JULIUS CAESAR – ACT IV, SCENE III, PART TWO
Extract:-
Cassius: O Brutus! Brutus: What’s the matter? …………Brutus: Bending their
expedition towards Philippi.
1.
Glossary
1.
rash humour impulsive temper or mood
2.
inherit(ed) from my mother Cassius means
his bad temper comes from his mother.
3.
over-earnest too serious or too
intense
4.
chides scolds or reproaches.
5.
grudge disagreement, quarrel.
6.
’tis not meet it is not proper or
suitable.
7.
Nothing but death shall stay me only
death can stop me.
8.
quarrelling generals the two
commanders (Brutus and Cassius) are fighting.
9.
For shame! expression meaning “you
should be ashamed.”
10.
Love and be friends make peace with one
another.
11.
cynic rhyme Cassius calls the Poet a
Cynic (philosopher) and mocks his verses.
12.
sirrah a contemptuous address to a
man of lower status.
13.
jigging fools silly, dancing jesters
(Brutus’ insult to poets).
14.
bear with him put up with him, tolerate.
15.
humour (Brutus: “I’ll know his humour”) his
mood or character.
16.
prepare to lodge their companies arrange
for the soldiers to camp.
17.
bowl of wine customary drink to pledge
reconciliation.
18.
sick of many griefs overwhelmed by many
sorrows.
19.
of your philosophy you make no use you’re
not practising the Stoic (patient/tolerant) philosophy you profess.
20.
Portia is dead Brutus’ wife has killed
herself.
21.
swallow’d fire literally swallowed hot
coals; the ancient method of suicide.
22.
ye immortal gods! exclamation of
shock or prayer to gods.
23.
bury all unkindness put all quarrels
aside.
24.
noble pledge a toast of friendship.
25.
taper a candle or lamp.
26.
call in question our necessities discuss
our needs and strategy.
27.
bending their expedition directing
their military campaign.
28.
toward Philippi heading for Philippi (in
Macedonia), the site of the coming battle.
2.
Paraphrase
Cassius:
O Brutus!
Brutus:
What’s wrong? Why are you upset? Don’t you have enough love for me to be
patient when my bad temper — which I inherited from my mother — makes me forget
myself?
Cassius:
Haven’t you enough affection to tolerate my moods?
Brutus:
Yes, Cassius. And from now on, whenever you get too intense with me, I’ll
imagine it’s your mother scolding me and I’ll leave you alone.
Poet
(from within): Let me go in and see the generals. They’re having a dispute;
it’s not proper for them to be alone.
Lucilius
(within): You can’t come in to them.
Poet
(within): Only death will stop me!
(Enter
Poet, followed by Lucilius, Titinius and Lucius.)
Cassius:
What now? What’s the matter?
Poet:
Shame on you, generals! What are you doing? Love each other and be friends, as
two such men should be. I’m older than you and I know better.
Cassius
(laughing): Ha! What awful poetry this cynic makes!
Brutus:
Get out, sirrah — you saucy fellow!
Cassius:
Bear with him, Brutus; that’s just his way.
Brutus:
I’ll tolerate him when he knows his place. What business do fools like this
have in a war camp? Out!
Cassius:
Go, go, be gone.
(Exit
Poet.)
Brutus:
Lucilius and Titinius, tell the commanders to prepare to camp their soldiers
here tonight. And come back with Messala.
(Exeunt
Lucilius and Titinius.)
Brutus:
Lucius, bring a bowl of wine!
(Exit
Lucius.)
Cassius:
I didn’t think you could get so angry.
Brutus:
O Cassius, I’m overwhelmed with many sorrows.
Cassius:
You’re not making use of your philosophy if you can’t bear them.
Brutus:
No man bears sorrow better. Portia — my wife — is dead.
Cassius:
Dead?
Brutus:
She’s gone.
Cassius:
How?
Brutus:
Impatient of my absence, and worried that young Octavius and Mark Antony were
becoming so powerful, she fell into despair. While her attendants were away,
she swallowed fire — hot coals — and killed herself.
Cassius:
And died that way?
Brutus:
Yes.
Cassius:
O immortal gods!
(Enter
Lucius with wine.)
Brutus:
Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine. In this drink, Cassius, I bury
all my unkindness.
Cassius:
My heart thirsts for this noble pledge. Fill the cup, Lucius; I can’t drink too
much of Brutus’ friendship.
(Exit
Lucius.)
(Re-enter
Titinius with Messala.)
Brutus:
Welcome, good Messala. Let’s sit close by this candle and discuss what we need
to do.
Cassius:
Portia — you’re really gone?
