Welcome to our blog post dedicated to dissecting Act 2, Scene 4 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 2, Scene 4, 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 2, Scene 4. Let’s embark on an adventure where words transcend time, and the legacy of Shakespeare continues to captivate minds across generations.
Table of Contents
Workbook Summary :
It is the ides of March. The time is nine o’clock in the morning. The scene takes place in the street in front of Brutus’ house. Portia urges Lucius to run immediately to the Senate House. As he does not move, she turns to scold him, but he rightfully points out that she has given him no errand. Thereupon, Portia invents an errand—he is to see how his master is and observe what suitors are pressing about Caesar.
The atmosphere in the scene is very tense. Portia cries out in terror as she seems to hear a great noise coming from the Capitol, but Lucius assures her that he hears nothing. They are joined by a soothsayer, who tells her that Caesar has not yet gone to the Senate House. He is waiting for Caesar with a petition that “shall beseech him to befriend himself,” but the soothsayer will add nothing definite of what knowledge he has. He then moves off to a more convenient spot where he hopes to “Speak to great Caesar as he comes along” without getting crushed by Caesar’s followers.
Portia’s fear increases as she hears of the soothsayer’s intention and she almost loses her self-control as she whispers, “O Brutus,/ The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise” Then she catches sight of Lucius watching her suspiciously and gives him the excuse that Brutus has a written request which Caesar refuses to grant. As Portia goes inside, she instructs the servant to run to Brutus with her good wishes.
Workbook MCQs :
1. On which errand does Portia send Lucius?
(a) To see if Calpurnia is there with Caesar.
(b) To see how his master Brutus is.
(c) To observe what suitors are pressing about Caesar.
(d) Both (b) and (c).
Answer :- (d) Both (b) and (c).
2. In what condition is Portia in this scene of the play?
(a) Scared and angry
(b) Nervous and anxious
(c) Excited and fearless
(d) None of the above
Answer :-(b) Nervous and anxious
3. How does Portia react when she hears a noise coming from the Capitol?
(a) Cries out in terror
(b) Goes inside her house
(c) Portia pretends that she has not heard the noise.
(d) None of the above
Answer :-(a) Cries out in terror
4. Whydoes Portia wish to have a mountain placed between her heart and her tongue?
(a) She cannot cry on hearing the noise.
(b) She cannot shriek out of fear
(c) She cannot reveal the secret
(d) She cannot shout at her servant.
Answer :-(c) She cannot reveal the secret
5. Who says, “I have a man’s mind, but a woman’s might”?
(a) Brutus
(b) Portia
(c) Caesar
(d) Lucius
Answer :-(b) Portia
6. What does Portia feel is her weakness?
(a) To easily get excited
(b) To feel stressed at a small difficulty
(c) To keep Brutus’ secret to herself
(d) None of the above
Answer :- (c) To keep Brutus’ secret to herself
7. What does the Soothsayer want to tell Caesar by saying “befriend himself”?
(a) Be true to himself
(b) Be his own friend
(c) Take care of himself
(d) Behave friendly with all
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
8. What is the Soothsayer’s fear about himself?
(a) He would be crushed by the crowd that follows Caesar.
(b) He would not be able to present his petition to Caesar.
(c) He would not be able to see Caesar in the crowd
(d) None of the above.
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
9. What is meant by “throng that follows Caesar at the heels”?
(a) His robe
(b) The crowd
(c) The conspirators
(d) The Senators
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Workbook Questions :
Question No: 1
Portia
I prithee, boy, run to the Senate House;
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone:
Why dost thou stay?
Lucius
To know my errand, madam.
(i) Where does this scene take place? Give two examples to show that Portia agitated.
Answer :- This scene takes place in front of Brutus’ house. Portia is agitated, as seen when she urgently sends Lucius to the Senate House and when she cries out in terror upon hearing a noise from the Capitol.
(iII) Whom does she meet a little later, which increases her tension? What does that person indicate that there is a possibility of an impending danger?
Answer :- Portia meets a soothsayer a little later, which increases her tension. The soothsayer indicates the possibility of impending danger by telling her that Caesar has not yet gone to the Senate House.
(iV) Give two arguments put forward earlier to Brutus by Portia to indicate why she should know his secrets.
answer:- Two arguments put forward earlier to Brutus by Portia to indicate why she should know his secrets are:
1. She claims to have a man’s mind but a woman’s might, suggesting that she is strong enough to bear his secrets.
2. She reminds Brutus that she is his wife and deserves to share his burdens and worries.
(v) What noise does Portia said to have heard a little later? Does Lucius heard the noise? What can you conclude about this situation?
Answer:- Portia hears a noise coming from the Capitol, which she interprets as a sign of impending danger. Lucius, however, does not hear the noise. This situation suggests that Portia’s heightened senses and anxiety might be causing her to perceive threats that others do not notice.
Question No: 2
Portia
I would have had thee there, and here again
Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do these
[Aside] O constancy, be strong upon my side;
Set a huge mountain ‘tween my heart and tongue!
| have a man’s mind, but a woman’s might.
How hard it is for women to keep counsel!
Art thou here yet?
Lucius
Madam, what should I do?
(I) Where is Portia sending Lucius? What does she tell Lucius to find out about Brutus and Caesar?
Answer :- Portia is sending Lucius to the Senate House. She instructs Lucius to find out how Brutus and Caesar are doing and to observe what suitors are pressing about Caesar.
(III) Give the meaning of: “Set a huge mountain ‘tween my heart and tongue!” What is the conflict from which Portia suffers as indicated in this statement?
Answer :-“Set a huge mountain ‘tween my heart and tongue!” means that Portia wishes for something to block the words from her heart from coming out of her mouth. This statement reflects the conflict between her desire to keep Brutus’ secrets and her difficulty in doing so due to her emotional turmoil.
(iv) State in your own words what Portia means by “a mans mind but a woman’s mind.” What does she feel is her weakness? Why?
answer:- Portia means that she possesses the rational and logical thinking typically associated with men, but she lacks the physical and emotional strength associated with women. She feels her weakness lies in her struggle to maintain composure and keep secrets, which she believes is a common challenge for women.
(v) In what way is a sense of urgency indicated in the first two lines of extract? Where else, in the extract, does she show the same attitude ?
Answer:- The sense of urgency in the first two lines is indicated by Portia’s hurried instructions to Lucius to go to the Senate House immediately. Elsewhere in the extract, she also shows urgency through her aside, “O constancy, be strong upon my side,” which reflects her inner turmoil and desire for emotional strength.
Question No: 3
Soothsayer
None that I know will be, much that | fear may chance
Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow;
The throng that follows Caesar at the heels,
Of senators, of practors, common suitors,
Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:
I’ll get me to a place more void, and there
Speak to great Caesar as he comes along. [Exit |
(i) Omens and soothsayers play a big role in Julius Caesar. What role does the soothsayer play here? What effect does his presence have on Portia and on the audience?
Answer :- The soothsayer plays the role of a harbinger of doom, warning about the impending danger to Caesar’s life. His presence creates tension and foreboding, both for Portia and the audience, as it foreshadows the events to come and adds to the sense of impending tragedy.
(iI) To whom does the soothsayer address these words? Explain the first sentencte in the extract in the light of what has already been said to him.
(iii) What is meant by “The ng”? t would the throng witness in a short time?
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(IV) What does the soothsayer want to tell Caesar? Why does he wish to get for himself a “place more void”?
answer:- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(V) Besides the soothsayer, there is another person waiting to communicate on the road with Caesar. Who is he? What does he want to tell Caesar and why?
Answer:- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
