Q1: Describe the role of mob in the play Julius
Caesar
Answer:
No doubt citizens of Rome played a crucial role in the
play Julius Caesar. The crowd of commoners that fills
the streets served several dramatic purposes in the play,
specially during the funeral oration.
Brutus logically gave his reasons that necessitated
Caesar’s death. He informed the commoners that he
acted out of love of Rome and his desire to prevent
tyrants from controlling her. The citizens embraced his
words with cheers and understanding. However, their
mood altered when Antony offered his interpretation of
the situation. He passionately described the deeds
Caesar performed in behalf of the citizens of Rome,
which clearly contradicted the opinion of the
conspirators that Caesar was too ambitious. The mob
who lost her individual identity and showed her
inability to deal with intellect and reason. Antony's
speech overwhelmed the people with grief, despair, and
anger for their “beloved” Caesar’s death. It led to brutal
killing of Brutus and other conspirators by the mob.
Although the citizens are important characters in the
play, they are unreliable, emotionally hyped and fickle
in supporting the latest and most impassioned plea for
their “ears.” In the play, we witness the irrational
behavior of citizens-to-mob who think only to benefit
themselves.
Q2: What arguments did Brutus give for killing
Caesar?
Answer:
Brutus thought that Caesar was too ambitious and
would have turned the Romans into slaves. Brutus's
point is that like the serpent's egg Caesar was bound to
hatch into something really dangerous and he would be
easier to deal with while he was still in the egg stage.He
stated although Caesar wasn’t bad, getting a crown
would change his nature! Brutus put Caesar in poor
light saying that Caesar was ambitious and that he did it
for the good of his country and his countrymen.
Q3: What was the conspiracy? Who hatched it?
Answer: The conspiracy was being hatched for the past
many days because Caesar’s non-stop unceasing
ambition agitated the senators. Metellus Cimber, Casca,
Cassius, Trebunious… and others. They deliberately
asked Caesar to grant a wish. It was to enfranchise
Pubius Cimber. They were well aware that they would
be refused. Metellus Cimber and others had anticipated
that Caesar would deny and they shall use this
unpleasantness and annoyance as an excuse to kill
Brutus had been convinced to join since it was the need
of the hour as democracy was threatened. The
conspirators feared that Caesar would become a
dictator so they requested Brutus – the idealist to join
them as he was a man of the masses.
Q4: Write a character sketch of Caesar
Answer: Julius Caesar was a stalwart. He was a brave
and valiant warrior. He conquered to expand the
Roman Empire. He added to the treasures of Rome,
defeated the sons of Pompey brought laurels to Rome.
Caesar believed in embracing death like true warrior. He
rejected his wife’s prayers as foolish and opined that
‘death is an inevitable reality.’
He firmly believed in the good of the common man. His
will is an example of the same. In his will he had only
thought about the well-being of masses.(common men)
However there were certain lapses in his character. He
was rigid, haughty and arrogant. He was over ambitious
and in his lust to conquer he forgot that he was going
against republicanism and democracy. He tried the true
qualities of a dictator and this way the flow which
drove him towards his end.
Q5: Summarize Antony's speeches.
Answer:
FIRST SPEECH:
When Antony re-enters after Caesar’s assassination, He
laments the death of the mighty Caesar saying that it
has an incomparable event. He wished for his own
death at the hands of the conspirators and begged
them to kill him so that he could lie beside Caesar.
According to him no other hour, sword or space could
give him a nobler end.
SECOND SPEECH:
Antony describes himself in an unstable condition. It is
dangerous to declare that he wishes to seek revenge. On
the other hand he doesn’t want to defy Caesar by being
considered a psychopath (flatterer). His conscience tells
him that Caesar’s spirit shall grieve to see Antony as a
flatterer making peace with his enemies.
THIRD SPEECH:
In his third speech, Antony expresses his apology for
Caesar’s death. Here he is all alone. He says that Caesar’s
death will bring large scale death and destruction not
only on earth but also in heaven.
Heaven shall join to avenge Caesar’s death. Bloodshed,
death, destruction shall become a common sight for
Romans because the death of mighty Caesar could not
just pass or ignored. Dead bodies shall cry for burial.
FOURTH SPEECH:
In the 4th speech Antony has come to burry Caesar. He
says “he shall not praise him.” But on the contrary talks
about Caesar in such a light that he may be able to
renew the lost faith and love in the hearts of the
country-men for him. He says that Caesar had led the
conquests for the well being of Rome.