Brutus:
No more talk of that, please. Messala, I’ve received letters that young
Octavius and Mark Antony are marching their army toward Philippi.
3.
30 One-Mark Questions
Q1.
Who are the two generals quarrelling in this scene?
Ans.
Brutus and Cassius.
Q2.
From whom does Cassius say he inherited his rash temper?
Ans.
From his mother.
Q3.
What does Brutus compare Cassius’s over-earnestness to?
Ans.
To being scolded by Cassius’s mother.
Q4.
Who wants to enter and stop the quarrel between the generals?
Ans.
A Poet.
Q5.
Who tries to stop the Poet from entering?
Ans.
Lucilius.
Q6.
What does the Poet say will be the only thing to stop him from entering?
Ans.
Death.
Q7.
What does the Poet urge Brutus and Cassius to do?
Ans.
To love each other and be friends.
Q8.
How does Cassius describe the Poet’s verse?
Ans.
“How vilely doth this cynic rhyme!”
Q9.
What word does Brutus use to dismiss the Poet rudely?
Ans.
“Sirrah” – meaning a low fellow.
Q10.
Who asks Brutus to bear with the Poet because it is his fashion?
Ans.
Cassius.
Q11.
What does Brutus call the Poet – “jigging __”?
Ans.
“jigging fools.”
Q12.
Whom does Brutus instruct to tell the commanders to camp their soldiers for the
night?
Ans.
Lucilius and Titinius.
Q13.
Who is asked to bring Messala to Brutus and Cassius?
Ans.
Lucilius and Titinius.
Q14.
What does Brutus ask Lucius to bring after the quarrel ends?
Ans.
A bowl of wine.
Q15.
How does Cassius react to Brutus’s anger?
Ans.
He says he didn’t think Brutus could be so angry.
Q16.
With what words does Brutus express his sorrow?
Ans.
“O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.”
Q17.
What philosophy does Cassius refer to when he says Brutus makes no use of it?
Ans.
Stoic philosophy (bearing sorrows patiently).
Q18.
Who is Portia in the play?
Ans.
Brutus’s wife.
Q19.
What news about Portia shocks Cassius?
Ans.
That she is dead.
Q20.
Why did Portia kill herself according to Brutus?
Ans.
She was impatient of his absence and distressed by the growing power of
Octavius and Antony.
Q21.
How does Portia commit suicide?
Ans.
She swallows fire (hot coals).
Q22.
What is Cassius’s immediate reaction to Portia’s death?
Ans.
“O ye immortal gods!”
Q23.
What does Brutus ask Cassius to do after telling of Portia’s death?
Ans.
Speak no more of her and bring wine.
Q24.
What symbolic act do Brutus and Cassius perform with wine?
Ans.
They bury all unkindness and pledge friendship.
Q25.
What does Cassius call Brutus’s pledge?
Ans.
“That noble pledge.”
Q26.
Who re-enters with Messala after the reconciliation?
Ans.
Titinius.
Q27.
Around what do Brutus, Cassius, Titinius and Messala sit to discuss plans?
Ans.
A taper (candle).
Q28.
What place are Octavius and Antony marching towards according to Messala’s
letters?
Ans.
Philippi.
Q29.
Whom does Brutus welcome warmly just before planning strategy?
Ans.
Messala.
Q30.
What overall tone replaces the earlier quarrel by the end of the passage?
Ans.
Reconciliation and planning for battle.
4.
40 MCQs with Answers
Q1.
Who are the two generals quarrelling in this scene?
A)
Caesar and Cassius
B)
Brutus and Cassius
C)
Antony and Octavius
D)
Brutus and Antony
Answer:
B) Brutus and Cassius
Q2.
Cassius claims his bad temper comes from his __.
A)
father
B)
teacher
C)
mother
D)
friend
Answer:
C) mother
Q3.
What does Brutus say he will imagine Cassius’s anger as?
A)
A joke
B)
His mother scolding
C)
A soldier shouting
D)
A poet rhyming
Answer:
B) His mother scolding
Q4.
Who wants to enter and stop the generals’ quarrel?
A)
Lucius
B)
A Poet
C)
Messala
D)
Titinius
Answer:
B) A Poet
Q5.
Who tries to keep the Poet from entering?
A)
Lucilius
B)
Brutus
C)
Cassius
D)
Messala
Answer:
A) Lucilius
Q6.
“Nothing but death shall stay me” is said by:
A)
Cassius
B)
Messala
C)
Poet
D)
Titinius
Answer:
C) Poet
Q7.
The Poet urges the generals to:
A)
Fight harder
B)
Drink wine
C)
Love each other and be friends
D)
Leave the camp
Answer:
C) Love each other and be friends
Q8.
