Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene I – Part Three page 114 to 120

 

Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene I – Part 3, page 114 to 120

Lines: Antony: I doubt not of your wisdom…………….. Antony: Post back with speed, Lend me your hand. [Exeunt with Caesar’s body]

Glossary

Antony – friend of Caesar / सीज़र का मित्र
Doubt – uncertainty / संदेह
Wisdom – good judgment / बुद्धिमत्ता
Render – give, offer / प्रस्तुत करना
Bloody – stained with blood / खून से सना
Shake – clasp (hands) / हाथ मिलाना
Valiant – brave / वीर
Alas – expression of sorrow / हाय
Credit – reputation / प्रतिष्ठा
Slippery – unstable / अस्थिर
Conceit (conceive) – think, consider / समझना
Coward – timid person / कायर
Flatterer – false praiser / चापलूस
Spirit – soul / आत्मा
Grieve – feel sorrow / शोक करना
Peace – reconciliation / मेल-मिलाप
Fingers – digits of the hand / उँगलियाँ
Foes – enemies / शत्रु
Noble – honorable / महान
Presence – being near / उपस्थिति
Corse – corpse / शव
Weeping – crying / रोना
Stream – flow / बहना
Terms – conditions / शर्तें
Friendship – friendly relation / मित्रता
Pardon – forgive / क्षमा करना
Bay’d – surrounded and attacked / घेर लिया गया
Hart – deer / हिरण
Hunters – pursuers / शिकारी
Sign’d – marked / चिह्नित
Spoil – prey / शिकार
Crimson’d – made red / रक्तरंजित
Lethe – river of forgetfulness / विस्मृति की नदी
Forest – large wooded area / वन
Strucken (struck) – hit / आघात किया गया
Princes – noblemen / राजकुमार
Compact – agreement / समझौता
Prick’d – counted / गिना गया
Depend – rely / निर्भर होना
Sway’d – influenced / प्रभावित
Savage – cruel / क्रूर
Spectacle – sight / दृश्य
Regard – respect / सम्मान
Satisfied – content / संतुष्ट
Moreover – besides / इसके अतिरिक्त
Suitor – petitioner / याचक
Produce – bring forth / प्रस्तुत करना
Marketplace – public square / बाज़ार
Pulpit – raised platform / व्यासपीठ
Funeral – burial ceremony / अंतिम संस्कार
Blame – accuse / दोष देना
Permission – approval / अनुमति
Rites – ceremonies / संस्कार
Lawful – proper, legal / विधिसम्मत
Advantage – benefit / लाभ
Consent – agree / सहमत होना
Prepare – make ready / तैयार करना
Exeunt – they exit / वे बाहर जाते हैं
Aside – private speech / एकांत कथन
Bleeding – losing blood / रक्तस्राव करता हुआ
Meek – gentle / नम्र
Butchers – cruel killers / हत्यारे
Ruins – remains / अवशेष
Noblest – most noble / सबसे महान
Tide – flow / धारा
Woe – sorrow / दुख
Costly – precious / अमूल्य
Shed – spill / बहाना
Prophesy – foretell / भविष्यवाणी करना
Dumb – silent / मूक
Ope – open / खोलना
Ruby – deep red / लाल मणि जैसा
Utterance – speech / वाणी
Curse – evil wish / श्राप
Limbs – arms and legs / अंग
Domestic – internal / घरेलू
Fury – violent anger / उग्र क्रोध
Civil – relating to citizens / नागरिक
Strife – conflict / संघर्ष
Cumber – burden / भर देना
Destruction – ruin / विनाश
Dreadful – terrible / भयानक
Familiar – common / सामान्य
Behold – see / देखना
Infants – babies / शिशु
Quarter’d – cut into pieces / टुकड़े किया गया
Pity – compassion / दया
Chok’d – stopped / रुक गया
Fell – cruel / घोर
Deeds – actions / कर्म
Revenge – retaliation / प्रतिशोध
Ate – goddess of ruin / विनाश की देवी एटे
Confines – boundaries / सीमाएँ
Monarch – king / सम्राट
Havoc – destruction / तबाही
Slip – release / छोड़ देना
Dogs of war – forces of war / युद्ध की शक्तियाँ
Foul – wicked / घृणित
Carrion – dead flesh / सड़ा मांस
Groaning – moaning in pain / कराहना
Burial – act of burying / दफन
Servant – attendant / सेवक
Receive – get / प्राप्त करना
Passion – strong emotion / प्रबल भावना
Leagues – measure of distance / दूरी की माप
Post – travel quickly / शीघ्र जाना
Chanc’d – happened / घटित हुआ
Mourning – grieving / शोक
Dangerous – unsafe / खतरनाक
Hie – hurry / शीघ्र जाना
Corpse – dead body / शव
Oration – formal speech / औपचारिक भाषण
Cruel – merciless / निर्दयी
Issue – result / परिणाम
Discourse – speak about / विवरण देना
State – condition / स्थिति

 Summary : After the assassination of Caesar, Mark Antony cautiously greets each of the conspirators and shakes their blood-stained hands, pretending friendship though he is inwardly horrified. He declares that he does not doubt their wisdom, yet admits that his reputation now stands on “slippery ground,” as people may consider him either a coward or a flatterer for making peace with Caesar’s killers. Antony openly affirms his deep love for Caesar and laments that if Caesar’s spirit were watching, it would grieve to see him clasping the hands of his murderers. He compares Caesar to a noble deer hunted down by many princes, lying dead while his hunters stand proudly around him. Cassius interrupts and questions Antony’s intentions, asking whether he truly wishes to join them. Antony cleverly replies that he is their friend for the moment but desires to hear their reasons for declaring Caesar dangerous. Brutus assures him that their motives were honourable and that even if Antony were Caesar’s son, he would be satisfied with their justification. Antony then requests permission to take Caesar’s body to the marketplace and speak at the funeral. Brutus agrees, believing that allowing Antony to speak will benefit them, while Cassius distrusts the idea and warns Brutus privately that Antony’s speech may stir the people. Nevertheless, Brutus permits Antony to speak after him, on the condition that he does not blame the conspirators and only speaks good of Caesar by their consent. Once the conspirators leave, Antony reveals his true feelings in a powerful soliloquy. He calls them butchers and mourns over Caesar’s body, describing him as the noblest man who ever lived. He prophesies terrible consequences for Rome: civil war, bloodshed, destruction, and mothers becoming so accustomed to violence that they will smile at the sight of their slain children. He imagines Caesar’s spirit, accompanied by the goddess Ate, crying “Havoc!” and unleashing the dogs of war upon Italy. A servant then arrives with news that Octavius Caesar is approaching Rome. Antony warns that Rome is now dangerous and sends the servant back with instructions, but decides first to carry Caesar’s body to the marketplace. He plans to observe how the people respond to his funeral oration and then inform Octavius about the state of affairs. The extract ends with Antony preparing to ignite public emotion against the conspirators through his speech.

 सारांश : सीज़र की हत्या के बाद मार्क एण्टनी अत्यन्त सावधानी से प्रत्येक षड्यंत्रकारी से हाथ मिलाता है और उनके रक्तरंजित हाथों को थामकर ऊपर से मित्रता प्रकट करता है, जबकि भीतर से वह भय और शोक से व्याकुल है। वह कहता है कि उसे उनकी बुद्धिमत्ता पर संदेह नहीं है, परन्तु उसकी प्रतिष्ठा अब “फिसलन भरी भूमि” पर खड़ी है, क्योंकि लोग उसे कायर या चापलूस समझ सकते हैं। वह स्वीकार करता है कि उसने सीज़र से सच्चा प्रेम किया और यदि सीज़र की आत्मा यह दृश्य देख रही होगी तो उसे अपने प्रिय एण्टनी को अपने हत्यारों से मेल करते देख अत्यन्त दुःख होगा। एण्टनी सीज़र की तुलना एक वीर हिरण से करता है जिसे अनेक राजकुमारों ने मिलकर मार गिराया है और जिसके चारों ओर उसके शिकारी खड़े हैं। कैसियस उसकी नीयत पर प्रश्न उठाता है, पर एण्टनी चतुराई से उत्तर देता है कि वह उनसे उनकी दलीलें सुनना चाहता है कि सीज़र किस प्रकार खतरनाक था। ब्रूटस विश्वास दिलाता है कि उनके कारण सम्मानजनक थे। एण्टनी तब अनुमति माँगता है कि वह सीज़र के शव को बाज़ार ले जाकर अंतिम संस्कार में भाषण दे सके। ब्रूटस अनुमति दे देता है, यह सोचकर कि इससे उन्हें लाभ होगा, यद्यपि कैसियस को आशंका है कि एण्टनी जनता को भड़का सकता है। ब्रूटस शर्त रखता है कि एण्टनी षड्यंत्रकारियों को दोष न दे और उनकी अनुमति से ही बोले। सबके चले जाने पर एण्टनी अपने वास्तविक भाव प्रकट करता है। वह उन्हें हत्यारे कहता है और सीज़र को युगों का सबसे महान पुरुष बताता है। वह भविष्यवाणी करता है कि रोम में गृहयुद्ध, रक्तपात और विनाश होगा; माताएँ इतनी हिंसा की अभ्यस्त हो जाएँगी कि अपने बच्चों की मृत्यु पर भी मुस्कराएँगी। वह कल्पना करता है कि सीज़र की आत्मा एटे देवी के साथ “हवॉक” पुकारते हुए युद्ध की शक्तियों को मुक्त करेगी। तभी एक सेवक आकर बताता है कि ऑक्टेवियस रोम की ओर आ रहा है। एण्टनी चेतावनी देता है कि रोम अब सुरक्षित नहीं है, पर पहले वह सीज़र के शव को बाज़ार ले जाकर भाषण देने का निश्चय करता है ताकि जनता की प्रतिक्रिया देखकर ऑक्टेवियस को स्थिति से अवगत करा सके। इस प्रकार यह प्रसंग एण्टनी की चतुराई, उसकी निष्ठा और आने वाले भीषण संघर्ष की भूमिका प्रस्तुत करता है।

Text with Paraphrase in English

Antony: I doubt not of your wisdom.
I do not question your intelligence.

Let each man render me his bloody hand:
Let each of you give me your blood-stained hand.

First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;
First, Brutus, I will shake hands with you.

Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;
Next, Cassius, I take your hand.

Now, Decius Brutus, yours; now yours, Metellus,
Now yours, Decius; now yours, Metellus.

Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours;
Yours, Cinna; and yours too, brave Casca.

Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius.
And lastly, though not less dear to me, yours, good Trebonius.

Gentlemen all—alas, what shall I say?
O gentlemen, what can I say?

My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
My reputation now stands on very uncertain ground,

That one of two bad ways you must conceive me,
That you must think of me in one of two unfavorable ways—

Either a coward or a flatterer.
Either as a coward or as someone who flatters you falsely.

That I did love thee, Caesar, O, ’tis true:
It is true that I loved you, Caesar.

If, then, thy spirit look upon us now,
If your spirit is watching us now,

Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death,
Will it not pain you even more than your death

To see thy Antony making his peace,
To see your Antony making peace

Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
And shaking the blood-stained hands of your enemies,

Most noble, in the presence of thy corse?
O noble Caesar, in front of your dead body?

Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,
If I had as many eyes as you have wounds,

Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
And if tears flowed from them as fast as your blood flows,

It would become me better than to close
That would suit me better

In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
Than speaking friendly words to your enemies.

Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay’d, brave hart;
Forgive me, Julius! Here you were surrounded like a brave deer by hounds;

Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,
Here you fell, and here stand your hunters,

Sign’d in thy spoil, and crimson’d in thy Lethe.
Marked with your blood and stained red as if in the river of forgetfulness.

O world, thou wast the forest to this hart,
O world, you were the forest in which this noble deer lived,

And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.
And this man, indeed, was the very heart of the world.

