LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

STD 10
JULIUS CAESAR
ACT 3 SCENE 2
2024-2025

Answer the following questions with reference to the context.

A.
Third Citizen
The noble Brutus is ascended; silence!
Brutus
Be patient till the last.
Roman, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for
My cause; and be silent, that you may hear.

1. When does this scene take place?

This scene takes place on the Ides of March when Julius Caesar was assassinated in the senate
house by the conspirators.
2. What mood are the citizens in? What does Brutus say to them and to Cassius to do?
Why?
A. The citizens are in an angry and excited mood.
Brutus asks them to follow him and listen to his explanation.
He tells Cassius to go into another street and divide the crowd into two batches.
Since the crowd is agitated Brutus makes a wise decision by dividing the mob into smaller
groups, to handle them better.

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3. What does Brutus ask of the citizens in the above speech?
A. Brutus asks the citizens to hear him for his cause and be silent so that they can hear him.
Believe him for his honour and have respect for his honour so that they may believe what he
says. He says that they should judge with the help of their understanding and make up their
minds accurately.
4. What would Brutus tell a dear friend of Caesar in the assembly of people?
A. Brutus would say to the dear friend of Caesar that Brutus loved Caesar as dearly as he did.
5. What ‘cause’ is Brutus referring to? What would he say to the friend about the ‘cause’?
A. The ‘cause’ referred to here is the reason why Brutus rose against Caesar.
Brutus would tell the friend that his love for Rome is greater than his love for Caesar.
6. According to Brutus, if Caesar was allowed to live, how would he have treated the people
of Rome?
A. According to Brutus, if Caesar was allowed to live, he would have treated the people of Rome
as his slaves. He would become a tyrannical dictator. Since Caesar is dead, they are all free
citizens of Rome.
B.
Citizens
None, Brutus, none.

Brutus
Then none have I offended.
I have done no more to Caesar, than you shall do to Brutus

1. Where does this scene take place? Which three questions has Brutus already asked to
make the citizens reply in the negative?
A. This scene takes place at the Forum in Rome.
Brutus has already asked the following questions: ‘Who is here so base that would be a bondman?
Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? Who is here so vile that will not love his country?’

2. Which qualities of Caesar does Brutus mention? How does he react to each of these traits?
A. Brutus maintains a consistent pattern where he presents Caesar’s action and then his own
reaction. He said that since he loved Caesar, he wept for him. As Caesar was fortunate, he rejoiced
at it; as he was valiant, Brutus honoured him but as he was ambitious, he slew him.’ Brutus says
these things to further reinforce his claim of loving Caesar.

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3. Who enters the scene? How according to Brutus has this man benefitted from Caesar’s
death?
A. Mark Antony enters the scene.
According to Brutus, Antony has benefitted from Caesar's death, by receiving a place in the
commonwealth.

4. How did the people react to Brutus’ speech? What did they want to do to Brutus?
A. The crowd cheered Brutus’ apparent kindness, declaring that Brutus should be Caesar.
They also wanted to bring him with triumph to his house and erect a statue with his ancestors.
They wanted him to take Caesar’s position and crown him.

5. What great mistake did Brutus make after finishing his speech?
A. Brutus made the great mistake of begging the crowd to wait to listen to Mark Antony speak and
leaving him alone with the crowd.

C.

Antony
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And, sure, he is an honorable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause:
What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?

1. Bring out the difference as to how Antony and Brutus address the crowd?
A. Both Antony and Brutus address the crowd as “Romans and countrymen”. The only difference
is that Brutus calls them “lovers”, whereas Antony connects to them at a more personal level by
calling them “friends”.

2. What does Antony mean by saying “The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft
interred with their bones; so let it be with Caesar”? Does he mean what he says?
A. Antony says that usually the bad deeds committed by men are remembered long after they are
dead but the good deeds that men do are usually forgotten as soon as they die. So, he says let the
good deeds that Caesar had formed be forgotten but they should try to recollect his faults which
made him deserve to be killed.
No, Antony wants to do just the opposite of what he says, he wants to praise Caesar and win over
the audience to his side. He is careful and watches the people shrewdly before he starts working
on their sentiments.