Cassius laughs and calls the Poet’s verse:
A)
Sweet melody
B)
Vile cynic rhyme
C)
Noble pledge
D)
Stoic philosophy
Answer:
B) Vile cynic rhyme
Q9.
What insult does Brutus use for the Poet?
A)
Foolish bard
B)
Sirrah
C)
Liar
D)
Thief
Answer:
B) Sirrah
Q10.
Who says, “Bear with him, Brutus; ’tis his fashion”?
A)
Messala
B)
Titinius
C)
Cassius
D)
Lucilius
Answer:
C) Cassius
Q11.
Brutus calls the Poet “jigging __.”
A)
clowns
B)
fools
C)
soldiers
D)
slaves
Answer:
B) fools
Q12.
Who is asked to tell the commanders to camp for the night?
A)
Titinius and Lucilius
B)
Messala and Lucius
C)
Cassius and Brutus
D)
Lucius and the Poet
Answer:
A) Titinius and Lucilius
Q13.
Who must bring Messala to the generals?
A)
The Poet
B)
Cassius
C)
Titinius and Lucilius
D)
Lucius
Answer:
C) Titinius and Lucilius
Q14.
What does Brutus call for after the quarrel?
A)
Wine
B)
Food
C)
Scrolls
D)
Weapons
Answer:
A) Wine
Q15.
Cassius says he didn’t think Brutus could be so __.
A)
happy
B)
cowardly
C)
angry
D)
gentle
Answer:
C) angry
Q16.
Brutus laments, “I am sick of many __.”
A)
enemies
B)
griefs
C)
wounds
D)
soldiers
Answer:
B) griefs
Q17.
Cassius criticises Brutus for not using his __.
A)
army
B)
money
C)
philosophy
D)
family
Answer:
C) philosophy
Q18.
Brutus’s wife’s name is:
A)
Calpurnia
B)
Cleopatra
C)
Portia
D)
Octavia
Answer:
C) Portia
Q19.
Portia’s death shocks which character?
A)
Brutus
B)
Cassius
C)
Antony
D)
Messala
Answer:
B) Cassius
Q20.
Why did Portia kill herself?
A)
She was accused of treason
B)
She was tired of life
C)
She feared Antony’s power and missed Brutus
D)
She was poisoned by Cassius
Answer:
C) She feared Antony’s power and missed Brutus
Q21.
How does Portia commit suicide?
A)
Hanging
B)
Poison
C)
Swallowing fire
D)
Drowning
Answer:
C) Swallowing fire
Q22.
“O ye immortal gods!” is exclaimed by:
A)
Messala
B)
Brutus
C)
Cassius
D)
The Poet
Answer:
C) Cassius
Q23.
After hearing of Portia’s death, Brutus asks for:
A)
A horse
B)
A bowl of wine
C)
A sword
D)
A message
Answer:
B) A bowl of wine
Q24.
Brutus says he will “bury all __.”
A)
treasures
B)
soldiers
C)
unkindness
D)
scrolls
Answer:
C) unkindness
Q25.
Cassius calls Brutus’s pledge a __.
A)
noble pledge
B)
fool’s oath
C)
Stoic vow
D)
mighty promise
Answer:
A) noble pledge
Q26.
Who re-enters with Messala?
A)
Lucilius
B)
The Poet
C)
Titinius
D)
Lucius
Answer:
C) Titinius
Q27.
Around what do the men sit to discuss plans?
A)
A table
B)
A fire
C)
A taper
D)
A throne
Answer:
C) A taper
Q28.
The letters Brutus receives say Antony and Octavius are moving toward:
A)
Rome
B)
Sardis
C)
Philippi
D)
Athens
Answer:
C) Philippi
Q29.
Whom does Brutus welcome before planning strategy?
A)
Antony
B)
Messala
C)
Lucius
D)
The Poet
Answer:
B) Messala
Q30.
Cassius’s heart is “thirsty” for what?
A)
Battle
B)
Power
C)
Brutus’s friendship
D)
Money
Answer:
C) Brutus’s friendship
Q31.
“Bear with him … ’tis his fashion” shows Cassius’s:
A)
Hatred of the Poet
B)
Tolerance of the Poet
C)
Love for Brutus
D)
Dislike of Messala
Answer:
B) Tolerance of the Poet
Q32.
“Sirrah” is used by Brutus to address the Poet with:
A)
Affection
B)
Respect
C)
Contempt
D)
Curiosity
Answer:
C) Contempt
Q33.
Brutus calls the Poet a “jigging fool” because:
A)
He dances in the camp
B)
He sings songs
C)
He writes foolish rhymes
D)
He steals from soldiers
Answer:
C) He writes foolish rhymes
Q34.
