Welcome to our blog post dedicated to dissecting Act 3, 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 3, 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 3, Scene 2. 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 :
A large crowd follows Brutus and Cassius as they come to the Forum, Brutus tells the crowd that he loved Caesar and honoured his valour; but he loved Roman even more, and slew Caesar because he (Caesar) was ambitious and would have made slaves of them all. Mark Antony and others enter with Caesar’s body and Brutus urges the crowd to stay and listen to Antony’s funeral oration, Now the crowd turn to Antony, but in no friendly spirit. Antony meekly thanks them in the name of Brutus and goes up into the pulpit. Addressing the mob, Mark Antony declares that he has come to bury Caesar, not to praise him, and dispassionately states that, although Caesar had been his close friend, he had not been without faults. He has come to speak about Caesar whom he knew.
Brutus, he continues, has said Caesar was ambitious, and since Brutus and his friends are all honourable men, this must certainly have been true. Yet, Mark Antony continues—Caesar brought riches and honour to Rome, and when the poor cried, Caesar used to weep. Moreover, at the Feast of the Lupercalia, Caesar had thrice refused the crown which he offered him. Does that seem like ambition ?
The mob grows confused. They agree that there is much reason in what Antony says, and they note how deeply he is affected. Perhaps, after all, Brutus was wrong and Caesar was not so ambitious?
When Antony begins to talk again he has their full attention. Once again he says: he has no intention of wronging the conspirators since they are all honourable men. Nevertheless, he has found Caesar’s will, though he will not read it; yet he did, they would worship the dead man for the riches he has left them.
Naturally the crowd roars for the will. Antony says, no, he cannot read it; for if he told them their luck, there will be mutiny and bloodshed. They cry out the louder against Brutus and the others calling them traitors, villains, and murderers. Now Antony has the crowd in his hand. He comes down and they form a wide ring around the hearse. Antony lifts the bloody mantle of Caesar and shows it to them. He shows them the wounds made by Cassius, by Casca; and, worst and most deadly of all, by Brutus—the killer-wound under which Caesar fell.
The crowd is bent on revenge and starts to clamour for the death of the conspirators. Antony holds up Caesar’s will, shows them the seal, and reads out that Caesar has left seventy-five drachmas to each citizen and his private walks and gardens to be used as public parks. “Here was a Caesar! When comes such another?” This time there is no holding back the crowd. They are let loose to rage through Rome in search of the killers.
A servant arrives to give Antony the news that Octavius has come to Rome and has gone to Caesar’s house with Lepidus. Antony is pleased with these tidings and as he goes off to join them, the servant tells him that Brutus and Cassius “Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.”
Workbook MCQs :
1. After Brutus’ speech at Caesar’s funeral, what do the citizens of Rome offer to do?
(a) To take revenge on the murders
(b) To crown Brutus as king
(c) To figh for the freedom of Rome
(d) To crown Mark Antony as king
Answer :- (b) To crown Brutus as king
2. According to Antony, what would the ople of Rome do after
reading Caesar’s will?
(a) They will kiss Caesar’s wounds reverently
(b) They will avenge his murder
(c) They will start destruction in Rome
(d) They will crown his best friend as king
Answer :- (a) They will kiss Caesar’s wounds reverently
3. Whose blow was the most cruel to Caesar, according to Antony?
(a) Cassius’
(b) Brutus’
(c) Casca’s
(d) Decius’
Answer :- (b) Brutus’
4. How does Antony describe Caesar’s wounds?
(a) Meek creatures
(b) Unfortunate mouths
(c) Poor dumb mouths
(d) None of the above
Answer :- (c) Poor dumb mouths
5. Brutus in his funeral speech appealed to
(a) the Roman citizens’ civic pride
(b) the Roman citizens vulnerability
(c) the Roman citizens self-respect
(d) the Roman citizens past
Answer :- (a) the Roman citizens’ civic pride
6. Which of the following reasons did Brutus give for killing Caesar despite being his friend?
(a) He did not like his ways
(b) He loves his freedom more than anything
(c) He loved Rome more than Caesar
(d) None of the above
Answer :- (c) He loved Rome more than Caesar
7. For whom did Antony use the words ‘honourable men’ in the funeral speech for Caesar?
(a) All the conspirators
(b) All the people of Rome
(c) All those present there
(d) None of the above
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
8. Who has been referred to by Mark Antony as ‘Caesar’s angel?
(a) Calpurnia
(b) Brutus
(c) Octavius
(d) None of the above
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9. Who said, “I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth…”?