How like a deer, strucken by many princes,
How you lie like a deer struck down by many noble hunters,

Dost thou here lie!
Lying here helpless!

Cassius: Mark Antony—
Cassius calls out to Antony.

Antony: Pardon me, Caius Cassius;
Forgive me, Cassius;

The enemies of Caesar shall say this:
Caesar’s enemies may say these things about him;

Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.
But for a friend, such praise is only modest and restrained.

Cassius: I blame you not for praising Caesar so.
I do not blame you for praising Caesar in this way.

But what compact mean you to have with us?
But what agreement do you intend to make with us?

Will you be prick’d in number of our friends,
Will you be counted among our friends,

Or shall we on, and not depend on you?
Or shall we continue without relying on you?

Antony: Therefore I took your hands, but was, indeed,
That is why I shook your hands, though I was truly

Sway’d from the point, by looking down on Caesar.
Moved from my purpose by looking at Caesar’s body.

Friends am I with you all, and love you all;
I am friends with you all, and I love you all,

Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons
Hoping that you will give me reasons

Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.
Why and in what way Caesar was dangerous.

Brutus: Or else were this a savage spectacle.
Otherwise this would be a cruel and savage sight.

Our reasons are so full of good regard,
Our reasons are so reasonable and honorable,

That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
That even if you were Caesar’s own son,

You should be satisfied.
You would be satisfied with them.

Antony: That’s all I seek.
That is all I want.

And am moreover suitor that I may
And I also request

Produce his body to the marketplace,
That I may bring his body to the marketplace,

And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
And in the public platform, as a friend should,

Speak in the order of his funeral.
Speak properly at his funeral.

Brutus: You shall, Mark Antony.
You may do so, Mark Antony.

Cassius: Brutus, a word with you.
Cassius asks Brutus to speak privately.

You know not what you do; do not consent
You do not realize what you are doing; do not agree

That Antony speak in his funeral.
To let Antony speak at the funeral.

Know you how much the people may be mov’d
Do you know how much the people may be influenced

By that which he will utter?
By what he will say?

Brutus: By your pardon;
With your permission;

I will myself into the pulpit first,
I will go to the pulpit first,

And show the reason of our Caesar’s death:
And explain the reasons for Caesar’s death.

What Antony shall speak, I will protest
And I will declare that whatever Antony says

He speaks by leave and by permission;
He speaks with our permission;

And that we are contented Caesar shall
And that we are satisfied that Caesar shall have

Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.
All proper funeral rites and ceremonies.

It shall advantage more than do us wrong.
This will benefit us more than harm us.

Cassius: I know not what may fall; I like it not.
I do not know what may happen; I do not like this plan.

Brutus: Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar’s body.
Mark Antony, take Caesar’s body.

You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
In your speech you must not blame us,

But speak all good you can devise of Caesar,
But speak all the good you can about Caesar,

And say you do’t by our permission;
And say that you do so with our permission;

Else shall you not have any hand at all
Otherwise you shall have no part at all

About his funeral.
In his funeral.

And you shall speak
And you shall speak

In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
In the same pulpit where I will speak,

After my speech is ended.
After I have finished speaking.

Antony: I do desire no more. Be it so.
I ask for nothing more. Let it be so.

Brutus: Prepare the body, then, and follow us.
Prepare the body and follow us.

Antony (aside): O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
Forgive me, you bleeding body lying on the ground,

That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
That I behave gently and humbly toward these murderers!

Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
You are the remains of the noblest man

That ever lived in the tide of times.
Who ever lived in all history.

Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
Curse upon the hands that shed this precious blood!

Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,
Over your wounds I now make a prophecy,

Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,
Which, like silent mouths, open their red lips,

To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue:
As if asking my tongue to speak for them.

A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
A curse will fall upon mankind;

Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
Civil wars and violent conflict within families

Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;
Will trouble every part of Italy.

Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
Bloodshed and destruction will become so common,

And dreadful objects so familiar,
And terrible sights so familiar,

That mothers shall but smile when they behold
That mothers will only smile when they see

Their infants quarter’d with the hands of war,
Their children cut down by war,

All pity chok’d with custom of fell deeds:
Because constant cruelty will have destroyed all pity.

And Caesar’s spirit, ranging for revenge,
And Caesar’s spirit, wandering in search of revenge,

With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
With the goddess of destruction beside him, coming fiercely from hell,

Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice
Will, within these lands, with a kingly voice,

Cry “Havoc!” and let slip the dogs of war,
Cry “Havoc!” and unleash the forces of war,

That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
So that this evil deed will stink across the earth

With carrion men, groaning for burial.
Filled with dead bodies lying unburied.

Enter a Servant

Antony: You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?
Do you serve Octavius Caesar?

Servant: I do, Mark Antony.
Yes, I do.

Antony: Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.
Caesar had written asking him to come to Rome.

Servant: He did receive his letters, and is coming.
He received the letters and is on his way.

And bid me say to you by word of mouth—
And he told me to inform you personally—

Antony (seeing the body): O Caesar! Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep.
O Caesar! Your heart was great; step aside and weep.

Passion, I see, is catching, for mine eyes,
Emotion is contagious, for my eyes,

Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine,
Seeing tears standing in your eyes,

Began to water. Is thy master coming?
Have begun to fill with tears. Is your master coming?

Servant: He lies tonight within seven leagues of Rome.
He is staying tonight about seven leagues from Rome.

Antony: Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc’d.
Hurry back and tell him what has happened.

Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
Rome is now in mourning and full of danger,

No Rome of safety for Octavius yet.
It is not safe for Octavius yet.

Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay awhile;
Go quickly and tell him that. Yet wait a while;

Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corpse
You shall not return until I have carried this body

Into the marketplace: there shall I try,
Into the marketplace. There I will test,

In my oration, how the people take
Through my speech, how the people react

The cruel issue of these bloody men;
To the cruel actions of these murderers.

According to the which, thou shalt discourse
According to their reaction, you shall report

To young Octavius of the state of things.
To young Octavius about the situation here.

Lend me your hand.
Give me your hand.

[Exeunt with Caesar’s body]
They leave the stage carrying Caesar’s body.

Text with Paraphrase in Hindi

Antony: I doubt not of your wisdom.
मुझे आपकी बुद्धिमत्ता पर कोई संदेह नहीं है।

Let each man render me his bloody hand:
आपमें से प्रत्येक मुझे अपना रक्तरंजित हाथ दे।

First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;
सबसे पहले, मार्कस ब्रूटस, मैं आपसे हाथ मिलाऊँगा।

Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;
अगले, कैयस कैसियस, मैं आपका हाथ लेता हूँ।

Now, Decius Brutus, yours; now yours, Metellus,
अब, डेसियस ब्रूटस, आपका; अब आपका, मेटेलस।

Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours;
आपका, सिन्ना; और मेरे वीर कास्का, आपका भी।

Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius.
और अंत में, पर प्रेम में किसी से कम नहीं, आपका भी, अच्छे ट्रेबोनियस।

Gentlemen all—alas, what shall I say?
हे सज्जनों—हाय! मैं क्या कहूँ?

My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
मेरी प्रतिष्ठा अब इतनी डगमग भूमि पर खड़ी है,

That one of two bad ways you must conceive me,
कि आप मुझे दो बुरे रूपों में से किसी एक रूप में समझेंगे,

Either a coward or a flatterer.
या तो कायर, या चापलूस।

That I did love thee, Caesar, O, ’tis true:
यह सत्य है कि मैं तुमसे प्रेम करता था, सीज़र।

If, then, thy spirit look upon us now,
यदि अब तुम्हारी आत्मा हम पर दृष्टि डाल रही हो,

Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death,
तो क्या यह तुम्हें तुम्हारी मृत्यु से भी अधिक दुःख न देगा,

To see thy Antony making his peace,
कि तुम्हारा एंटनी समझौता कर रहा है,

Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
और तुम्हारे शत्रुओं के रक्तरंजित हाथ मिला रहा है,

Most noble, in the presence of thy corse?
हे महान, तुम्हारी मृत देह के सामने?

Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,
यदि मेरी उतनी आँखें होतीं जितने तुम्हारे घाव हैं,

Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
और वे उतनी ही तेजी से आँसू बहातीं जितनी तेजी से तुम्हारा रक्त बह रहा है,

It would become me better than to close
तो यह मेरे लिए अधिक उचित होता

In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
बजाय इसके कि मैं तुम्हारे शत्रुओं से मित्रता की बातें करूँ।

Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay’d, brave hart;
मुझे क्षमा करो, जूलियस! यहाँ तुम एक वीर हिरण की तरह शिकारी कुत्तों से घिर गए थे।

Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,
यहीं तुम गिरे; और यहीं तुम्हारे शिकारी खड़े हैं,

Sign’d in thy spoil, and crimson’d in thy Lethe.
तुम्हारे रक्त से चिह्नित और लाल हुए हुए।

O world, thou wast the forest to this hart,
हे संसार, तुम इस हिरण का वन थे,

And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.
और यह सचमुच, हे संसार, तुम्हारा हृदय था।

How like a deer, strucken by many princes,
कैसे तुम अनेक राजपुरुषों द्वारा घायल किए गए हिरण की तरह,

Dost thou here lie!
यहाँ पड़े हो!

Cassius: Mark Antony—
कैसियस: मार्क एंटनी—

Antony: Pardon me, Caius Cassius;
एंटनी: क्षमा कीजिए, कैयस कैसियस;

The enemies of Caesar shall say this:
सीज़र के शत्रु ऐसा कह सकते हैं;

Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.
पर एक मित्र के लिए यह केवल संयमित विनम्रता है।

Cassius: I blame you not for praising Caesar so.
मैं तुम्हें सीज़र की प्रशंसा करने के लिए दोष नहीं देता।

But what compact mean you to have with us?
पर तुम हमारे साथ किस प्रकार का समझौता करना चाहते हो?

Will you be prick’d in number of our friends,
क्या तुम्हें हमारे मित्रों की सूची में शामिल किया जाए,

Or shall we on, and not depend on you?
या हम आगे बढ़ें और तुम पर निर्भर न रहें?

Antony: Therefore, I took your hands, but was, indeed,
इसीलिए मैंने तुमसे हाथ मिलाया, पर वास्तव में

Sway’d from the point, by looking down on Caesar.
सीज़र को देखकर मैं अपने उद्देश्य से विचलित हो गया था।

Friends am I with you all, and love you all;
मैं आप सबका मित्र हूँ और आप सबको चाहता हूँ;

Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons
इस आशा पर कि आप मुझे कारण बताएँगे

Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.
कि सीज़र किस प्रकार और क्यों खतरनाक था।

Brutus: Or else were this a savage spectacle.
अन्यथा यह एक क्रूर दृश्य होता।

Our reasons are so full of good regard,
हमारे कारण इतने उचित और सम्मानजनक हैं,

That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
कि यदि तुम, एंटनी, सीज़र के पुत्र भी होते,

You should be satisfied.
तो भी संतुष्ट हो जाते।

Antony: That’s all I seek.
मैं केवल यही चाहता हूँ।

And am moreover suitor that I may
और साथ ही मैं प्रार्थना करता हूँ कि मुझे अनुमति मिले

Produce his body to the marketplace,
कि मैं उसका शरीर बाज़ार में ले जाऊँ,

And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
और मंच से, जैसे एक मित्र को शोभा देता है,

Speak in the order of his funeral.
उसके अंतिम संस्कार के क्रम में भाषण दूँ।

Brutus: You shall, Mark Antony.
तुम ऐसा कर सकते हो, मार्क एंटनी।

Cassius: Brutus, a word with you.
ब्रूटस, तुमसे एक बात कहनी है।

You know not what you do; do not consent
तुम नहीं जानते कि क्या कर रहे हो; सहमति मत दो

That Antony speak in his funeral.
कि एंटनी उसके अंतिम संस्कार में बोले।

Know you how much the people may be mov’d
क्या तुम्हें पता है कि लोग कितने प्रभावित हो सकते हैं

By that which he will utter?
उसकी बातों से?

