Welcome to our blog post dedicated to dissecting Act 4, Scene 2 of William Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Julius Caesar. As avid learners and educators, we understand the importance of grasping the nuances of Shakespearean literature, and that’s why we’ve curated this comprehensive guide specifically tailored to the ICSE curriculum.
In this blog, we’ll delve into the depths of Act 4, Scene 2, utilizing the meticulously crafted workbook provided by Morning Star publishers. Our aim is to not only provide you with multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and long-form answers but also to empower you with a deeper understanding of the themes, characters, and language intricacies within this iconic play.
It’s important to note that while we offer structured responses based on the workbook, we encourage students to use this resource as a foundation for their own exploration. Shakespeare’s works are renowned for their richness and versatility, allowing ample room for interpretation and analysis. Therefore, feel free to adapt and modify our insights to suit your individual learning style and requirements.
So, whether you’re a student looking to ace your exams or a literature enthusiast eager to unravel the mysteries of Julius Caesar, join us on this enlightening journey through Act 4, Scene 2. Let’s embark on an adventure where words transcend time, and the legacy of Shakespeare continues to captivate minds across generations.
( Updated For ICSE 2026 Session )
Table of Contents
Workbook Summary :
The whole of the play up to this point has been set in Rome. Now, we switch to a new location, Sardis (which is in Asia Minor). Here the two armies in exile meet. Brutus and Cassius are in command of the armies which they have recruited separately in the various Roman provinces and kingdoms of Asia Minor. They are joining at Sardis on their way to meet Antony and Octavius. In front of Brutus’ tent, Brutus, accompanied by his servant Lucius and his friend Lucilius, greets Titinius and Pindarus who have just arrived from Cassius’ camp located nearby.
Titinius and Pindarus, representing Cassius, are informed by Brutus that he is less than happy with Cassius. Lucilius confides to Brutus that Cassius is less friendly than he has been. When Cassius enters, his first words to Brutus are a blunt reproach, an entirely new tone in their relationship-Most noble brother, you have done me wrong.’ He calls him brother because they are not only leaders of the conspiracy but brothers-in-law as well. Brutus denies the allegation and urges Cassius to keep calm in front of their soldiers. They retire to the privacy of Brutus’ tent where Cassius can air his grievances to the full. Shakespeare ensures that the quarrel is seen by us as a private feud between brothers-in-law as well as the falling out of political leaders.
Workbook MCQs :
1. Who is referred to as Pindarus’ master?
(a) Brutus
(b) Cassius
(c) Antony
(d) Octavius
Answer :- (b) Cassius
2. According to Brutus, what does a friend begin to do when his love begins to decline and deminish?
(a) He tries to part ways
(b) He uses corrupt means
(c) He uses forced formalities
(d) He does not bother for anything
Answer :- (c) He uses forced formalities
3. With whom has Brutus compared an insincere man?
(a) Worthless horse
(b) Worthless runner
(c) Worthless friend
(d) None of the above
Answer :- (a) Worthless horse
4. Which allegation is made by Cassius against Brutus?
(a) He has forgotten him
(b) He has wronged him
(c) He has betrayed him
(d) He has unnecessarily blamed him
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
5. What reply does Brutus give for Cassius’ accusation against him?
(a) He has returned what Cassius gave him
(b) He cannot do any wrong with his relatives
(c) He cannot do any wrong even to his enemies.
(d) None of the above.
Answer :- (c) He cannot do any wrong even to his enemies.
6. According to Cassius, what hides the wrong done by Brutus?
(a) Dignified appearance
(b) His fear
(c) His outer personality
(d) None of the above
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
7. Why does Brutus tell Cassius to discuss his grievances in private?
(a) Their dispute should not reach their wives ears.
(b) The morale of their armies does not diminish.
(c) Their dispute is no dispute at all.
(d) None of the above.
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
8. What change is noticed in Brutus’ behaviour from the earlier scenes?
(a) He has become more relaxed and organised
(b) He has became drastically serious
(c) He has became impatient and suspicious
(d) None of the above.
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Workbook Questions :
Question No: 1
Lucilius
He is at hand; and Pindarus is come
To do you salutation from his master.
[Pindarus gives a letter to Brutus]
Brutus
[Reading the letter] He greets me well. Your master, Pindarus.
