LITERATURE IN ENGLISH
STD 8
JULIUS CAESAR
ACT 5 SCENE 1 & 2
2022-2023
Answer the following questions with reference to the context.
A.
Octavius
Now, Antony, our hopes are answered!
You said the enemy would not come down,
But keep the hills and upper regions.
1. Where does this scene take place? Who enters the scene now?
A. This scene takes place in the plains of Philippi.
Octavius and Antony with their army enter the scene.
2. How were their hopes answered?
A. Octavius tells Antony that their hopes were fulfilled as Antony had said that the enemy would
not come down to the plains, but instead would remain in the hills and higher regions. He says it
has proved otherwise and their armies were approaching fast. They intended to challenge them
there at Philippi “answering before we do demand of them”.
3. What message does the messenger give them?
A. The messenger tells them to prepare themselves. Their foes are advancing in gallant show.
Their red flag, the signal for battle is hung out. Therefore, something must be done immediately.
4. How does Antony react to this message?
A. Antony tells Octavius to lead his army slowly on to the left hand side of the level ground.
5. What does Octavius reply?
A. Octavius replies that he will advance on the right while Antony must keep to the left.
6. What is the difference between the left and right sides of the field?
A. In Roman battles, the superior general always fought on the right side of the field.
It was a position of greater honour and responsibility in the Roman army.
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7. Explain: “Why do you cross me in this exigent?”
A. Antony means to ask Octavius why he is contradicting him at such a critical moment.
8. Who enters the scene now?
A. Brutus and Cassius enter with their army. Lucilius, Titinius, Messala and others come with
them.
9. What does Brutus say?
A. Brutus says ‘they stand and would have parley.’
10. How does Brutus begin the parley?
A. Brutus begins the parley by asking “words before blows. Is it so, countrymen?”
11. What does Antony say about Brutus’ bad strokes?
A. Antony tells Brutus that in his bad strokes, he speaks good words. He reminds him of the
wound he made in Caesar’s heart while flattering him with sweet words like “Long live!
Hail Caesar!”
12. Explain the lines:
The posture of your blows are yet unknown;
But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
And leave them honeyless.
A. Cassius taunts Antony saying that they do not know on which side his blows would fall
(for he professed friendship for both sides) and how he will fight. As far as his words go, they
are so sweet that he must have visited the famous bee-hives of Hybla and stolen all their honey.
13. How does Antony angrily describe the way the conspirators had killed Caesar?
A. Antony calls them Villains. He claims that they were not affected when their vile daggers
hacked one another in the sides of Caesar. He reminds them how they showed their teeth like
apes, fawned like hounds and bowed like bondmen kissing Caesar’s feet, whilst damned Casca
like a cur, struck Caesar on the neck from behind. He then calls the conspirators flatterers.
14. What does Cassius remind Brutus of after hearing Antony insult them?
A. If Brutus had listened to Cassius’ advice that Antony should have been killed along with
Caesar, they would not have had to listen to his insult.
B.
Messala
Believe not so.
Cassius: I but believe it partly,
For I am fresh of spirit and resolv’d
To meet all perils very constantly.
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1. What does Cassius mean when he says, ‘For I am fresh of spirit and resolv’d
To meet all perils very constantly’?
A. Cassius says very courageously that he is determined to face boldly whatever dangers may
present themselves.
2.
a. Whose philosophy did Cassius follow before?
A. Cassius followed the Epicurean School of Philosophy. Epicurus was a Greek philosopher. He
preached that one must not be influenced by superstitions.
b. What has already been narrated so as to make Messala say ‘Believe not so.’?
A. Cassius narrated an incident that when he was coming from Sardis on their ‘former ensign’ he
noticed how two mighty eagles fell, and perched there, gorging and feeding from their soldiers
hands whilst having consorted them to Philippi. He said that morning they flew away and in their
place ravens, crows and kites fly over their heads and look downward upon them as if they were
‘sickly prey’. He compares the birds flying above them to a ‘canopy most fatal under which their
army lies, ready to give up the ghost.’
3. What does Cassius now hope for? Why?
A. Cassius wishes that the Gods may befriend them so that they, two friends in peace, may live
as friends till old age.
Cassius says that since the future of men always remains uncertain, they should decide how they
will be prepared for the worst. If they were defeated in the battle of Philippi, this would be the
last time they spoke to each other.
4. How would Brutus react if the worst befalls them?
A. Brutus said that even by the rule of that philosophy (Stoicism), by which he blamed
Cato for the death which he did give himself and though he thought that suicide was cowardly
and vile he would not allow himself to be paraded as a prisoner in the streets of Rome. Thus, he
would kill himself.
ACT 5 SCENE 2
A.
Brutus
Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills
Unto the legions on the other side.
1. Where does this scene take place?
A. This scene takes place on the battleground in Philippi.
2. What instruction does Brutus give Messala?
A. Brutus asks Messala to ride to the other side of the battlefield and give bills or written orders
to Cassius on the other side of the field. He orders Cassius to charge the attack against Antony.
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3. What does ‘cold demeanor’ mean?
A. ‘Cold demeanor’ means unpreparedness. Octavius’ wing was unprepared.
4. What is Brutus’ war strategy?
A. Since Brutus believes Octavius is unprepared, he wants to attack and win the battle.
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