Julius Caesar Act V, Scene: II/III: Summary, Glossary, Paraphrase & Question-Answers

 

Julius Caesar Act V, Scene: II/III

Alarum. Enter BRUTUS and MESSALA

BRUTUS-Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills

Unto the legions on the other side.

Loud alarum

Let them set on at once, for I perceive

But cold demeanor in Octavius' wing.

And sudden push gives them the overthrow.

Ride, ride, Messala: let them all come down.

Exeunt

 

SCENE III

Alarums. Enter CASSIUS and TITINIUS

CASSIUS-O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly!

Myself have to mine own turn'd enemy:

This ensign here of mine was turning back;

I slew the coward, and did take it from him.

TITINIUS-O Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early;

Who, having some advantage on Octavius,

Took it too eagerly his soldiers fell to spoil,

Whilst we by Antony are all enclosed.

Enter PINDARUS

PINDARUS-Fly further off, my lord, fly further off;

Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord

Fly, therefore, noble Cassius, fly far off.

CASSIUS-This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius;

Are those my tents where I perceive the fire?

TITINIUS-They are, my lord.

CASSIUS-Titinius, if thou lovest me,

Mount thou my horse, and hide thy spurs in him,

Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops,

And here again; that I may rest assured

Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.

TITINIUS-I will be here again, even with a thought. Exit

CASSIUS-Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill;

My sight was ever thick, regard Titinius,

And tell me what thou notest about the field.

Pindarus ascends the hill

This day I breathed first: time is come round,

And where I did begin, there shall I end;

My life is run his compass. Sirrah, what news?

PINDARUS - [Above] O my lord!

CASSIUS-What news?

PINDARUS - [Above] Titinius is enclosed round about

With horsemen, that make to him on the spur;

Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him.

Now, Titinius! Now some light. O, he lights too.

He's ta'en. (Shout)

And, hark! they shout for joy.

CASSIUS-Come down, behold no more.

O, coward that I am, to live so long.

To see my best friend ta'en before my face!

PINDARUS descends

Come hither, sirrah:

In Parthia did I take thee prisoner;

And then I swore thee, saving of thy life,

That whatsoever I did bid thee do,

Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath;

Now be a freeman: and with this good sword,

That ran through Caesar's bowels, search this bosom.

Stand not to answer here, take thou the hilts,

And, when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now,

Guide thou the sword.

PINDARUS stabs him

Caesar, thou art revenged,

Even with the sword that kill'd thee. (Dies)

PINDARUS-So, I am free, yet would not so have been,

Durst I have done my will. O Cassius,

Far from this country Pindarus shall run,

Where never Roman shall take note of him. (Exit)

Re-enter TITINIUS with MESSALA

MESSALA-It is but change, Titinius; for Octavius

Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power,

As Cassius' legions are by Antony.

TITINIUS-These tidings will well comfort Cassius.

MESSALA-Where did you leave him?

TITINIUS-All disconsolate,

With Pindarus, his bondman, on this hill.

MESSALA-Is not that he that lies upon the ground?

TITINIUS-He lies not like the living. O my heart!

MESSALA-Is not that he?

TITINIUS-No, this was he, Messala,

But Cassius is no more. O setting sun,

As in thy red rays thou dost sink to-night,

So in his red blood Cassius' day is set;

The sun of Rome is set! Our day is gone,

Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are done!

Mistrust of my success hath done this deed.

MESSALA-Mistrust of good success hath done this deed.

O hateful error, melancholy's child,

Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men

The things that are not? O error, soon conceived,

Thou never comest unto a happy birth,

But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee!

TITINIUS-What, Pindarus! where art thou, Pindarus?

MESSALA-Seek him, Titinius, whilst I go to meet

The noble Brutus, thrusting this report

Into his cars, I may say, thrusting it,

For piercing steel and darts envenomed

Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus

As tidings of this sight.

TITINIUS-Hie you, Messala,

And I will seek for Pindarus the while.

Exit Messala

Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius?

Did I not meet thy friends? and did not they

Put on my brows this wreath of victory,

And bid me give it thee? Didst thou not hear their shouts?

Alas, thou hast misconstrued every thing!

But, hold thee, take this garland on thy brow,

Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I

Will do his bidding. Brutus, come apace,

And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.

By your leave, gods: this is a Roman's part

Come, Cassius' sword, and find Titinius' heart. (Kills himself)

Alarum. Re-enter MESSALA, with BRUTUS, young CATO, STRATO, VOLUMNIUS, and LUCILIUS

BRUTUS-Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie?

MESSALA-Lo, yonder, and Titinius mourning it.

BRUTUS-Titinius' face is upward.

CATO-He is slain.

BRUTUS-O Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet!

Thy spirit walks abroad and turns our swords

In our own proper entrails.

Low alarums

CATO-Brave Titinius!

Look, whether he have not crown'd dead Cassius!

BRUTUS-Are yet two Romans living such as these?

The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!

It is impossible that ever Rome

Should breed thy fellow. Friends, I owe more tears

To this dead man than you shall see me pay.

I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.

Come, therefore, and to Thasos send his body:

His funerals shall not be in our camp,

Lest it discomfort us. Lucilius, come,

And come, young Cato, let us to the field.

Labeo and Flavius, set our battles on:

Tis three o'clock, and, Romans, yet ere night

We shall try fortune in a second fight.

Exeunt

Summary (Act V, Scenes II & III)

The battle of Philippi begins. Brutus orders Messala to carry commands to the legions and attack Octavius at once. He notices weakness in Octavius’s army and believes a sudden, united assault will defeat it.

Meanwhile, Cassius thinks the enemy is fleeing, but the situation soon turns dangerous. Titinius explains that Brutus attacked too early; although he gained an advantage over Octavius, his soldiers stopped to loot the enemy camp. As a result, Antony surrounded and defeated Cassius’s forces. Pindarus then reports that Antony has captured Cassius’s tents.

Cassius sees fire in his camp and fears total defeat. He sends Titinius to discover whether approaching troops are friends or enemies. From a hilltop, Pindarus mistakenly reports that Titinius has been surrounded and captured by enemy soldiers, when in fact they are Brutus’s men celebrating victory.