Brutus: By your pardon;
क्षमा कीजिए;

I will myself into the pulpit first,
मैं स्वयं पहले मंच पर जाऊँगा,

And show the reason of our Caesar’s death:
और सीज़र की मृत्यु का कारण बताऊँगा।

What Antony shall speak, I will protest
और मैं घोषणा कर दूँगा कि एंटनी जो भी बोलेगा

He speaks by leave and by permission;
वह हमारी अनुमति से बोलेगा;

And that we are contented Caesar shall
और यह कि हम संतुष्ट हैं कि सीज़र को

Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.
सभी उचित और वैधानिक संस्कार मिलें।

It shall advantage more than do us wrong.
यह हमें हानि से अधिक लाभ देगा।

Cassius: I know not what may fall; I like it not.
मुझे नहीं पता आगे क्या होगा; मुझे यह पसंद नहीं है।

Brutus: Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar’s body.
मार्क एंटनी, यह लो, सीज़र का शरीर ले जाओ।

You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
अपने भाषण में तुम हमें दोष नहीं दोगे,

But speak all good you can devise of Caesar,
बल्कि सीज़र की जितनी अच्छाई कह सको कहोगे,

And say you do’t by our permission;
और कहोगे कि यह हमारी अनुमति से कर रहे हो;

Else shall you not have any hand at all
अन्यथा तुम्हें कोई अधिकार नहीं होगा

About his funeral.
उसके अंतिम संस्कार में।

And you shall speak
और तुम भाषण दोगे

In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
उसी मंच से जहाँ मैं बोलूँगा,

After my speech is ended.
मेरे भाषण के समाप्त होने के बाद।

Antony: I do desire no more. Be it so.
मैं इससे अधिक कुछ नहीं चाहता। ऐसा ही हो।

Brutus: Prepare the body, then, and follow us.
तो शरीर को तैयार करो और हमारे पीछे आओ।

Antony (aside): O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
(एकांत में) हे रक्तरंजित धरती के टुकड़े, मुझे क्षमा करो,

That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
कि मैं इन हत्यारों के साथ विनम्र और शांत हूँ!

Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
तुम उस महानतम मनुष्य के अवशेष हो

That ever lived in the tide of times.
जो कभी इतिहास की धारा में जीवित रहा।

Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
धिक्कार है उस हाथ पर जिसने यह अनमोल रक्त बहाया!

Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,
अब मैं तुम्हारे घावों पर भविष्यवाणी करता हूँ,

Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,
जो गूंगे मुखों की तरह अपने लाल होंठ खोलते हैं,

To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue:
और मेरी जिह्वा से बोलने की विनती करते हैं।

A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
मनुष्यों पर एक अभिशाप उतरेगा;

Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
घरेलू क्रोध और भयंकर गृहयुद्ध

Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;
पूरे इटली को भर देंगे;

Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
रक्तपात और विनाश इतना सामान्य हो जाएगा,

And dreadful objects so familiar,
और भयानक दृश्य इतने परिचित हो जाएँगे,

That mothers shall but smile when they behold
कि माताएँ केवल मुस्कुराएँगी जब वे देखेंगी

Their infants quarter’d with the hands of war,
अपने शिशुओं को युद्ध के हाथों टुकड़े-टुकड़े होते,

All pity chok’d with custom of fell deeds:
क्योंकि भयानक कर्मों की आदत से सारी दया समाप्त हो जाएगी।

And Caesar’s spirit, ranging for revenge,
और सीज़र की आत्मा, प्रतिशोध की खोज में भटकती हुई,

With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
विनाश की देवी के साथ, नरक से उग्र होकर आएगी,

Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice
इन सीमाओं में राजा की आवाज़ में

Cry “Havoc!” and let slip the dogs of war,
“हवॉक!” पुकारेगी और युद्ध के कुत्तों को खुला छोड़ देगी,

That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
कि यह घृणित कर्म धरती पर दुर्गंध फैलाएगा

With carrion men, groaning for burial.
और मृत शरीर दफन के लिए कराहेंगे।

Enter a Servant

Antony: You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?
क्या तुम ऑक्टेवियस सीज़र की सेवा करते हो?

Servant: I do, Mark Antony.
हाँ, मार्क एंटनी।

Antony: Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.
सीज़र ने उसे रोम आने के लिए लिखा था।

Servant: He did receive his letters, and is coming.
उसे पत्र मिले और वह आ रहा है।

And bid me say to you by word of mouth—
और उसने मुझे कहा कि मैं आपको मौखिक रूप से बताऊँ—

Antony (seeing the body): O Caesar! Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep.
(शरीर को देखकर) हे सीज़र! तुम्हारा हृदय महान था; एक ओर जाकर रो लो।

Passion, I see, is catching, for mine eyes,
मैं देखता हूँ कि भावनाएँ संक्रामक होती हैं, क्योंकि मेरी आँखें,

Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine,
तुम्हारी आँखों में आँसू की बूंदें देखकर,

Began to water. Is thy master coming?
स्वयं भर आईं। क्या तुम्हारा स्वामी आ रहा है?

Servant: He lies tonight within seven leagues of Rome.
वह आज रात रोम से सात लीग दूर ठहरा है।

Antony: Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc’d.
जल्दी लौट जाओ और उसे जो हुआ है बता दो।

Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
यह शोकमग्न रोम है, खतरनाक रोम है,

No Rome of safety for Octavius yet.
अभी ऑक्टेवियस के लिए सुरक्षित रोम नहीं है।

Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay awhile;
जल्दी जाओ और यह कहो। पर ठहरो;

Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corpse
तुम तब तक वापस नहीं जाओगे जब तक मैं इस शव को

Into the marketplace: there shall I try,
बाज़ार तक न ले जाऊँ; वहाँ मैं प्रयास करूँगा,

In my oration, how the people take
अपने भाषण में, यह देखने का कि लोग कैसे लेते हैं

The cruel issue of these bloody men;
इन रक्तरंजित लोगों के क्रूर कार्य को;

According to the which, thou shalt discourse
और उसी के अनुसार तुम वर्णन करोगे

To young Octavius of the state of things.
युवा ऑक्टेवियस को यहाँ की स्थिति का।

Lend me your hand.
मुझे अपना हाथ दो।

[Exeunt with Caesar’s body]
(वे सीज़र का शरीर लेकर चले जाते हैं।)

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who begins this section with the line “I doubt not of your wisdom”?

A) Brutus

B) Cassius

C) Antony

D) Casca

Answer: C) Antony

2. What does Antony request at the beginning of the passage?

A) To flee the Capitol

B) To shake the hands of the conspirators

C) To speak at Caesar’s funeral

D) To draw his sword

Answer: B) To shake the hands of the conspirators

3. Whose hand does Antony shake first?

A) Cassius

B) Casca

C) Brutus

D) Trebonius

Answer: C) Brutus

4. The phrase “Let each man render me his bloody hand” shows Antony’s —

A) genuine forgiveness

B) disgust

C) sarcastic calmness

D) submission

Answer: C) sarcastic calmness

5. What does Antony call the conspirators when he says, “Friends am I with you all”?

A) Enemies

B) Honourable men

C) Friends

D) Murderers

Answer: C) Friends

6. Antony asks if he may safely speak to the body of —

A) Brutus

B) Caesar

C) Cassius

D) Cinna

Answer: B) Caesar

7. What does Brutus assure Antony after Caesar’s death?

A) They will kill Antony too

B) Antony will be safe

C) Antony must leave Rome

D) Antony must join them

Answer: B) Antony will be safe

8. Who tells Antony that his wisdom will tell him this is the best course?

A) Brutus

B) Cassius

C) Casca

D) Trebonius

Answer: A) Brutus

9. What does Antony ask for permission to do with Caesar’s body?

A) Burn it secretly

B) Take it to his house

C) Speak at his funeral

D) Build a statue

Answer: C) Speak at his funeral

10. Which conspirator objects to Antony’s speaking at Caesar’s funeral?

A) Brutus

B) Cassius

C) Casca

D) Decius

Answer: B) Cassius

11. Cassius fears Antony might —

A) Speak against them

B) Leave Rome

C) Commit suicide

D) Reveal their plot

Answer: A) Speak against them

12. Brutus allows Antony to speak because he —

A) Trusts Antony’s loyalty

B) Wants to appear generous

C) Hates Cassius

D) Is careless

Answer: B) Wants to appear generous

13. What condition does Brutus set for Antony’s speech?

A) He must not praise Caesar

B) He must speak after Brutus

C) He must not blame the conspirators

D) All of the above

Answer: D) All of the above

14. Antony’s response “Be it so, I do desire no more” shows his —

A) Satisfaction

B) Cunning

C) Weakness

D) Anger

Answer: B) Cunning

15. After the conspirators leave, what does Antony call Caesar’s body?

A) “Poor dumb mouth”

B) “Bloody wound”

C) “Sacred victim”

D) “Worthy corpse”

Answer: A) “Poor dumb mouth”

