Julius Caesar Act 3 Scene 2:

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Brutus addresses the mob in his speech as

A. Friends, Romans, countrymen B. Friends, countrymen, common lovers! C. Romans,

countrymen and lovers D. Friends, countrymen and Romans.

2. Brutus rose against Caesar because

A. not that he loved Caesar less, but that he loved Rome more B. not that he loved
Rome more, but because he loved Caesar less C. he wanted to become king D. Caesar
was becoming his enemy

3. Anthony began his speech by telling the mob that

A. he had not come to bury Caesar but to praise him. B. he had come to bury Caesar,
not to praise him. C. he had come to speak ill of the conspirators. D. Brutus was a
dishonourable man

4. Antony asked the mob to

A. make a ring around Caesar’s corpse B. not press upon him and to stand far off C.
climb up the podium (stage) D. disperse

5. Brutus was

A. Caesar’s Angel B. Caesar’s enemy C. Caesar’s guardian Angel D. Caesar’s only friend

6. Caesar had bequeathed to the citizens

A. seventy drachmas B. twenty drachmas C. gold D. silver guineas

Context questions

QUESTION 1

BRUTUS -As Caesar loved me, I weep for him, as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it, as he
was valiant, I honour him, but as he was ambitious, I slew him.

1. Where does the scene take place? Who is Brutus addressing?

2. Why does Brutus ask who he addresses be a better judge? Is Brutus correct
in his assessment of what he addresses? Give reasons for your answer.

3. Who does Brutus feel he has offended in his speech? What reply does he
get?

4. How does Brutus justify that he has offended no one at the end of his
speech? Who enters after his speech?

5. How does Brutus introduce the person who enters? Why is he confident
that the person means no harm to the conspirators?

QUESTION 2

ANTONY – noble Brutus had told you that Caesar was ambitious, if it was so, it was a
grievous fault and grievously hath Caesar answered it.

2. State two instances cited by Antony in his speech to prove to the mob that
Caesar was not ambitious.

3. What is the word used by Antony in his speech which is a repetition in a

sarcastic manner to incite the mob to anger and fury? How does he cleverly
play on the emotions of the mob against Brutus indirectly refuting what
Brutus spoke of Caesar?

4. Why does Antony ask the mob to bear with him? What is his ulterior motive
in doing so?
5. What is the reaction of the mob? What do they discuss among themselves?
Give two instances of their conversation.

6. What qualities of Antony do you admire? What character traits are

portrayed in his speech?

QUESTION 3

ANTONY – O masters, if I were disposed to stir your hearts and minds to mutiny and
rage I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong. Who, you all know, are honourable
men

1. Who would Antony choose to wrong rather than the honourable men?

2. What had Antony found in Caesar’s closet? What would the people do if
they came to know of the contents of what Antony found?

3. What reasons does Antony give for delaying in reading the contents of
what he had found in Caesar’s closet? How does he incite the mob further?

4. What does he ask the mob to do? What does he want to show them?

5. Explain “If I were disposed to stir more hearts and minds to mutiny and
rage”

6. Does Antony really stir their minds to mutiny and rage? Explain.

QUESTION 4

ANTONY – This was the most unkindest cut of all,

For when the noble Caesar saw him stab ingratitude, more strong than traitors’ arms
quite vanquish’d him, then burst his mighty heart.
1. Which was the unkindest cut of all? Who have already stabbed Caesar?
Where? When?

2. Why was it referred to as ‘the unkindest cut of all’? What was the reaction
in Caesar’s body to this cut? What does it show about Caesar’s relationship
with the person who gave him this cut?

3. Where did Caesar fall? What was ironical about his fall?

4. What is spoken about the vesture of Caesar by Antony in his speech? What
was so special about it? What was its significance in history?

5. How did the mob react? What did Antony achieve through his speech? How
far was he successful?

QUESTION 5

ANTONY – Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up,
To such a flood of mutiny
They that have done this deed are honourable

1. How does Antony go on to compare himself with Brutus? How does Antony
try to project himself to be simple and out right to the mob? Why does he do
so?

2. What does Antony show the people that incites them still further to mutiny
and rage? What does it contain?

3. What do the mob decide to do at the end of the scene?

4. Who enters after the mobs disperses? What information does the person
bring?
5. What shortcomings does Antony have as an orator according to himself?
What would have happened had Antony and Brutus changed their places?

Multiple Choice Questions

1. After Brutus’ speech at Caesar’s funeral, what do the citizens of Rome offer
to do?

(a) To take revenge on the murders

(b) To crown Brutus as king
(c) To figh for the freedom of Rome
(d) To crown Mark Antony as king

2. According to Antony, what would the ople of Rome do after

reading Caesar’s will?

