Julius Caesar Act III, Scene I – Part Three

 

Julius Caesar Act III, Scene I – Part Three

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

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.

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.

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!

Cassius: Mark Antony, -

Antony: Pardon me, Caius Cassius;

The enemies of Caesar shall say this:

Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.

Cassius: I blame you not for praising Caesar so.

But what compact mean you to have with us?

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

Or shall we on, and not depend on you?

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.

Antony: That’s all I seek. And am moreover suitor that I may

Produce his body to the marketplace,

And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,

Speak in the order of his funeral.

Brutus: You shall, Mark Antony.

Cassius: Brutus, a word with you.

(Aside to Brutus) You know not what you do, do not consent

That Antony speak in his funeral.

Know you how much the people may be mov’d

By that which he will utter?

Brutus: By your pardon; I will myself into the pulpit first,

And show the reason of our Caesar's death:

What Antony shall speak, I will protest

He speaks by leave and by permission;

And that we are contented Caesar shall

Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.

It shall advantage more than do us wrong.

Cassius: I know not what may fall; I like it not.

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

You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,

But speak all good you can devise of Caesar,

And say you do't by our permission;

Else shall you not have any hand at all About his funeral.

And you shall speak In the same pulpit whereto I am going.

After my speech is ended.

Antony: I do desire no more. Be it so.

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

                              (Exeunt all except Antony)

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,

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.

Enter a Servant

Antony: You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?

Servant: I do, Mark Antony.

Antony: Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.

Servant: He did receive his letters, and is coming.

And bid me say to you by word of mouth—

Antony (seeing the body): O Caesar!

Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep.

Passion, I see, is catching, for mine eyes,

Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine,

Began to water. Is thy master coming?

Servant: He lies tonight within seven leagues of Rome.

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

Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,

No Rome of safety for Octavius yet,

Hie hence and tell him so. Yet, stay awhile;

Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corpse

Into the marketplace: there shall I try,

In my oration, how the people take

The cruel issue of these bloody men;

According to the which, thou shalt discourse

To young Octavius of the state of things.

Lend me your hand.

[Exeunt with Caesar’s body]

Paraphrase

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.

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.

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!

Cassius: Mark Antony.

Antony: Pardon me, Caius Cassius; The enemies of Caesar shall say this: Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.

Cassius: I blame you not for praising Caesar so. But what compact mean you to have with us? Will you be prick’d in number of our friends, Or shall we on, and not depend on you?

Antony: Therefore I took your hands, but was, indeed, bay’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.

Antony: That’s all I seek. And am moreover suitor that I may Produce his body to the marketplace, And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend, Speak in the order of his funeral.

Brutus: You shall, Mark Antony.

Cassius: Brutus, a word with you. You know not what you do, do not consent That Antony speak in his funeral. Know you how much the people may be mov’d By that which he will utter?

Brutus: By your pardon; I will myself into the pulpit first, And show the reason of our Caesar's death: What Antony shall speak, I will protest He speaks by leave and by permission; And that we are contented Caesar shall Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies. It shall advantage more than do us wrong.

Cassius: I know not what may fall; I like it not.

Brutus: Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar's body. You shall not in your funeral speech blame us, But speak all good you can devise of Caesar, And say you do't by our permission; Else shall you not have any hand at all About his funeral. And you shall speak In the same pulpit whereto I am going. After my speech is ended.

Antony: I do desire no more. Be it so.

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

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, 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.

Enter a Servant

Antony: You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?

Servant: I do, Mark Antony.

Antony: Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.

Servant: He did receive his letters, and is coming. And bid me say to you by word of mouth—

Antony (seeing the body): O Caesar! Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep. Passion, I see, is catching, for mine eyes, Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine, Began to water. Is thy master coming?

Servant: He lies tonight within seven leagues of Rome.

Antony: Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc’d. Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, No Rome of safety for Octavius yet, Hie hence and tell him so. Yet, stay awhile; Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corpse Into the marketplace: there shall I try, In my oration, how the people take The cruel issue of these bloody men; According to the which, thou shalt discourse To young Octavius of the state of things. Lend me your hand.

