Why does Artemidorus urge Caesar to go through his letter first?

la) It is concerned with the conspiracy against Caesar

(b) It is concerning Ronme
lol It is concerns a
matter of national importance
(d) It is he who came first to Caesar
oCassius says that he fears their "purpose is
la) To form a group of conspirators discovered." What is the "purpose"?
(b) To murder Caesar
(c) To save Rome from Caesar
(d) To rope in Brutus for their
conspiracy
4. What does Cassius say he
would do if their purpose is revealed?
(a) Make another plan
(b) Kill the one who revealed it
(c) Kill Casca
(d) Kill himself
5. According to Caesar, what will be the effect of Metellus Cimber's
cringing on ordinary men? stooping and
(a) Incite others to stoop so low (b) Inflame the pride of ordinary men
(c) Invoke the ordinary men to rebel (d) None of the above
6. What would Caesar do with Metellus
Cimber if he would pray on his brother's
behalf using humble flattery?
(a) Change the sentence of banishment
(b) Banish him too like his brother
(c) Will not change the sentence of banishment
(d) Reduce his sentence of banishment
7. With whom does Caesar compare himself in this scene of the play?
(a) Lion (b) Sun
(c) Pole Star (d) Moon
O How do the conspirators make requests to Caesar regarding Publius Cimber?
(a) Appealing to his divine right (b) Appealing to his supreme self
(c) Feigned servility (d) None of the above
2 Which attitude of Caesar is seen in his act of denying Metellus Cimber's petition?
(a) Arrogance (b) Pride
(c) Honesty (d) Modesty
OW do the people of Rome run after Caesar's murderers?
(a) As if an earthquake had occurred
(b) As if doomnsday had come

ACT III, SCENE-1 113

 (c) As ifa large building had collapsed.
(d) As if a mountain had fallen on them.
11. How according to Brutus, have they helped Caesar by murdering him?
(a) By preventing him from becoming a ruthless dictator
(b) By preventing him from the agony of losing kingship
(c) By saving Rome from being ruined.
(d) By preventing him from living in fear of death.
12. According to Cassius, how would the people describe the group of Caesar:
murderers in future?
(a) Liberators of their country (b) Butchers who slayed Caesar
(c) Savage of the first order (d) Noble men of Rome
l3. How does Brutus seem to see the murder of Caesar?
(a) As a solemn act of purification of Rome
(b) As an act of great justice to him
(c) As an act of friendship
(d) All of the above
14. According to Antony, how was Caesar brought by?
(a) Like a stag by hounds (b) Like a dog by hunters
(c) Like a goat by butchers (d) None of the above.
l5. What appears as the main cause of Brutus' failure in this scene of the play?
(a) Lack of experience (b) Lack of brutality
(c) Error of judgement (d) None of the above.

CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Caesar
[To the Soothsayer] The ides of March are come.
Soothsayer
Ay, Caesar, but not gone.
Artemidorus
Hail, Caesar! read this schedule.
Decius
Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit.
(i) Where does this conversation take place? Why did Caesar tell the Soothsae
"The ides of March are come"? When had he met the Soothsayer betore?

114 JULIUS CAESAR-WORKBOU

 t Who is Artemidorus? Whom does he represent in the play? What is the
"schedule"?
importance of his

(iii) Why does Artemidorus request Caesar to read his "schedule" first? With
reference to a previous scene, show how Artemidorus' fears are justified.

(iv) Mention the two reasons given by Caesar for not reading the "schedule" handed
over by Artemidorus. Which trait of his personality is revealed by his act?

Name two people in the scene who are trying to warn Caesar. Name two
is
Ouner people who defeat their efforts to do so. Which theme of the plav
highlighted here? Explain it briefiy.

ACT III, sCENE-1 115

2. Cassius
Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.
Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
For I will slay myself.
Brutus
Cassius, be constant.
Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;
For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.
(i) "If this be known"-What does "this" refer to? If it would be know
could happen?

(ii) What duty is assigned to Casca? Why should he be sudden"?

(iii) What has Popilius Lena said and done which makes Cassius to fear? the
did they think that Lena was saying? How does Brutus show them that
is nothing to fear?

Cim

(iv) What was the task assigned to Trebonius? What petition did Metellus
present to Caesar? In what way did he flatter Caesar?

JULIUS CAESAR-WORKBO0
116
 Cive two of the arguments given by Caesar to
fotellus. Which trait of Caesar's character is reject the petition made by
highlighted in these arguments?

3. Caesar
But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumnber'd sparks,
They are all fire and every one doth shine;
But there's but one in all doth hold his place.
So in the world; tis furnish'd well with men,
(i) What is the northern star"? Give the meaning of: "0f whose true-fix'd and
resting quality/ There is no fellow in the firmament."