(a) Brutus
(b) Cassius
(c) Caesar
(d) Antony
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Workbook Questions :
Question No: 1
Brutus
Be patient till the last.
Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause;
and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine
honour, and have respect to mine honour, that you may
believe. Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your
senses, that you may the better judge.
(i) Where is Brutus? Whom does he request to be patient and on what occasion is this speech made? What was the purpose of the speech?
Answer :- Brutus is addressing a crowd of Romans, countrymen, and lovers. He requests them to be patient until the end of his speech. This speech is made during Caesar’s funeral. The purpose of the speech is to justify his involvement in the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar and to convince the crowd that it was done for the good of Rome.
(iII) “Hear me for my cause.” What was his cause? Were his motives genuine? How can you justify your answer?
Answer :- Brutus’ cause was to prevent Caesar from becoming a tyrant and to preserve the Roman Republic. His motives can be seen as genuine because he genuinely believed that Caesar’s ambition posed a threat to the Republic. However, his judgement may have been clouded by his idealism and his trust in the words of Cassius and other conspirators.
(iV) What was the reaction of his listeners in the beginning as well as at the end the scene? How did the change in their attitude come about?
answer:- At the beginning of the scene, the listeners are respectful and willing to hear Brutus out. However, by the end of the scene, they are swayed by Antony’s speech and turn against Brutus and the other conspirators. The change in their attitude comes about because Antony’s speech manipulates their emotions and casts doubt on Brutus’ motives.
(v) Give the meaning of: “Censure me in your wisdom.” Who passed censure on him? In what way has this changed the course of action in the Plays ?
Answer:- “Censure me in your wisdom” means to judge or criticize him wisely. The censure on Brutus comes from the Roman citizens, who initially praise him but later turn against him after Antony’s speech. This change in attitude leads to chaos and violence in Rome, ultimately resulting in the downfall of Brutus and the other conspirators.
Question No: 2
Brutus
Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony.
Do grace to Caesar’s corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Caesar’s glories, which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allow’d to make.
1 do entreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
(Exit)
(i) Why does Brutus intend to “depart alone” Why are the listeners left behind? Which error of judgement made by Brutus is revealed by his instruction to the listeners?
Answer :- Brutus intends to depart alone to give Antony the opportunity to address the crowd without his presence overshadowing Antony’s speech. The listeners are left behind to stay with Antony and pay respects to Caesar’s corpse. The error of judgement made by Brutus is underestimating the impact Antony’s speech could have on the crowd and assuming that Antony’s oration would be in line with their expectations.
(iII) What explanation had Brutus given in his speech for the murder of Caesar ? What was the reaction of his listeners?
Answer :- In his speech, Brutus gave the explanation that Caesar was killed because he was ambitious and would have made slaves of them all. The reaction of the listeners initially seemed supportive of Brutus, but they eventually became swayed by Antony’s persuasive speech.
(iV) Who has given Antony permission to speak? Give any two conditions under which Antony is allowed to speak.
answer:- Antony is allowed to speak by Brutus and the other conspirators. Two conditions under which Antony is allowed to speak are:
- He must speak after Brutus has addressed the crowd.
- He must not speak against the conspirators or incite violence.
(v) State which of Caesar’s glories would Antony refer to in his speech a little later. What does he want to achieve by his speech?
Answer:- Antony would refer to Caesar’s glories in his speech, likely highlighting his achievements, victories, and contributions to Rome. He wants to sway the crowd’s opinion against the conspirators, incite them to anger, and seek revenge for Caesar’s death.
Question No: 3
Antony
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them,
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. 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.
(i) As Antony ascends the platform to speak, what did the citizens feel and say about Caesar, Brutus and Antony?