Brutus and Cassius reconcile by sharing:
A)
A meal
B)
A handshake
C)
Wine
D)
A letter
Answer:
C) Wine
Q35.
The setting of this quarrel is in:
A)
Rome
B)
Sardis camp
C)
Senate House
D)
Philippi
Answer:
B) Sardis camp
Q36.
Who brings the bowl of wine to Brutus?
A)
Titinius
B)
Lucius
C)
Messala
D)
Cassius
Answer:
B) Lucius
Q37.
The “noble pledge” symbolises:
A)
Death
B)
War
C)
Friendship
D)
Victory
Answer:
C) Friendship
Q38.
Cassius’s comment on his “mother’s humour” reveals:
A)
Family pride
B)
Inherited temper
C)
Political cunning
D)
Weakness
Answer:
B) Inherited temper
Q39.
What is the dramatic purpose of the Poet’s entrance?
A)
To bring a message
B)
Comic relief and reconciliation
C)
To spy on the generals
D)
To deliver a prophecy
Answer:
B) Comic relief and reconciliation
Q40.
By the end of the extract, the mood changes from:
A)
Friendship to quarrel
B)
War to peace
C)
Quarrel to reconciliation
D)
Joy to sorrow
Answer:
C) Quarrel to reconciliation
5.
RTC BASED QUESTIONS
Extract
1
CASSIUS:
O Brutus!
BRUTUS:
What’s the matter?
CASSIUS:
Have not you love enough to bear with me,
When
that rash humour which my mother gave me
Makes
me forgetful?
Q1.
Who is speaking to whom in this extract?
Ans.
Cassius is speaking to Brutus.
Q2.
What “rash humour” is Cassius talking about?
Ans.
He means his quick temper and impulsive nature which he says he inherited from
his mother.
Q3.
What had just happened before this line?
Ans.
Brutus and Cassius were quarrelling bitterly about Brutus condemning Lucius
Pella and about bribes.
Q4.
How does Brutus respond to Cassius’s request to “bear with” him?
Ans.
Brutus agrees to tolerate Cassius’s over-earnestness and says he will think of
it as a mother scolding him.
Q5.
What does this extract reveal about Cassius’s character?
Ans.
It shows Cassius can be remorseful and seeks reconciliation, admitting his own
faults.
Extract
2
BRUTUS:
Yes, Cassius, and from henceforth,
When
you are over-earnest with your Brutus,
He’ll
think your mother chides, and leave you so.
Q1.
What does Brutus mean by “think your mother chides”?
Ans.
He means he will imagine Cassius as a scolding mother and not take his anger
personally.
Q2.
What mood of Brutus is shown here?
Ans.
Brutus is calming down and ready to reconcile.
Q3.
Why were Brutus and Cassius quarrelling?
Ans.
Brutus accused Cassius of taking bribes and protecting corrupt officials like
Lucius Pella.
Q4.
What does this line suggest about Brutus’s temperament?
Ans.
It shows Brutus’s patience, self-control and willingness to forgive.
Q5.
How does this line help resolve the quarrel?
Ans.
It introduces humour and softens tension, allowing both to move toward peace.
Extract
3
POET:
For shame, you generals! What do you mean?
Love,
and be friends, as two such men should be.
Q1.
Who enters at this moment?
Ans.
A Poet enters, followed by Lucilius, Titinius and Lucius.
Q2.
What does the poet urge Brutus and Cassius to do?
Ans.
He urges them to stop quarrelling, love each other and be friends.
Q3.
Why does the poet interfere in military matters?
Ans.
He feels it is shameful for two generals to quarrel and wants to reconcile
them.
Q4.
How does Brutus respond to the poet?
Ans.
Brutus calls him a “saucy fellow” and drives him away, saying war has no place
for jesters.
Q5.
What is Cassius’s attitude toward the poet?
Ans.
Cassius laughs and excuses the poet’s behaviour, saying it is his “fashion.”
Extract
4
BRUTUS:
Get you hence, sirrah; saucy fellow, hence!
CASSIUS:
Bear with him, Brutus; ’tis his fashion.
Q1.
Who is being driven away?
Ans.
The poet who entered to stop their quarrel.
Q2.
Why does Brutus call him a “saucy fellow”?
Ans.
Because Brutus feels it is impertinent for a poet to intrude in generals’
private matters.
Q3.
What does Cassius’s reply show about him?
Ans.
Cassius is tolerant and finds the poet amusing rather than offensive.
Q4.
What theme does this scene highlight?
Ans.
It highlights the contrast between military seriousness and artistic meddling.
Q5.