Believing that his closest friend has been taken prisoner and unable to endure disgrace, Cassius decides to die. He asks Pindarus, his servant, to stab him with the same sword that killed Julius Caesar. As he dies, Cassius declares that Caesar has been avenged.

Soon after, Titinius returns with Messala and learns that Brutus has actually defeated Octavius. Realizing that Cassius died because of a terrible misunderstanding, Titinius is overcome with grief and guilt. He places a victory wreath on Cassius’s head and kills himself with Cassius’s sword.

Brutus arrives and sees the bodies of Cassius and Titinius. He reflects that Caesar’s spirit still controls events, turning the conspirators’ swords against themselves. Brutus praises both men as true and noble Romans, orders Cassius’s body to be sent to Thasos for burial, and prepares his army for another battle before nightfall.

Act V, Scene II और Scene III (Julius Caesar) का स्पष्ट, सरल और परीक्षा-उपयोगी हिंदी सारांश दिया गया है।

सम्पूर्ण दृश्यों का हिंदी सारांश

फिलिपी का युद्ध आरम्भ होता है। ब्रूटस मेसाला को आदेश देता है कि वह दूसरे पक्ष की सेनाओं तक संदेश पहुँचाए और तुरंत आक्रमण कराए। उसे ऑक्टेवियस की सेना में कमजोरी दिखाई देती है और वह मानता है कि अचानक किया गया संयुक्त हमला विजय दिला सकता है।

दूसरी ओर कैसियस को लगता है कि शत्रु भाग रहा है, पर वास्तविक स्थिति शीघ्र ही बिगड़ जाती है। टिटिनियस बताता है कि ब्रूटस ने बहुत जल्दी आक्रमण का आदेश दे दिया। ऑक्टेवियस पर बढ़त मिलने के बाद भी ब्रूटस की सेना युद्ध छोड़कर लूटपाट में लग गई, जिससे एंटनी ने कैसियस की सेना को चारों ओर से घेर लिया। पिंडारस सूचना देता है कि एंटनी ने कैसियस के तंबुओं पर अधिकार कर लिया है।

कैसियस अपने शिविर में आग देखकर पराजय मान लेता है। वह टिटिनियस को यह जानने भेजता है कि दूर दिख रहे सैनिक मित्र हैं या शत्रु। पहाड़ी से पिंडारस गलत समझ लेता है कि टिटिनियस को दुश्मन ने घेर लिया है और पकड़ लिया है, जबकि वास्तव में वे ब्रूटस के सैनिक होते हैं जो विजय का उत्सव मना रहे होते हैं।

अपने प्रिय मित्र के पकड़े जाने की भ्रान्ति और अपमान के भय से कैसियस आत्महत्या करने का निश्चय करता है। वह पिंडारस से उसी तलवार द्वारा स्वयं को मरवाता है जिससे जूलियस सीज़र की हत्या हुई थी और कहता है कि सीज़र का बदला पूरा हो गया।

कुछ समय बाद टिटिनियस और मेसाला लौटते हैं और उन्हें ज्ञात होता है कि ब्रूटस ने वास्तव में ऑक्टेवियस को पराजित कर दिया है। कैसियस की मृत्यु को एक भयंकर भूल और गलत अनुमान का परिणाम मानकर टिटिनियस अत्यन्त दुःखी होता है। वह कैसियस के शव पर विजय-माल चढ़ाता है और उसी की तलवार से आत्महत्या कर लेता है।

ब्रूटस के आने पर दोनों शव देखे जाते हैं। ब्रूटस मानता है कि सीज़र की आत्मा अब भी जीवित है और षड्यंत्रकारियों को स्वयं नष्ट करवा रही है। वह कैसियस और टिटिनियस को सच्चे और महान रोमन कहकर सम्मान देता है, कैसियस के शव को थैसोस भेजने का आदेश देता है और रात होने से पहले एक और युद्ध के लिए सेना को तैयार करता है।

Glossary

Alarum – A signal of battle or alarm; युद्ध का संकेत
Antonym – A word opposite in meaning; विपरीतार्थक शब्द
Apt – Appropriate or suitable; उपयुक्त
Avenged – To take revenge; प्रतिशोध लिया हुआ
Bowels – The inner parts or entrails; अंतःस्थ अंग
Breathed First – Was born; जन्मा
Companion – A friend or associate; साथी
Compass – Cycle or span; चक्र या आयाम
Coward – A person lacking courage; कायर
Demeanor – Behaviour or conduct; व्यवहार
Deed – Action or act; कर्म
Ensign – A flag bearer or standard; ध्वजवाहक
Entrails – Inner organs; आंतरिक अंग
Error – Mistake or fault; त्रुटि
Exposed – Vulnerable to danger; असुरक्षित
Flight – Escape or retreat; भागना
Garland – A wreath of flowers; फूलों की माला
Hath – Has; है
Haughty – Arrogant; घमंडी
Honour – High respect or esteem; सम्मान
Mighty – Powerful or strong; शक्तिशाली
Melancholy – Sadness; उदासी
Noble – Honourable, high-minded; महान, उत्तम
Perceive – To see or understand; देखना या समझना
Poetic Justice – A fitting punishment or reward; न्याय की प्रतीकात्मक सजा
Revenged – Punished in return; प्रतिशोध लिया हुआ
Succeed / Success – Achievement; सफलता
Sword – Blade or weapon; तलवार
Tents – Temporary shelters; तंबू
Villain – A wicked person; खलनायक
Weak – Lacking strength; कमजोर

English Paraphrase: Scene II
(Battle noise. Brutus and Messala enter.)

BRUTUS: Ride quickly, Messala. Take these written orders to the legions on the other side. Tell them to attack immediately. I can see that Octavius’s troops are weak and hesitant. A sudden strong attack will defeat them. Go at once—let all our soldiers charge together.
(They exit.)

Scene III – Paraphrase
(Battle noise. Cassius and Titinius enter.)

CASSIUS: Look, Titinius! Look! The enemy is running away! Even my own soldier turned against me—He was carrying my flag and trying to retreat. I killed that coward myself and took the flag back.