14) Why does Caesar compre himself to the northern star? What is the occassion
for such a comparison?

ACT IN,SCENE-1 117

(iii) State the comparison made by Caesar between the firmament and the
of men.

What
(ii)
respo
they

(iv) Why is Caesar so stubborn in his attitude towards the conspirators? W.

purpose does his stubbornness serve on the dramatic effectiveness?

(iii) What
Brut

(v) What horrible event is about to take place in a short time? Who was the irs
to strike? Why is Antony absent from the scene? What could have happen#
if Antony were to be present on the scene?

(iv) After
this s

4.. Brutus
Fates, we will know your pleasures.
That we shall die, we know; tis but the time (v) State
And drawing days out, that men stand upon. of Juli
Cassius
Why, he that cuts off twentyy years of life
Cuts off so many years of fearing death. Brute
are
(i) When does this conversation take place? In what state of mind
and Cassius?

WORKSO ACT III, SCEr

 tis meant by the
"Fates"? State in your own words what the
responsible for. According to the Fates were
they fear? extract, what do men know and what do

(iii) What positive note does Casca strike in the death of Caesar? What does
Brutus feel about it?

After the extract, what does Brutus ask the Romans to do? In what way does
(iv)
dream?
this seem to be a fulfilment of Calpurnia's

assassination of Caesar in the story-line

nlaved by the
State briefly the role
of Julius Caesar.

119

ACT II, SCENE-1

5. Cassius
Stoop, then, and wash. How many ages hence
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over,
In states unborn and accents yet unknown!
Brutus
How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
That now on Pompey's basis lies along
No worthier than the dust!
Cassius
So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of us be call'd
The men that gave their country liberty.
Decius
What, shall we forth?
Cassius
Ay, every man away:
Brutus shall lead, and we will grace his heels
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.

Enter a Servant)
Brutus
Soft! who comes here?
(i) When Cassius says, "Stoop, then, and wash," to whom is he
exactly does he mean? Who had just suggested speaking? W
washing?

(ii) Explain the meaning of "states unborn",

"accents" and "Pompey's be

sh
Cimes
(iii) What does Brutus want to
Caesar bleed in sport"? express when he Says, "How many

120 JULIUS CAESAR-WORK

 What does Cassius believe "the knot of us" will be called and why?
(iv)

Antony may be said to mark the turning point

The entry of the servant of
(v) whole play. Narrate, very briefly, in what way this is so.
of the

6. Antony
Caesar! dost thou lie so low?
O mighty triumphs, spoils,
conquests, glories, well.
Are all thy this little measure? Fare thee
Shrunk to intend,
not, gentlemen, what you is rank:
I know blood, who else
let
Who else must be no hour so fit
there is
If I myself, death's hour: nor no instrument rich
As Caesar's made
worth as those your swords,world.
Of half that noble blood of all this
With the most
meant by "this little measure"?
What is
Caesar lie? conquests
i) Where does the mighty and his glories.
Caesar's
Give One example each of

121

ACT IN, SCENE-1

 Who are the "gentlemen" he addresses?
What does he implore them to t
(ii) character?
What does his request tell us about his

(iii) Give the meaning of: "Who else must be let blood, who else is rank .
in your opinion, is Antony's reason for saying so?

(iv) What does Antony's expression, the most noble blood of all this wortä
indicate about Antony's feelings for Caesar?

(v) What did Brutus tell Antony about the conspirator's feelings for Caesar? Ws
Brutus honest? Why?

7. Antony
My credit now stands on such slippery
ground,
That one of two bad ways you must Conceit me,
Either a coward or a flatterer.
That I did love thee, Caesar, O, tis true: A
JULIUS CAESAR-WORKBOU
122
 What is meant by the word "credit"? Why does it now stand «on such slippery
() ground"?

What does Antony mean to say by the following words:

(i) W
That one of two bad ways you must Conceit me,
Either a coward or a flatterer?

Antony's action and words have on his listeners?

(iil) What effect do

granting the request of Antony? What did

Brutus make by mistake?
) What mistake did then? What was the consequence of the
Cassius warn bim

coward and a flatterer?

be both a
(v) that he could
How did Antony prove
A

123
ACT IM, scENE-l
 hart:
8. Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave
Here did'st thou fall: and here thy hunters stand.
Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe.
Oworld, thou wast the forest to this hart,
And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.
How like a deer, strucken by many princes,
Dost thou here lie!

(i) Who speaks these words: "Here wast thou bay'd?" What is the
implied in the expression? To what custom of the hunters does itcompari
refer?sc

(ii) Explain the double meaning intended in the expression, "brave hart."