3. What main allegation had Brutus made against Caesar? How did Antony refute the
allegation?
A. The main allegation made by Brutus was that he blamed Caesar for being ambitious.
Antony refutes the allegation by saying that Caesar had brought many captives home to Rome,
whose ransoms filled the general coffers. When the poor cried, Caesar wept with them. He further

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says that ambition should be made of sterner stuff and that they all did see that in the Feast of
Lupercal, Antony thrice presented Caesar the kingly crown, which he refused thrice.
Thus, Antony indirectly contradicted what Brutus had said.

4. Which sentence does Antony repeat a few times? What is its significance?
A. Antony repeats the following lines a few times:
“Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honourable man.”
Its significance is that it adds to the sarcasm at each repetition. It is contrary to the intended
meaning; the words say one thing but mean another. It progresses from a simple statement to a
harsh accusation over the course of his speech. His indirect way of showing the crowd his
feelings makes his speech more effective.

5. While chiding the mob for not mourning for Caesar, Antony cries to judgement. What
does he say?
A. Antony says “O judgement, thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason!”
This means that judgement has turned into a cruel monster and the power of reasoning has been
lost by human beings who cannot distinguish between right and wrong.

6. What comments do the citizens make after Antony says that his heart is in the coffin
there with Caesar and that he must pause till it comes back to him?
A. The first citizen says that there is a lot of sense in what Antony is saying. The second citizen
says that if they think about the matter carefully, Caesar has had great injustice done to him. The
third citizen says that he is afraid a tyrant worse than Caesar will take his place. The fourth
citizen says that Anthony said Caesar would not accept the crown. This is the real proof that
Caesar was not ambitious. The first citizen now says that if that can be proved someone will have
to suffer for it. The second citizen pities Antony for his eyes are red and swollen with weeping.
The third citizen says that Antony is certainly the most worthy man in Rome.

D.

Antony
… now lies he there,
And none so poor to do him reverence.
O masters, if I were dispos’d to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong and Cassius wrong…

1. What makes Antony feel that the people no longer respect Caesar?
A. Antony says that it seems it was only yesterday that the word of Caesar might have stood
against the world. Now he lies there and no one is too poor to pay him respect.

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2. What does Antony choose not to do? Why?
A. Antony speaks again, saying that he would gladly stir the crowd to mutiny and rebellion;
though he chooses not to do the same, as he will not harm Brutus or Cassius, for they are
‘honourable’ men.
He also states that he would rather wrong the dead, wrong himself and the people before he
should wrong such ‘honourable’ men.

3. What does Antony find in his closet? Describe the reaction of the citizens.
A. Antony finds a parchment with the seal of Caesar. It was Caesar’s will that he found in the
closet.
The citizens beg him to read it. Antony says that he should not, for then they would be touched
by Caesar’s love for them. They implore him to read it. He replies that he has been speaking too
long, he wrongs the honourable men who have let him address the crowd. The citizens call the
conspirators traitors and demand that Antony read the will.

4. Besides the testament, what else does Antony show to the commons? What does he
mention about this?
A. Besides the testament, Antony shows a mantle/cloak to the commons.
He asks them if they remember the first time they saw Caesar put it on, one summer evening in
his tent, the day he overcame the Nervii. Antony directs their attention to the place that Cassius’
dagger ran through and bids them to see what a rent the envious Casca made. Further he shows
the mark through which the well-beloved Brutus stabbed; and as he plucked his dagger away,
Caesar’s blood flowed as if it was rushing out of doors.

5. Which was the unkindest cut of all? Why was it the unkindest cut of all? How does
Antony describe it?
A. The unkindest cut was made by Brutus, because he was known to be Caesar’s angel.
Antony describes it by saying that it was the unkindest cut of all. ‘For when noble Caesar saw
him stab, ingratitude, stronger than traitor’s arms, quite vanquished him which burst his mighty
heart. And in his mantle muffling up his face, even at the base of Pompey’s statue, which all the
while ran blood and then great Caesar, fell.’

6. Why did Caesar’s mighty heart burst?

A. Caesar’s mighty heart burst, as it was overpowered with Brutus’ ingratitude which was
stronger than a traitor’s arm.

7. Who fell with Caesar? Who triumphed? What does Antony go on to say?
A. Antony says that when Caesar fell along with him fell Antony himself and all the Romans.
As this happened, bloody treason triumphed over them.
Antony further says that now they (crowd) weep as they feel pity. Their tears are full of grace.
He asks if they weep seeing his disfigured clothes. He further provokes them by showing them
Caesar’s marred body. Anthony manages to change the crowd's mind from hostility against
Caesar to sympathy for him.