TITINIUS: Cassius, Brutus gave the attack order too soon. Although he had an advantage over Octavius, His soldiers rushed to loot the enemy camps instead of continuing the fight. Because of this, Antony has now surrounded us.

(Pindarus enters.)

PINDARUS: Run away, my lord, run farther! Mark Antony has captured your tents. Escape quickly, noble Cassius!

CASSIUS: This hill is far enough. Look, Titinius—do you see fire burning in my tents?

TITINIUS: Yes, my lord, those are your tents.

CASSIUS: Titinius, if you love me, do this: Ride my horse fast to those troops and then come back quickly. I want to know whether they are our friends or enemies.

TITINIUS: I will return instantly.
(He exits.)

CASSIUS: Pindarus, climb higher up the hill. My eyesight is weak—watch Titinius carefully And tell me what you see happening on the battlefield.
(Pindarus climbs the hill.)

CASSIUS (alone): Today is my birthday. My life has come full circle—from birth to death. My time is over. What news, boy?

PINDARUS (from above): Oh, my lord!

CASSIUS: What is it?

PINDARUS: Titinius is surrounded by horsemen. They are charging at him fast. He is still riding hard—Now they have caught him. They are shouting with joy!

CASSIUS: Come down. I can bear to see no more. How cowardly I am to live so long—To watch my best friend captured before my eyes!
(Pindarus comes down.)

CASSIUS: Come here, boy. In Parthia, I took you prisoner and spared your life. You swore to obey any command I gave you. Keep that oath now. You are free—Take this sword, the same sword that killed Caesar, And stab me in the chest. Do not hesitate. When I cover my face, guide the sword.
(Pindarus stabs Cassius.)

CASSIUS (dying): Caesar, you are avenged—By the very sword that killed you.
(He dies.)

PINDARUS: I am free—but I wish it had not happened this way. I will run far from Rome, Where no Roman will ever find me.
(He exits.)

After Cassius’s Death
(Titinius returns with Messala.)

MESSALA: Do not worry, Titinius. Brutus has defeated Octavius, Just as Antony has defeated Cassius.

TITINIUS: This news will comfort Cassius greatly.

MESSALA: Where did you leave him?

TITINIUS: On this hill—sad and hopeless—with his servant Pindarus.

MESSALA: Is that not his body lying there?

TITINIUS: That body does not look alive. Oh no! My heart breaks!

MESSALA: Is that Cassius?

TITINIUS: Yes—Cassius is dead. As the red sun sets tonight, So Cassius’s life has ended in blood. The light of Rome is gone. Our hopes are finished. He killed himself because he wrongly feared defeat.

MESSALA: Yes—false fear caused this tragedy. O hateful mistake, born of sadness, Why do you make people believe what is not true? You are always destructive And destroy the very mind that creates you.

TITINIUS: Pindarus! Where are you?

MESSALA: You search for him. I must go tell Brutus—Though this news will hurt him more Than sharp weapons.
(Messala exits.)

TITINIUS (alone): Why did you send me away, brave Cassius? Did I not meet our friends? Did they not crown me with victory And ask me to give this garland to you? You misunderstood everything! Here—take this crown. Brutus ordered me to give it to you. Now I will honour you as a Roman should. O gods, forgive me—Cassius’s sword, strike my heart!
(Titinius kills himself.)

Final Scene – Brutus Returns
(Brutus, Messala, Young Cato, Strato, Volumnius, and Lucilius enter.)

BRUTUS: Where is Cassius’s body?

MESSALA: There—Titinius is mourning him.

BRUTUS: Titinius is lying face-up.

CATO: He is dead.

BRUTUS: O Julius Caesar, you still have power! Your spirit moves among us And turns our swords against ourselves.

CATO: Brave Titinius! See—he crowned dead Cassius with victory!

BRUTUS: Are there still Romans like these left alive? They were the last true Romans. Rome will never produce men like them again. I owe Cassius more tears than I can shed now. Later, my friend—later I will mourn you. Take his body to Thasos. Do not bury him here—it would weaken us. Lucilius, Young Cato—come with me. Prepare the army again. It is three o’clock. Before night falls, We shall fight one more battle.

दृश्य III – Paraphrase
(युद्ध का शोर। कैसियस और टिटिनियस प्रवेश करते हैं।)

कैसियस: देखो, टिटिनियस! देखो! दुश्मन भाग रहा है! यहाँ तक कि मेरा अपना सैनिक भी मेरे खिलाफ हो गया—वह मेरा झंडा लेकर पीछे हट रहा था। मैंने उस कायर को खुद मार दिया और झंडा वापस ले लिया।

टिटिनियस: कैसियस, ब्रूटस ने बहुत जल्दी हमला करने का आदेश दे दिया। ऑक्टेवियस पर बढ़त होने के बावजूद उसके सैनिक युद्ध जारी रखने के बजाय दुश्मन के शिविर लूटने में लग गए। इस कारण एंटनी ने हमें चारों ओर से घेर लिया है।

(पिंडारस प्रवेश करते हैं।)

पिंडारस: भागिए, मेरे स्वामी, और दूर भागिए। मार्क एंटनी ने आपके तंबुओं पर कब्ज़ा कर लिया है। जल्दी भागिए, महान कैसियस!

कैसियस: यह पहाड़ी काफी दूर है। देखो, टिटिनियस—क्या तुम्हें मेरे तंबुओं में आग दिखाई दे रही है?

टिटिनियस: हाँ, स्वामी, वही आपके तंबू हैं।

कैसियस: टिटिनियस, यदि तुम मुझसे प्रेम करते हो, तो यह काम करो—मेरे घोड़े पर सवार होकर तेज़ी से उन सैनिकों के पास जाओ और फिर जल्दी लौट आओ। मैं जानना चाहता हूँ कि वे हमारे मित्र हैं या शत्रु।

टिटिनियस: मैं तुरंत लौट आऊँगा।
(वह चला जाता है।)

कैसियस: पिंडारस, इस पहाड़ी पर और ऊपर चढ़ जाओ। मेरी दृष्टि कमजोर है—टिटिनियस पर नज़र रखो और मुझे बताओ कि युद्धक्षेत्र में क्या हो रहा है।
(पिंडारस ऊपर चढ़ता है।)

कैसियस (स्वगत): आज मेरा जन्मदिन है। मेरा जीवन पूर्ण चक्र पूरा कर चुका है—जन्म से मृत्यु तक। मेरा समय समाप्त हो गया है। क्या समाचार है, बालक?

