Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
Answer the following question briefly.
What reasons does Brutus give for murdering Caesar?
Advertisements
Solution
Brutus says that he loved Caesar but loved Rome more. If Caesar had lived, he would have made all Romans slaves because he was ‘ambitious’. Would the people of Rome have liked that? They killed Caesar so that the people of Rome could be free. Brutus puts Caesar in wrong light saying that Caesar was ‘ambitious’. Therefore he had killed Caesar for the good of the country.
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
Mark Antony, with the help of his oratory, succeeded in winning the mob over to his side. This led to the downfall of the conspirators. Write in 80–100 words, how with the power of words he could effect a change in his listeners.
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.
"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?
Why does Calpurnia try to stop Caesar from going to the senate?
How does Decius Brutus persuade Caesar to accompany him to the senate house?
How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia I am ashamed. I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.
(a) Why was Calpurnia afraid?
(b) Where did Caesar decide to go?
(c) What does the word 'yield' mean?
Answer the following question by ticking the correct options.
Decius Brutus changes Caesar's mind about going to the Senate by appealing to his
……………………
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 briefly.
What does Calpurnia try to convince Caesar of?
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.
How do Brutus and Cassius respond to Antony’s speech?
Answer the following question briefly.
At the end of the scene what is the fate of Brutus and Cassius ?
In the play 'Julius Caesar', we meet the Roman mob. We find that as Brutus and Antony speak, the mob displays certain qualities and characteristics.
Given below are some characteristics of the mob. Complete the table by quoting the lines wherein these are revealed.
| Words/ actions of the mob | Characteristics |
| 1. | Foolish |
| 2. | Does not understand the ideals of democracy |
| 3. | Emotional |
| 4. | Greedy |
| 5. | Fickle |
| 6. | Violent |
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 extract 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) Choose the option that is relevant to [A] Assertion and [R] Reason.
[A] A brave person dies only once.
[R] A brave person faces any difficult situation or challenges.
- Both [A] and [R] are true and [R] is the correct explanation of [A].
- Both [A] and [R] are true and [R] is not the correct explanation of [A].
- [A] is true but [R] is faise.
- [A] is false but [R] is true.
b) The strangest thing that Caesar ponders is why ______.
- cowardly people die again and again
- brave people die only once
- men are afraid of death
- death is inevitable
c) What fears has the listener expressed?
d) What is the basis for the fears expressed?
e) Why has death been called a ‘necessary’ end?
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.