How does Shakespeare use the poet’s entrance dramatically?
Ans.
As comic relief, easing tension after the intense quarrel.
Extract
5
BRUTUS:
O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.
CASSIUS:
Of your philosophy you make no use,
If
you give place to accidental evils.
Q1.
What griefs trouble Brutus here?
Ans.
He is troubled by the death of his wife Portia and the growing power of Antony
and Octavius.
Q2.
What does Cassius mean by “philosophy”?
Ans.
He means Brutus’s Stoic philosophy which teaches endurance of pain and
misfortune.
Q3.
How does Brutus reply to this accusation?
Ans.
Brutus says no man bears sorrow better than he does.
Q4.
What theme appears here?
Ans.
The theme of stoicism and endurance under personal loss.
Q5.
How does this lead to a revelation?
Ans.
It leads Brutus to reveal Portia’s death to Cassius.
Extract
6
CASSIUS:
Ha! Portia!
BRUTUS:
She is dead.
Q1.
Who is Portia?
Ans.
Portia is Brutus’s wife.
Q2.
How does Cassius react to the news?
Ans.
Cassius is shocked and deeply grieved, crying “Ha! Portia!”
Q3.
Why did Portia die?
Ans.
She killed herself by swallowing hot coals because she was anxious and
grief-stricken at Brutus’s absence and the rise of Antony and Octavius.
Q4.
What does this show about Portia’s character?
Ans.
It shows her intense loyalty and emotional vulnerability.
Q5.
How does this event affect Brutus?
Ans.
He suppresses his grief and behaves stoically, burying “all unkindness” in wine
with Cassius.
Extract
7
BRUTUS:
Impatient of my absence,
And
grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
Have
made themselves so strong, …
…
swallow’d fire.
Q1.
What is Brutus explaining here?
Ans.
He is explaining to Cassius the cause of Portia’s death.
Q2.
What does “swallow’d fire” mean?
Ans.
It refers to Portia committing suicide by swallowing burning coals.
Q3.
What political situation adds to Portia’s despair?
Ans.
Antony and Octavius becoming powerful after Caesar’s death.
Q4.
How does this speech reveal Brutus’s feelings?
Ans.
It shows his controlled sorrow and matter-of-fact delivery, true to Stoic
ideals.
Q5.
What theme does Shakespeare illustrate here?
Ans.
The personal cost of political actions and the tragedy of private loss.
Extract
8
CASSIUS:
O ye immortal gods!
Q1.
What prompts Cassius to exclaim this?
Ans.
The shocking news that Portia has died by suicide.
Q2.
How does this exclamation contrast with Brutus’s reaction?
Ans.
Cassius reacts emotionally, while Brutus stays calm and restrained.
Q3.
What does this reveal about Cassius’s nature?
Ans.
He is more emotional and less stoic than Brutus.
Q4.
What effect does Portia’s death have on their friendship?
Ans.
It softens their quarrel and brings sympathy and reconciliation.
Q5.
What Roman value is reflected in calling upon “immortal gods”?
Ans.
The Roman belief in divine witnesses to human suffering and appeals to fate.
Extract
9
BRUTUS:
Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine:
In
this I bury all unkindness, Cassius.
Q1.
Why does Brutus ask Cassius to stop speaking of Portia?
Ans.
He wants to control his grief and move on to military matters.
Q2.
What does “bury all unkindness” mean?
Ans.
It means ending their quarrel and reconciling fully.
Q3.
How does wine function symbolically here?
Ans.
As a drink of unity and pledge of renewed friendship.
Q4.
What theme does this illustrate?
Ans.
Friendship and reconciliation after conflict.
Q5.
What does this tell us about Brutus’s leadership?
Ans.
He prioritises unity among commanders despite personal grief.
Extract
10
CASSIUS:
Fill, Lucius, till the wine o’erswell the cup;
I
cannot drink too much of Brutus’ love.
Q1.
What does Cassius mean by “cannot drink too much”?
Ans.
He means he cannot have too much of Brutus’s friendship and affection.
Q2.
How does this line show Cassius’s mood now?
Ans.
It shows he is reconciled and joyful.
Q3.
Who is Lucius here?
Ans.
Brutus’s young servant and musician.
Q4.
What is the dramatic function of this moment?
Ans.
It marks a complete shift from anger to warmth between the two generals.
Q5.
How does this reflect Roman camaraderie?
Ans.
Sharing wine was a traditional act of loyalty and friendship.
Extract
11
BRUTUS:
Now sit we close about this taper here,
And
call in question our necessities.
Q1.
What does Brutus mean by “call in question our necessities”?
Ans.
He wants to discuss their military needs and strategy.
Q2.