पिंडारस (ऊपर से): हे स्वामी!

कैसियस: क्या हुआ?

पिंडारस: टिटिनियस घुड़सवार सैनिकों से घिर गया है। वे उस पर तेज़ी से हमला कर रहे हैं। वह अब भी तेज़ी से दौड़ रहा है—अब उन्होंने उसे पकड़ लिया है। वे खुशी से चिल्ला रहे हैं!

कैसियस: नीचे आओ। मैं और नहीं देख सकता। मैं कितना कायर हूँ कि अब तक जीवित हूँ—अपने सबसे प्रिय मित्र को अपनी आँखों के सामने पकड़े देख रहा हूँ!
(पिंडारस नीचे आता है।)

कैसियस: मेरे पास आओ, बालक। पार्थिया में मैंने तुम्हें बंदी बनाया और तुम्हारा जीवन बचाया। तुमने शपथ ली थी कि मेरा हर आदेश मानोगे। अब अपनी शपथ निभाओ। अब तुम स्वतंत्र हो—यह वही तलवार लो जिसने सीज़र की हत्या की थी और इसे मेरी छाती में उतार दो। संकोच मत करो। जब मैं अपना चेहरा ढक लूँ, तलवार चला देना।
(पिंडारस कैसियस को मार देता है।)

कैसियस (मरते हुए): सीज़र, तुम्हारा बदला पूरा हुआ—उसी तलवार से जिसने तुम्हें मारा था।
(वह मर जाता है।)

पिंडारस: मैं मुक्त हो गया—पर काश ऐसा न होता। मैं रोम से बहुत दूर भाग जाऊँगा, जहाँ कोई रोमन मुझे न पाए।
(वह चला जाता है।)

कैसियस की मृत्यु के बाद
(टिटिनियस मेसाला के साथ लौटते हैं।)

मेसाला: चिंता मत करो, टिटिनियस। ब्रूटस ने ऑक्टेवियस को हरा दिया, जैसे एंटनी ने कैसियस की सेना को हराया।

टिटिनियस: यह समाचार कैसियस को बहुत ढाढ़स देगा।

मेसाला: तुम उसे कहाँ छोड़ आए थे?

टिटिनियस: इसी पहाड़ी पर—दुखी और निराश—अपने दास पिंडारस के साथ।

मेसाला: क्या वह ज़मीन पर पड़ा हुआ उसका शरीर नहीं है?

टिटिनियस: वह शरीर जीवित व्यक्ति जैसा नहीं दिखता। हाय! मेरा हृदय टूट गया!

मेसाला: क्या वह कैसियस है?

टिटिनियस: हाँ—कैसियस अब नहीं रहा। जैसे लाल सूर्य आज अस्त हो रहा है, वैसे ही कैसियस का जीवन उसके रक्त में समाप्त हो गया। रोम का प्रकाश चला गया। हमारी आशाएँ समाप्त हो गईं। उसने झूठे भय के कारण आत्महत्या की।

मेसाला: हाँ—अविश्वास ने यह त्रासदी उत्पन्न की। हे घृणित भूल, जो उदासी से जन्म लेती है—तुम लोगों को असत्य क्यों दिखाती हो? तुम हमेशा विनाशकारी हो और उसी मस्तिष्क को नष्ट करती हो जिसने तुम्हें जन्म दिया।

टिटिनियस: पिंडारस! तुम कहाँ हो?

मेसाला: तुम उसे खोजो। मैं ब्रूटस को यह समाचार देने जा रहा हूँ—हालाँकि यह समाचार उसे किसी भी हथियार से अधिक दुख देगा।
(मेसाला चला जाता है।)

टिटिनियस (स्वगत): हे वीर कैसियस, तुमने मुझे दूर क्यों भेजा? क्या मैं तुम्हारे मित्रों से नहीं मिला? क्या उन्होंने मुझे विजय का मुकुट नहीं पहनाया और तुम्हें देने को नहीं कहा? तुमने सब कुछ गलत समझ लिया! यह लो, यह मुकुट तुम्हारे लिए है। ब्रूटस ने मुझे ऐसा करने को कहा। अब मैं एक सच्चे रोमन की तरह तुम्हारा सम्मान करता हूँ। हे देवताओं, क्षमा करना—कैसियस की तलवार, अब मेरे हृदय को भेद दो!
(टिटिनियस आत्महत्या कर लेता है।)

अंतिम दृश्य – ब्रूटस का प्रवेश
(ब्रूटस, मेसाला, युवा केटो, स्ट्रेटो, वोलुम्नियस और लुसिलियस प्रवेश करते हैं।)

ब्रूटस: कैसियस का शरीर कहाँ है?

मेसाला: वहाँ—टिटिनियस उसके पास शोक कर रहा है।

ब्रूटस: टिटिनियस का मुख ऊपर की ओर है।

केटो: वह मारा गया है।

ब्रूटस: हे जूलियस सीज़र, तुम अब भी शक्तिशाली हो! तुम्हारी आत्मा हमारे बीच चल रही है और हमारी तलवारों को हमारे ही शरीर के खिलाफ मोड़ रही है।

केटो: वीर टिटिनियस! देखो—उसने मृत कैसियस को विजय का मुकुट पहनाया!