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8. What does Antony fear?
A. Antony fears that he has spoken too much and revealed more than he ought to have.

E.

Antony
Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up
To such a sudden flood of mutiny…

1. Who are the “good friends’ that Antony speaks to?

A. The plebeians/crowds/citizens of Rome.

2. Explain the first two lines of the extract. Is Antony being truthful?
A. Antony calls out to the crowd and tells them that he is not trying to provoke them to
mutiny/revolt against the conspirators.
No, Antony is not being truthful. In reality, this is what he actually wishes for.

3. How does Antony differentiate himself from Brutus? What does he urge the people to
do?
A. Antony claims, with false modesty, that he is not a great orator, like Brutus, and that he does
not intend to incite revolt. Yet in this very sentence, he means the exact opposite of what his
words say. He proves himself a skillful orator indeed and although he speaks against mutiny, he
knows that at this point the mere mention of the word will spur action.
He protests that he does not intend to steal away their hearts, for he is no orator like Brutus. He
proclaims himself to be a plain man; with no wit, nor worth, action, nor utterance nor the power
of speech to stir men’s blood. He is upfront and speaks what they already know, he says—he will
let Caesar’s wounds speak. If he were Brutus, he claims, he could urge them to rebel and move
every stone of Rome to rise and mutiny.

4. According to Antony, what would the citizens do if they heard Caesar’s testament?
A. If the citizens heard Caesar’s testament they would go and kiss dead Caesar’s wounds, dip
their napkins in his sacred blood, beg a hair of Caesar for their memory and while dying mention
it in their wills and pass it on as a rich legacy for their heirs.

5. What does Antony disclose to the crowd concerning Caesar’s will? How does the crowd
react?
A. Antony discloses that Caesar, in his will, has left the Roman citizens all his walks, his private
arbours, and new-planted orchards, on this side of Tiber. He has left all the luxuries of his palace
for the people and their heirs forever and common pleasures to walk abroad. Caesar has also left
seventy-five drachmas for each Roman citizen.
After Anthony’s concluding remarks about Caesar the citizens are mad for revenge, prepared for
fire, murder or any acts of cruelty and horror. They call it a piteous spectacle, a woeful day and
the most bloody sight.
The first citizen says they will never meet a person as noble as Caesar. He tells all the others to
go with him and burn Caesar’s body in the sacred place reserved for this. Then they will take
some of the burning board and set fire to the traitor's houses.

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6. How do we know that Antony is pleased with the reaction of the crowd?
A. Antony says, ‘Now let it work: mischief, thou art afoot,
Take thou what course thou wilt!’
He further says, ‘Fortune is merry, and in this mood will give us anything.’

7. Who enters later and what news does he bring?

A. Octavius’ servant enters. He reports that Octavius and Lepidus are at Caesar’s house and that
Brutus and Cassius have ridden like madmen through the gates of Rome.

8. What does this scene reveal about Brutus’ character?

A. In this scene, Brutus’ dignity, honour, and personal uprightness are revealed. His honorable
nature makes him insist that the crowd should stay and listen to Anthony but it spells disaster for
the conspirators. The scene also reveals that Brutus is neither a good politician nor a good judge
of character. He fails to stir the emotions of the common people with his speech.

9. What does this scene reveal about Anthony’s character?

A. The scene reveals that Anthony is a master orator. He is bold, yet cautious in taking the
necessary steps in a calculating manner. He convinces Brutus and the conspirators to let him
speak of Caesar at his funeral. He is unscrupulous and has no intention of keeping his promise to
these men who killed his friend. He does not leave any opportunity to convince the common
people to go against the conspirators. He proves to be a true friend of Caesar and a great
politician.

10. What does the scene reveal about the mob?

A. In this scene the mob comes across as fickle-minded. They listen to Brutus’ speech as he
defends the assassination and are convinced by him to the extent that they want him to ‘be
Caesar’. Then when Antony makes his speech, they turn and want to burn down the houses of all
the conspirators.

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