16. The phrase “A curse shall light upon the limbs of men” predicts —

A) Peace in Rome

B) Civil war

C) Antony’s death

D) Caesar’s resurrection

Answer: B) Civil war

17. What animal does Antony compare Caesar’s spirit to when predicting revenge?

A) Eagle

B) Lion

C) Hound

D) Angel

Answer: C) Hound

18. Antony predicts that “Caesar’s spirit, ranging for revenge” will —

A) Inspire mercy

B) Bring ruin to Italy

C) Save the republic

D) Forgive the killers

Answer: B) Bring ruin to Italy

19. “Cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war” means —

A) To begin destruction and chaos

B) To play a hunting game

C) To punish the conspirators lawfully

D) To protect Rome

Answer: A) To begin destruction and chaos

20. Who enters after Antony’s soliloquy?

A) Cassius

B) Octavius’s servant

C) Lepidus

D) Calpurnia

Answer: B) Octavius’s servant

21. Antony learns that Octavius is —

A) Caesar’s rival

B) Caesar’s nephew

C) Caesar’s adopted son and heir

D) Brutus’s friend

Answer: C) Caesar’s adopted son and heir

22. Where is Octavius when the servant meets Antony?

A) At Brutus’s house

B) Outside Rome

C) Near Rome, awaiting Antony’s signal

D) At Caesar’s funeral

Answer: C) Near Rome, awaiting Antony’s signal

23. What message does Antony send to Octavius?

A) Stay away from Rome

B) Come immediately

C) Prepare soldiers

D) Kill Brutus

Answer: A) Stay away from Rome

24. Antony calls the conspirators —

A) Butchers

B) Heroes

C) Liberators

D) Patriots

Answer: A) Butchers

25. Antony’s plan after the conspirators’ exit is to —

A) Commit suicide

B) Stir the people against them

C) Flee to Egypt

D) Join Cassius

Answer: B) Stir the people against them

26. Antony’s calm handshake scene is an example of —

A) Humour

B) Sarcasm

C) Tragedy

D) Pity

Answer: B) Sarcasm

27. “I am meek and gentle with these butchers” shows —

A) Antony’s real gentleness

B) Antony’s disguised fury

C) Antony’s fear

D) Antony’s surrender

Answer: B) Antony’s disguised fury

28. Antony predicts that “Domestic fury and fierce civil strife” will —

A) Purify Rome

B) Make Rome great

C) Tear Italy apart

D) End peacefully

Answer: C) Tear Italy apart

29. The word “Havoc” originally referred to —

A) A war signal to plunder

B) A Roman ritual

C) A legal term

D) A musical cry

Answer: A) A war signal to plunder

30. Who says “Thou art the ruins of the noblest man”?

A) Brutus

B) Antony

C) Cassius

D) Casca

Answer: B) Antony

31. Antony’s description of Caesar as “the noblest man that ever lived in the tide of times” means —

A) He was the best of his age

B) He ruled too long

C) He changed with time

D) He was weak

Answer: A) He was the best of his age

32. Antony’s shaking of the conspirators’ hands represents —

A) His acceptance of their deed

B) His silent collection of evidence

C) A symbolic mockery

D) His fear of dying

Answer: C) A symbolic mockery

33. Antony’s soliloquy reveals his plan to —

A) Support Brutus

B) Pretend loyalty, then take revenge

C) Forgive everyone

D) Leave politics

Answer: B) Pretend loyalty, then take revenge

34. Antony calls Caesar’s wounds “poor dumb mouths” because —

A) They cannot speak but tell a story

B) They are not fatal

C) They look like mouths

D) They are healed

Answer: A) They cannot speak but tell a story

35. Antony expects Caesar’s wounds to —

A) Bleed no more

B) Speak for revenge

C) Heal soon

D) Disappear

Answer: B) Speak for revenge

36. The tone of Antony’s soliloquy is —

A) Forgiving

B) Calm

C) Vengeful

D) Indifferent

Answer: C) Vengeful

37. Antony calls Cassius and Brutus —

A) Villains

B) Gentlemen

C) Honourable men

D) Friends

Answer: D) Friends

38. What does Antony ask the servant to tell Octavius about Rome?

A) It is safe

B) It is dangerous

C) Caesar still rules

D) Brutus is king

Answer: B) It is dangerous

39. Antony’s speech over Caesar’s body is an example of —

A) Dramatic irony

B) Comic relief

C) Historical narration

D) Flashback

Answer: A) Dramatic irony

40. “A sudden flood of mutiny and rage” refers to —

A) Rome’s coming rebellion

B) Antony’s inner sorrow

C) Caesar’s funeral

D) Storms in Italy

Answer: A) Rome’s coming rebellion

41. Antony’s phrase “Butchers” contrasts sharply with Brutus’s claim that they were —

A) Saviors

B) Patriots

C) Tyrant-killers

D) Romans

Answer: B) Patriots

42. What does Antony mean by “Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood”?

A) He pities them

B) They will be punished

C) Their hands will be washed

D) They will forget the act

Answer: B) They will be punished

43. “Costly blood” here stands for —

A) Roman blood

B) Caesar’s noble life

C) Cheap blood

D) Civilian loss

Answer: B) Caesar’s noble life

44. “A servant of Caesar’s” who enters later is —

A) Lucilius

B) Lucius

C) A messenger of Octavius

D) Calpurnia’s attendant

Answer: C) A messenger of Octavius

45. Antony’s attitude when the servant enters is —

A) Hostile

B) Hopeful

C) Cautious

D) Indifferent

Answer: C) Cautious

46. What does Antony carry out with the servant at the end?

A) Caesar’s crown

B) Caesar’s will

C) Caesar’s body

D) Caesar’s sword

Answer: C) Caesar’s body

47. The stage direction “Exeunt with Caesar’s body” means —

A) Everyone leaves with Caesar’s corpse

B) Only Antony leaves

C) Caesar revives

D) The guards enter

Answer: A) Everyone leaves with Caesar’s corpse

48. What emotion dominates Antony’s soliloquy?

A) Sorrow

B) Rage

C) Revengeful sorrow

D) Fear

Answer: C) Revengeful sorrow

49. Antony’s final act before leaving is to —

A) Weep

B) Pray

C) Plan revenge

D) Command Rome’s citizens

Answer: C) Plan revenge

50. The whole passage foreshadows —

A) Antony’s death

B) The fall of the conspirators

C) Peace in Rome

D) Caesar’s return

Answer: B) The fall of the conspirators

Multiple Choice Questions: 2

1. Antony’s request to shake the "bloody hands" of the conspirators primarily serves to:
A. Demonstrate his genuine forgiveness and desire for peace.
B. Physically brand the conspirators as murderers in his own memory.
C. Implicitly signal his submission while creating a tactile connection to the crime.
D. Overcome his physical revulsion through a display of Stoicism.
Answer: C

2. When Antony says his credit stands on "slippery ground," the metaphor suggests:
A. The literal blood on the floor of the Senate.
B. His precarious social and political standing with the new regime.
C. The moral ambiguity of his decision to negotiate.
D. The physical danger of being surrounded by armed men.
Answer: B

3. Antony’s apostrophe to Caesar’s corpse in the presence of the conspirators functions as:
A. A lapse in judgment caused by overwhelming grief.
B. A calculated "test" of the conspirators' patience and current power.
C. A rhetorical "safety valve" to express loyalty without appearing threatening.
D. A formal requirement of Roman funeral etiquette.
Answer: C

4. The comparison of Caesar to a "hart" (deer) hunted by "princes" is analytically significant because it:
A. Animalizes Caesar to justify his death as a "hunt."
B. Elevates Caesar to a noble victim while subtly framing the conspirators as predatory.
C. Suggests that the assassination was a sport rather than a political act.
D. Aligns with Brutus’s earlier wish to carve Caesar as a "dish fit for the gods."
Answer: B

5. What is the subtextual purpose of Antony mentioning "Lethe" in his lament?
A. To suggest the conspirators have forgotten their duty to Rome.
B. To equate Caesar’s blood with the mythological river of forgetfulness or death.
C. To imply that the world will soon forget Caesar’s greatness.
D. To provide a geographical reference to the site of the murder.
Answer: B

6. Cassius’s interruption of Antony’s lament ("Mark Antony—") reveals his:
A. Emotional discomfort with public displays of grief.
B. Pragmatic suspicion and desire to focus on political alliances.
C. Fear that Brutus is becoming too sympathetic to Antony.
D. Impatience to begin the funeral proceedings.
Answer: B

7. Brutus’s willingness to let Antony speak at the funeral is best characterized as:
A. Strategic brilliance aimed at winning over the masses.
B. Naive idealism rooted in his belief in the rationality of his own cause.
C. A hidden desire to see Antony fail publicly.
D. Respect for the democratic traditions of the Roman Republic.
Answer: B

8. How does Antony’s response to Cassius regarding "reasons" reveal his tactical mind?
A. He avoids a direct confrontation by shifting the burden of proof to the conspirators.
B. He pretends to be satisfied with the promise of future logic.
C. He uses a conditional "hope" to create a facade of neutrality.
D. All of the above.
Answer: D

9. The "aside" between Brutus and Cassius highlights a recurring motif in the play:
A. The superiority of Brutus’s moral philosophy over Cassius’s cynicism.
B. The fatal disconnect between Brutus’s idealism and Cassius’s realism.
C. The lack of unity among the conspirators regarding their post-assassination goals.
D. The manipulative nature of Cassius’s friendship with Brutus.
Answer: B

10. Antony’s description of the conspirators as "butchers" in his soliloquy creates a:
A. Paradoxical contrast with his previous "meek and gentle" behavior.
B. Parallel to Brutus's earlier claim that they are "sacrificers, not butchers."
C. Semantic shift from the "hunters" metaphor used earlier.
D. All of the above.
Answer: D

11. In the soliloquy, Caesar’s wounds are personified as "dumb mouths." This imagery suggests:
A. The silence of death.
B. That the wounds require a human advocate (Antony) to speak for them.
C. That the assassination was a senseless, "speechless" act.
D. The physical horror of the multiple stabbings.
Answer: B

12. The prophecy of "domestic fury and fierce civil strife" serves to:
A. Foreshadow the historical transition from Republic to Empire.
B. Establish Antony as a prophet rather than a politician.
C. Warn the audience of the literal events of the following acts.
D. Both A and C.
Answer: D

13. The image of mothers "smiling" at their "infants quarter'd" represents:
A. The total collapse of human empathy and natural order.
B. A literal prediction of the brutality of the coming war.
C. The Desensitization of Rome to violence.
D. The psychological breakdown of the Roman populace.
Answer: A

14. Who is "Ate" in Antony’s soliloquy?
A. The Roman goddess of the hearth.
B. The Greek goddess of discord and vengeance.
C. A personification of the Roman Republic.
D. Caesar’s ancestor.
Answer: B

15. What does the phrase "let slip the dogs of war" imply about Antony’s intentions?
A. He plans to unleash uncontrollable chaos that he may not be able to direct.
B. He is calling for a disciplined military intervention.
C. He is using a hunting metaphor to mock the "hunters" who killed Caesar.
D. He is expressing a desire for personal revenge above political stability.
Answer: A

16. Brutus’s condition that Antony "speak all good you can devise of Caesar" is ironic because:
A. Antony has nothing good to say about Caesar.
B. Antony will use that "good" to highlight the horror of the conspirators' "bad."
C. Brutus plans to interrupt Antony’s speech anyway.
D. The people already hate Caesar.
Answer: B

17. The entry of Octavius’s servant immediately following the soliloquy serves to:
A. Provide comic relief after a heavy scene.
B. Introduce a new political force that shifts the play’s power balance.
C. Show that Antony is already forgotten by the Roman elite.
D. Demonstrate the speed of Roman communications.
Answer: B

18. Antony’s warning that Rome is "no Rome of safety for Octavius yet" suggests:
A. Antony intends to seize power for himself first.
B. The volatile and unpredictable nature of the Roman mob.
C. Antony’s recognition that the "war" has already begun.
D. His distrust of Octavius’s intentions.
Answer: C

19. What is the analytical significance of the phrase "Thy heart is big" addressed to the servant?
A. It acknowledges the servant’s courage.
B. It mirrors Antony’s own emotional state, which he must hide from the conspirators.
C. It is a sarcastic remark about the servant’s crying.
D. It suggests the servant is physically ill.
Answer: B

20. Antony’s decision to "try / In my oration, how the people take / The cruel issue" reveals he is:
A. Unsure of his own influence.
B. Using the funeral as a psychological experiment to gauge political opportunity.
C. Strictly following Brutus’s orders.
D. Hoping to prevent a riot.
Answer: B

21. When Brutus says his reasons are "so full of good regard," he is relying on:
A. Pathos (emotional appeal).
B. Logos (logical appeal).
C. Ethos (authority/credibility).
D. Both B and C.
Answer: D

22. Antony’s use of the word "conceit" (as a verb meaning "judge") in "you must conceit me" suggests:
A. He knows he is being viewed through a lens of suspicion.
B. He is admitting to his own arrogance.
C. He is confused by the conspirators' actions.
D. He is trying to confuse them with complex language.
Answer: A

23. The phrase "last, not least in love" is a rhetorical device that:
A. Diminishes Trebonius’s importance.
B. Highlights the artificiality of Antony’s forced affection.
C. Suggests Trebonius was the most violent of the group.
D. Is a standard Roman greeting.
Answer: B

24. Why does Cassius demand to know if Antony will be "prick’d in number of our friends"?
A. To see if Antony is physically injured.
B. To get a definitive, "on-the-record" commitment of loyalty.
C. To mock Antony’s grief.
D. To ensure Antony is included in the new government payroll.
Answer: B

25. Antony’s claim that he was "sway’d from the point" by looking at Caesar is:
A. A genuine apology for his distraction.
B. A clever way to excuse his emotional outburst as a moment of weakness.
C. An admission that he is no longer interested in the conspiracy.
D. A sign that he is losing his mind.
Answer: B

26. The shift from Antony’s public dialogue to his private soliloquy marks a shift in:
A. Tone from conciliatory to vengeful.
B. Perspective from objective to subjective.
C. Language from formal prose to heightened blank verse.
D. All of the above.
Answer: A

27. The use of the word "Lethe" (the river of forgetfulness) to describe blood is a:
A. Synecdoche.
B. Metonymy.
C. Paradox.
D. Allusion.
Answer: D

Allusion

An allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance. It does not describe in detail the person or thing to which it refers; it is just a passing comment that expects the reader to possess enough knowledge to spot the reference and grasp its importance. 