Who is present at this point?
Ans.
Brutus, Cassius, Titinius and Messala.
Q3.
Why around a taper?
Ans.
The taper (candle) gives light at night; it sets an intimate, strategic mood.
Q4.
How does this transition function in the scene?
Ans.
It shifts focus from personal conflict to planning war.
Q5.
What does this show about Brutus’s priorities?
Ans.
He quickly returns to duty and leadership.
Extract
12
MESSALA:
That young Octavius and Mark Antony
Bending
their expedition toward Philippi.
Q1.
What news does Messala bring?
Ans.
He informs them that Octavius and Antony are marching toward Philippi.
Q2.
Why is this significant?
Ans.
It signals the approaching decisive battle between the conspirators and
Caesar’s avengers.
Q3.
How does this news affect the planning?
Ans.
It forces Brutus and Cassius to decide whether to march to Philippi or wait.
Q4.
What does “expedition” mean here?
Ans.
Military campaign or march.
Q5.
What theme emerges again?
Ans.
Fate versus free will in war strategy.
Extract
13
CASSIUS:
Portia, art thou gone?
BRUTUS:
No more, I pray you.
Q1.
Why does Cassius ask this again?
Ans.
He is still in shock and disbelief at Portia’s death.
Q2.
Why does Brutus cut him short?
Ans.
He does not want to dwell on his grief and lose focus on military matters.
Q3.
How does this show their differing natures?
Ans.
Cassius is emotionally expressive, Brutus stoic and disciplined.
Q4.
What does this dialogue reveal about their friendship?
Ans.
Despite differences, they care deeply for each other.
Q5.
What dramatic effect does it have?
Ans.
It keeps the scene moving from private sorrow to public duty.
Extract
14
BRUTUS:
No man bears sorrow better.
Q1.
Who says this and to whom?
Ans.
Brutus says it to Cassius.
Q2.
What is Brutus asserting?
Ans.
He is claiming his own strength in enduring grief (Stoic philosophy).
Q3.
How does this fit his character throughout the play?
Ans.
Brutus consistently suppresses personal emotion for the public good.
Q4.
How is this line ironic in hindsight?
Ans.
Brutus will later commit suicide at Philippi, showing his own limits.
Q5.
What theme does this highlight?
Ans.
Human struggle between ideal philosophy and real suffering.
Extract
15
CASSIUS:
My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge.
Q1.
What is the “noble pledge”?
Ans.
It is the cup of wine symbolising reconciliation and renewed friendship with
Brutus.
Q2.
How does Cassius describe his feelings metaphorically?
Ans.
He says his heart is “thirsty,” comparing emotional need to physical thirst.
Q3.
How does this end the quarrel?
Ans.
By drinking together, they seal their peace and unity.
Q4.
What is the dramatic purpose of this moment?
Ans.
To show harmony restored before the coming war.
Q5.
What larger theme does this echo?
Ans.
Loyalty, comradeship, and Roman ideals of honour among allies.
6.
20 “Who Said to Whom” Questions
1.
Quote: “O Brutus!”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Cassius said this to Brutus.
2.
Quote: “What’s the matter? Have not you love enough to bear with me, when that
rash humour which my mother gave me makes me forgetful?”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Cassius said this to Brutus.
3.
Quote: “Yes, Cassius; and from henceforth, when you are over-earnest with your
Brutus, he’ll think your mother chides and leave you so.”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Brutus said this to Cassius.
4.
Quote: “Let me go in to see the generals. There is some grudge between them;
’tis not meet they be alone.”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
The Poet said this to Lucilius (from within).
5.
Quote: “You shall not come to them.”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Lucilius said this to the Poet.
6.
Quote: “Nothing but death shall stay me.”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
The Poet said this to Lucilius.
7.
Quote: “For shame, you generals! What do you mean? Love, and be friends, as two
such men should be; for I have seen more years, I’m sure, than ye.”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
The Poet said this to Brutus and Cassius.
8.
Quote: “Ha, ha! how vilely doth this cynic rhyme!”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Cassius said this about the Poet (to Brutus).
9.
Quote: “Get you hence, sirrah; saucy fellow, hence!”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Brutus said this to the Poet.
10.
Quote: “Bear with him, Brutus; ’tis his fashion.”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Cassius said this to Brutus (about the Poet).
11.
Quote: “I’ll know his humour when he knows his time. What should the wars do
with these jigging fools?”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Brutus said this to Cassius.
12.
Quote: “Away, away, away, be gone.”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Cassius said this to the Poet.
13.
Quote: “Bid the commanders prepare to lodge their companies to-night here.”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Brutus said this to Lucilius and Titinius.
14.
