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Question
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.
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Solution 1
(i) The speaker of the above lines is Brutus.
(ii) The above lines were spoken when Brutus was speaking at Caesar's funeral. As Brutus was about to step out of the pulpit, he spoke these words.
(iii) It is ironical that Brututs tells the citizens to listen to Antony for Brututs' sake because it was Brutus who had a hand in Caesar's murder and Antony took Caesar's revenge by unearthing Brutus's conspiracy.
Solution 2
i. Decius Brutus is the speaker of the above stated lines.
ii. The lines were spoken by Decius Brutus to the Roman mob at the funeral of Julius Caesar.
iii. The irony in the above extract is that Brutus expected Anthony to speak in his favour. Anthony began speaking on similar lines, but he hinted that the conspirators had slain a good man. He made the Romans realise that Brutus and the others were cruel and Caesar was an honourable man.
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.
"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?
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?
How did Antony prove that Caesar was not ambitious?
Many popular and powerful leaders have been assassinated in the past and in recent times. Can you name some of them?
• ……………………………………………………
• ……………………………………………………
• ……………………………………………………
• ……………………………………………………
• ……………………………………………………
Why does Cassius try to stop Brutus from letting Antony speak at Caesar’s funeral?
He knows that ______.
Answer the following question briefly.
What does Calpurnia try to convince Caesar of?
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. |
Given below are some questions based on reading of the play 'Julius Caesar'. These
questions are not for testing in the Exam. These are for a deeper understanding of the
play and the characters.
a) Why was the conspiracy to assassinate Julius Caesar hatched?
b) Was Caesar really ambitious? Find evidence from the play to support your answer.
c) What was Cassius' motive for murdering Julius Caesar?
d) Why was it essential for the conspirators to include Brutus in the conspiracy?
e) What were the mistakes made by Brutus that led to the failure of the conspiracy?
f) Comment on Caesar's friendship with Antony.
g) Write a brief character sketch of Antony.
h) What is the role of Julius Caesar's ghost in the play, Julius Caesar?
i) Why does Antony call Brutus 'the noblest Roman of them all'?
j) How do Brutus and Cassius meet their end?
A reporter covers the event of the assassination of Julius Caesar in the senate. Giving graphic details and a catchy headline, write the newspaper report in about 200 words.