Here are the examples:

1.    Mythological: "He’s a real Romeo with the ladies."
(A reference to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, implying the person is a romantic or a "smooth talker.") 

2.    Biblical: "He was a Good Samaritan when he helped me change my tire."
(A reference to the biblical story of the traveler who helps a stranger, implying the person is exceptionally kind.) 

3.    Historical: "That guy is a total Benedict Arnold."
(A reference to the famous American Revolutionary War traitor, implying the person is a betrayer.) 

4.    Literary: "Is there a Pandora’s box we’re about to open?"
(A reference to the Greek myth, implying that a certain action might lead to a host of uncontrollable problems.)

5. "She has a Mona Lisa smile."
1. Reference: Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting.
2. Meaning: Her smile is mysterious, intriguing, or hard to read. 
6. "Chocolate is my Achilles' heel."
1. Reference: Greek mythology (Achilles was immortal except for his heel).
2. Meaning: Chocolate is a specific point of weakness or vulnerability. 
7. "Don't open a Pandora's box by asking him about his ex-wife."
1. Reference: Greek mythology (the first woman who opened a box and unleashed all the evils of the world).
2. Meaning: Do not start something that will cause many unforeseen problems. 
8. "This place is like a Garden of Eden."
1. Reference: The Book of Genesis in the Bible.
2. Meaning: The location is perfect, beautiful, and pristine.

28. "O world, thou wast the forest to this hart" is an example of:
A. Extended Metaphor.
B. Simile.
C. Hyperbole.
D. Litotes.
Answer: A

• Metaphor: A brief, direct comparison between two unrelated things (e.g., "The classroom was a zoo"). It happens in a single phrase or sentence. 
• Extended Metaphor: A metaphor that is developed over several lines, sentences, or even an entire work. It introduces "sub-comparisons" that reinforce the original analogy. 

---

1. The "Road" of Life (General)

• Metaphor: "Life is a journey."
• Extended Version: "Life is a journey. Some paths are paved and easy, while others are rocky and steep. You’ll meet fellow travellers at rest stops, but ultimately, you must keep your eyes on the horizon to reach your destination." 
• Analysis: The "journey" is the primary metaphor. The paths (choices), rocky terrain (hardships), and rest stops (pauses/milestones) are the extended points that deepen the comparison. 

2. The "Forest" of the World (from Julius Caesar)

• Metaphor: "O world, thou wast the forest to this hart."
• Extended Version: Antony continues by calling Caesar the "hart" (deer), the conspirators the "hunters," and Caesar’s blood the "spoil" (the prize of the hunt).
• Analysis: Antony doesn't just say Caesar is a deer; he builds a whole scene. By labelling the world a "forest," he frames Rome as a wild, lawless place where "hunters" (the conspirators) stalked "noble prey."

3. "Hope" as a Bird (Emily Dickinson)

• Metaphor: "Hope is a thing with feathers."
• Extended Version: Dickinson continues by saying it "perches in the soul," "sings the tune without the words," and "never stops at all." She adds that it stays warm even in the "chilliest land."
• Analysis: By extending the bird imagery, hope becomes something living, resilient, and autonomous. It isn't just a "thing"; it's a creature that survives storms. 

4. The "Stage" of Life (Shakespeare)

• Metaphor: "All the world’s a stage."
• Extended Version: "And all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts..."
• Analysis: This starts with a simple comparison but extends it to include "exits/entrances" (birth/death) and "parts" (social roles), suggesting that human existence is a scripted performance.

5. The "Fire" of Passion (General)

• Metaphor: "Their love was a wildfire."
• Extended Version: "Their love was a wildfire. It started with a tiny spark of conversation, quickly consuming everything in its path. Even when the rains of reality fell, the embers remained hot, buried deep in the ash of what they used to be."
• Analysis: The extension uses "spark" (the beginning), "rain" (problems), and "embers/ash" (the aftermath) to describe the full lifecycle of a relationship using the single theme of fire.

29. When Antony says "Pardon me, Julius!", his primary audience is:
A. The conspirators, as a performance of grief.
B. The dead body, as a genuine plea for forgiveness.
C. The audience/reader, to establish his true character.
D. Both A and B.
Answer: D

30. The "ruby lips" of the wounds is a visual metaphor that emphasizes:
A. The beauty of Caesar’s sacrifice.
B. The "voice" and "utterance" the wounds demand.
C. The wealth and "costly blood" of Caesar.
D. The physical impossibility of Caesar’s death.
Answer: B

31. Brutus’s assertion that Antony would be satisfied even if he were "the son of Caesar" illustrates:
A. Brutus’s belief that reason transcends familial bonds.
B. A veiled threat against Antony’s life.
C. Brutus’s awareness of Antony’s true parentage.
D. A joke to lighten the mood.
Answer: A

32. The "marketplace" and the "pulpit" represent:
A. The private and public spheres of Roman life.
B. The economic and religious centres of Rome.
C. The democratic stage where political legitimacy is won or lost.
D. Places of execution.
Answer: C

33. Antony’s strategy of "making peace... in the presence of thy corse" highlights the theme of:
A. Betrayal.
B. Political pragmatism vs. Personal loyalty.
C. The inevitability of fate.
D. The power of the church.
Answer: B

34. Cassius’s line "I know not what may fall; I like it not" reflects his:
A. Superstition regarding the future.
B. Intuitive understanding of Antony’s deceptive potential.
C. Fear of the ghost of Caesar.
D. Dislike of Brutus’s leadership style.
Answer: B

35. The term "Havoc" in a military context historically meant:
A. A call to retreat.
B. A signal for total slaughter and no mercy.
C. A request for a parley.
D. A celebration of victory.
Answer: B

36. Why does Antony call the blood "costly"?
A. Because it will lead to an expensive war.
B. Because Caesar was a wealthy man.
C. Because of the immense value of Caesar’s life and the high price Rome will pay for his death.
D. Because the conspirators were bribed.
Answer: C

37. The phrase "cold modesty" used by Antony suggests:
A. A lack of passion.
B. A restrained, truthful statement.
C. An insulting comment about Caesar’s enemies.
D. A weather-related metaphor.
Answer: B

38. Brutus’s promise to "protest" (declare) that Antony speaks by "permission" aims to:
A. Protect Antony from the mob.
B. Undermine Antony’s independent authority.
C. Show off Brutus’s own power.
D. Both B and C.
Answer: B

39. "Passion, I see, is catching" refers to:
A. The contagious nature of grief.
B. The rapid spread of political rebellion.
C. Antony’s anger toward the servant.
D. The conspirators' "passion" for liberty.
Answer: A

40. The measurement "seven leagues" serves to:
A. Emphasize Octavius’s distance from the danger.
B. Show that Octavius is close enough to be a factor, but not yet present.
C. Create a sense of geographical realism.
D. Both B and C.
Answer: D

41. Which character acts as the play’s "moral compass" in this scene?
A. Brutus (through his pursuit of justice).
B. Antony (through his loyalty to Caesar).
C. Cassius (through his political foresight).
D. There is no clear moral compass; all are flawed by their agendas.
Answer: D

42. Antony’s transition from shaking hands to his soliloquy reveals his character to be:
A. Schizophrenic.
B. A master of "performative" politics.
C. Easily swayed by his surroundings.
D. Deeply confused.
Answer: B

43. The "dogs of war" are most likely:
A. Literal war dogs used by the Romans.
B. Famine, Sword, and Fire.
C. The conspirators themselves.
D. Octavius and his army.
Answer: B

44. What is the effect of Antony’s repetition of "here" when describing Caesar’s fall?
A. It creates a sense of immediacy and deictic grounding in the tragedy.
B. It shows Antony is stuck in the past.
C. It mocks the site of the Senate.
D. It is a stutter caused by grief.
Answer: A

45. Analysed through a Machiavellian lens, Antony’s behaviour is:
A. A failure because he showed emotion.
B. A success because he secured a public platform.
C. A failure because he let the conspirators live.
D. A success because he convinced them he was a coward.
Answer: B

46. "Domestic fury" specifically refers to:
A. Arguments within Caesar’s family.
B. Civil war within the borders of Rome/Italy.
C. Riots in the households of the senators.
D. Antony’s personal inner turmoil.
Answer: B

47. The "carrion men" in the soliloquy represent:
A. The dead bodies that will litter the landscape.
B. The conspirators, whom Antony views as dead already.
C. The scavengers who follow armies.
D. The spirits of the underworld.
Answer: A

48. Why does Antony stop the servant from leaving immediately?
A. To keep the news of Caesar’s death a secret.
B. To use the servant as a witness to the effect of his upcoming speech.
C. To protect the servant from the conspirators.
D. To ask for money.
Answer: B

49. The overall mood of the scene shifts from:
A. Tense negotiation to apocalyptic dread.
B. Violent action to peaceful mourning.
C. Political debate to religious ceremony.
D. Chaos to order.
Answer: A

50. Which of these best describes the "tragedy" of this specific scene?
A. Caesar’s physical death.
B. Brutus’s failure to recognize Antony’s rhetorical power.
C. Antony’s loss of his best friend.
D. The impending destruction of the Roman Republic.
Answer: B

“Who Said to Whom?”

1.    Who said, “I doubt not of your wisdom”?
Antony said this to the conspirators.

2.    Who said, “Let each man render me his bloody hand”?
Antony said this to the conspirators.

3.    Who said, “First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you”?
Antony said this to Marcus Brutus.

4.    Who said, “Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand”?
Antony said this to Cassius.

5.    Who said, “Now, Decius Brutus, yours; now yours, Metellus”?
Antony said this to Decius Brutus and Metellus.

6.    Who said, “Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours”?
Antony said this to Cinna and Casca.

7.    Who said, “Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius”?
Antony said this to Trebonius.

8.    Who said, “Gentlemen all—alas, what shall I say?”
Antony said this to all the conspirators.

9.    Who said, “That I did love thee, Caesar, O, ’tis true”?
Antony said this while addressing Caesar (in the presence of the conspirators).

10. Who said, “Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes, Most noble, in the presence of thy corse”?
Antony said this to Caesar while lamenting over his body.

11. Who said, “Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds”?
Antony said this to Caesar.

12. Who said, “Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay’d, brave hart”?
Antony said this to Julius Caesar.

13. Who said, “The enemies of Caesar shall say this: Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty”?
Antony said this to Cassius.

14. Who said, “I blame you not for praising Caesar so. But what compact mean you to have with us”?
Cassius said this to Antony.

15. Who said, “Friends am I with you all, and love you all”?
Antony said this to the conspirators.

16. Who said, “You shall, Mark Antony”?
Brutus said this to Antony.

17. Who said, “Brutus, a word with you”?
Cassius said this to Brutus.

18. Who said, “You know not what you do; do not consent that Antony speak in his funeral”?
Cassius said this privately (aside) to Brutus.

19. Who said, “By your pardon; I will myself into the pulpit first”?
Brutus said this to Cassius (in reply to his warning).

20. Who said, “Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar’s body”?
Brutus said this to Antony.

21. Who said, “You shall not in your funeral speech blame us”?
Brutus said this to Antony.

22. Who said, “I do desire no more. Be it so”?
Antony said this to Brutus.

23. Who said, “Prepare the body, then, and follow us”?
Brutus said this to Antony and the others present.

24. Who said, “O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth”?
Antony said this in an aside to Caesar’s dead body.

25. Who said, “Thou art the ruins of the noblest man that ever lived in the tide of times”?
Antony said this in his soliloquy to Caesar’s body.