Glossary

1. Doubt not – Do not doubt or distrust.

2. Render – Give or offer.

3. Bloody hand – The hand stained with Caesar’s blood after the assassination.

4. Valiant – Brave, courageous.

5. Alas – Expression of sorrow or regret.

6. Slippery ground – Unstable position; uncertain situation.

7. Conceit me – Think of me; imagine about me.

8. Flatterer – One who uses false praise for selfish gain.

9. Thy spirit – Your soul.

10. Grieve thee dearer – Cause you deeper pain.

11. Thy Antony – Your Antony (showing affection and loyalty).

12. Corse – Corpse; dead body.

13. Stream forth – Flow out.

14. It would become me – It would suit me; it would be more fitting for me.

15. Pardon me – Forgive me.

16. Bay’d – Cornered or surrounded (as hunters do to a deer).

17. Brave hart – Courageous deer (metaphor for Caesar).

18. Hunters – The murderers of Caesar.

19. Sign’d in thy spoil – Marked with your blood after killing you.

20. Crimson’d – Stained red with blood.

21. Lethe – River of forgetfulness in Greek mythology; here means death.

22. Hart – Deer (wordplay with “heart”).

23. Strucken – Struck, wounded.

24. Princes – Noblemen, here referring to the conspirators.

25. Dost thou here lie – Do you lie here dead?

26. Modesty – Humility, restraint.

27. Compact – Agreement, understanding.

28. Prick’d in number – Enlisted or included in the list.

29. Sway’d from the point – Distracted from the main subject.

30. Wherein – In what way.

31. Dangerous – Threatening, harmful to the republic.

32. Savage spectacle – Cruel or brutal sight.

33. Regard – Consideration or respect.

34. Suitor – One who requests or petitions.

35. Market-place – Public square or forum.

36. Pulpit – Platform used for speaking to the public.

37. In the order of his funeral – As part of the funeral ceremony.

38. Consent – Agree, permit.

39. Moved – Emotionally stirred or persuaded.

40. Protest – Declare publicly.

41. Leave and permission – Official approval.

42. True rites – Proper religious ceremonies.

43. Advantage – Benefit or gain.

44. Fall – Happen or occur.

45. Hand at all – Any part or involvement.

46. Devise – Think up or plan.

47. Desire no more – Ask for nothing else.

48. Bleeding piece of earth – Metaphor for Caesar’s wounded body lying on the ground.

49. Meek – Humble, gentle.

50. Butchers – Murderers, killers.

51. Ruins – Remains, broken remains of greatness.

52. Tide of times – Flow of history; the ages.

53. Costly blood – Precious blood (symbol of Caesar’s worth).

54. Prophesy – Foretell the future.

55. Dumb mouths – Silent openings; wounds imagined as mouths.

56. Ruby lips – Red openings (referring to bleeding wounds).

57. Utterance – Expression or speech.

58. Curse shall light – A curse will fall upon.

59. Limbs of men – Human beings.

60. Domestic fury – Civil war or conflict within the country.

61. Fierce civil strife – Intense internal conflict.

62. Cumber – Burden, trouble, or overwhelm.

63. In use – Common, frequent.

64. Dreadful objects – Terrifying sights.

65. Quarter’d – Cut into pieces.

66. Fell deeds – Cruel or savage acts.

67. Chok’d – Smothered, killed, suppressed.

68. Ranging for revenge – Roaming in search of vengeance.

69. Ate – Goddess of chaos, destruction, and revenge.

70. Confines – Boundaries, limits (of Rome).

71. Monarch’s voice – Commanding, royal voice.

72. Cry “Havoc!” – Military order to begin slaughter or chaos.

73. Let slip the dogs of war – Release violence and destruction.

74. Carrion – Decaying flesh of dead bodies.

75. Groaning for burial – Crying to be buried; symbol of mass death.

76. Servant – Attendant or messenger.

77. Octavius Caesar – Julius Caesar’s adopted son and heir.

78. Bid me say – Ordered me to tell.

79. Beads of sorrow – Tears.

80. Began to water – Began to weep.

81. Lies tonight – Is staying tonight.

82. Seven leagues – About 21 miles (a league ≈ 3 miles).

83. Post back – Return quickly; ride fast.

84. Hath chanc’d – Has happened.

85. Mourning Rome – Grieving, sorrowful Rome.

86. Hie hence – Go quickly away.

87. Yet stay awhile – But wait for a moment.

88. Borne this corpse – Carried this body.

89. Oration – Speech or address.

90. Take the cruel issue – Observe people’s reaction to the murder.

91. Discourse – Report, tell, or discuss.

92. State of things – Present situation or condition.

93. Lend me your hand – Give me your help.

94. Exeunt – Stage direction meaning “They exit.”

95. Groaning for burial – Symbol of the horror of unburied corpses after war.

96. Forest to this hart – The world is compared to a forest where Caesar, the deer, was hunted.

97. Modest coldness – Calm, restrained emotion.

98. Signed in thy spoil – Marked with your blood after killing you (trophy-like image).

99. Savage spectacle – Barbaric sight of murder.

100. True rites – Proper religious funeral customs.

Question 1. 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

Question 2. One-Mark Questions

1. Who begins the speech in this extract?

Antony

2. What does Antony say about his doubt in the first line?

He does not doubt the wisdom of the conspirators.

