a will’ addressed to?
A. Strato
B. Clitus
C. Octavius
D. Caesar’s spirit
Ans. D. Caesar’s spirit
Q6. When Strato is found by Messala, how did Strato describe Brutus?
A. Driven mad by grief.
B. Free from the bondage the victors are in.
C. A prisoner of war.
D. Mourning the loss of Cassius.
Ans. B. Free from the bondage the victors are in.
Q7. According to Antony, what was the motivation for all the conspirators, except Brutus?
A. Fear of the people.
B. Envy of great Caesar.
C. Love for the Roman Republic.
D. Desire for riches.
Ans. B. Envy of great Caesar.
Q8. Why did Antony suggest that Brutus was the ‘noblest Roman of them all’?
A. A desire to avenge Pompey’s death.
B. A calculated military strategy.
C. A general honest thought and common good to all.
D. Pure, unadulterated ambition.
Ans. C. A general honest thought and common good to all.
Q9. What did Octavius immediately offer to demonstrate his respect for Brutus?
A. Pardon the remaining conspirators.
B. Allow Strato to go free.
C. Give Brutus an honorable soldier’s burial.
D. Rename the battlefield after Brutus.
Ans. C. Give Brutus an honorable soldier’s burial.
Q10. Who is taken into Octavius’s service after reporting the manner of Brutus’s death?
A. Messala
B. Lucilius
C. Dardanus
D. Strato
Ans. D. Strato
Extract Based Questions
Answer the following extract-based questions.
A.
BRUTUS
Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.
Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes.
Our enemies have beat us to the pit.Low alarums.
It is more worthy to leap in ourselves
Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius,
Thou know’st that we two went to school together;
Even for that our love of old, I prithee,
Hold thou my sword hilts whilst I run on it.
VOLUMNIUS
That’s not an office for a friend, my lord.
Q1. Why does Brutus believe his hour has come?
Ans. Brutus states that his hour has come due to two major factors. First, their enemies have completely defeated their army, pushing them to the edge of the pit. Second, he confirms this certainty because the ghost of Caesar has appeared to him twice, once at Sardis and again here at Philippi, which he interprets as a final, inescapable sign of his imminent death and Caesar’s revenge.
Q2. Explain the significance of Brutus referencing his school days with Volumnius.
Ans. Brutus references their school days to appeal to the deepest, most personal bond they share. By recalling their long-standing friendship and ‘love of old’, he attempts to emotionally manipulate Volumnius into performing the painful, final act of holding the sword. Brutus is desperate and uses their shared history to justify requesting this extreme, dangerous favor.
Q3. What ‘office’ does Volumnius refuse, and why does he use those specific words?
Ans. Volumnius refuses the ‘office’ of holding the sword for Brutus’s suicide. He uses these specific words because he believes that forcing a friend to assist in death is not a task befitting a true friend. He views the request as a violation of the sacred duties of loyalty and care that a friend owes, choosing honor over obedience.
Q4. Name two other men who refused Brutus’s request before Volumnius. How did their reaction differ from Volumnius’s?
Ans. Clitus and Dardanus also refused Brutus’s request to help him die. Their reaction was one of immediate horror and deep personal distress, with both declaring they would rather kill themselves than harm their master. Volumnius’s refusal, in contrast, was more reasoned and based on a high-minded definition of a friend’s moral duty.
Q5. Analyze Brutus’s state of mind in this extract, including his view of Caesar’s influence on his fate.
Ans. Brutus’s state of mind is one of calm, rational desperation and fatalistic resignation. He accepts that his military and political endeavors have failed and sees suicide as the only recourse to avoid the ultimate disgrace of capture. The double appearance of Caesar’s ghost has convinced him that his fate is sealed by a supernatural, avenging force; he views his death not merely as a consequence of defeat, but as the final, inevitable payment demanded by Caesar’s spirit . His ability to appeal to his friends’ emotions while clearly stating his choice showcases his essential nobility, though he is now consumed by despair over his inability to escape destiny.
B.
ANTONY
This was the noblest Roman of them all.
All the conspirators save only he
Did that they did in envy of great Caesar.
He only in a general honest thought
And common good to all made one of them.
His life was gentle and the elements
So mixed in him that nature might stand up
And say to all the world “This was a man.”
Q1. Who is the speaker of these lines, and why is it significant that he delivers this eulogy?
Ans. The speaker is Mark Antony, Brutus’s chief military and political adversary. His delivery of this tribute is highly significant because it shows that Brutus’s virtue is so undeniable that even his most powerful enemy must acknowledge his moral greatness. It successfully elevates Brutus’s reputation above the political conflict that led to his death.
Q2. According to Antony, what was the difference between Brutus’s motives and the motives of the other conspirators?
Ans. Antony states that all the other conspirators were motivated by ‘envy of great Caesar’, driven by malice or personal ambition against his growing power. Brutus, however, acted out of a ‘general honest thought / And common good to all’, meaning his motive was selfless and sincerely based on his belief in public welfare and the freedom of Rome.
Q3. Explain the meaning of the phrase ‘His life was gentle’.
Ans. The phrase ‘His life was gentle’ means that Brutus’s disposition and temperament were mild, humane, and refined. It highlights his noble, civilized character, indicating that he was not naturally predisposed to cruelty or destructive passion. This gentleness is a key component of his moral perfection and his reputation as an honorable Roman.
Q4. What specific ancient belief is referenced by the phrase ‘the elements so mix’d in him’?
Ans. This phrase references the ancient and Elizabethan belief in the Four Humours and the four associated Elements . A perfect, harmonious balance of these components was thought to create an ideal human temperament. Antony means that Brutus’s character was flawlessly proportioned, free from the imbalance that causes vice or extreme passion.
Q5. Describe the overall impression Antony’s closing speech leaves on the audience regarding Brutus’s place in history, and how the play is finally resolved.
Ans. Antony’s speech ensures Brutus a heroic place in history because he is publicly acclaimed as ‘the noblest Roman of them all’, despite being the enemy leader. Antony affirms that Brutus’s integrity transcends his political error, creating a sense of moral victory even within military defeat. This resolution brings peace to the play not through mere conquest, but through reconciliation and respect. The victors honor the vanquished, providing Brutus a dignified burial and adopting his men. This final act establishes a controlled, stable new order under Octavius and Antony, signifying that the cycle of civil war and vengeance has ceased.