Q1. How do heavens blaze forth the death of Caesar ?

Ans. The heavens do so by sending omens which foretold a major calamity. Calpurnia in her dream sees Caesar being murdered. The watchman also reported unusual sightings : A lioness had given birth to young ones in the streets. Graves had opened up and dead bodies were lying around. Warriors in proper battle formation were fighting upon the clouds. Blood was drizzling upon the capitol. Sounds of horses neighing and groans of dying men could be heard and ghosts were flying about the streets.

Q2. What does Calpurnia try to convince Caesar of ?

Ans. Calpurnia is convinced that the ill omens were predictions that something evil would  happen to Caesar  if he went to the Capitol that day. So, she tries to persuade him not to step out of the house.

Q3. Why does Calpurnia say Caesar’s ‘wisdom is consumed in confidence’ ? What does she mean ?

Ans. Caesar refuses to listen to calpurnia’s arguments urging him to stay at home. He says that the predictions are for everyone and not for him in particular and death is an inevitable part of life and he was not afraid of it. Then Calpurnia feels that though Caesar is wise,but his wisdom has been overpowered or destroyed by his overconfidence.

Q4. What does calpurnia dream about Caesar ? How does Decius Brutus interpret the dream ?

Ans. Calpurnia in her dream sees that Caesar’s statue is spouting blood like a fountain with a hundred spouts and smiling and healthy  young romans are bathing their hands in it. She  is certain that her dream is a warning that danger is imminent. Decius Brutus intentionally misinterprets the dream as a lucky vision. He that it signifies that from Caesar Rome will imbibe fresh life. His influence will grow. Great men will gather around him and stain their handkerchief in his blood which will serve as colours added to a coat of arms, an object of reverence, mementos and a badge of service.

Q5. What are the arguments put forward by Decius Brutus to convince Caesar to go to the Capitol ?

Ans. Decius flatters Caesar by misinterpreting Calpurnia’s dream as being a fortunate and favourable one. He also tells that the senate has decided to offer a crown to Caesar and if he does not go, they may change their minds and mock him for being afraid. Caesar is both flattered and tempted and he agrees to go the senate.

Q6. Why is Decius more successful than calpurnia in persuading Caesar ?

Ans. Decius is more successful than Calpurnia in persuading Caesar because her arguments were based on emotions. Whereas, Decius  appeals to Caesar’s ego, and vanity. Caesar could not resist the temptation of the crown and agrees to go to the senate.

Q7. What is the petition put before Caesar by the conspirators ? How does Caesar respond to it ?

Ans. The conspirators wanted Caesar to pardon Metellus Cimber’s brother  Publius and recall the order of his exile. Caesar  refuses to revoke his order. He says that he will not turn the law passed into the law of children. He will not be affected by the bowing and bending. He abuses Cimber and insults him. He is firm like a North star and will not change his decision. He behaves in an arrogant, rude and stubborn manner.

Q8. Who says “Et tu Brute” ? When are these words spoken ? Why ?

Ans. Julius Caesar says these words which mean, “ You too, Brutus “, immediately after Brutus stabs him. Caesar loved Brutus immensely and trusted him completely. He was stunned and shocked at the betrayal by his best friend. He could not believe that Brutus had participated in a treacherous conspiracy against him. He was heart broken.

Q9. In the moments following Caesar’s death what do the conspirators proclaim to justify caesar’s death?

Ans. Immediately after his death,the conspirators announce – ‘Liberty , Freedom , and enfranchisement at public places to justify caesar’s murder. They want to declare that Tyrant Caesar is dead and Romans are free of his tyranny.

Q 10. Seeing the body of Caesar, Antony is overcome by grief. What does he say about Caesar ?

Ans. Antony is saddened that the great conqueror is reduced to a dead body lying on a small piece of ground. He shows willingness to die at the hands of the conspirators, while their weapons and their hands were still covered with Caesar’s warm blood.

Q11. Whom does Antony call ‘the choice and master spirits of this age’ ? Why ?