ब्रूटस: क्या अब भी ऐसे रोमन जीवित हैं? ये अंतिम सच्चे रोमन थे। रोम फिर कभी ऐसे पुरुष पैदा नहीं करेगा। मैं कैसियस के लिए और आँसू बहाऊँगा—पर अभी नहीं। बाद में, मित्र—बाद में। उसके शरीर को थैसोस भेज दो। यहीं अंतिम संस्कार मत करो—यह हमें कमजोर कर देगा। लुसिलियस, युवा केटो—मेरे साथ आओ। सेना को फिर से तैयार करो। तीन बज चुके हैं। रात होने से पहले हम एक और युद्ध लड़ेंगे।

MCQs

1. Whom does Brutus send with written orders to the legions?

A. Lucilius
B. Titinius
C. Messala
D. Strato

Answer: C. Messala

2. Why does Brutus order an immediate attack on Octavius?

A. Antony has withdrawn
B. Octavius’s troops appear weak
C. Cassius advises him
D. Night is approaching

Answer: B. Octavius’s troops appear weak

3. What mistake does Titinius say Brutus made?

A. He trusted Antony
B. He delayed the attack
C. He attacked too early
D. He changed the battle plan

Answer: C. He attacked too early

4. Why did Brutus’s soldiers stop fighting?

A. They were tired
B. They were defeated
C. They began looting
D. They were surrounded

Answer: C. They began looting

5. Who surrounds and defeats Cassius’s army?

A. Octavius
B. Lepidus
C. Brutus
D. Antony

Answer: D. Antony

6. Who informs Cassius that Antony has captured his tents?

A. Titinius
B. Messala
C. Pindarus
D. Lucilius

Answer: C. Pindarus

7. Why does Cassius send Titinius to the troops?

A. To attack them
B. To bring help
C. To find out if they are friends or enemies
D. To deliver a message

Answer: C. To find out if they are friends or enemies

8. Why does Cassius rely on Pindarus to watch Titinius?

A. He trusts him most
B. His eyesight is weak
C. Titinius orders him
D. He is injured

Answer: B. His eyesight is weak

9. What mistake does Pindarus make?

A. He betrays Cassius
B. He falls asleep
C. He misreads the situation
D. He flees the battle

Answer: C. He misreads the situation

10. The horsemen surrounding Titinius were actually:

A. Antony’s soldiers
B. Enemies celebrating capture
C. Brutus’s soldiers celebrating victory
D. Roman civilians

Answer: C. Brutus’s soldiers celebrating victory

11. Why does Cassius decide to die?

A. He is wounded
B. He fears disgrace
C. He believes Titinius is captured
D. All of the above

Answer: D. All of the above

12. Who kills Cassius?

A. Himself
B. Antony
C. Titinius
D. Pindarus

Answer: D. Pindarus

13. With which sword is Cassius killed?

A. Antony’s sword
B. Brutus’s sword
C. His own sword
D. Caesar’s sword

Answer: C. His own sword

14. Cassius says, “Caesar, thou art revenged” because:

A. Brutus is defeated
B. Antony wins
C. He dies by Caesar’s sword
D. Rome is destroyed

Answer: C. He dies by Caesar’s sword

15. What does Pindarus do after killing Cassius?

A. Surrenders
B. Kills himself
C. Joins Antony
D. Runs away

Answer: D. Runs away

16. Who brings the news that Brutus has defeated Octavius?

A. Titinius
B. Messala
C. Lucilius
D. Cato

Answer: B. Messala

17. What causes Titinius’s extreme grief?

A. Brutus’s defeat
B. Antony’s victory
C. Cassius’s death by mistake
D. His own injury

Answer: C. Cassius’s death by mistake

18. What does Titinius place on Cassius’s head?

A. Helmet
B. Crown of victory
C. Shield
D. Laurel branch

Answer: B. Crown of victory

19. How does Titinius die?

A. Killed by Antony
B. Captured by Octavius
C. Poison
D. By Cassius’s sword

Answer: D. By Cassius’s sword

20. Brutus believes the deaths prove that:

A. Antony is cruel
B. Fate is blind
C. Caesar’s spirit still rules
D. Rome is finished

Answer: C. Caesar’s spirit still rules

21. Brutus calls Cassius and Titinius:

A. Weak Romans
B. Proud traitors
C. The last of the Romans
D. Roman cowards

Answer: C. The last of the Romans

22. Why does Brutus order Cassius’s body to be sent to Thasos?

A. To honour him publicly
B. To hide the death from Antony
C. To avoid discouraging the army
D. To obey Roman law

Answer: C. To avoid discouraging the army

23. Which theme is most strongly shown in these scenes?

A. Love
B. Comedy
C. Misjudgement and error
D. Superstition

Answer: C. Misjudgement and error

24. “Mistrust of good success hath done this deed” refers to:

A. Antony’s cruelty
B. Brutus’s ambition
C. Cassius’s mistaken fear
D. Octavius’s strategy

Answer: C. Cassius’s mistaken fear

25. Who calls error “melancholy’s child”?

A. Brutus
B. Cassius
C. Titinius
D. Messala

Answer: D. Messala

26. Cassius’s death mainly results from:

A. Physical weakness
B. Enemy attack
C. Wrong information
D. Divine curse

Answer: C. Wrong information

27. Which Roman virtue is highlighted by the suicides?

A. Mercy
B. Discipline
C. Honor
D. Obedience

Answer: C. Honor

28. Which character acts as a tragic messenger?

A. Messala
B. Lucilius
C. Pindarus
D. Volumnius

Answer: C. Pindarus

29. At what time does Brutus prepare for the next battle?

A. Noon
B. Midnight
C. Three o’clock
D. Dawn

Answer: C. Three o’clock

30. These scenes mainly prepare the audience for:

A. Antony’s victory
B. Brutus’s moral dilemma
C. The final defeat of Brutus
D. Caesar’s return

Answer: C. The final defeat of Brutus

One-Mark Questions

1.    Q. Whom does Brutus send with written orders to the legions?
Ans. Brutus sends Messala with written orders to the legions.

2.    Q. Why does Brutus order an immediate attack on Octavius?
Ans. Brutus orders an immediate attack because Octavius’s army appears weak and hesitant.

3.    Q. What does Brutus hope a sudden attack will achieve?
Ans. Brutus hopes that a sudden attack will overthrow Octavius’s forces.

4.    Q. What mistake does Titinius say Brutus committed?
Ans. Titinius says that Brutus attacked too early.

5.    Q. Why did Brutus’s soldiers stop fighting effectively?
Ans. Brutus’s soldiers stopped fighting because they began looting the enemy camp.

6.    Q. Who takes advantage of Brutus’s soldiers looting the camp?
Ans. Mark Antony takes advantage of the situation and surrounds Cassius’s forces.

