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प्रश्न
Many popular and powerful leaders have been assassinated in the past and in recent times. Can you name some of them?
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उत्तर
Possible reason for Assassination
Mahatma Gandhi
- Systematic brainwashing by the people who are staunch racists. As in the case of Gandhiji, hardcore Hindus were against him thinking him to be responsible for creating Pakistan, a separate country.
Indira Gandhi
- Resistance against authority
- Arranging the military attack on Harmandir Sahib during Operation Blue Star.
Abraham Lincoln
- Opposition to his legacy – abolition of slavery in the United States.
- feeling of insecurity among supporters of slavery.
Martin Luther King Jr.
- Political motives, i.e. enemies seeking revenge .
- Deep-seated racial prejudice and jealousy
Rajiv Gandhi
- Feeling of insecurity among LTTE leaders.
- To prevent him from coming to power and disarm LTTE.
- Security lapses
- Rajiv Gandhi was warned about the possibility of an attack and a threat to his life.
- Meeting with LTTE delegation, made Rajiv complacent about his security.
(students may form groups and discuss the above points in detail.)
In my opinion, assassination is not the end to a problem. One must try to sort out the matter by the means of discussion and looking at the problem with a different outlook.
Points for discussion in the context of present and past assassinations
If we look at history, we will find the instances of a large number of politicians assassinated under different circumstances. These are ‘targeted killings’ undertaken for various reasons ranging from political and ideological differences, to attract media attention, etc. Earlier, there was a high demand to kill rulers who impose their rules on the population. In a country like India with many ethnicities and religions and differentTnte’rests, it is very difficult for a ruler or leader to satisfy their preferences and is more likely to attract attacks.
Sometimes an assassination aims at creating chaos, irrespective of the leaders policies. The dominant position of the American President Kennedy, made him an attractive target.
These political murders can be avoided by minimising political oppression.
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संबंधित प्रश्न
How did nature foretell Caesar’s death?
"They that have done this deed are honorable: What private grief’s they have, alas, I know not, That made them do it"……………….
(a) Who is the speaker?
(b) What deed have 'they' done?
(c) What does the word, 'grief’s' mean?
What did Caesar leave for the Romans in his will?
Read the extract given below and answer briefly the questions that follow:
"The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answered it."
(a) Who is the speaker? Who are 'you'?
(b) How did Caesar pay for being ambitious?
(c) What argument did the speaker give to show that Brutus was wrong in his judgement of Caesar?
Caesar shall forth; the things that threaten'd me
Ne'er look'd on my back; when they shall see
The face of Caesar, they are vanished.
(a) Where is Caesar planning to go ?
(b) What are the 'things' that threaten him ?
(c) What does the word 'vanished' mean ?
How did Antony prove that Caesar was not ambitious?
Answer the following question by ticking the correct options.
Caesar's reference to the senators as 'graybeards' shows his ……….
Answer the following question by ticking the correct options.
What prophecy does Antony make over Caesar's dead body?
Answer the following question by ticking the correct options.
After listening to Brutus' speech, the Third Citizen says 'Let him be Caesar'. This clearly
shows he ……………………….
Answer the following question by ticking the correct options.
Antony's reference to Caesar's conquest of the Nervii is to ………………….
Answer the following question briefly
What is the petition put before Caesar by the conspirators? How does Caesar respond to it?
Answer the following question briefly
In the moments following Caesar's death what do the conspirators proclaim to justify Caesar's death ?
Answer the following question briefly.
Why does Cassius object to allowing Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral? How does Brutus overcome this objection?
Julius Caesar and Antony reveal something about their character in their words and actions. We also learn about them from what other people say. Can you pick out the words that describe them from the box given below? Also, pick out lines from the play to illustrate your choice.
| superstitious arrogant loyal clever overconfident manipulative good orator ambitious brave great conqueror generous fearless loves flattery firm shrewd crafty |
| Person | Extract from play | What it tells us about the character |
|
Julius Caesar
|
1. the things that threaten'd me Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see The face of Caesar, they are vanished. |
1. arrogant |
| 2. | ||
| 3. | ||
| 4. | ||
| 5. | ||
| 6. | ||
|
Mark Antony
|
1. | 1. Loyal |
| 2. | ||
| 3. | ||
| 4. | ||
| 5. | ||
Antony employs a number of devices to produce the desired effect on the mob. These devices maybe described as rhetorical devices. He first speaks in such a manner that it seems to the mob that he is in full agreement with Brutus about Caesar. Then step by step he moves away from Brutus' position, depicting Brutus as a villain and Caesar as a wronged man. Copy and complete the following table by showing how Antony builds the argument in Caesar's favour.
| Antony's words | Argument |
| 1. I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. | Does not wish to eulogise Caesar |
| 2. 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. | Seemingly agrees with Brutus |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
CAESAR Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard.
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.
a) Whom is Caesar speaking to? Why does he say these words?
b) What fears has the listener expressed?
c) What is the basis for the fears expressed?
Given below are some questions based on reading of the play 'Julius Caesar'. These
questions are not for testing in the Exam. These are for a deeper understanding of the
play and the characters.
a) Why was the conspiracy to assassinate Julius Caesar hatched?
b) Was Caesar really ambitious? Find evidence from the play to support your answer.
c) What was Cassius' motive for murdering Julius Caesar?
d) Why was it essential for the conspirators to include Brutus in the conspiracy?
e) What were the mistakes made by Brutus that led to the failure of the conspiracy?
f) Comment on Caesar's friendship with Antony.
g) Write a brief character sketch of Antony.
h) What is the role of Julius Caesar's ghost in the play, Julius Caesar?
i) Why does Antony call Brutus 'the noblest Roman of them all'?
j) How do Brutus and Cassius meet their end?
Read the given excerpt and answer the questions briefly.
|
ANTONY: If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. |
- How does Antony use visual imagery to make his point about the assassination of Caesar? (1)
- What is the significance of the mantle that Antony refers to in his speech? (1)
- Identify the tone of Antony's statement when he says, "If you have tears, prepare to shed them now". (1)
- What does Antony's reference to the Nervii suggest about Caesar's military prowess? (1)