Answer :- As Antony ascends the platform to speak, the citizens feel a mixture of emotions towards Caesar, Brutus, and Antony. They feel sorrow and respect for Caesar, as they are mourning his death. They have some admiration for Brutus, as they believe him to be noble and honorable. They are curious and somewhat suspicious of Antony, unsure of his intentions and what he will say.
(iII) Which evil, which Caesar is said to have done, lives after him? Give examples of the good done by Caesar.
Answer :- The evil that Caesar is said to have done, which lives after him, is the perception of ambition and tyranny that he allegedly displayed. The good done by Caesar, which is often overlooked or forgotten, includes his acts of generosity, compassion, and leadership. For example, Caesar brought riches and honor to Rome, and when the poor cried, Caesar used to weep.
(iV) Why does Antony say “the noble Brutus”? Why does he use the expres “If it were so?” Why couldn’t he be frank in his remarks?
answer:- Antony says “the noble Brutus” to acknowledge Brutus’s reputation as an honorable and respected man among the citizens. He uses the expression “If it were so” to subtly cast doubt on Brutus’s accusation of Caesar’s ambition. Antony couldn’t be frank in his remarks because he needed to be cautious in his approach, as openly criticizing Brutus and the conspirators could incite the crowd to violence and put himself in danger.
(v) Why do you admire Antony at this juncture? State briefly how he dealt the crisis, he found himself in.
Answer:- Antony is admirable at this juncture because he demonstrates his ability to navigate a delicate situation with skill and cunning. Despite his true intentions to incite the crowd against the conspirators, he begins his speech with a seemingly neutral and conciliatory tone, gradually building his argument and manipulating the emotions of the crowd to turn them against Brutus and the other conspirators. He effectively uses rhetoric and persuasion to achieve his desired outcome, despite the challenging circumstances.
Question No: 4
Antony
Let but the commons hear this testament—
Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read—
And they would go and kiss dead Caesar’s wounds,
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
Unto their issue.
(i) Which testament is referred to by Antony and who are referred to as “the commons”? Why does Antony not want to read the testament?
Answer :- Antony refers to Caesar’s will or testament, which outlines Caesar’s final wishes and bequeaths his possessions. “The commons” refers to the common people or citizens of Rome. Antony does not want to read the testament because he knows it would evoke strong emotions and incite the citizens to demand revenge against Caesar’s murderers.
(iI) Give the meaning of: Bequeathing it as a rich legacy/Unto their issue
(iII) Mention two of the purposes why the commons would dip their napkins in Caesar’s blood and beg a hair of his. Why is the blood of Caesar said to be sacred? (Refer to the speech of Brutus earlier, in which he indicates how Caesar should be murdered.)
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(iV) Besides the testament, which other item does Antony show later to the commons? How does that incite the commons?
answer:- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(v) State briefly how Antony cleverly played on the emotions of the common People and show how they reacted as he desired.
Answer:- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Question No: 5
Antony
I tell you that which you yourselves do know;
Show you sweet Caesar’s wounds, poor poor dumb mouths
And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus, ’
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue
In every wound of Caesar, that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
(i) Why are the wounds referred to as “poor dumb mouths”? If Brutus Antony, what would have happened in every wound of Caesar?
Answer :- The wounds are referred to as “poor dumb mouths” because they are silent and unable to speak for themselves. If Brutus were Antony, he would have used the wounds of Caesar as a powerful tool to incite the people of Rome to rise up in rebellion. He suggests that he would have been able to manipulate the wounds of Caesar to arouse the citizens’ anger and provoke them into action.
(iI) What does Antony indirectly say to indicate that there should be a Mutiny ? Bring out the irony in his words in the extract.
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(iII) At the end, how does the mob leave the scene? What do they plan to do? What does Antony, being satisfied, say after the departure of the mob?
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(iV) Where does Antony go at the end of the scene? Whom does he join there ? What happens to Brutus and Cassius?
answer:- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(v) Mention, with examples, any three of the tactics used by Antony to make the common people slaves of passion and resentment.
Answer:- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