26. Who said, “You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not”?
Antony said this to the Servant.

27. Who said, “I do, Mark Antony”?
The Servant said this to Antony.

28. Who said, “Caesar did write for him to come to Rome”?
Antony said this to the Servant.

29. Who said, “Is thy master coming”?
Antony said this to the Servant.

30. Who said, “Lend me your hand”?
Antony said this to the Servant.

Reference to Contexts

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Sample Extract:1

Antony: I doubt not of your wisdom.

Let each man render me his bloody hand:

First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;

Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;

Now, Decius Brutus, yours; now yours, Metellus,

Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours;

Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius.

Gentlemen all-alas, what shall I say?

My credit now stands on such slippery ground,

That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,

Either a coward or a flatterer.

Questions and Answers

Q1. Who speaks these lines and to whom? What is the situation at this moment? (3 marks)

These lines are spoken by Mark Antony to the conspirators—Brutus, Cassius, Casca, and others—after they have assassinated Julius Caesar in the Capitol. Antony has just arrived and sees Caesar’s dead body. Though he appears calm and respectful, he is in deep grief and shock. The conspirators are uncertain about his reaction, and Antony diplomatically addresses them to ensure his own safety.

Q2. Why does Antony shake hands with the conspirators? What is the significance of the “bloody hand”? (3 marks)

Antony shakes hands with the conspirators as a strategic gesture of apparent friendship and acceptance of their action. By taking their “bloody hands,” he outwardly shows submission and trust, but inwardly he feels disgust and sorrow. The “bloody hand” symbolizes guilt and betrayal, as the conspirators’ hands are stained with Caesar’s blood. Antony’s action is ironic, highlighting his concealed intention for future revenge.

Q3. Explain the line: “My credit now stands on such slippery ground.” What does Antony mean? (3 marks)

When Antony says that his “credit” stands on “slippery ground,” he means that his reputation and safety are uncertain and unstable. The conspirators may either consider him weak and cowardly or think he is flattering them dishonestly. His position is delicate because he must speak carefully to avoid suspicion. The metaphor “slippery ground” suggests danger and insecurity in the tense political atmosphere.

Q4. How does Antony show his cleverness and presence of mind in this extract? (3 marks)

Antony displays remarkable cleverness by controlling his emotions and speaking diplomatically to the conspirators. Instead of openly condemning them, he praises their wisdom and shakes their hands. This calms their suspicion and protects him from harm. His polite and respectful tone hides his true feelings. Thus, Antony’s tact and intelligence allow him to gain time and prepare for his later revenge.

Q5. What traits of Antony’s character are revealed in this extract? (4 marks)

This extract reveals Antony as intelligent, diplomatic, emotionally strong, and politically wise. Though deeply grieved by Caesar’s death, he restrains his anger and behaves tactfully before the conspirators. His willingness to shake their bloody hands shows self-control and strategic thinking. He understands the danger of his position and speaks cautiously. Antony’s cleverness and foresight in this scene lay the foundation for his later powerful speech and ultimate revenge.

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Sample Extract:2

Antony: That I did love thee, Caesar, O, ‘tis true:

If, then, thy spirit look upon us now,

Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death,

To see thy Antony making his peace,

Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,

Most noble, in the presence of thy corse?

Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,

Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,

It would become me better than to close

In terms of friendship with thine enemies.

Questions and Answers

Q1. Who speaks these lines and in what situation? (3 marks)
These lines are spoken by Mark Antony after the conspirators have left the Capitol. He stands alone beside the dead body of Julius Caesar and expresses his deep sorrow and guilt. Having just shaken hands with Caesar’s murderers to secure his safety, Antony now reveals his true feelings. The speech is a soliloquy in which he laments Caesar’s death and regrets his forced reconciliation with the conspirators.
Q2. Explain the meaning of the lines: “Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds…” (3 marks)
Antony imagines that if he had as many eyes as Caesar has wounds, he would weep endlessly, just as Caesar’s wounds pour out blood. The comparison highlights the brutality of the murder and Antony’s intense grief. This hyperbolic image emphasizes the number of stab wounds and the depth of his sorrow. Antony suggests that such excessive mourning would be more appropriate than pretending friendship with Caesar’s enemies.
Q3. Why does Antony feel ashamed of making peace with Caesar’s enemies? (3 marks)
Antony feels ashamed because his outward act of shaking hands with the conspirators appears disloyal to Caesar. He fears that Caesar’s spirit might be grieved to see him pretending friendship with the murderers. Though he acted for self-preservation and strategy, emotionally he feels guilty. His conscience troubles him, as he believes true loyalty would demand open mourning rather than diplomatic compromise with traitors.
Q4. How does Shakespeare use imagery in this extract to convey Antony’s emotions? (3 marks)
Shakespeare uses powerful visual imagery of wounds, blood, and tears to convey Antony’s sorrow and anger. The image of Caesar’s wounds streaming with blood creates a vivid picture of violence. Antony’s comparison of eyes to wounds intensifies the sense of grief. Such imagery appeals to the audience’s emotions, showing Antony’s heartfelt pain and foreshadowing his determination to avenge Caesar’s murder.
Q5. What aspects of Antony’s character are revealed in this extract? (4 marks)
This extract reveals Antony as deeply loyal, emotional, and passionate toward Caesar. Though he acted diplomatically before the conspirators, his true grief emerges when he is alone. His words show sincerity, devotion, and moral sensitivity. At the same time, his earlier self-control proves his political intelligence. Thus, Antony appears both affectionate and strategic—capable of deep feeling yet wise enough to conceal his emotions for a greater purpose.

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Sample Extract:3

Antony: Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay’d, brave hart;

Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand.

Sign’d in thy spoil, and crimson’d in thy Lethe.

O world, thou wast the forest to this hart,

And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.

How like a deer, strucken by many princes,

Dost thou here lie!

Questions and Answers

Q1. Who speaks these lines and what is the context? (3 marks)
These lines are spoken by Mark Antony after the conspirators have departed, leaving him alone with the dead body of Julius Caesar. Overcome with grief, Antony addresses Caesar’s corpse in deep sorrow and anger. This is part of his soliloquy in which he mourns Caesar’s brutal murder. The emotional outburst reveals his loyalty and prepares the audience for his later resolve to seek revenge.

Q2. Explain the metaphor of Caesar as a “hart” and the conspirators as “hunters.” (3 marks)
Antony compares Caesar to a “hart” (a noble deer) and the conspirators to cruel hunters. The metaphor presents Caesar as innocent, majestic, and powerful, yet helpless against a treacherous attack. The conspirators are portrayed as merciless predators who surround and kill their prey. This imagery intensifies the sense of betrayal and injustice, making Caesar appear dignified while exposing the brutality of his murderers.

Q3. What is meant by the line “Sign’d in thy spoil, and crimson’d in thy Lethe”? (3 marks)
The line suggests that the conspirators have marked themselves with Caesar’s blood, as if claiming him as their prey. “Crimson’d” refers to their hands stained red, while “Lethe” symbolizes death or forgetfulness. Antony implies that Caesar’s blood will not be forgotten and that the murderers are visibly guilty. The imagery emphasizes both the violence of the act and the moral stain upon the conspirators.

Q4. How does Antony elevate Caesar’s importance in the lines “O world, thou wast the forest to this hart…”? (3 marks)
Antony declares that the world was merely a forest to this noble hart, suggesting that Caesar was greater than the world itself. He further calls Caesar the “heart” of the world, implying that his death has wounded the entire Roman state. Through this grand imagery, Antony glorifies Caesar’s stature and portrays his fall as a tragic loss not just for Rome but for humanity.

Q5. How does Shakespeare use imagery and emotion in this extract to arouse sympathy? (4 marks)
Shakespeare employs vivid hunting imagery, comparing Caesar to a noble deer struck down by many “princes.” The visual picture of a wounded animal surrounded by hunters evokes pity and indignation. The references to blood and the forest deepen the tragic atmosphere. Antony’s emotional language and direct address to Caesar stir compassion in the audience, while also foreshadowing the coming conflict and revenge.

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Sample Extract:4

Antony: Therefore I took your hands, but was, indeed,

Sway’d from the point, by looking down on Caesar.

Friends am I with you all, and love you all;

Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons

Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.

Brutus: Or else were this a savage spectacle.

Our reasons are so full of good regard,

That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,

You should be satisfied.

Questions and Answers

 Q1. Who are the speakers in this extract and what is the situation? (3 marks)
The speakers are Mark Antony and Brutus. The situation occurs immediately after Caesar’s assassination in the Capitol. Antony has shaken hands with the conspirators and now explains his action. He claims that he was moved by the sight of Caesar’s body but remains friendly toward them. Brutus responds confidently, assuring Antony that their reasons for killing Caesar are noble and justifiable.

Q2. Why does Antony say he was “sway’d from the point”? (3 marks)
Antony means that he was emotionally shaken and momentarily distracted when he looked upon Caesar’s dead body. The sight of his murdered friend stirred deep sorrow within him. However, he carefully hides his anger and continues to speak diplomatically. This line reveals his inner grief while showing his ability to control his emotions in a tense and dangerous political situation.

Q3. How does Brutus justify Caesar’s murder in this extract? (3 marks)
Brutus justifies the murder by claiming that their reasons are honourable and based on the welfare of Rome. He believes Caesar had become dangerous to the Republic and that killing him was necessary to prevent tyranny. Brutus assures Antony that their motives are filled with “good regard,” meaning they acted selflessly for the common good rather than personal ambition.

Q4. What dramatic irony is present in Antony’s statement “Friends am I with you all”? (3 marks)
The dramatic irony lies in the fact that Antony pretends to be their friend, while the audience knows he secretly despises them and plans revenge. His words appear sincere to the conspirators, but his earlier soliloquy reveals his true loyalty to Caesar. This contrast between appearance and reality heightens tension and demonstrates Antony’s clever political strategy.

Q5. What qualities of Brutus and Antony are contrasted in this passage? (4 marks)
This passage contrasts Brutus’s idealism with Antony’s diplomacy. Brutus is straightforward, honourable, and confident that his reasons are morally sound. He openly defends his action without suspicion. Antony, however, is cautious, tactful, and strategic. He conceals his true emotions to ensure his safety and future advantage. Thus, Brutus represents moral idealism, while Antony embodies political intelligence and practical wisdom.

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Sample Extract: 5

Antony (aside):
O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,—
Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue,—
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy.

Questions and Answers

Q1. Why does Antony call Caesar a “bleeding piece of earth”? [3 marks]

Antony refers to Caesar as a “bleeding piece of earth” to emphasise both his humanity and his greatness. Though Caesar was a mighty ruler, he is now reduced to lifeless flesh lying on the ground. The phrase expresses Antony’s deep grief and highlights the tragic fall of a powerful leader.

Q2. Why does Antony say he is “meek and gentle with these butchers”? Who are the “butchers”? [3 marks]

Antony says this because he has outwardly behaved politely and submissively towards the conspirators in order to protect himself and gain an opportunity to avenge Caesar. The “butchers” are Brutus, Cassius, and the other conspirators who assassinated Caesar. The word suggests cruelty and brutality.

Q3. Explain the meaning of the lines:

“Over thy wounds now do I prophesy…                                  [3 marks]
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men.”

Antony predicts that Caesar’s wounds will bring terrible consequences upon Rome. He foresees civil war, violence, and suffering spreading throughout Italy. The assassination will not bring peace; instead, it will lead to chaos and bloodshed.

Q4. Identify and explain the figure of speech in:

“Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips.”               [3 marks]

This line contains personification and a simile. The wounds are compared to “dumb mouths” that open their “ruby lips.” Antony imagines the wounds as silently asking him to speak and seek revenge. This vivid imagery intensifies the emotional impact of the scene.

