ACT-1 / SCENE-2
MCQS ANSWERS :
CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follows:
1.Caesar
Forget not, in your speed, Antonius,
To touch Calpurnia; for our elder say,
The barren, touched in this holy chase,
Antony:
I shall remember;
When Caesar says, “Do this, it is performed.
Caesar: set on; and leave no ceremony out.
Soothsayer:
Caesar!
i)Where does the scene take place? Why have the characters referred to in the extract gone there?
Ans: the scene takes place at the public place in Rome. The characters referred to in the extract have gone there to celebrate the feast of Lupercal.
ii)what is the ‘holy chase’? who is assigned to take the holy chase? What is its significance?
Ans: the ‘holy chase’ is a race where young men ran through the city touching spectators with leather straps. Antony is assigned to take the holy chase. Its significance is that the barren women so touched would be cured of their infertility.
iii)what instructions did Caesar give to Calpurnia earlier regarding the holy chase? Which characteristic trait of Caesar is revealed by his instructions?
Ans: Caesar gave the instructions to Calpurnia to stand directly in Antony’s path so that he could touch her during the race so that she could be cure of her infertility. Caesar’s superstitious nature is revealed by his instructions.
iv)Give the meaning of:
(a) Shake off their sterile cures – it means to get cure from the curse of infertility.
(b) “do this”. It is performed – it means that whatever Caesar says is carried out quickly without any delay.
v)According to the extract, explain the type of relationship that existed between Caesar and Antony.
Ans: Antony, though, he was young and playful kind of a person but he was devoted to Caesar and great trust and respect on him. Caesar also trusted on Antony. So the relationship that existed between them was of trustworthiness.
2. Soothsayer
Beware the ides of March.
Caesar: what man is that?
Brutus:
Soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
Caesar: set him before me; let me see his face.
Cassius:
Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
i)what is meant by ‘Beware the ides of March’? what is its significance in the play, Julius Caesar?
Ans: “Beware the ides of March” is the warning given to Caesar by a soothsayer of an impending danger to him on 15th March (ides of March). It is the significance of the event that are predestined by the fate. It is signified by the play, ‘Julius Caesar’ about the assassination of Caesar which is carried out later on by the plotters.
ii)what was Caesar’s reaction to the soothsayer’s warning? What light does his reaction throw on Caesar’s character?
Ans: Caesar asked him to step out from the crowd. He called him a ‘daydreamer’ and walked off neglecting the warnings of soothsayer. This shows his arrogance and disregards for the warning from a common man.
iii)what in your opinion, is the soothsayer’s motive in warning Caesar to ‘beware the ides of March’? which theme in the play is revealed through soothsayer’s warning and Caesar’s denial of it?
Ans; In my opinion, the soothsayer’s motive in warning Caesar to make him aware that his life is in danger. So by warning him, he wanted to avert a tragedy and bloodshed that would carry out by the senators.
iv) why does Caesar want the soothsayer to look at him? What does Caesar think of the soothsayer?
Ans: Caesar wants the soothsayer to look at him because the soothsayer is an ordinary man and Caesar is not sure whether he had the powers to foresee the future. Hence, he calls and mocks him as a daydreamer who need not to be taken seriously.
v)Give two other examples of warning about the danger which is in store for Caesar.
Ans; two other examples of warning about the danger- i) Calpurnia’s dream. The priest advices Caesar not to go out. ii) Artemidorus’s letter.
3.
Cassius:
Brutus, I do --------------------------late;
I have not
--------------------------------gentleness
And show of
---------------------------------to have.
You-----------------------------------------------a
hand
Over your ------------------------------------------loves you.
Brutus:
Be not
-------------------------------------------------look
I turn
-----------------------------------------------countenance
Merely upon
--------------------------------------------I am
Of late with ----------------------------------------------difference,
Conceptions
---------------------------------------------myself
Which give ---------------------------------------------behaviours;
i)Where
are Brutus and Cassius at this time? What does Cassius observe about Brutus?
Ans:
Brutus and Cassius are at a public place at Caesar’s procession in Rome.
Cassius observes about Brutus that he has been exhibiting unfriendly cold
behaviuor and seems to be aloof lately.
ii)Why
does Brutus not go along with Caesar to the games? With whom does Brutus
contrast himself? How?
Ans:
Brutus does not go along with Caesar to the games because he is not fond of
sport and also he is troubled by conflicting emotions regarding the Roman
state. He compares himself with Antony. He lacks quick spirit that is
liveliness which Antony has and he is fond of sports and has active energy.
iii)what
does Cassius accuse Brutus of? What reply does Brutus give?