A) He had brought many captives home to Rome and
ensured their financial upliftment.
B) Caesar’s heart wept for the poor.
C) On the feast of Lupercal he refused the offer of the
crown 3 times.
Antony stressed upon the fact that the country-men
didn’t love Caesar without a cause, so they must mourn
for him. If they do not so, they have lost their reason
and judgment.
FIFTH SPEECH:
Antony feels pathetic that no one expresses the
reverence due for Caesar’s dead body. He chooses his
words with caution and says that – if he would
encourage MUTINY, RAGE and PROVOCATION he would
wrong Brutus and Cassius. All his words are
provocative. He concludes that he would rather wrong
the dead person. He also gives a hint to them about
Caesar’s will after reading which all the Romans shall
grieve and beg for hair and blood of Caesar to keep as
a precious relic and declare it as a precious possession
for the coming generations. Antony here puts ideas and
words in the mouths of Romans.
SIXTH SPEECH:
In his sixth speech, Antony stirs the emotions of the
Romans by exposing the wounds on Caesar’s dead
body. He lays stress on the wound given by Brutus. It
was “the unkindest cut of all.” How the wound given by
Brutus was not as fatal as the immorality of Brutus and
Brutus’ betrayal had killed Caesar more than the wound.
SEVENTH SPEECH:
Antony emphasizes that revenge should be well-planned
so as to leave a powerful impact. He wanted the mutiny
to have the desired result, a massive movement which
will involve the max. number
EIGHT SPEECH:
In his last speech, Antony reads ‘s will in which Caesar
had promised monetary and physical benefits to each
and every Roman on an equal basis:
1) 75 drachmas
2) His walks, arbors and orchards for recreation.
Antony had provoked the element of mischief present
in every human being. He had ignited a fire in every
heart. Even the reading of the will was the last nail in
the coffin.
Q6: Write a character sketch of Mark Antony.
Answer:
Loyal and faithful: Loyalty to Caesar and reliable
friendship was his the greatest merit. He avenged
Caesar's death which had shattered him.
Intelligent but Cunning and deceitful: After meeting
Caesar's conspirators he reconciled in a friendly
manner and expressed his grief over Caesar's death.
Deceitfully he turned tables on the conspirators through
his funeral speech.
Great Orator: Due to his good oratory skills, he
mobilized the mob against the conspirators.
Q7: Read the extract and complete the
statements that follow:
But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality
There was no fellow in the firmament.
(i) The speaker of these lines is _________________
(a) Julius Caesar
(b) Cassius
(c) Octavius Caesar
(d) Brutus
(ii) The northern star is also known as .
(a) Venus
(b) Pole star
(c) Mercury
(d) Jupiter
(iii) Literary device used in the above lines is .
(a) simile
(b) metaphor
(c) personification
(d) alliteration
Answer:
(i) (a) Julius Caesar
(ii) (b) Pole star
(iii) (a) simile
Q8): Read the extract and complete the
statements that follow:
My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
Either a coward or a flatterer.
(i) Antony addresses to ___?
(a) Caesar
(b) Caesar's supporters
(c) conspirators
(d) mob
(ii) The word 'credit' in the above context means ______
___.
(a) reputation
(b) disrepute
(c) loan
(d) identity
(iii) The speaker refers to 'slippery ground' because .
(a) the ground was slippery.
(b) blood was flowing under his feet.
(c) his reputation was at stake.
(d) he may not win over the confidence of the listeners.
Answer:
(i) (c) conspirators
(ii) (a) reputation
(iii) (c) his reputation was at stake.
Q 9: Shakespeare used supernatural elements at
many occasions in the play? What are these
elements and what do they contribute to the play?
Answer: Shakespeare used supernatural elements in the
play to create an atmosphere of horror or to predict
something bad would happen. In Julius Caesar, these
elements are portents of evil predicting Caesar's death.
A few supernatural elements that came in the play are:
Upheaval in nature: A night before Caesar's murder,
there has been a a great upheaval in nature.
Calpurnia's nightmare: A bad dream seen by Caesar's
wife about his murder.
Watchman's dream : Blood rain in capital, lioness
giving birth to her cubs in the streets of Rome, cries of
dead and groaning of ghosts etc. were considered as
bad omen in the play.