Q5. What later events in the play prove that Antony’s prophecy was correct?                                                                                     [4 marks]

Antony’s prophecy proves true when civil war breaks out in Rome. Antony joins forces with Octavius and Lepidus to form the Second Triumvirate. They wage war against Brutus and Cassius, leading to the Battle of Philippi where both conspirators die. Rome is plunged into violence and political turmoil, fulfilling Antony’s prediction of “fierce civil strife.”

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Sample Extract: 6

Antony: Blood and destruction shall be so in use,

And dreadful objects so familiar,

That mothers shall but smile when they behold

Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war,

 All pity chok'd with custom of fell deeds:

And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,

With Ate by his side come hot from hell,

Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice

Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war,

That this foul deed shall smell above the earth

With carrion men, groaning for burial.

Questions and Answers

Q1. Who speaks these lines and in what context? (3 marks)
These lines are spoken by Mark Antony in his soliloquy after the conspirators have left him alone with Caesar’s dead body. Overcome with grief and anger, Antony predicts the terrible consequences of the assassination. He foresees civil war, violence, and chaos spreading throughout Rome. This speech reveals his deep loyalty to Caesar and his firm resolve to avenge the brutal murder.

Q2. Explain the meaning of the lines “Cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war.” (3 marks)
The phrase means to give the signal for violent conflict and destruction to begin. “Cry Havoc” was a command in war allowing soldiers to plunder freely. The “dogs of war” symbolize the uncontrollable forces of violence and chaos. Antony imagines Caesar’s spirit ordering revenge, unleashing bloodshed across Rome. The metaphor powerfully conveys the coming civil war and widespread suffering.

Q3. How does Antony use imagery to describe the horrors of war? (3 marks)
Antony uses shocking and vivid imagery to portray the brutality of civil war. He imagines mothers becoming so accustomed to violence that they smile at the sight of their slain children. He describes bodies lying unburied and the earth filled with the stench of death. Such dreadful images emphasize the scale of destruction that will follow Caesar’s assassination.

Q4. Who is Ate, and what is her significance in this passage? (3 marks)
Ate is the Greek goddess of mischief, ruin, and destructive folly. Antony imagines Caesar’s spirit returning with Ate from hell to seek revenge. Her presence symbolizes chaos, moral blindness, and inevitable disaster. By invoking Ate, Antony suggests that divine forces will support vengeance and that the conspirators cannot escape the tragic consequences of their crime.

Q5. What does this extract reveal about Antony’s character and intentions? (4 marks)
This extract reveals Antony as passionate, vengeful, and determined. His grief transforms into a fierce desire for justice and retribution. The intensity of his language shows his emotional depth and loyalty to Caesar. At the same time, his prophetic vision of civil war indicates political awareness and strategic resolve. Antony is no longer merely mourning; he is preparing to unleash forces that will destroy the conspirators.

 

One-Mark Questions

1.    Who initiates the dialogue in this extract?
Mark Antony begins the speech in this extract.

2.    How does Antony diplomatically address the conspirators at the beginning?
He says he does not doubt their wisdom.

3.    Which conspirator’s hand does Antony take first?
He first takes the hand of Marcus Brutus.

4.    How does Antony address Trebonius while shaking his hand?
He calls him “good Trebonius.”

5.    What expression does Antony use to describe his unstable reputation?
He says his credit stands on “slippery ground.”

6.    What two negative impressions does Antony fear?
He fears being thought either a coward or a flatterer.

7.    Whom does Antony emotionally invoke after greeting the conspirators?
He emotionally invokes the spirit of Julius Caesar.

8.    What painful sight does Antony imagine would grieve Caesar’s spirit?
Seeing Antony shake hands with his murderers.

9.    What would have suited Antony better than making peace with the conspirators?
Weeping endlessly over Caesar’s wounds.

10. To what hunted animal does Antony compare Caesar?
He compares Caesar to a brave hart (deer) hunted down.

11. How does Antony describe the conspirators standing around Caesar’s body?
He describes them as hunters standing over their prey.

12. Which conspirator questions Antony about his intentions?
Cassius questions Antony about his compact with them.

13. What reason does Antony give for outwardly befriending the conspirators?
He hopes they will explain how Caesar was dangerous.

14. What assurance does Brutus give Antony about their justification?
He assures him their reasons are honourable and convincing.

15. What specific permission does Antony request from the conspirators?
He asks to bring Caesar’s body to the marketplace and speak at the funeral.

16. Under what condition is Antony allowed to speak publicly?
He must not blame the conspirators and must speak after Brutus.

17. Who warns Brutus against allowing Antony to speak?
Cassius warns Brutus.

18. Why does Cassius distrust Antony’s proposed speech?
He fears Antony may influence the people against them.

19. How does Antony secretly refer to the conspirators in his aside?
He calls them “butchers.”

20. How does Antony describe Caesar’s greatness in his soliloquy?
He calls him the noblest man who ever lived.

21. What does Antony wish upon those who shed Caesar’s blood?
He wishes woe and destruction upon them.

22. What does Antony predict will spread throughout Italy?
He predicts domestic fury and fierce civil war.

23. How does Antony describe Caesar’s wounds metaphorically?
He calls them “dumb mouths” with “ruby lips.”

24. What future horror does Antony foresee for Roman mothers?
He foresees them becoming so accustomed to violence that they will not react to it.

25. Whose spirit does Antony imagine returning for revenge?
He imagines Caesar’s spirit returning for revenge.

26. Which mythological figure accompanies Caesar’s spirit?
Ate, the goddess of mischief and destruction.

27. What command will Caesar’s spirit cry in revenge?
It will cry “Havoc!” and unleash the dogs of war.

28. Who enters after Antony’s prophecy?
A servant of Octavius enters.

29. What message does the servant bring about Octavius?
He informs Antony that Octavius is approaching Rome.

30. How far from Rome is Octavius at that moment?
He is within seven leagues of Rome.

31. Why does Antony call Rome “dangerous”?
Because it is politically unstable and unsafe after Caesar’s murder.

32. What instruction does Antony first give the servant?
He tells him to quickly inform Octavius about what has happened.

33. Why does Antony ask the servant to wait?
He wants first to observe the people’s reaction to his speech.

34. What does Antony plan to test in the marketplace?
He plans to test how the crowd responds to Caesar’s murder.

35. What phrase does Antony use to describe Caesar’s body privately?
He calls it a “bleeding piece of earth.”

36. What emotional reaction does Antony observe in the servant?
He notices tears standing in his eyes.

37. How does Antony describe the contagious nature of grief?
He says that seeing another’s sorrow makes his own eyes water.

38. What political strategy underlies Antony’s funeral speech?
He intends to turn public opinion against the conspirators.

39. Who is scheduled to speak first at the funeral?
Brutus will speak first.

40. How does Brutus believe allowing Antony to speak will benefit them?
He believes it will appear fair and lawful to the public.

41. What does Antony promise not to do in his speech?
He promises not to blame the conspirators.

42. What tone does Antony adopt in front of the conspirators?
He adopts a tone of humility and controlled grief.

43. What overall feeling dominates Antony’s private soliloquy?
A mixture of grief, anger, and desire for revenge.

44. How does Antony portray Caesar in relation to the world?
He calls Caesar the very heart of the world.

45. What does Antony foresee becoming common in Italy?
Bloodshed and destruction becoming habitual.

46. How does Antony symbolically elevate Caesar’s importance?
By presenting him as unmatched in nobility throughout history.

47. What immediate task does Antony undertake after the conspirators leave?
He prepares to carry Caesar’s body to the marketplace.

48. What larger conflict does Antony’s prophecy foreshadow?
A devastating civil war in Rome.

49. How does Antony balance diplomacy and hidden intention in this extract?
He outwardly shows friendship while secretly planning revenge.

50. What central transformation begins in this passage?
Antony begins his shift from submissive mourner to strategic avenger.

Two-Mark Questions

1. Q: Why does Antony shake the hands of the conspirators at the beginning?

A: Antony shakes the hands of Brutus, Cassius, and others to show respect and conceal his grief. Though Caesar has been murdered, he pretends friendship, demonstrating diplomacy and careful control over his emotions to avoid arousing suspicion or anger among the conspirators while planning his next move.

2. Q: What does Antony mean by saying his credit “stands on slippery ground”?

A: Antony fears being misjudged by the conspirators and the public. His position is precarious because he appears friendly to Caesar’s killers. He worries that people may see him as either a coward for not avenging Caesar or a flatterer for showing loyalty to the conspirators, reflecting his cautious awareness.

3. Q: How does Antony express his love for Caesar in front of the conspirators?

A: Antony claims he truly loved Caesar and laments his death, but outwardly shows courtesy to the conspirators. By shaking their hands and appearing calm, he hides his grief while emphasizing his emotional attachment to Caesar, which foreshadows his later manipulation of the public through his funeral oration.

4. Q: Explain Antony’s metaphor of Caesar as a “brave hart” and the conspirators as hunters.

A: Antony compares Caesar to a hunted deer, the “brave hart,” emphasizing his innocence and nobility. The conspirators are the hunters, responsible for his death. This metaphor portrays Caesar as a victim of betrayal, evokes sympathy, and subtly condemns the conspirators’ act, strengthening Antony’s emotional and rhetorical appeal.

5. Q: Why does Cassius ask Antony about his “compact” with them?

A: Cassius questions Antony to understand whether he truly aligns with the conspirators or secretly opposes them. He wants to ensure Antony’s loyalty and gauge whether Antony will support or undermine their plan. It reflects the conspirators’ distrust and concern over Antony’s potential influence among the Roman people.

6. Q: How does Antony justify taking the hands of the conspirators?

A: Antony claims friendship with all conspirators and expresses love for them while secretly grieving Caesar. By shaking hands, he masks his anger and sets the stage for gaining their trust. This gesture allows Antony to appear non-threatening while preparing for his strategic funeral oration that will incite public outrage.

7. Q: What permission does Brutus give Antony regarding Caesar’s funeral?

A: Brutus permits Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral but imposes the condition that he must only praise Caesar and not blame the conspirators. This controlled allowance is meant to maintain order and public calm, but it also gives Antony the opportunity to manipulate public emotions subtly in his speech.

8. Q: How does Antony describe Caesar after the conspirators leave?

A: Antony calls Caesar “the noblest man that ever lived” and refers to him as a “bleeding piece of earth.” He laments Caesar’s death, condemns the conspirators as butchers, and predicts civil strife. Antony’s language combines grief, anger, and forewarning, building anticipation for his persuasive and manipulative funeral oration.

9. Q: What is the effect of Antony describing Caesar’s wounds as “dumb mouths”?

A: By calling Caesar’s wounds “dumb mouths,” Antony personifies them as silently demanding justice. This metaphor evokes sympathy from the audience and reinforces the idea that Caesar’s death was unjust. It also emphasizes Antony’s role as the voice of the dead, justifying his forthcoming incitement of public anger.

10. Q: How does Antony foreshadow civil war in his speech over Caesar’s body?

A: Antony predicts bloodshed, domestic fury, and civil strife in Italy following Caesar’s murder. He portrays the normalization of violence and human desensitization to cruelty. This foreshadowing creates dramatic tension, warns of chaos, and positions Antony as a prophet of Rome’s coming turmoil, motivating the audience’s emotional response.

11. Q: Why does Antony inquire about Octavius through the servant?

A: Antony asks the servant if he serves Octavius to ensure Caesar’s heir is informed and positioned safely. By gathering information about Octavius’ location and sending messages, Antony demonstrates strategic planning, preparing to align political forces and manage the unfolding crisis following Caesar’s assassination.

12. Q: What instructions does Antony give the servant before he returns to Octavius?

A: Antony instructs the servant to go quickly and inform Octavius of Caesar’s death, describing Rome as dangerous and mourning. He also commands the servant to wait until Antony has carried Caesar’s body to the marketplace. These instructions show Antony’s careful orchestration of events to influence both Octavius and the Roman public.