Ans:
Cassius accuses Brutus of becoming too strict and too strange to a person. He has
been cold and unfriendly towards Cassius. Brutus replies that he has been
preoccupied with his own conflicting emotions so he forgets exhibit affection
towards him.
iv)Give
the meaning of: a) you bear too stubborn and too strange a hand…it
means that Brutus is like a rider who is unfamiliar/strange with his horse but
is strict/stubborn in handling it. Similarly, Brutus’ behavour is too strict
and weird towards a friend who loves him.
b)
Vexed I am/of late with passions of some difference
…it means that Brutus is troubled by the conflicting thoughts and emotions
which he is going through at the moment.
v)What
do you think is the motive of Cassius in professing friendship to Brutus? What
type of a person is Cassius?
Ans;
The motive of Cassius in professing friendship to Brutus is to gain or win his
support in the plot to assassinate Caesar because Brutus is highly respected
and hounoured man in Rome. Cassius is a clever manipulator who is practical in
nature. He is shrewd and uses the right sense of responsibility towards his
friends.
4.
Brutus: what
-------------------people
Choose
Caesar for their king.
Cassius:
Ay, do you fear it?
Then
must I think you would not have it so.
Brutus:
I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well.
i)Where
are Brutus and Cassius at this time? Why have they come together? Who are
shouting?
Ans:
Brutus and Cassius are at a public place in Rome at a distance from Caesar’s
entourage. They have left the procession. They separated from Caesar’s entourage
to discuss some matters. The crowd is shouting.
ii)What
reason does Brutus give here for the shouting? What was the real reason?
Ans:
Brutus gives the reason for shouting the people that the people Rome have
chosen Julius Caesar as their king. The crowd wanted to crown Caesar as a king
because Caesar has refused the crown to be a king and the crowd cheered on.
iii)Why
was Brutus afraid that Caesar might become king? Why did he not want Caesar to
become king?
Ans:
Brutus was afraid that Caesar might become king because the people of Rome
wanted him to be a king due to his popularity. Brutus didn’t want Caesar to
become king because he was a strong supporter of the Republic and also thought
that Caesar would become a tyrant and rule over the Romans.
iv)When
Brutus says, ‘I would not Cassius; yet I love him well’ he is undergoing a
conflict of two
emotions. What are they?
Ans:
He says to Cassius that his love for Caesar and his duty to Rome. He loves Caesar
and looks upon him with admiration but loves Rome even more. A conflict of two
emotions are – first, devoted for the welfare of his country. Second, love for
Caesar.
v)How
did Cassius finally convince Brutus that Caesar should be killed?
Ans:
Cassius, a clever manipulator, incites Brutus under the pretext of honour and
freedom, especially with freedom from Caesar. In order to convince Brutus,
Cassius shows that Caesar is a weak and vulnerable mortal. Furthermore, Brutus
is reminded how his ancestor defended the freedom of Rome by driving away
Tarquin kings. Hence, according to Cassius Caesar should be killed.
5.
Cassius:
I, as
-----------------------------ancestor,
Did from the
-------------------------shoulder
The old ---------------------------------of
Tiber
Did I
-------------------------------------------man
Is now ---------------------------------------Cassius
is
A wretched
------------------------------------body,
If Caesar -----------------------------------------on him.
i)Who
was Aeneas? Which legendary incident connected with Aeneas is referred to in
the extract?
Ans:
Aeneas was the founder of Rome and the ancestor of all Romans. He was a Trojan
who, when Troy was captured, escaped from the burning city carrying his father,
Anchises, on his back. Aeneas is referred in the extract as he carried his
father on his back, similarly, Cassius also carried on his back to Caesar and
saved him when he was drowning in the river Tiber
ii)Why
does Cassius compare himself to Aeneas?
Ans:
Cassius compares himself to Aeneas who was the founder of Rome and when Troy
captured, escaped from the burning city carrying his father on his back. So
like Aeneas he bent his body and carried Caesar across the river Tiber when Caesar
was drowning.
iii)Who
is ‘this man’? what grudge does Cassius harbour against ‘this man’?
Ans:
This man refers to Julius Caesar. Cassius fears that Caesar would become a
dictator and tyrant. So he thinks that Caesar would be a threat to the liberty
of Rome. For people he has become like god and more popular and Cassius is just
a wretched creature.
iv)Just
before the extract Cassius states that he is equal to Caesar in three aspects.
What are these three aspects?