7.    Q. Who informs Cassius that his tents have been captured?
Ans. Pindarus informs Cassius that his tents have been captured by Antony.

8.    Q. What sight convinces Cassius that he is defeated?
Ans. Cassius sees fire in his tents and believes he is defeated.

9.    Q. Why does Cassius send Titinius to the nearby troops?
Ans. Cassius sends Titinius to find out whether the approaching troops are friends or enemies.

10. Q. Why does Cassius depend on Pindarus to watch Titinius?
Ans. Cassius depends on Pindarus because his eyesight is weak.

11. Q. What does Pindarus wrongly report about Titinius?
Ans. Pindarus wrongly reports that Titinius has been surrounded and captured by enemies.

12. Q. Who are actually surrounding Titinius?
Ans. Titinius is actually surrounded by Brutus’s soldiers celebrating victory.

13. Q. What false belief leads Cassius to despair?
Ans. Cassius falsely believes that his best friend Titinius has been captured.

14. Q. Why does Cassius choose death over capture?
Ans. Cassius chooses death because he cannot bear the shame of capture.

15. Q. Who kills Cassius?
Ans. Pindarus kills Cassius at his command.

16. Q. Which sword is used to kill Cassius?
Ans. Cassius is killed with the same sword that was used to kill Julius Caesar.

17. Q. What does Cassius mean by saying Caesar is avenged?
Ans. Cassius means that Caesar’s death is avenged because Cassius dies by Caesar’s sword.

18. Q. What does Pindarus do after killing Cassius?
Ans. Pindarus runs away to avoid being captured by the Romans.

19. Q. Who brings news of Brutus’s victory over Octavius?
Ans. Messala brings news that Brutus has defeated Octavius.

20. Q. How does Titinius react on seeing Cassius dead?
Ans. Titinius is overcome with grief and guilt on seeing Cassius dead.

21. Q. What does Titinius place on Cassius’s body?
Ans. Titinius places a victory garland on Cassius’s head.

22. Q. Why does Titinius feel responsible for Cassius’s death?
Ans. Titinius feels responsible because Cassius died due to a misunderstanding about his fate.

23. Q. How does Titinius end his life?
Ans. Titinius kills himself with Cassius’s sword.

24. Q. Who discovers the bodies of Cassius and Titinius?
Ans. Brutus and his companions discover the bodies of Cassius and Titinius.

25. Q. How does Brutus interpret these deaths?
Ans. Brutus believes that Caesar’s spirit is still active and guiding events.

26. Q. What does Brutus call Cassius and Titinius?
Ans. Brutus calls them the last of the true Romans.

27. Q. Why does Brutus restrain his grief?
Ans. Brutus restrains his grief because he must focus on the ongoing war.

28. Q. Where does Brutus order Cassius’s body to be sent?
Ans. Brutus orders Cassius’s body to be sent to Thasos.

29. Q. Why does Brutus not allow Cassius’s funeral in the camp?
Ans. Brutus fears that the funeral would discourage the soldiers.

30. Q. What time of day is mentioned for the next battle?
Ans. The next battle is planned around three o’clock.

31. Q. What decision does Brutus take after these deaths?
Ans. Brutus decides to prepare his army for another battle.

32. Q. Which major theme is highlighted through Cassius’s death?
Ans. Cassius’s death highlights the theme of tragic error and misjudgement.

33. Q. What Roman ideal is shown by the suicides of Cassius and Titinius?
Ans. Their suicides show the Roman ideal of honour above life.

34. Q. How does misunderstanding contribute to the tragedy?
Ans. Misunderstanding causes Cassius to believe defeat and choose death wrongly.

35. Q. What do these scenes foreshadow about Brutus’s future?
Ans. These scenes foreshadow the final defeat and death of Brutus.

(A) Two-Mark Questions

1.    Q. Why does Brutus order Messala to deliver messages to the legions and attack at once?
Ans. Brutus notices weakness and hesitation in Octavius’s troops and believes that a sudden, united attack will defeat them before they can recover.

2.    Q. What mistake does Titinius point out in Brutus’s strategy?
Ans. Titinius explains that Brutus attacked too early, and his soldiers abandoned the fight to loot the enemy camp instead of securing victory.

3.    Q. How does Antony manage to overpower Cassius’s forces?
Ans. Antony surrounds Cassius’s legions while Brutus’s soldiers are distracted with plunder, leaving Cassius vulnerable.

4.    Q. Why does the sight of fire in his tents deeply alarm Cassius?
Ans. Cassius assumes that his camp has been captured and interprets the fire as a sign of complete defeat.

5.    Q. Why does Cassius send Titinius to the approaching troops?
Ans. Cassius wants to confirm whether the troops are allies or enemies before deciding his next action.

6.    Q. Why does Cassius depend on Pindarus to observe Titinius’s mission?
Ans. Cassius relies on Pindarus because his eyesight is weak and he cannot see events clearly from a distance.

7.    Q. How does Pindarus misinterpret what he sees on the battlefield?
Ans. Pindarus mistakes Brutus’s victorious soldiers surrounding Titinius for enemy horsemen capturing him.

8.    Q. What false conclusion does Cassius draw from Pindarus’s report?
Ans. Cassius believes that Titinius has been captured by the enemy and that all hope is lost.

9.    Q. Why does Cassius prefer death to capture?
Ans. Cassius believes that capture would bring dishonour and disgrace, which a true Roman must avoid.

10. Q. Explain the significance of the sword with which Cassius is killed.
Ans. Cassius is killed by the same sword that murdered Caesar, symbolizing poetic justice and Caesar’s revenge.

11. Q. What is the tragic irony in Cassius’s death?
Ans. Cassius dies believing he is defeated, while in reality Brutus has won a major victory.

12. Q. How does Titinius react when he learns the truth after returning?
Ans. Titinius is overwhelmed by grief and guilt on realizing that Cassius died due to a misunderstanding.

13. Q. Why does Titinius crown Cassius with a victory garland?
Ans. Titinius honours Cassius by placing the garland to show that he actually died at a moment of victory.

14. Q. Why does Titinius kill himself after Cassius’s death?
Ans. Titinius feels morally responsible for Cassius’s death and chooses to die as an honourable Roman.