(iii) Who are the hunters in the present crisis? Give the meaning of: "Sign'd|
thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe."

indeed.t
(iv) In what way was the world, the forest to this hart," and this
world, the heart of thee"?

CAESAR-WORKBO0
24
 e. does the speaker arouse Cassius'
() speaker as a result of the suspicion? suspicion? What does Cassius ask the

9. Antony
And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war,
above the earth
That this foul deed shall smnell
burial.
With carrion men, groaning for
revenge"? When and to whom does Caesar's
for
1) Why is Caesar's spirit "raging
play?
spirit appear later in the

"confines"?
context? What is meant by
name used in the
(ii) Who is Ate? Why is her

authoritative
indicates absolute and
"Havoc!" This expression foretell about the
(ii) Cry the
With a monarch'sforvoice
destruction. What
does
royal command
things to come?
125

ACT III, SCENE-1

 and he
(iv) Who are "the dogs of war"? Which foul deed is referred to
"smell above the earth"?

(v) What would the consequences of these happenings be for the conspia:
and as well as for Antony?

10. Antony
Yet, stay awhile;
Thou shalt not back till I have borne the corpse
Into the market-place: there shall I try,
In my oration, how the people take
The cruel issue of these bloody men...
(i) To whom is Antony speaking? Why is this person here? Where are t

awh
tay
(ii) What had Antony just said to this person before telling him to "s
How did this person help Antony?

JULIUS CAESAR-WORKB
126
 .Dynlain the meaning of "oration". What does this passage reveal
what Antony proposed to do? to us about

(iv) Earlier, Antony said, "Over thy wounds now do I

three points of his prophesy. prophesy." Mention any

(v) Which trait of Antony's nature is shown in this passage? Give examples of
two other occasions in the play where a different aspect of his character is
showndistinct from the one shown in this extract.

TEST AND EVALUATION

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1.
Caesar
lI thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.

ACT III, SCENE-1 127

 Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor withOut cause
Will he be satisfied.
Metellus
Is there no voice more worthy than my own,
To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?
(i) Where does this scene take place? What is it that Metellus is begging for)
What does Caesar feel about Metellus' way of begging?
(ii) What is Caesar's attitude towards Metellus? What evidence do you find for
such an attitude in the extract?
(iüi) Give the meaning of:
If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,
Ispurn thee like a cur out of my way.
(iv) What has Caesar already said about petitions presented to him with utter
humility?
(v) Metellus'question in the extract serves an important role in the execution
of the plan hatched by the conspirators. State how.
2. Servant
Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel;
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down;
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
Say I love Brutus, and I honour him;
Say I fear'd Caesar, honour'd him, and, lov'd him;
(i) What reason had been given earlier to explain Antony's absence? Why was
the servant sent?

(ii) Give examples from the play to illustrate three qualities of Brutus that
Antony speaks of. Give one example of each.
(ii) Did Antony really love and honour Brutus? What does he say later about
Brutus in this connection?
(iv) Give examples from the play to prove that Antony fear'd, honoura a
loved Caesar. Give one example of each.
(v) Antony mentions four qualities of Caesar. Express briefly how far you ag
with each of the four?

3. Brutus
Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman:
I never thought him worse.
Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
JULIUS CAESAR-WORKB00
128
 He shall be satisfied, and, by my honour,
Depart untouch'd.
Servant
I11 fetch him presently. [Exit
Brutus
I know that we shall have him well to friend.
o Who is referred to as the "master"? In what way is he wise? If he was
valiant, why is he not present at this point of time? (3)
B2 Why has the master sent his servant? What condition has he put forward
(through the servant) to enable him (i.e. the master) to come to the scene? (3)
What is the meaning and the implication of: "He shall be satisfied"? How
(iii)
ironic is Brutus' statement: We shall have him well to friend"? (3)
iv) Who else is present at this time? How is there a disagreement between
Brutus and the person present on this decision about "the master"? (3)
is shrewd
(v) With reference to the extract, how does the master show that he
and intelligent? (4)

4. Brutus
O Antony, beg not your death of us.
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
As, by our hands, and this our present act,
hands
You see we do, yet see you but our
done.
And this the bleeding business they have
Cassius
man's
Your voice shall be as strong as any
In the disposing of new dignities.
what manner has Antony just spoken to the conspirators? How do you
i) In
(3)
explain his attitude to them at this juncture?
about their
What do these statements of Brutus and Cassius reveal
(1) (3)
natures?
difference of opinion is there.between Brutus and Cassius later in
() What
this scene? (3)
(3)
(V) What role does Antony play in this scener
"disposing of new dignities." (4)
M) xplain bleeding business" and

ACT II, SCENE-1 129