Ans:
Cassius states that he is equal to Caesar in three aspects. Those three aspects
are- first, he was born as a free man as Caesar. Second, he has eaten as good
food as Caesar. Third, he can bear the cold winter same as Caesar.
v)In
his speech, Cassius refers to an incident in which he was much superior to Caesar.
Narrate the incident. What conclusion did Cassius draw about Caesar from that
incident?
Ans:
Both Cassius and Caesar were swimming to a predetermined point in the river
Tiber on a cold stormy day. Both of them were swimming against the roaring
waves with competitive spirits. But Caesar cried for help as he was drowning.
So, Cassius saved and rescued him. But now Caesar is godlike and not Cassius.
6. Cassius:
When went
-------------------------------flood
But it
---------------------------------------man?
When
----------------------------------------of Rome
That her
---------------------------------------man?
Now is
------------------------------------------enough
When
-------------------------------------------man
O you
--------------------------------------------say
There was -------------------------------------brooked
The
-----------------------------------------------Rome
As easily as a king.
i)What
is referred to as the great flood’? why is this expression used in the text?
Ans: The
great flood is an allusion to ancient Greek myth of Deucalion of his wife
Pyrrha were Zeus drowned mankind. According to classical mythology, Zeus was
determined to destroy the world because of the sins of men. He saved because of
their piety. This expression is used for the comparison between the past and
the present.
ii)Who
is referred to as one only man? Why is he so referred to?
Ans: Julius
Caesar is referred to as one man only. He is referred to so because his immense
popularity and growing political power in Rome is greater. So he is so powerful
that it appears he is the only man in Rome.
iii)what
arguments doses Cassius give to show Caesar is not superior to Brutus?
Ans:
Cassius gives the arguments that the name of Brutus is as beautiful as the name
of Caesar. The names sound the same. If you use them to call spirits, one name
is as good as the other. To raise devils and to rouse men of courage. So he
claims that Brutus has as much support as Caesar. He also says that he is more
fit to take the position than Caesar.
iv)There
was a Brutus.’ Who was this Brutus? What would have he done in Rome?
Ans:
Brutus was a leader of the group who expelled the Tarquin kings from Rome in
510BC. Brutus in the play claimed to have descended from him. He would have
tolerated the devil to be the ruler of Rome.
v)With
reference to one incident, state how Cassius was a shrewd manipulator.
Ans: Cassius was a shrewd manipulator. When he responds ‘I do fear the people choose Caesar for their king.’ His involuntary reaction gives Cassius an opportunity to question him directly and to allow Brutus to state openly his opposition to Caesar being crowned king.
7. Caesar:
He reads much;
Quite--------------------------------------looks
As
------------------------------------no music
Seldom
----------------------------such a sort
As if he
--------------------------------------his spirit
That
--------------------------------------any thing
Such men ----------------------------------ease
Whiles they -----------------------------------themselves.
i)Of
whom is Caesar speaking? Which two traits of the man is he talking about?
Ans:
Caesar is speaking to Cassius. Two traits of the man – first, he is a great
observer. Second, he judges of motives of men in their action since he is sulky
and jealous.
ii)Do
the earlier episodes in the play suggest that Caesar has judged this person’s
character accurately? Explain briefly.
Ans:
Yes, Caesar has judged this person’s character accurately. He finds out that Cassius
as a dangerous and manipulator man. He heard the sound of crowds cheering and
manipulating Brutus to join in his plot of assassinating Caesar.
iii)Immediately
before this speech, what type of man has Caesar said he prefers? How is the man
referred in this extract different from that?
Ans:
Julius Caesar prefers men who are fat, sleek-headed and well slept. Cassius was
different. He has a lean and hungry
look and used to think too much.
iv)What
personal physical weakness is revealed by Caesar in the remaining part of this
speech? What contrast is created by this revelation with the last two lines of
the extract?
Ans:
Caesar can’t hear from the left ear. He was deaf that was his physical
weakness. He has this this weakness yet he holds a greater position than
Cassius. Politically he is very powerful despite all his personal weaknesses.
Whereas Cassius has no physical weakness but he has a lean and hungry look and
he could be fatter.
v)Give
two other examples of Caesar’s physical weakness mentioned earlier in this
scene.
Ans:
Two examples of Caesar’s physical weaknesses are –first, when he was sinking
while trying to swim in the river Tiber since he had no physical strength to
reach the predetermined point. Second, when he was in Spain he had a fever. He
was so weak that he became pale and lacked the power of resistance.
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