15. Q. How does Brutus interpret the deaths of Cassius and Titinius?
Ans. Brutus believes that Caesar’s spirit is still active and is turning the conspirators’ swords against themselves.

16. Q. Why does Brutus call Cassius and Titinius “the last of the Romans”?
Ans. He admires their strict sense of honour, courage, and devotion to Roman ideals.

17. Q. Why does Brutus decide not to mourn Cassius openly at once?
Ans. Brutus controls his grief because the army must remain strong and ready for battle.

18. Q. Why does Brutus order Cassius’s body to be sent to Thasos?
Ans. He fears that holding the funeral in the camp would demoralize the soldiers.

19. Q. What decision does Brutus take after witnessing these deaths?
Ans. Brutus resolves to prepare his army and face another battle before nightfall.

20. Q. What central theme is reinforced through these scenes?
Ans. The scenes reinforce the theme that tragic error and misjudgement can destroy even noble men.

(B) Two-Mark Questions

1.    Q. Why does Brutus order an immediate attack on Octavius?
Ans. Brutus sees hesitation and weakness in Octavius’s troops and believes a sudden, united attack will defeat them quickly.

2.    Q. What mistake in Brutus’s strategy does Titinius mention?
Ans. Titinius says Brutus attacked too early, causing his soldiers to abandon fighting and begin looting the enemy camp.

3.    Q. How does Antony gain an advantage over Cassius?
Ans. Antony surrounds Cassius’s army while Brutus’s soldiers are distracted with plunder, leaving Cassius’s forces exposed.

4.    Q. Why does Cassius feel defeated when he sees fire in his tents?
Ans. Cassius assumes that his camp has been captured and believes the fire proves complete defeat.

5.    Q. Why does Cassius send Titinius to the approaching troops?
Ans. Cassius wants to know whether the nearby troops are allies or enemies before taking further action.

6.    Q. Why does Cassius ask Pindarus to observe Titinius?
Ans. Cassius depends on Pindarus because his eyesight is weak and he cannot see distant events clearly.

7.    Q. What mistake does Pindarus make in his observation?
Ans. Pindarus wrongly believes Titinius is captured, while he is actually welcomed by Brutus’s victorious soldiers.

8.    Q. What false belief leads Cassius to despair?
Ans. Cassius believes Titinius has been captured and that honourable defeat is unavoidable.

9.    Q. Why does Cassius choose death over capture?
Ans. Cassius believes that living in captivity would disgrace Roman honour, which he cannot accept.

10. Q. What is the significance of the sword that kills Cassius?
Ans. Cassius dies by the same sword used to kill Caesar, symbolizing poetic justice and Caesar’s revenge.

11. Q. What tragic irony is involved in Cassius’s death?
Ans. Cassius kills himself believing he is defeated, while Brutus has actually won a victory.

12. Q. How does Titinius react on seeing Cassius dead?
Ans. Titinius is overwhelmed by grief and guilt, realizing Cassius died because of a misunderstanding.

13. Q. Why does Titinius place a victory garland on Cassius?
Ans. Titinius crowns Cassius to show that he died at a moment of victory, not defeat.

14. Q. How does Brutus interpret the deaths of Cassius and Titinius?
Ans. Brutus believes Caesar’s spirit still controls events and turns the conspirators’ swords against themselves.

15. Q. Why does Brutus order Cassius’s body to be sent to Thasos?
Ans. Brutus fears that holding the funeral in the camp would discourage and weaken the soldiers.

Three-Mark Questions

1.    Q. Explain why Brutus orders an immediate attack on Octavius in Scene II.
Ans. Brutus observes hesitation and weakness in Octavius’s troops and believes that a sudden, united attack will quickly defeat them. He hopes to take advantage of this moment before the enemy regains confidence or reorganizes.

2.    Q. What strategic mistake does Titinius highlight regarding Brutus’s actions?
Ans. Titinius explains that Brutus attacked too early. Although Brutus gained an advantage, his soldiers abandoned discipline and began looting the enemy camp, allowing Antony to surround and defeat Cassius’s forces.

3.    Q. Describe how Cassius misinterprets the situation on the battlefield.
Ans. Cassius sees fire in his tents and assumes his camp has been captured. Later, based on Pindarus’s report, he believes Titinius has been captured, when in reality Titinius is meeting friendly, victorious troops.

4.    Q. How does Pindarus contribute to the tragedy of Cassius’s death?
Ans. Pindarus wrongly reports that Titinius has been surrounded and captured by enemy soldiers. This incorrect observation leads Cassius to despair and believe defeat and dishonour are inevitable.

5.    Q. Why does Cassius choose suicide instead of waiting for confirmation?
Ans. Cassius values Roman honour above life. Believing his friend captured and his cause lost, he chooses death over the shame of captivity or humiliation at the hands of the enemy.

6.    Q. Explain the significance of the sword used in Cassius’s death.
Ans. Cassius is killed by the same sword that stabbed Julius Caesar. This symbolizes poetic justice and reinforces the idea that Caesar’s spirit is taking revenge on the conspirators.

7.    Q. How does Titinius react after discovering Cassius’s death?
Ans. Titinius is overwhelmed by grief and guilt. Realizing that Cassius died due to a misunderstanding, he crowns Cassius with a victory garland and commits suicide with Cassius’s sword.

8.    Q. What role does Messala play after the deaths of Cassius and Titinius?
Ans. Messala brings news of Brutus’s victory over Octavius and later guides Brutus to the bodies of Cassius and Titinius, helping reveal the tragic consequences of error and misjudgement.

9.    Q. How does Brutus interpret the deaths of Cassius and Titinius?
Ans. Brutus believes that Caesar’s spirit is still active and influencing events. He feels that Caesar is taking revenge by turning the conspirators’ swords against themselves.

10. Q. Why does Brutus order Cassius’s body to be sent to Thasos and prepare for another battle?
Ans. Brutus wants to prevent the army from losing morale due to public mourning. He controls his grief and prepares for another battle, showing leadership and commitment to the cause.

Reference-to-Contexts

Extract 1:
“Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills / Unto the legions on the other side. Let them set on at once, for I perceive / But cold demeanor in Octavius’ wing.”

