Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

ANTONY – This is a slight unmeritable man, Meet to be sent on errands: is it fit, The threefold world divided, he should stand One of the three to share it? OCTAVIUS – So you thought him; And took his voice who should be prick’d to die, In our black sentence and proscription.

1. ‘Antony is not a trustworthy person’. Justify the statement in context of this extract. (Application)
2. Who is Antony referring to? Who is he speaking with? (Recalling)
3. Explain ‘threefold world’. (Understanding)
4. How does Octavius refute what Antony has just told him? (Analysis)
5. Explain ‘black sentence’ and ‘proscription’. (Interpretation)

Answer 1

1. Antony appears untrustworthy because he uses Lepidus when it suits him but later insults him as a ‘slight unmeritable man’. Although Lepidus is one of the three rulers, Antony privately plans to reduce his importance.
2. Antony is referring to Lepidus. He is speaking to Octavius.
3. ‘Threefold world’ refers to the Roman world or empire divided among the three members of the Triumvirate Antony, Octavius and Lepidus.
4. Octavius reminds Antony that Antony himself had accepted Lepidus as one of the three rulers and had even taken his vote while deciding who should be condemned to death. Thus, he questions Antony’s sudden contempt for Lepidus.
5. ‘Black sentence’ means the cruel judgement condemning people to death. ‘Proscription’ refers to the official listing of people as enemies of the state who are to be killed.