Caesar
Answer:
No doubt citizens of Rome played a crucial role in the
play Julius Caesar. The crowd of commoners that fills
the streets served several dramatic purposes in the play,
specially during the funeral oration.
Brutus logically gave his reasons that necessitated
Caesar’s death. He informed the commoners that he
acted out of love of Rome and his desire to prevent
tyrants from controlling her. The citizens embraced his
words with cheers and understanding. However, their
mood altered when Antony offered his interpretation of
the situation. He passionately described the deeds
Caesar performed in behalf of the citizens of Rome,
which clearly contradicted the opinion of the
conspirators that Caesar was too ambitious. The mob
who lost her individual identity and showed her
inability to deal with intellect and reason. Antony's
speech overwhelmed the people with grief, despair, and
anger for their “beloved” Caesar’s death. It led to brutal
killing of Brutus and other conspirators by the mob.
Although the citizens are important characters in the
play, they are unreliable, emotionally hyped and fickle
in supporting the latest and most impassioned plea for
their “ears.” In the play, we witness the irrational
behavior of citizens-to-mob who think only to benefit
themselves.
Q2: What arguments did Brutus give for killing
Caesar?
Answer:
Brutus thought that Caesar was too ambitious and
would have turned the Romans into slaves. Brutus's
point is that like the serpent's egg Caesar was bound to
hatch into something really dangerous and he would be
easier to deal with while he was still in the egg stage.He
stated although Caesar wasn’t bad, getting a crown
would change his nature! Brutus put Caesar in poor
light saying that Caesar was ambitious and that he did it
for the good of his country and his countrymen.
Q3: What was the conspiracy? Who hatched it?
Answer: The conspiracy was being hatched for the past
many days because Caesar’s non-stop unceasing
ambition agitated the senators. Metellus Cimber, Casca,
Cassius, Trebunious… and others. They deliberately
asked Caesar to grant a wish. It was to enfranchise
Pubius Cimber. They were well aware that they would
be refused. Metellus Cimber and others had anticipated
that Caesar would deny and they shall use this
unpleasantness and annoyance as an excuse to kill
Brutus had been convinced to join since it was the need
of the hour as democracy was threatened. The
conspirators feared that Caesar would become a
dictator so they requested Brutus – the idealist to join
them as he was a man of the masses.
Q4: Write a character sketch of Caesar
Answer: Julius Caesar was a stalwart. He was a brave
and valiant warrior. He conquered to expand the
Roman Empire. He added to the treasures of Rome,
defeated the sons of Pompey brought laurels to Rome.
Caesar believed in embracing death like true warrior. He
rejected his wife’s prayers as foolish and opined that
‘death is an inevitable reality.’
He firmly believed in the good of the common man. His
will is an example of the same. In his will he had only
thought about the well-being of masses.(common men)
However there were certain lapses in his character. He
was rigid, haughty and arrogant. He was over ambitious
and in his lust to conquer he forgot that he was going
against republicanism and democracy. He tried the true
qualities of a dictator and this way the flow which
drove him towards his end.
Q5: Summarize Antony's speeches.
Answer:
FIRST SPEECH:
When Antony re-enters after Caesar’s assassination, He
laments the death of the mighty Caesar saying that it
has an incomparable event. He wished for his own
death at the hands of the conspirators and begged
them to kill him so that he could lie beside Caesar.
According to him no other hour, sword or space could
give him a nobler end.
SECOND SPEECH:
Antony describes himself in an unstable condition. It is
dangerous to declare that he wishes to seek revenge. On
the other hand he doesn’t want to defy Caesar by being
considered a psychopath (flatterer). His conscience tells
him that Caesar’s spirit shall grieve to see Antony as a
flatterer making peace with his enemies.
THIRD SPEECH:
In his third speech, Antony expresses his apology for
Caesar’s death. Here he is all alone. He says that Caesar’s
death will bring large scale death and destruction not
only on earth but also in heaven.
Heaven shall join to avenge Caesar’s death. Bloodshed,
death, destruction shall become a common sight for
Romans because the death of mighty Caesar could not
just pass or ignored. Dead bodies shall cry for burial.
FOURTH SPEECH:
In the 4th speech Antony has come to burry Caesar. He
says “he shall not praise him.” But on the contrary talks
about Caesar in such a light that he may be able to
renew the lost faith and love in the hearts of the
country-men for him. He says that Caesar had led the
conquests for the well being of Rome.
