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Question
Answer the following question briefly.
What reasons does Brutus give for murdering Caesar?
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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.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
How did Brutus justify Caesar’s assassination?
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.
How did nature foretell Caesar’s death?
Why does Calpurnia try to stop Caesar from going to the senate?
'Not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more.'
Brutus says this as he justifies to the Romans why Caesar was assassinated by them. Do you agree with Brutus? Justify your answer in 120‒150 words by giving examples from the play.
Why values does Brutus display as he says this line to the Romans ?
Why did Caesar's will infuriate the Romans ?
Answer the following question by ticking the correct options.
Caesar's reference to the senators as 'graybeards' shows his ……….
Why does Cassius try to stop Brutus from letting Antony speak at Caesar’s funeral?
He knows that ______.
Answer the following question by ticking the correct options.
What prophecy does Antony make over Caesar's dead body?
Identify Antony’s tone when he calls the conspirators, ‘honourable men’.
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 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
Who says "Et tu Brute"? When are these words spoken? Why?
Answer the following question briefly.
What prediction does Antony make regarding the future events in Rome?
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. | ||
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. |
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.
