Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
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 |
Advertisements
Solution
| Words/ actions of the mob | Characteristics |
| 1. First Citizen This Caesar was a tyrant. Third Citizen Nay, that’s certain. We are blest that Rome is rid of hirm ’ | Foolish |
| 2. Second Citizen: We will be revenged All Revenge! AboutlSeek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Stay! let not a traitor live! | Does not understand the ideals of democracy |
| 3. Second Citizen: Poor soul his eyes are red as fire with weeping. Third Citizen : There’s not a noble man in Rome than Antony. |
Emotional |
| 4. All: The will the testa ment! Second Citizen: They were villians, murderers the will! read the will. Fourth Citizen: Read the will; will hear it, Antony; You shall read us the will, Caesar’s will. |
Greedy |
| 5. First Citizen: Me thinks there is much reason in his sayings. Second Citizen: If thou consider rightly of the matter, Caesar has had great wrong. Third Citizen: Has he, masters? 1 fear there will a worse come in his place. |
Fickle |
| 6. All: We’ll mutiny First Citizen: We’ll, burn the house of Brufus. First Citizen: We’ll burn his body in the holy place, and with the brands fire the traitor’s houses. |
Violent |
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?
How does Decius Brutus persuade Caesar to accompany him to the senate house?
Answer the following question by ticking the correct options.
Decius Brutus changes Caesar's mind about going to the Senate by appealing to his
……………………
How do the heavens ‘blaze forth’ the death of Julius Caesar?
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
What is the petition put before Caesar by the conspirators? How does Caesar respond to it?
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. | ||
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. |
What opinion do you form of Calpurnia from the play ‘Julius Caesar’ ?
Read the given excerpt and answer the questions briefly.
|
ANTONY: If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. |
- How does Antony use visual imagery to make his point about the assassination of Caesar? (1)
- What is the significance of the mantle that Antony refers to in his speech? (1)
- Identify the tone of Antony's statement when he says, "If you have tears, prepare to shed them now". (1)
- What does Antony's reference to the Nervii suggest about Caesar's military prowess? (1)