In his own change, or by ill officers,
Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
Things done undone. But, if he be at hand,
I shall be satisfied.
(i) Who is Pindarus? Name his master. What message does he convey to Brutus?
Answer:- Pindarus is a servant to Cassius, Brutus’s ally and fellow conspirator. His master is Caius Cassius. Pindarus conveys the message that Cassius is nearby and will appear before Brutus, presenting himself as “full of regard and honor.” This suggests Cassius is attempting to maintain a respectful and honorable demeanor despite the growing tension between him and Brutus.
(II) Render the following lines in your own words:
“In his own change, or by ill officers,
Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
Things done undone.”
Answer:- Brutus expresses regret, stating that Cassius, either through his own changed behavior or due to the influence of corrupt officers, has given him valid reasons to wish that certain actions could be undone. This reflects Brutus’s growing disillusionment with Cassius and his realization that their alliance may have been based on flawed intentions.
(III) Give two reasons to explain why the master of Pindarus did some things or did not do other things?
Answer:- Cassius’s actions were driven by personal motives, such as jealousy and ambition, rather than the welfare of Rome. Additionally, his association with corrupt officers led to questionable decisions, further alienating Brutus. These reasons highlight Cassius’s lack of sincerity and genuine concern for the state.
(IV) What does Pindarus say about his master to Brutus after the extract? How did the master receive Lucilius?
Answer:- Pindarus assures Brutus that Cassius will appear as a man “full of regard and honor.” He also mentions that Cassius received Lucilius with courtesy and respect, indicating that Cassius is trying to maintain a dignified appearance despite the underlying tension.
(v) Where does this scene take place? Why are Brutus and Cassius here?
Answer:- The scene takes place at a camp near Sardis, outside Brutus’s tent. Brutus and Cassius are here to unite their armies and strategize before facing Antony and Octavius in battle. Their meeting is crucial for consolidating their forces and addressing their differences.
Question No: 2
Brutus
Thou hast describ’d
A hot friend cooling; ever note, Lucilius,
When love begins to sicken and decay,
It useth an enforced ceremony.
There are no tricks in plain and simple faith:
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;
But when they should endure the bloody spur
They fall their crests, and, like deceitful jades.
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?
(i) Who has just described whom? What is meant by “A hot friend cooling ?
Answer :- Lucilius has just described Cassius to Brutus. “A hot friend cooling” refers to a once-close friend whose affection and loyalty are diminishing. Brutus uses this phrase to express his disappointment in Cassius, whose behavior has become distant and insincere.
(iII) Explain how men who are insincere in their friendship may be compared to a horse.
Answer :- Insincere friends are compared to horses that appear spirited and strong when held by their masters but fail to perform when tested. Similarly, false friends may seem loyal and brave initially but prove unreliable and weak in challenging situations, dropping their “crests” and failing to meet expectations.
(iV) Whom is Brutus referring to as an insincere friend? What has happened their relationship now? Why?
answer:- Brutus is referring to Cassius as an insincere friend. Their relationship has soured because Brutus realizes that Cassius manipulated him into killing Caesar for personal gain rather than for the good of Rome. This betrayal has led to mistrust and conflict between them.
(v) Compare the relationship between Brutus and Cassius to that between Antony and Octavius.
Answer:- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Question No: 3
Cassius
Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs;
And when you do them—
Brutus
Cassius, be content,
Speak your griefs softly; I do know you well.
Before the eyes of both our armies here,
Which should perceive nothing but love from us,
Let us not wrangle: Bid them move away;
Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
And I will give you audience.
(i) Which “sober form” of Brutus is referred to by Cassius? What are the wrongs? How does the sober form hide wrongs?
Answer :- Cassius refers to Brutus’s serious and grave demeanor as his “sober form.” The wrongs include Brutus’s refusal to show leniency to Lucius Pella, who was accused of taking bribes. Cassius believes Brutus’s outward seriousness hides his inner flaws and unjust actions.
(iI) What does Brutus say before this extract about the wrongs done by him? How is it an irony?
(iII) Which two armies are referred to? Why should they perceive “nothing but love”?
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(iV) What is meant by “enlarge your griefs,/ And I will give you audience? Why does the speaker want to give audience to Cassius in the privacy of his tent?
answer:- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(v) How does this extract compare the fortunes of Brutus and Cassius with that of Antony and Octavius in the earlier scene?
Answer:- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
