Question

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

BRUTUS - Farewell to you; and you; and you, Volumnius. Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep; Farewell to thee too, Strato. Countrymen, My heart doth joy that yet in all my life I found no man but he was true to me.

1. What kind of tone do we find in Brutus' speech? Is it a tone of regret or relief? Give reasons for your answer. (Analysis)
2. How according to Brutus will he have glory over Octavius and Antony by his losing the day? (Understanding)
3. What does Brutus request Strato to do? (Recalling)
4. Quote Brutus' last words before he dies. What do they imply? (Recalling & Understanding)
5. Caesar dead proves to be more powerful than Caesar alive. Do you agree? State why do you feel so? (Analysis & Evaluation)

Answer 1

1. Brutus’ tone is calm and relieved rather than regretful. He accepts that his end has come and takes comfort in the fact that his friends have remained loyal to him.
2. Brutus believes he will gain more honour by dying freely than Octavius and Antony will gain by defeating him. He prefers death to being captured and humiliated as a prisoner.
3. Brutus asks Strato to hold his sword firmly while he runs upon it.
4. Brutus’ last words are:
   ‘Caesar, now be still:
   I kill’d not thee with half so good a will.’
5. Yes, Caesar dead proves more powerful than Caesar alive. After his death, his memory inspires Antony, turns the people against the conspirators, leads to civil war and contributes to the deaths of Cassius and Brutus. Caesar’s influence therefore continues even after his assassination.