ACT III, SCENE II

Read the extracts given below and answer the

questions that follow :
QUESTION 1
CITIZENS -We willbe satisfied; let us be satisfied.
BRUTUS - Then follow me and give me audience,
friends.
1. Why do the citizens wish to be satisfied ?
What mood are they in ? Give the meaning
of 'audience'.
Ans. They wish to be satisfied as to why their
beloved leader has been assassinated. They
 aré in a restless and dangerous mood. The assessment of what he addresses ? Give
aúdience here means 'hearing. reasons for your answer.
What instructionsdoes Brutus give Cassius? Ans. Brutus, addressing the citizens, says that they
What does Brutus tell the crowd before he should judge for themselves with all their
goes up tothe pulpit ? wisdom. He says this to flatter them. No he is
Brutus tellsCassius to go to the other street not correct in his assessment because a throng
Ans.
and divide the crowds. He tells the crowd cannot think and act rationally. A crowd
that those who wish to listen to him, they cannot be a better judge.
chould stay there. Others who want to hear 3 Who does Brutus feel he has offended in his
Cassius should follow him. speech ? What reply does he get ?
. What do the First Citizen and Second citizen Ans. He feels that he has offended none in
tell each other ? his speech because no one wants to be a
oe They decide between them. The first citizen bondman (slave). When he asks whom he has
will hear Brutus and the second citizen will offended, all citizens say in one voice that he
has offended none.
hear Cassius. Then they will compare the
reasons given to them. 4 How does Brutus justify that he has
offended no one at the end of his speech ?
What willbe the purpose of Brutus' speech
to the citizens whoare waiting for him to Who enters after his speech?
speak ? Ans. Brutus justifies his stand saying that no
Roman wants to be a slave. So he has
Ans. Brutus' purpose will be to justify the murder
offended none. As for Caesar, his death
of Caesar. He will tell the listeners that
will be recorded in the official records. His
Caesar was murdered to save the country
glorious achievements, will not be minimised
from his despotic rule. If he had lived, the
people would have been treated as slaves. and his offences willnot be exaggerated for
which he was killed. His greatest offence
5. According to Brutus what was the single was, he was very ambitious. After his speech
major evil in Caesar's character ? Antony and others come.
Ans. According to Brutus, Caesar was highly 5. How does Brutus introduce the person who
ambitious. He was so ambitious that he
enters ? Why is he confident that the person
wanted to be a despot. The commnon people means no harm to the conspirators ?
were just like slaves before him. Ans. Brutus introduces Antony to the crowd. He
QUESTION 2 says that Antony had no hand in the death
of Caesar and he willbe given due place in
BRUTUS- As Caesar loved me, I weep for him, as he the commonwealth. He is confident because
was fortunate, he (Antony) has been instructed not to blame
him, but as
Tejotce at it; as he was valiant, I honour them in his speech. He should only speak in
he was amnbitious, I slew him. praise of Caesar.
place ? Who is
I. Where does the scene take QUESTION 3
Brutus addressing? Brutus
forum amidst a ANTONY- The noble
Ans. The scene takes place in the
you that Caesar twas ambitious:
throng of people. Brutus is addressing the Hath told
Common citizens of Rome. If it was so, it was a grievous faut,
duuo And grievously hath Caesar answer'dit.
2. Why does Brutus ask who he correct in his
? Is Brutus
be abetter judge
JULIUS CAESAR
1. Prepare a one minute speech on what is your that there is much reason in what Antony
ambition at this point of life and deliver it says. They feel that much wrong has been
in class. done to Caesar. Secondly, they feel tha:
Ans. I am a student of class X. I have taken up Caesar was not ambitious.
medical subjects. Iwant to become adoctor 6. What qualities of Antony do you admire:
and serve in some government hospital. Most What character traits are portrayed in his
of the poor who can't afford to pay big fee speech ?
come to these hospitals. I shall devote all my Ans. Antony is a good orator. He appeals to
time to serve the patients with all my ability. the heart of the common people. He also
2. State two instances cited by Antony in his watches the effect his words produce. The
speech to prove to the mnob that Caesar was speech shows that he is very shrewd. He has
not ambitious. practical wisdom.
Ans. Antony cites two instances. Caesar brought
many prisoners of war back to Rome. The QUESTION 4
money paid for their liberation went into ANTONY - O masters, ifI were disposed to stir
the public treasury. It shows he was not
your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
ambitious. Secondly, he was offered the
crown thrice yet he did not accept it. Ishould do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
3. What is the word used by Antony in bis VVho, you all know, are honourable men.
speech which is a repetition in a sarcastic 1. Who would Antony choose to wrong rather
manner (verbal irony) to incite the mob to than the honourable men ?
anger and fury ? How does he cleverly play Ans. Instead of doing wrong to honourable Brutus
on the emotions of the mob against Brutus and Cassius, Antony would prefer to wrong
indirectly refuting what Brutus spoke of himself, Caesar and the ordinary citizens of
Caesar? Rome.
Ans. The word is 'honourabe' for Brutus and 2.
What had Antony found in Caesar's closet?
others. It is ironical. By repeating this word What four things would the people do if
he plays upon the emotions of the mob. they came to know of the contents of what
Indirectly he instigates the people against Antony found ?
Brutus.
Ans. Antony fournd Caesar'swill in his closet. They
4. Why does Antony ask the mob to bear with would kiss dead Caesar's wounds, dip their
him ?What is his ulterior motive in doing
So ?
napkins in his blood, beg a hair of Caesar for
his memory, and at the time of death, leave it
Ans. Antony says this to convey that he is so much for their children as
overwhelmed with emotions that he can't 3
legacy.
What reasons does Antony give for
continue speaking. In doing so his interior in reading the contents of whatdelaying
he had
motive is to watch if his words have the
found in Caesar's closet ? How does he
desired effect on them or not. He wants to incite the mob further ?
make sure that they are ready to revolt.
Ans. Antony says that it is not
5. What is the reaction of the mob ? What do
should read the will. It willproper inflame
that he
they discuss among themselves ? Give two them
because they are neither wood, nor stone
instances of their conversation.
human beings. Moreover, it will make but
Ans. The mob is almost ready to find out the mad and incense them them
very much.
conspirators and destroy them. They discuss
ICSE Self-Study - Lit. in
English Paper Il -10
 He incites the mob by delaying the reading of
Brutus was the best and most trusted friend
the will. of Caesar and was not expected to kill him.
does
4. What does he ask the mob to do ? What 3 Where did Caesar fall ?What was ironical
about his fall ?
he want to show them ?
Ans. Caesar fell at the foot of Pompey's statue.
Ans, He asks the mob to make aring about the
dead body of Caesar. He wants to show them The ironical part lies in this that Pompey was
defeated and killed by Caesar and now he
the wounds made by the conspirators with
their weapons. /(Caesar) was lying dead at the feet of his
statue.
5. Explain - "If Iwere disposed to stir your
hearts and minds tomutiny and rage. 4 What is spoken about the vesture of Caesar
by Antony in his speech ? What was so
Ans. The words are highly ironical. Antony says
that he does not want to arouse them to a special about it ? What was its significance
sudden rebellion. But this is exactly what he in history ?
wants to do and he is doing. Ans. Antony has said that the dress of Caesar
was the same which he had worn in his
6. Does Antony really stir their minds to
mutiny and rage ? Explain. tent on a summer evening after defeating
Nervii. The special thing about it was that
Ans. Yes, Antony really wants to stir the minds of this dress Caesar wore after his greatest
the common people of Rome to mutiny and military victory. It is significant because the
rage to such an extent that they should rush day of victory was celebrated with a great
to kill the conspirators. procession.
QUESTION 5 5. How did the mob react ? What did Antony
ANTONY - This was the most unkindest cut of all; achieve through his speech ? How far was
he successful ?
For when the noble Caesar saw hin stab,
Ans. The mob was moved to tears. Many started
ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms weeping. Antony achieved sympathy of the
Quite vanquish'd him, then burst his mighty heart; mob and his purpose of rousing the people
1. Which was the unkindest cut of all ? Who to rebellion. He was fully successful.
have already stabbed Caesar ? Where ?
When ? QUESTION 6