Quote: “And come yourselves, and bring Messala with you immediately to us.”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Cassius said this to Lucilius and Titinius.
15.
Quote: “Lucius, a bowl of wine!”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Brutus said this to Lucius.
16.
Quote: “O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Brutus said this to Cassius.
17.
Quote: “Of your philosophy you make no use, if you give place to accidental
evils.”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Cassius said this to Brutus.
18.
Quote: “Portia is dead.”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Brutus said this to Cassius.
19.
Quote: “Impatient of my absence, and grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
have made themselves so strong … and her attendants absent, swallow’d fire.”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Brutus said this to Cassius (explaining Portia’s death).
20.
Quote: “Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine. In this I bury all
unkindness, Cassius.”
Q:
Who said this to whom?
A:
Brutus said this to Cassius.
7.
10 Two-Mark Questions
Q1.
Why are Brutus and Cassius quarrelling at the start of the scene?
Ans.
Brutus accuses Cassius of protecting Lucius Pella, who took bribes. Brutus
believes Cassius himself has been accepting bribes, which betrays the ideals of
Caesar’s assassination. This clash over integrity leads to a bitter exchange of
accusations and marks the lowest point in their friendship.
Q2.
How does Cassius explain his sudden anger?
Ans.
Cassius admits he has a “rash humour” inherited from his mother, meaning a hot
temper. He asks Brutus to bear with him when this mood overtakes him. This
shows Cassius’s self-awareness and wish to mend their quarrel by acknowledging
his own fault openly.
Q3.
What is Brutus’s response to Cassius’s self-confession about his temper?
Ans.
Brutus says that in future he will imagine Cassius as a mother scolding a child
and will leave him alone until he calms down. This gentle humour reduces
tension and signals Brutus’s readiness to forgive Cassius, smoothing the path
to reconciliation.
Q4.
Describe the role of the Poet in this scene.
Ans.
The Poet bursts into Brutus’s tent, urging both generals to stop quarrelling
and be friends. His intrusion acts as comic relief and also as a moral voice.
Though Brutus angrily drives him out, the Poet’s words remind them of their
shared cause and brotherhood.
Q5.
How does Cassius react differently from Brutus to the Poet’s intrusion?
Ans.
Cassius laughs at the Poet and excuses his behaviour, saying it is his
“fashion.” Brutus, however, calls the Poet a “saucy fellow” and orders him
away. This contrast reveals Cassius’s tolerance and Brutus’s stricter sense of
decorum within a military context.
Q6.
How does Brutus reveal Portia’s death to Cassius?
Ans.
During their calmer talk, Brutus confesses he is “sick of many griefs” and then
discloses that Portia, his wife, is dead. He speaks matter-of-factly,
describing her suicide by swallowing fire, showing his Stoic restraint even
when sharing devastating personal news.
Q7.
What reasons does Brutus give for Portia’s suicide?
Ans.
Brutus explains that Portia was impatient of his absence and distressed by
Antony and Octavius growing strong. Feeling isolated and her attendants away,
she swallowed fire. This tragic act shows her despair at both personal
separation and political upheaval after Caesar’s assassination.
Q8.
How does Cassius react to the news of Portia’s death?
Ans.
Cassius is shocked and grieves openly, crying “O ye immortal gods!” His
emotional reaction contrasts with Brutus’s composure. This moment deepens their
bond because Cassius recognises Brutus’s pain and also softens his own mood
after their earlier conflict.
Q9.
How do Brutus and Cassius formally end their quarrel?
Ans.
Brutus calls for wine, saying he buries “all unkindness” in the cup. Cassius
says his heart is thirsty for Brutus’s noble pledge. They drink together,
symbolising reconciliation and renewed unity before turning their focus to the
looming battle with Antony and Octavius.
Q10.
What news does Messala bring about Antony and Octavius?
Ans.
Messala reports that Antony and Octavius are moving their forces toward
Philippi. This alerts Brutus and Cassius that the decisive confrontation is
near. The news shifts the scene from personal issues to military planning and
foreshadows the coming battle at Philippi.
8. 10 Three-Mark Questions
Q1.
Explain how Brutus and Cassius’s quarrel reflects their contrasting characters.
Ans.
Brutus focuses on moral principles and accuses Cassius of corruption, while
Cassius, more pragmatic and emotional, reacts with anger and self-defence.
Their clash shows the tension between idealism and practicality. Yet, despite
the bitterness, both value their friendship. Cassius admits his temper, Brutus
uses humour to defuse anger, and together they reconcile—demonstrating
Shakespeare’s theme of human frailty within political alliances.
Q2.
Analyse the dramatic purpose of the Poet’s entrance in this scene.