(a) They will kiss Caesar’s wounds reverently

(b) They will avenge his murder
(c) They will start destruction in Rome
(d) They will crown his best friend as king

3. Whose blow was the most cruel to Caesar, according to Antony?

(a) Cassius’
(b) Brutus’
(c) Casca’s
(d) Decius’

4. How does Antony describe Caesar’s wounds?

(a) Meek creatures

(b) Unfortunate mouths
(c) Poor dumb mouths
(d) None of the above

5. Brutus in his funeral speech appealed to

(a) the Roman citizens’ civic pride
(b) the Roman citizens vulnerability
(c) the Roman citizens self-respect
(d) the Roman citizens past

6. Which of the following reasons did Brutus give for killing Caesar despite
being his friend?

(a) He did not like his ways

(b) He loves his freedom more than anything
(c) He loved Rome more than Caesar
(d) None of the above

7. For whom did Antony use the words ‘honourable men’ in the funeral speech
for Caesar?

(a) All the conspirators

(b) All the people of Rome
(c) All those present there
(d) None of the above

8. Who has been referred to by Mark Antony as ‘Caesar’s angel?

(a) Calpurnia
(b) Brutus
(c) Octavius
(d) None of the above

9. Who said, “I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth…”?

(a) Brutus
(b) Cassius
(c) Caesar
(d) Antony

Context Questions

1. Brutus
Be patient till the last.
Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause;
and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine
honour, and have respect to mine honour, that you may
believe. Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your
senses, that you may the better judge.

(i) Where is Brutus? Whom does he request to be patient and on what

occasion is this speech made? What was the purpose of the speech?

(ii) How important was honour for Brutus? Give one example to justify your
answer. In what way did his commitment to honour lead him to the present
crisis?

(iii) “Hear me for my cause.” What was his cause? Were his motives genuine?
How can you justify your answer?

(iv) What was the reaction of his listeners in the beginning as well as at the
end the scene? How did the change in their attitude come about?

(v) Give the meaning of: “Censure me in your wisdom.” Who passed censure
on him? In what way has this changed the course of action in the Plays ?

2. Brutus
Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony.
Do grace to Caesar’s corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Caesar’s glories, which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allow’d to make.
1 do entreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
(Exit)

(i) Why does Brutus intend to “depart alone” Why are the listeners left
behind? Which error of judgement made by Brutus is revealed by his
instruction to the listeners?

(ii) Give the meaning of:

(a) “Do grace to Caesar’s corpse, and grace his speech”

(b) “…not a man depart”

(iii) What explanation had Brutus given in his speech for the murder of
Caesar? What was the reaction of his listeners?

(iv) Who has given Antony permission to speak? Give any two conditions
under which Antony is allowed to speak.

(v) State which of Caesar’s glories would Antony refer to in his speech a little
later. What does he want to achieve by his speech?

3. Antony
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them,
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious;
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it.

(i) As Antony ascends the platform to speak, what did the citizens feel and
say about Caesar, Brutus and Antony?

(ii) Why did the citizens stay behind to listen to Antony? In what way does
Antony repel their suspicion in the beginning of his speech?

(iii) Which evil, which Caesar is said to have done, lives after him? Give
examples of the good done by Caesar.

(iv) Why does Antony say “the noble Brutus”? Why does he use the expres “If
it were so?” Why couldn’t he be frank in his remarks?

(v) Why do you admire Antony at this juncture? State briefly how he dealt the
crisis, he found himself in.

4. Antony
Let but the commons hear this testament—
Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read—
And they would go and kiss dead Caesar’s wounds,
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
Unto their issue.

(i) Which testament is referred to by Antony and who are referred to as “the
commons”? Why does Antony not want to read the testament?

(ii) Give the meaning of: Bequeathing it as a rich legacy/Unto their issue

(iii) Mention two of the purposes why the commons would dip their napkins in
Caesar’s blood and beg a hair of his. Why is the blood of Caesar said to be
sacred? (Refer to the speech of Brutus earlier, in which he indicates how
Caesar should be murdered.

(iv) Besides the testament, which other item does Antony show later to the
commons? How does that incite the commons?

(v) State briefly how Antony cleverly played on the emotions of the common
People and show how they reacted as he desired.

5. Antony
I tell you that which you yourselves do know;
Show you sweet Caesar’s wounds, poor poor dumb mouths
And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus, ’
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue
In every wound of Caesar, that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.

(i) Why are the wounds referred to as “poor dumb mouths”? If Brutus Antony,
what would have happened in every wound of Caesar?

(ii) What does Antony indirectly say to indicate that there should be a
Mutiny ? Bring out the irony in his words in the extract.

(iii) At the end, how does the mob leave the scene? What do they plan to do?
What does Antony, being satisfied, say after the departure of the mob?

(iv) Where does Antony go at the end of the scene? Whom does he join there ?
What happens to Brutus and Cassius?
(v) Mention, with examples, any three of the tactics used by Antony to make
the common people slaves of passion and resentment.

Extras
Multiple Choice Questions

1. What reason does Brutus give for killing Caesar?

A. He hated Caesar
B. Caesar was too ambitious
C. To save his own life
D. To free Rome from Caesar’s rule

10. What does Antony offer to read to the crowd to further provoke them?

A. His own speech

B. Caesar’s letters
C. Caesar’s will
D. A decree from the Senate

Questions and Answers

1.Antony You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly
crown, Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was
ambitious; And, sure, he is an honourable man.

i. What was Antony trying to prove by mentioning the crown?

ii. How does Antony use sarcasm in this speech?

iii. Why is the Lupercal mentioned in Antony’s speech?

iv. What effect does Antony hope to achieve with this speech?
Answer: Antony hopes to sway the public against the conspirators by questioning their
justification for killing Caesar.

v. How does the crowd react to Antony’s words here?

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10.Brutus As he was valiant, I honour him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him.

i. How does Brutus juxtapose Caesar’s qualities in this line?

ii. What does Brutus imply about the nature of ambition?

iii. How does this statement serve to justify Brutus’s actions?

iv. How does the crowd react to Brutus’s reasoning here?

v. What underlying message is Brutus conveying through this line?