Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
Activity
Stage a press conference that takes place shortly after Caesar's death. The "reporters" should have their questions written down ahead of time to ask the students who play the roles of Brutus, Antony and Cassius.These questions should focus on the key events in the play, as well as the characters' intentions.
Advertisements
Solution
Reporter (to Brutus): Caesar was your friend, still you killed him. Do you think you are right in doing this?
Brutus: Yes, I don’t think I have done anything wrong. You can see only my deed but you don’t know the reason behind that. Caesar was overambitious and in Rome’s interest, it was necessary to kill him.
Reporter (To Cassius) Do you have any comments to make on the conspiracy that you instigated? Can you justify your action?
Cassius: Of course, we have our own honourable motives behind the conspiracy. Caesar was getting too ambitious to become a dictator. Morover he was not ready „ to free Publius Cimber.
Reporter (to Antony) What do you have to say in this regard? Do you agree with what they say?
Antony: I am top shocked to utter even a single word. The mighty Caesar is no more! My grief knows no bounds! To agree or not to agree with them is not a matter of concern. What matters to me more is why they have killed Caesar at all?
Reporter (To Brutus): What is your real motive behind asking Antony to join you? Do you intend to hide your crime?
Brutus: I have not committed any crime. I offer fo receive Antony out of love and respecf for him as he is a nice person.
Reporter (To Antony) What is your attitude towards the offer that you have from Brutus?
Antony: I am keen to know the reasons behind Caesar’s murder. Before accepting – their offer, I want to take Caesar’s body to the market place and speak at the funeral ceremony.
Cassius disagrees but Brutus satisfies him by saying that he need not worry about that and the conference dispersed.
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony
i. Identify the speaker of the above lines.
ii. When and where were the above lines spoken?
iii. Bring out the irony in the above extract.
Why does Brutus kill Caesar?
How does Decius Brutus persuade Caesar to accompany him to the senate house?
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.
Why does Calpurnia say Caesar's 'wisdom is consumed in confidence'? What does she mean?
Answer the following question briefly.
What are the arguments put forward by Decius Brutus to convince Caesar to go to the Capitol?
Answer the following question briefly
Why is Decius more successful than Calpurnia in persuading Caesar?
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
Seeing the body of Caesar, Antony is overcome by grief. What does he say about Caesar?
Answer the following question briefly.
What are the conditions imposed by the conspirators before allowing Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral?
Answer the following question briefly.
When he is left alone with the body of Caesar what does Anthony call Brutus and the others?
Answer the following question briefly.
What reasons does Brutus give for murdering Caesar?
Answer the following question briefly.
At the end of the scene what is the fate of Brutus and Cassius ?
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. | ||
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
| But here’s a parchment with the seal of Caesar; I found it in his closet, 'tis his will: Let but the commons hear this testament-- Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read-- And they would go and kiss dead Caesar’s wounds |
a) select the option that appropriately fills the blank.
parchment: ______: will: testament
- dry land
- front area
- pulp
- paper
b) Antony says he doesn’t mean to read the will because ______.
- he feels it is confidential.
- he finds the contents inappropriate.
- the Romans will grieve for Caesar’s death.
- the Romans will kiss Caesar.
c) What are the contents of Caesar’s will that he is referring to?
d) Why does the speaker read Caesar’s will to the citizens?
e) Identify the option that this the technique used by Antony in the given extract.
- reverse psychology
- rhetoric
- dramatic contrast
- persuasion
f) Choose the option that lists the emotion of the citizens after listening to the ‘will’.
- aggressive
- nervous
- enraged
- berserk
- powerful