Ans.
The Poet interrupts the generals at their most heated moment, scolding them
like children. This functions as comic relief after a tense quarrel, preventing
the play from becoming too heavy. It also mirrors the audience’s own judgment
that such leaders should not fight internally. By contrasting the serious
military world with a jesting outsider, Shakespeare underscores the need for
unity before facing external enemies.
Q3.
How does Brutus’s reaction to the Poet show his leadership style?
Ans.
Brutus reacts sharply, calling the Poet “sirrah” and ordering him out. He
dislikes uninvited interference in military affairs, showing his disciplined
and formal style. This response also reveals Brutus’s serious focus on honour
and decorum. Compared to Cassius’s tolerant laughter, Brutus appears stricter
but also more consistent with Roman Stoic ideals of order and dignity in
leadership.
Q4.
Discuss the significance of Portia’s death in Brutus’s emotional journey.
Ans.
Portia’s suicide strikes at Brutus’s personal life, yet he suppresses his grief
to stay on mission. Her death marks the cost of Brutus’s political actions: his
wife’s despair and isolation. By revealing it calmly, Brutus demonstrates
Stoicism but also foreshadows his own end. Shakespeare uses this to show the
heavy sacrifices borne by those who place duty above personal ties.
Q5.
How does Shakespeare contrast Brutus’s and Cassius’s reactions to Portia’s
death?
Ans.
Brutus speaks plainly and quickly changes the subject, embodying his philosophy
of self-control. Cassius, by contrast, cries to the gods and cannot hide his
shock. This contrast deepens our understanding of their friendship—Brutus the
iron-willed idealist, Cassius the passionate realist—and also balances the
emotional tone of the scene, making their reconciliation believable and moving.
Q6.
What symbolic role does wine play in the reconciliation between Brutus and
Cassius?
Ans.
Wine acts as a ritual of friendship and forgiveness. When Brutus calls for a
bowl to “bury all unkindness,” he signals an official end to their quarrel.
Cassius eagerly joins, saying he “cannot drink too much of Brutus’s love.” The
shared cup represents unity, loyalty and preparation to face death together in
the coming battle, strengthening the tragic pathos.
Q7.
How does the scene transition from private conflict to public duty?
Ans.
After reconciling, Brutus calls in Titinius and Messala, orders lodging for the
troops and discusses military necessities by the taper’s light. This shift
marks a return to their roles as generals. Shakespeare structures the scene so
personal emotion gives way to strategy, illustrating how public duty dominates
private feelings in Roman political life, intensifying the tragic tension.
Q8.
Explain how Messala’s news about Antony and Octavius changes the tone of the
scene.
Ans.
Messala announces Antony and Octavius are marching to Philippi. This jolts the
generals back to urgent strategy, replacing grief and camaraderie with military
focus. It also foreshadows the decisive confrontation that will seal their
fates. The news ends the intimate mood and propels the action forward toward
war and ultimately tragedy, linking personal and political threads.
Q9.
In what ways does this scene develop the theme of Stoicism?
Ans.
Stoicism—enduring pain without complaint—is shown in Brutus’s composure over
Portia’s death. Cassius challenges him for not using his philosophy but then
admires his restraint. The scene thus dramatizes the Roman ideal of rational
self-control. Yet its tension also shows the limits of Stoicism, since both men
still quarrel and later face their own suicides at Philippi.
Q10.
Why is this quarrel-and-reconciliation scene crucial to the structure of the
play?
Ans.
Dramatically, it humanises Brutus and Cassius, showing them as fallible friends
rather than static conspirators. The quarrel raises doubts about their unity,
but the reconciliation reassures the audience before the final battle. It also
provides exposition about Portia’s death and enemy movements, while setting the
emotional stakes high, making their ultimate defeat at Philippi more tragic and
inevitable.
COURTESY:
Meta AI & ChatGPT
Compiled
by Dr. Shankar D Mishra
ବିଶେଷ ସୂଚନା : ଯେଉଁ ICSE ଛାତ୍ର ଛାତ୍ରୀ Std. 6 ରୁ 10 ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଅଧ୍ୟୟନ କରୁଛନ୍ତି ଓ ଇଂଲିଶ Grammar ଓ Literature ରେ individual/ group
guidance ଆବଶ୍ୟକ କରୁଛନ୍ତି, ଏହି WhatsApp ନମ୍ବର ରେ (8270604524) ଯୋଗାଯୋଗ କରିପାରିବେ l
*ପରୀକ୍ଷା ରେ improvement ହେଲାପରେ fees ଗ୍ରହଣ କରାଯିବ, ନଚେତ free l
No comments:
Post a Comment