3. Whose hands does Antony shake first?

Marcus Brutus

4. Name the conspirators whose hands Antony shakes.

Brutus, Cassius, Decius Brutus, Metellus, Cinna, Casca, Trebonius

5. What does Antony call Casca?

Valiant Casca

6. How does Antony describe the ground of his credit?

Slippery ground

7. Antony fears being seen as either a coward or what?

A flatterer

8. Who is Antony addressing when he speaks of loving Caesar?

Caesar’s spirit

9. What action of Antony shows his grief for Caesar?

Shaking the bloody fingers of Caesar’s foes

10. What metaphor does Antony use for Caesar’s wounds?

Comparing them to eyes streaming blood

11. How does Antony refer to the conspirators while speaking to Caesar’s spirit?

As his enemies

12. What does Antony call Caesar in his pardon line?

Brave hart

13. Which conspirator asks Antony what compact he means to have with them?

Cassius

14. What reason does Antony give for taking the hands of the conspirators?

To show friendship while grieving Caesar

15. Who reassures Antony that he will be satisfied?

Brutus

16. What is Antony’s main request regarding Caesar’s body?

To produce it at the market-place and speak at the funeral

17. Who allows Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral?

Brutus

18. Why is Cassius worried about Antony speaking at the funeral?

Because the people may be moved by Antony’s speech

19. How does Brutus justify letting Antony speak?

Antony will speak with permission and show Caesar’s true rites

20. What does Antony call Caesar in his private speech to himself?

The noblest man that ever lived

21. Who are referred to as “these butchers”?

The conspirators

22. What curse does Antony prophesy?

Domestic fury and civil strife in Italy

23. What natural reaction does Antony describe mothers having to war?

Smiling when seeing infants quartered

24. Which spirit is said to range for revenge?

Caesar’s spirit

25. With whom does Caesar’s spirit come for revenge?

Ate, goddess of mischief

26. What does Antony plan to say to the people in his oration?

To show the cruel deed of the conspirators

27. Who enters to report about Octavius Caesar?

A servant

28. What is Antony’s command to the servant regarding Octavius?

Post back with speed and tell him what has happened

29. How far is Octavius from Rome according to the servant?

Seven leagues

30. What does Antony tell the servant to do before returning to Octavius?

Help carry Caesar’s body to the market-place

31. What is Antony’s strategy in the oration?

To see how the people react to the conspirators’ cruelty

32. What does Antony call Rome in his private speech?

A mourning, dangerous Rome

33. How does Antony refer to the wounds of Caesar?

“Dumb mouths” that beg for his voice

34. What is the significance of Antony calling Caesar’s wounds “ruby lips”?

They express the unspoken grief and need for justice

35. How does Antony describe the effect of civil strife?

Blood and destruction will become common

36. What does Antony foresee about public reaction to war?

They will grow accustomed to violence

37. Who is the first to speak at Caesar’s funeral according to Brutus?

Brutus

38. How does Antony describe Caesar in terms of historical importance?

As the noblest man that ever lived in the tide of times

39. What does Antony imply about the conspirators’ moral character?

They are butchers

40. Which literary device is prominent in Antony’s speech to Caesar’s body?

Personification

41. How does Antony show he is controlled in front of the conspirators?

He is meek and gentle despite his anger

42. What does Antony call the conspirators’ act in public speech?

A foul deed

43. How does Antony characterize future warfare in Italy?

Bloody, destructive, and normalized

44. Why does Antony ask the servant about Octavius?

To inform him quickly about Caesar’s death

45. What is Antony’s emotion when seeing the servant grieve?

Passion is contagious; Antony’s eyes water

46. What phrase does Antony use to describe Caesar’s body?

Bleeding piece of earth

47. Who accompanies Antony when he exits with Caesar’s body?

The servant

48. What is Antony’s role after Brutus’ speech?

To deliver the oration at Caesar’s funeral

49. How does Antony manipulate the situation for political advantage?

By showing grief, praising Caesar, and provoking public anger

50. What is the overall mood of Antony’s soliloquy over Caesar’s body?

Grief, anger, and prophetic vengeance

Question 3. “Who said to whom?”