Q1 (1 mark): Who speaks these lines?
Ans: Brutus speaks these lines.

Q2 (2 marks): What does Brutus instruct Messala to do?
Ans: Brutus instructs Messala to deliver written orders to the legions on the other side and to make sure they attack immediately.

Q3 (3 marks): What does this passage reveal about Brutus as a commander?
Ans: The passage shows Brutus as decisive, alert, and confident; he tries to exploit the enemy’s hesitation to gain an advantage.

Q4 (Vocabulary 1 mark): What is the meaning of “bills”?
Ans: Written orders or commands.

Q5 (Vocabulary 1 mark): Give a synonym for “cold demeanor.”
Ans: Weak attitude or indifference.

Q6 (2 marks): Why does Brutus want a sudden attack?
Ans: He believes a sudden strike will surprise the enemy and ensure victory.

Extract 2:
“O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly! / Myself have to mine own turned enemy: / This ensign here of mine was turning back; I slew the coward.”

Q1. Who says these lines?
Ans: Cassius says these lines.

Q2. What does Cassius mean by “the villains fly”?
Ans: Cassius means that the enemy soldiers appear to be retreating.

Q3. Why does Cassius kill the ensign?
Ans: Cassius kills the cowardly soldier who was fleeing and abandoning his post because he sees it as an act of betrayal.

Q4. Meaning of “ensign”?
Ans: A soldier who carries the flag.

Q5. Antonym of “coward”?
Ans: A brave person or hero.

Q6. How does this reveal Cassius’s character?
Ans: It shows that Cassius is strict, values loyalty, and is quick to punish perceived cowardice.

Extract 3:
“Fly further off, my lord, fly further off; / Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord / Fly, therefore, noble Cassius, fly far off.”

Q1. Who speaks these lines?
Ans: Pindarus speaks these lines to Cassius.

Q2. Why does Pindarus advise Cassius to flee?
Ans: Pindarus advises Cassius to flee because Antony has entered his camp, creating a serious threat.

Q3. What does this moment signify in the play?
Ans: It creates tension, showing Cassius’s vulnerable situation and foreshadows his tragic death.

Q4. Meaning of “noble”?
Ans: Honourable or high-minded.

Q5. Synonym of “fly” in this context?
Ans: Escape or retreat.

Q6. How does this extract contribute to the theme of fate?
Ans: It shows that despite bravery, the characters are controlled by circumstances and misjudgements beyond their control.

Extract 4:
“This day I breathed first: time is come round, / And where I did begin, there shall I end; / My life is run his compass.”

Q1. Who speaks these lines?
Ans: Cassius speaks these lines.

Q2. What does Cassius mean by “time is come round”?
Ans: He means that his life has completed its cycle and he is ready to die.

Q3. How do these lines foreshadow the events to follow?
Ans: They foreshadow Cassius’s suicide and reveal his acceptance of death and sense of fatalism.

Q4. Meaning of “breathed first”?
Ans: Was born.

Q5. Synonym of “compass” here?
Ans: Cycle or circle.

Q6. What does this reveal about Roman attitudes toward fate?
Ans: It shows that Romans accepted death as a natural, inevitable part of life, often with dignity.

Extract 5:
“Caesar, thou art revenged, / Even with the sword that kill’d thee.”

Q1. Who says this line?
Ans: Cassius says this line while dying.

Q2. Why does Cassius feel Caesar is avenged?
Ans: He feels Caesar is avenged because he dies by the same sword that killed Caesar.

Q3. What theme is highlighted in this line?
Ans: The line highlights poetic justice and the idea that Caesar’s spirit continues to influence events after death.

Q4. Meaning of “revenged”?
Ans: Avenged.

Q5. Synonym of “sword”?
Ans: Blade.

Q6. How does this line reinforce the tragic atmosphere?
Ans: It emphasizes inevitability, fate, and the consequences of past actions, creating tragedy.

Extract 6:
“Mistrust of good success hath done this deed. / O hateful error, melancholy's child, / Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men / The things that are not?”

Q1. Who says these lines?
Ans: Messala says these lines.

Q2. What “deed” is referred to here?
Ans: The “deed” refers to the suicide of Cassius.

Q3. What is the central idea in this extract?
Ans: The central idea is that misjudgement, mistrust, and error can lead to tragedy despite actual success.

Q4. Meaning of “apt”?
Ans: Appropriate or suitable.

Q5. Antonym of “melancholy”?
Ans: Happiness.

Q6. How does this extract relate to the theme of error?
Ans: It shows how misinterpretation and false assumptions can cause disastrous consequences.

Extract 7:
“The sun of Rome is set! Our day is gone, / Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are done!”

Q1. Who says these lines?
Ans: Titinius says these lines.

Q2. What does “the sun of Rome” symbolize?
Ans: It symbolizes Cassius and the perceived end of Rome’s greatness.

Q3. How does this metaphor convey emotion?
Ans: It expresses despair, hopelessness, and the sense of loss after Cassius’s death.

Q4. Meaning of “deeds”?
Ans: Actions.

Q5. Synonym of “clouds” here?
Ans: Troubles.

Q6. How does this extract heighten the tragic atmosphere?
Ans: By emphasizing darkness, death, and the futility of human efforts.

Extract 8:
“O Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet! / Thy spirit walks abroad and turns our swords / In our own proper entrails.”

Q1. Who speaks these lines?
Ans: Brutus speaks these lines.

Q2. What does Brutus mean by “thy spirit walks abroad”?
Ans: He means Caesar’s spirit continues to influence events and punish the conspirators.

Q3. How does this reflect Brutus’s feelings?
Ans: It shows Brutus feels regret, fear, and awe at Caesar’s lingering power and the consequences of the assassination.

Q4. Meaning of “entrails”?
Ans: Inner organs, or figuratively, one’s own life.

Q5. Synonym of “mighty”?
Ans: Powerful.

Q6. How does this line reinforce the theme of fate?
Ans: It shows that Caesar’s influence and the course of destiny continue beyond death, affecting all characters.

 Courtesy: Different AI sources

Compiled and Edited by Dr. Shankar D Mishra

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