Ans. He calls the conspirators – Brutus, Cassius, Cimber, Casca and the others ‘choice and master spirits of this age’ . He is calling them powerful .He  is also mocking them for taking the law in their own hands and taking the decision of killing Caesar brutally. Moreover he wants to flatter their ego and pretend that he is not against them so that he would get an opportunity to take revenge from the conspirators.

Q12. How do Brutus and Cassius respond to Antony’s speech ?

Ans. Brutus tells Antony not to beg for his death at their  hands. He explains that he killed Caesar because he loved Rome more than he loved his friend. He also assures Antony that he has no intention of killing Antony and he and the others received him with love, good thoughts and respect. Cassius appeals to Antony’s greed by saying that he will have a say in the new government.

Q13. Why does Antony object to allowing Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral? How does Brutus overcome his objections?

Ans. Cassius is well aware of Antony’s ability as a politician and an orator and he is afraid of him. He is worried that the crowd could be influenced by Antony’s speech. Brutus overcomes this objection by saying that he will first speak to the Roman public and tell them  that Antony is speaking with their permission. They will also impose certain conditions upon Antony before he is allowed to speak.

Q14. What are the conditions imposed by the conspirators before allowing Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral ?

Ans. The conditions imposed by the conspirator are ---

         Antony can speak of caesar’s greatness but must not blame the conspirator for ‘ murdering’ Caesar.

        He must tell the crowd that he has been permitted to speak at Caesar’s funeral by the conspirators.

       He must speak from the same pulpit after Brutus has spoken.

Q15. When is left alone with the body of Caesar what does Antony call Brutus and the others ?

Ans. When he is left alone with the body of Caesar, Antony calls Brutus and the others ‘Butchers’ as they have mercilessly killed Caesar. He apologises to Caesar’s body for being meek and gentle with his murderers. He also curses the hands that have shed Caesar’s royal blood.

Q16. What prediction does Antony make regarding the future events in Rome ?

Ans. Antony predicts that:

 Men in Italy will be cursed.

There will be a fierce civil war in all parts of Italy

 Blood and destruction will become common sights.

 Dreadful sights will become so familiar that mothers will smile when they see their infants being killed. Pity and sympathy will be destroyed due to the terrible deeds becoming common.

Caesar’s spirit with Ate ( Goddess of revenge ) by  his side roam about for revenge.

There will be famine disease and death everywhere.

Dead bodies will lie rotting and stinking and there will be no one to give them a decent burial.

The evil deed committed by the conspirators will have dire consequences.

 

 

Q17. What reasons Brutus gives for murdering Caesar?

Ans. Brutus tells the Romans that Ceasar had become ambitious. He had loved Caesar dearly but he loved Roman and the ideals Rome stands for more than he loved Caesar. If Caesar had lived he would have become a dictator and made slaves of the Romans. Therefore, in the best interest of the country and its people, Caesar had to be killed.

 

Q18. Who says “Let him be Caesar”? What light does this throw on the speaker ?

Ans. The third citizen says this after Brutus’ speech. He not only does not understand the reasons Brutus has given for Caesar’s murder but he also does not understand the ideals of democracy

 

Q19. Why is Antony’s speech more effective ?

Ans. Brutus appeals to the logic and reasoning of the mob. His speech is straightforward, boring and unappealing to the crowd. He is also repetitive.

On the other hand, Antony who is a clever politician and an excellent orator understands the psychology of the crowd very well. He appeals to the sentiments and emotions of the people. He reminds them of caesars’   greatness and  the glorious wars fought by him. He proves that Caesar was not ambitious by revealing to them that the ransom got from the prisoners of war filled the public treasury. When the poor had cried Caesar also cried with them. Three times Caesar had refused to accept the crown from him. He then aroused the curiosity of the mob by telling them about  Caesar’s will. He fills the hearts of the people with pity and sympathy by showing them the wounds inflicted by the conspirators on Caesar. Lastly he gives each Roman a personal motive for revenge by telling them what Caesar had left for each one of them  in his will. Through the use of irony, wit, sarcasm, pathos and satire, he manages to instigate the mob into rage and violence.

Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow.

1)      “O Judgement ! thou art fled to ……………………………………………….. bear with me.”

a)      Who is the speaker ? Whom is he speaking to /

Ans. Mark Antony is the speaker. He is speaking to the crowd at Caesar’s funeral.

b)      Explain ‘ Brutish beasts’.

Ans. Antony calls the conspirators – Brutus, Casca, Cassius and others who murdered Caesar ‘brutish beasts’ because they had killed Caesar in a cruel and brutal manner  befitting only animals.

c)       What is the speaker trying to do ? Is he successful ?

Ans. Antony is trying to instigate the mob into rage and violence. He wants to take revenge from the conspirators for Caesar’s murder. He is successful  as the mob revolts.

2)      “ I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,

Now whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,

Fulfill your pleasure.

a)      Who is the speaker of the above lines ? to whom is he speaking ?

  Ans. Mark Antony is the speaker of the above lines. He is speaking to the conspirators – Brutus, Cassius, Casca and the others.

b)      How were their hands purpled ? How did they reek ?

Ans. The hands of the conspirators were purpled as they were covered with the royal blood of Caesar. As they had just murdered him their hands smelt of fresh and warm  blood which was on their hands.

c)       What pleasure does the speaker mean ?

Ans. Antony means to say that if the conspirators wanted to have the pleasure of killing him also, they could do so.

 

3. ‘ My credit now stands on such slippery ground…………………………………………………That I did love thee, Caesar, O ‘ tis true.

a) What is meant by the word ‘credit’ ? Whose credit stands on slippery grounds ?

Ans. Credit refers to reputation. Antony’s reputation is at stake.

b) Why does his credit stand on slippery ground ?

Ans. Antony’s reputation is at stake because the people would regard Antony either as a coward or as a flatterer.

c)Why would he be considered either a coward or a flatterer ?

Ans. Antony would be considered  a coward because he was unable to challenge the conspirators who had murdered Caesars or a flatterer because he had not really loved Caesar and he simply flattered hem when he was alive.

4. Antony : “ O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth ……………………………….woe to the hand that shed this costly blood “.

a) Where is Antony at this time ?

Ans. Antony is at the Capitol, where Caesar has been murdered.

b) Why does he call Caesar’s body ‘thou bleeding piece of earth’ ?

Ans. He does so because Caesar’s dead body bearing the stab wounds with blood running out of them is lying on the ground.

    C ) Whom does ‘butchers’ refer to ?

Ans. ‘Butchers’ refer  to the conspirators Brutus, Cassius, Casca and others who mercilessly murdered Caesar.

d)      How had Antony been ‘meek and gentle’ with the butchers ?

Ans. He had shaken hands with the conspirators who had murdered Caesar. He had been forced to hide his anger.

 

5. “ But I am as constant as a northern  star ………………………………………….there is no fellow in the firmament”.

a) Who is the speaker ? Whom is he speaking to ?

Ans, Julius Caesar is the speaker. He is speaking to Mettelus Cimber , Brutus and the other conspirators.

b) What qualities of the speaker are revealed in these lines ?

Ans. Caesar is arrogant, stubborn, conceited and over confident.

C ) Explain the irony in these lines.

 Ans. Julius Caesar claims to be firm like the North Star but he is not firm in his decisions. He first agrees to stay at home but soon changes his own decision and goes to the Capitol.

6. “ Shall Caesar send a lie ?

       Have I ……………………………………………………. To tell grey beards the truth ?

a)      Who is the speaker and whom is he talking to /

Ans. Julius Caesar is the speaker and he is speaking to his wife calpurnia.

b)      Explain ‘ Have I in conquest stretch’d mine arm so far ‘.

Ans. He claims to be a great conqueror who had fought many battles and emerged victorious.

c)       Who are the greybeards ?

Ans. Caesar disrespectfully and arrogantly refers to the older  senators as greybeards.

d)      What truth is the speaker talking about ?

Ans. The true reason as to why Caesar will not go to the Senate.