1. Who said, “I doubt not of your wisdom”?

Antony said to the conspirators

2. Who said, “Let each man render me his bloody hand”?

Antony said to the conspirators

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

Antony said to Brutus

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

Antony said to Cassius

5. Who said, “Now, Decius Brutus, yours; now yours, Metellus”?

Antony said to Decius Brutus and Metellus

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

Antony said to Cinna and Casca

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

Antony said to Trebonius

8. Who said, “Gentlemen all-alas, what shall I say?”

Antony said to the conspirators

9. Who said, “That I did love thee, Caesar, O, ‘tis true”?

Antony said to Caesar’s spirit

10. Who said, “Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes, Most noble, in the presence of thy corse”?

Antony said to Caesar’s spirit

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

Antony said to Caesar’s spirit

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

Antony said to Caesar

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

Antony said to Cassius

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

Cassius said to Antony

15. Who said, “Friends am I with you all, and love you all”?

Antony said to the conspirators

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

Brutus said to Antony

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

Cassius said to Brutus

18. Who said, “You know not what you do, do not consent that Antony speak in his funeral”?

Cassius said to Brutus

19. Who said, “By your pardon; I will myself into the pulpit first”?

Brutus said to Cassius and conspirators

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

Brutus said to Antony

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

Brutus said to Antony

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

Antony said to Brutus

23. Who said, “Prepare the body, then and follow us”?

Brutus said to Antony and others

24. Who said, “O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth”?

Antony said to Caesar’s body

25. Who said, “Thou art the ruins of the noblest man that ever lived in the tide of times”?

Antony said to Caesar’s body

26. Who said, “You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not”?

Antony said to the Servant

27. Who said, “I do, Mark Antony”?

Servant said to Antony

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

Antony said to the Servant

29. Who said, “Is thy master coming”?

Antony said to the Servant

30. Who said, “Lend me your hand”?

Antony said to the Servant

Question 4. Reference to Contexts

RTC 1

"I doubt not of your wisdom. Let each man render me his bloody hand..."

1. Who is speaking here?

Antony

2. To whom is Antony speaking?

The conspirators

3. What action does Antony perform?

He shakes their hands

4. Who is the first conspirator Antony shakes hands with?

Brutus

5. Why does Antony shake their hands?

To show respect and conceal his grief

6. What literary device is used in “bloody hand”?

Metaphor

RTC 2

"Gentlemen all-alas, what shall I say? My credit now stands on such slippery ground..."

1. Who says this line?

Antony

2. What does Antony mean by “slippery ground”?

His reputation is at risk

3. Why does Antony feel his credit is insecure?

He is seen with Caesar’s killers

4. What two perceptions does Antony fear?

Being thought a coward or a flatterer

5. To whom is Antony speaking?

The conspirators

6. What emotion is Antony expressing here?

Anxiety

RTC 3

"That I did love thee, Caesar, O, ‘tis true..."

1. Who speaks these words?

Antony

2. To whom is Antony speaking?

Caesar’s spirit

3. What does Antony claim about his love for Caesar?

That he truly loved Caesar

4. What action of Antony is mentioned in these lines?

Shaking the bloody fingers of Caesar’s foes

5. How does Antony describe the effect on Caesar’s spirit?

It would grieve him more than death

6. What literary device is used in “thy spirit look upon us now”?

Personification

RTC 4

"Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay’d, brave hart..."

1. Who is speaking here?

Antony

2. Who is Antony addressing?

Caesar

3. What metaphor is used for Caesar?

Brave hart (deer)

4. What does “bay’d” mean here?

Hunted

5. Who are “thy hunters”?

The conspirators

6. What emotion is conveyed in this line?

Grief and lamentation

RTC 5

"I blame you not for praising Caesar so. But what compact mean you to have with us?"

1. Who says this?

Cassius

2. To whom is Cassius speaking?

Antony

3. What is Cassius questioning?

Antony’s intentions with the conspirators

4. What does “compact” mean here?

Agreement or understanding

5. How does Cassius feel about Antony’s praise?

He does not blame him

6. What literary device is used in this dialogue?

Irony

RTC 6

"Friends am I with you all, and love you all..."

1. Who speaks this line?

Antony

2. To whom is Antony speaking?

The conspirators

3. What is Antony trying to show?

Friendship while concealing grief

4. What phrase indicates hope for persuasion?

“Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons”

5. Why does Antony want reasons from them?

To understand why Caesar was dangerous

6. What literary device is present in this line?

Rhetorical appeal

RTC 7

"You shall, Mark Antony."