A) He had brought many captives home to Rome and
ensured their financial upliftment.
B) Caesar’s heart wept for the poor.
C) On the feast of Lupercal he refused the offer of the
crown 3 times.
Antony stressed upon the fact that the country-men
didn’t love Caesar without a cause, so they must mourn
for him. If they do not so, they have lost their reason
and judgment.
FIFTH SPEECH:
Antony feels pathetic that no one expresses the
reverence due for Caesar’s dead body. He chooses his
words with caution and says that – if he would
encourage MUTINY, RAGE and PROVOCATION he would
wrong Brutus and Cassius. All his words are
provocative. He concludes that he would rather wrong
the dead person. He also gives a hint to them about
Caesar’s will after reading which all the Romans shall
grieve and beg for hair and blood of Caesar to keep as
a precious relic and declare it as a precious possession
for the coming generations. Antony here puts ideas and
words in the mouths of Romans.
SIXTH SPEECH:
In his sixth speech, Antony stirs the emotions of the
Romans by exposing the wounds on Caesar’s dead
body. He lays stress on the wound given by Brutus. It
was “the unkindest cut of all.” How the wound given by
Brutus was not as fatal as the immorality of Brutus and
Brutus’ betrayal had killed Caesar more than the wound.
SEVENTH SPEECH:
Antony emphasizes that revenge should be well-planned
so as to leave a powerful impact. He wanted the mutiny
to have the desired result, a massive movement which
will involve the max. number
EIGHT SPEECH:
In his last speech, Antony reads ‘s will in which Caesar
had promised monetary and physical benefits to each
and every Roman on an equal basis:
1) 75 drachmas
2) His walks, arbors and orchards for recreation.
Antony had provoked the element of mischief present
in every human being. He had ignited a fire in every
heart. Even the reading of the will was the last nail in
the coffin.
Q6: Write a character sketch of Mark Antony.
Answer:
Loyal and faithful: Loyalty to Caesar and reliable
friendship was his the greatest merit. He avenged
Caesar's death which had shattered him.
Intelligent but Cunning and deceitful: After meeting
Caesar's conspirators he reconciled in a friendly
manner and expressed his grief over Caesar's death.
Deceitfully he turned tables on the conspirators through
his funeral speech.
Great Orator: Due to his good oratory skills, he
mobilized the mob against the conspirators.
Q7: Read the extract and complete the
statements that follow:
But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality
There was no fellow in the firmament.
(i) The speaker of these lines is _________________
(a) Julius Caesar
(b) Cassius
(c) Octavius Caesar
(d) Brutus
(ii) The northern star is also known as .
(a) Venus
(b) Pole star
(c) Mercury
(d) Jupiter
(iii) Literary device used in the above lines is .
(a) simile
(b) metaphor
(c) personification
(d) alliteration
Answer:
(i) (a) Julius Caesar
(ii) (b) Pole star
(iii) (a) simile
Q8): Read the extract and complete the
statements that follow:
My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
Either a coward or a flatterer.
(i) Antony addresses to ___?
(a) Caesar
(b) Caesar's supporters
(c) conspirators
(d) mob
(ii) The word 'credit' in the above context means ______
___.
(a) reputation
(b) disrepute
(c) loan
(d) identity
(iii) The speaker refers to 'slippery ground' because .
(a) the ground was slippery.
(b) blood was flowing under his feet.
(c) his reputation was at stake.
(d) he may not win over the confidence of the listeners.
Answer:
(i) (c) conspirators
(ii) (a) reputation
(iii) (c) his reputation was at stake.
Q 9: Shakespeare used supernatural elements at
many occasions in the play? What are these
elements and what do they contribute to the play?
Answer: Shakespeare used supernatural elements in the
play to create an atmosphere of horror or to predict
something bad would happen. In Julius Caesar, these
elements are portents of evil predicting Caesar's death.
A few supernatural elements that came in the play are:
Upheaval in nature: A night before Caesar's murder,
there has been a a great upheaval in nature.
Calpurnia's nightmare: A bad dream seen by Caesar's
wife about his murder.
Watchman's dream : Blood rain in capital, lioness
giving birth to her cubs in the streets of Rome, cries of
dead and groaning of ghosts etc. were considered as
bad omen in the play.