Ans. The cut made by Brutus in the body of Caesar ANTONY -Good friends, sweet friens, let me not stir
with his sword was the unkindest cut. Before you up
Brutus, Cassius and Casca had already To such aflood of mutiny.
stabbed Caesar. They had stabbed Caesar in They that have done this deed are honourable:
his heart, in the senate hall.
1. How does Antony go on to compare himself
2. Why was it referred to as 'the unkindest cut with Brutus ? How does Antony try to
of all' ? What was the reaction in Caesar's project himself to be simple and outright
body to this cut? What does it show about to the mob ? Why does he do so ? Does he
Caesars's relationship with the person who really mean it when he says "let me not stir
gave him this cut ? you up'?
was Caesar's
Ans, It was called so because Brutus Ans. Antony says that he is not an orator like
best friend, his angel. Caesar's blood flowed Brutus. He is a plain, blunt man, simple and
really
out of his body to ensure if it was outright. He says so to identify himself with
Caesar. It shows that
Brutus who had stabbed
69
JULIUS CAESAR
 the common people of Rome. No, he does
not mean it. In fact, he wants the opposite of
what he says. The words are highly ironical.
2. What does Antony show the people that
incites them still further to mutiny and
rage ? What does it contain ?
Ans. He shows them the will of Caesar to still
instigate them to mutiny. It contains the fact
that Caesar has left for every citizen of Rome
seventy five drachmas.
3. What do the mob decide to do at the end of
the scene ?
Ans. The mob decides to rise in revolt and burn
down the houses of the conspirators. People
are ready to kill them.
4. Who enters after the mob disperses ? What
information does the person bring ?
Ans. A servant of Octavius Caesar comes there.
He bringsthe information that Octavius has
Come to Rome.
5. What shortcomings does Antony have as an
orator according to himself ? What would
have happened had Antony and Brutus
changed their places ?
Ans. According to Antony himself, he is not an
orator. He is a plain, blunt man. If Antony
and Brutus had changed places, the people
of Rome would not have risen in revolt. The
story would have been different.