1. Who says this line?

Brutus

2. To whom is Brutus speaking?

Antony

3. What permission is being given?

To speak at Caesar’s funeral

4. What is Brutus’ condition for Antony’s speech?

Speak only good of Caesar

5. Why does Brutus allow Antony to speak?

To honour Caesar and maintain order

6. What is the effect of this permission?

Sets the stage for Antony’s oration

RTC 8

"O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth..."

1. Who says this?

Antony

2. To whom is Antony speaking?

Caesar’s body

3. What phrase indicates grief?

“Bleeding piece of earth”

4. What literary device is used here?

Personification

5. What is Antony’s emotional state?

Anger and sorrow

6. What does Antony plan to do next?

Prophesy revenge and speak to the people

RTC 9

"Blood and destruction shall be so in use..."

1. Who speaks this line?

Antony

2. What is Antony predicting?

Civil war and widespread bloodshed

3. Which literary device is prominent?

Imagery

4. What does Antony say about mothers?

They will smile at war’s cruelty

5. What does “all pity chok’d with custom” mean?

People will become desensitized to violence

6. Why does Antony foresee this outcome?

Because of Caesar’s murder

RTC 10

"Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice cry 'Havoc!'..."

1. Who says this line?

Antony

2. To whom is Antony speaking?

Caesar’s body / Himself

3. What does “Havoc” symbolize?

Unleashing chaos and war

4. Who will be affected by this?

All of Italy

5. What literary device is used?

Personification and foreshadowing

6. What is the purpose of this speech?

To warn of consequences of Caesar’s murder

RTC 11

"You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?"

1. Who says this?

Antony

2. To whom is Antony speaking?

The servant

3. What does Antony ask about Octavius?

If the servant works for him

4. How does the servant respond?

Yes, he does

5. What is Antony’s next instruction?

To tell Octavius about Caesar’s death

6. What does this scene show about Antony?

He is strategic and commanding

RTC 12

"Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corpse..."

1. Who says this?

Antony

2. To whom is Antony speaking?

The servant

3. What does Antony want to do first?

Carry Caesar’s body to the marketplace

4. Why does Antony do this?

To influence public opinion

5. What does “try in my oration” mean?

Test how people react to Caesar’s murder

6. What literary device is present here?

Foreshadowing

RTC 13

"Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc’d..."

1. Who says this line?

Antony

2. To whom is Antony speaking?

The servant

3. What is Antony instructing?

To inform Octavius quickly

4. How does Antony describe Rome?

Mourning and dangerous

5. Why is it dangerous?

People may revolt after Caesar’s death

6. What quality of Antony is highlighted?

Cunning and planning

RTC 14

"By your pardon; I will myself into the pulpit first..."

1. Who speaks this?

Brutus

2. To whom is Brutus speaking?

Cassius and conspirators

3. What does Brutus plan?

To speak at Caesar’s funeral before Antony

4. Why does he speak first?

To explain Caesar’s murder

5. How does he describe Antony’s speech?

It will be by permission and controlled

6. What does this reveal about Brutus?

He is cautious and honourable

RTC 15

"That's all I seek. And am moreover suitor that I may produce his body..."

1. Who says this?

Antony

2. To whom is Antony speaking?

Brutus

3. What does Antony request?

To show Caesar’s body publicly and speak at the funeral

4. How does Brutus respond?

Grants permission

5. What is Antony’s aim?

To influence public opinion

6. What literary device is used in “produce his body”?

Dramatic imagery

Question 5. 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.

Question 6. 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.

COURTESY: Meta AI & ChatGPT

Compiled by Dr. Shankar D Mishra

 

ବିଶେଷ ସୂଚନା : ଯେଉଁ ICSE ଛାତ୍ର ଛାତ୍ରୀ Std. 6 ରୁ 10 ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଅଧ୍ୟୟନ କରୁଛନ୍ତି ଓ ଇଂଲିଶ Grammar ଓ Literature ରେ individual/ group guidance ଆବଶ୍ୟକ କରୁଛନ୍ତି, ଏହି WhatsApp ନମ୍ବର ରେ (8249297412) ଯୋଗାଯୋଗ କରିପାରିବେ l 

*ପରୀକ୍ଷା ରେ improvement ହେଲାପରେ fees ଗ୍ରହଣ କରାଯିବ, ନଚେତ free l