13. Q: How does Brutus justify his speech at the funeral?

A: Brutus states he will speak first to explain Caesar’s murder, emphasizing rational motives and the need for lawful order. He allows Antony to speak afterward under supervision. Brutus aims to present the conspirators’ actions as justifiable, portraying himself as honourable and reasonable to gain public acceptance.

14. Q: Explain the significance of Antony calling Rome “a mourning, dangerous Rome.”

A: Antony describes Rome as mourning Caesar while unstable due to fear and uncertainty. This highlights the volatile political climate and public emotion, emphasizing the need for strategic action. Antony signals that Rome is ripe for manipulation, foreshadowing his ability to incite anger and revolution through his funeral speech.

15. Q: How does Antony express his anger and grief while appearing calm to the conspirators?

A: Antony outwardly shows meekness and courtesy, shaking hands and speaking politely, while internally he laments Caesar and condemns the conspirators. This contrast demonstrates Antony’s skill in restraint, strategic deception, and emotional control, allowing him to manipulate public opinion later without revealing his true intentions.

16. Q: What is Antony’s prediction regarding the behaviour of mothers during war?

A: Antony predicts that mothers will grow desensitized to violence, even smiling when seeing their children killed in battle. This imagery illustrates the horrors of civil war, emphasizing the destructive consequences of Caesar’s murder and foreshadowing widespread societal chaos and moral decay in Rome.

17. Q: Why does Antony call the conspirators “butchers”?

A: Antony refers to the conspirators as “butchers” to highlight their cruelty and moral corruption. By contrasting their actions with Caesar’s nobility, he invokes anger and pity, positioning himself as Caesar’s loyal advocate and preparing the crowd for emotional persuasion during his funeral oration.

18. Q: What literary device is used when Antony talks to Caesar’s wounds?

A: Antony uses personification, giving Caesar’s wounds the ability to “speak” and demand justice. This enhances emotional impact, dramatizes Caesar’s death, and frames Antony as the voice of the deceased, legitimizing his call for vengeance against the conspirators.

19. Q: How does Antony plan to use Caesar’s body for political advantage?

A: Antony intends to display Caesar’s body in the marketplace, stirring public emotion. By doing so, he manipulates visual symbolism and grief, creating sympathy and outrage, which strengthens his influence over the Roman citizens and sets the stage for rebellion against the conspirators.

20. Q: What is Antony’s overall strategy in this extract?

A: Antony uses grief, rhetoric, and careful restraint to manipulate the conspirators and the public. Outwardly respectful, he privately laments Caesar, predicts chaos, and orchestrates the funeral display to incite anger. His strategy combines emotional appeal, dramatic imagery, and calculated timing to undermine the conspirators’ authority and gain political advantage.

Three-Mark Questions

1. Q: How does Antony use rhetoric in his speech to Caesar’s spirit and later to the people?

A: Antony uses emotional and persuasive rhetoric to convey grief, loyalty, and outrage. Speaking to Caesar’s spirit, he personifies the wounds as “dumb mouths” demanding justice, creating sympathy. In public, he feigns meekness while subtly condemning the conspirators, foreshadowing civil strife. Through controlled gestures, repetition, and vivid imagery, Antony manipulates perception, appealing to reason and emotion, thus positioning himself as both a mourner and a strategist ready to influence Rome’s political landscape.

2. Q: Explain Antony’s strategy in appearing friendly to the conspirators while secretly grieving Caesar.

A: Antony carefully balances outward respect with inner grief. By shaking hands and addressing the conspirators politely, he conceals his anger and true intentions. This strategy allows him to gain their trust, avoid suspicion, and plan his funeral oration. Privately, he laments Caesar’s death, predicts chaos, and calls the conspirators “butchers,” demonstrating political cunning. Antony’s duplicity shows mastery of public manipulation, allowing him to incite the Roman populace while maintaining apparent loyalty to those responsible for Caesar’s murder.

3. Q: What imagery and metaphors does Antony use to evoke sympathy for Caesar?

A: Antony uses vivid metaphors like Caesar as a “brave hart” hunted by the conspirators, emphasizing innocence and betrayal. He calls Caesar’s wounds “dumb mouths” to suggest they silently demand justice. The “bleeding piece of earth” metaphor conveys Caesar’s physical and symbolic loss. Antony also describes mothers smiling at violence to depict societal desensitization. These images provoke grief, anger, and moral reflection, enhancing Antony’s rhetorical power and preparing the audience to feel outrage against the conspirators.

4. Q: How does Antony foreshadow civil strife in Italy?

A: Antony predicts that Caesar’s murder will unleash bloodshed, domestic fury, and civil war. He describes a society desensitized to violence, with mothers smiling at infants killed in war, and blood becoming commonplace. By invoking the goddess Ate and the “dogs of war,” he forewarns chaos. This foreshadowing builds tension and positions Antony as both a mourner and a prophet. It also manipulates the public’s emotions, making them receptive to his later call for revenge and rebellion against the conspirators.

5. Q: How does Brutus’ approach at Caesar’s funeral differ from Antony’s, and why is it significant?

A: Brutus speaks first, appealing to reason and justifying Caesar’s murder as necessary for Rome’s good. He uses calm logic, portraying himself as honourable. Antony, by contrast, uses emotional rhetoric and dramatic imagery to incite grief and anger. This contrast highlights Antony’s manipulative skill and the limitations of Brutus’ rational appeal. Brutus underestimates the emotional power of Antony’s speech, which ultimately sways the crowd, demonstrating how emotion can overpower reason in public persuasion.

6. Q: Discuss Antony’s use of controlled emotion in front of the conspirators.

A: Antony displays calmness and respect, shaking hands and praising the conspirators superficially. Internally, he grieves, condemns them, and plans his response. This controlled emotion hides his true intentions, allowing him to speak at Caesar’s funeral without alarming the conspirators. By appearing meek, he gains permission to address the people. Antony’s restraint demonstrates political intelligence, as he balances public appearances with private strategy, ensuring he can manipulate public sentiment and provoke outrage against the conspirators effectively.

7. Q: How does Antony use Caesar’s body as a political tool?

A: Antony intends to display Caesar’s body publicly in the marketplace to elicit emotion and sympathy. By physically showing the murdered leader, he creates a powerful visual of betrayal and injustice. This act strengthens his argument and incites anger among the populace. Antony’s careful orchestration ensures that the people witness the consequences of the conspirators’ actions firsthand, preparing them to react emotionally rather than rationally. The display transforms grief into political power, fuelling unrest and rebellion.

8. Q: How does Antony manipulate the servant to serve his plan?

A: Antony questions the servant about Octavius, ensuring he can coordinate political allies. He instructs the servant to report Caesar’s death quickly but to wait until Antony carries the body to the marketplace. By controlling information and timing, Antony prepares both Octavius and the public for his manipulation. This shows Antony’s strategic thinking and foresight, using subordinate actors to achieve his goals. His orchestration of events demonstrates tactical genius, combining emotional appeal with precise logistical planning.

9. Q: Explain the significance of personification in Antony’s speech.

A: Antony personifies Caesar’s wounds as “dumb mouths” and Rome as a mourning city. These personifications give life to abstract grief, emphasizing injustice and moral outrage. They allow Antony to speak as Caesar’s voice, giving authority to his predictions of civil strife. Personification deepens emotional engagement, making the audience feel the weight of Caesar’s murder. By attributing human qualities to objects and the city, Antony intensifies dramatic effect and prepares the crowd for action against the conspirators.

10. Q: How does Antony foreshadow his later political power in Rome?

A: Antony foreshadows influence by demonstrating rhetorical skill, emotional intelligence, and strategic planning. His controlled demeanour, manipulation of the crowd, and orchestration of Caesar’s funeral indicate political acumen. Predicting civil strife and leveraging grief positions him as a leader capable of guiding public sentiment. Antony’s actions suggest he will emerge as a key figure in Rome, consolidating power by turning loyalty and sympathy into political advantage, ultimately shaping the future course of Roman politics.

Four-Mark Questions

Q1. How does Antony use diplomacy and restraint in the opening section while shaking hands with the conspirators? (4 marks)
Antony displays remarkable diplomacy when he shakes the “bloody hands” of the conspirators. Though inwardly grieving and enraged, he outwardly praises their wisdom and addresses each by name. This calculated politeness protects him from immediate danger. His restraint shows political intelligence, as he conceals his true intentions while gaining their trust. The scene reveals Antony as cautious, strategic, and capable of mastering emotion for survival.

Q2. How does Shakespeare employ dramatic irony in Antony’s interactions with the conspirators? (4 marks)
Dramatic irony runs throughout the passage because the audience knows Antony’s true loyalty to Caesar, while the conspirators believe him reconciled. When he claims, “Friends am I with you all,” the statement is deliberately deceptive. His polite tone masks revenge. This contrast between appearance and reality heightens tension and suspense. The conspirators misjudge Antony, and this miscalculation ultimately leads to their downfall.

Q3. Contrast the attitudes of Brutus and Cassius in this passage. (4 marks)
Brutus appears noble, confident, and idealistic. He believes their reasons for killing Caesar are morally justified and trusts Antony too easily. Cassius, however, is suspicious and politically shrewd. He fears Antony’s influence over the people and warns Brutus against permitting him to speak at the funeral. This contrast highlights Brutus’s tragic innocence and Cassius’s cautious realism, revealing internal weakness among the conspirators.

Q4. Examine the importance of the funeral speech negotiation in advancing the plot. (4 marks)
The negotiation regarding Antony’s funeral speech is a crucial turning point. Antony cleverly requests permission to speak “as becomes a friend,” without revealing his true purpose. Brutus grants approval with conditions, believing it will benefit them. Cassius objects, sensing danger. This decision directly leads to Antony’s powerful oration and the uprising of the Roman crowd. Thus, the scene structurally prepares for the reversal of power.

Q5. Analyse the imagery in Antony’s aside beginning “O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth.” (4 marks)
In this aside, Antony uses powerful imagery to intensify emotion. He calls Caesar’s body a “bleeding piece of earth,” emphasizing both mortality and sacredness. The wounds are described as “dumb mouths” begging for speech, symbolizing suppressed justice demanding expression. The “ruby lips” metaphor beautifies the wounds while stressing their horror. Such imagery transforms grief into moral outrage and prepares the ground for vengeance.

Q6. How does Antony’s prophecy reflect both personal revenge and political foresight? (4 marks)
Antony’s prophecy predicts domestic fury, civil strife, and widespread bloodshed in Italy. While driven by personal loyalty to Caesar, his vision also reveals deep political awareness. He understands that assassination will destabilize Rome. His reference to “Cry ‘Havoc!’” suggests unleashed chaos beyond control. Thus, his words blend emotional vengeance with realistic anticipation of civil war, showing him as both passionate and politically perceptive.

Q7. Discuss the role of supernatural elements in strengthening the tragic atmosphere. (4 marks)
The mention of Caesar’s spirit and the goddess Ate introduces supernatural force into the political crisis. Antony imagines divine powers supporting revenge, suggesting that the murder violates cosmic order. Ate symbolizes ruin and destructive blindness. These references elevate the assassination from a political crime to a moral and universal offence. The supernatural imagery deepens the tragic tone and reinforces the inevitability of retribution.

Q8. How does Antony demonstrate leadership qualities in his interaction with Octavius’s servant? (4 marks)
When speaking to the servant, Antony shows calm authority and strategic foresight. He warns that Rome is “dangerous” and not yet safe for Octavius. Instead of acting impulsively, he plans to observe public reaction through his funeral speech before advising Octavius further. His measured response reveals maturity, leadership, and tactical intelligence. Antony is already thinking beyond revenge toward future political consolidation.

 

COURTESY: Different AI Sources

Compiled by Dr. Shankar D Mishra

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