Julius Caesar

Reference to Context Question Answers

Q. A That you do love me, I am nothing jealous;

What You would work me to, I have some aim:

How I have thought of this, and of these times,

I shall recount hereafter;

Q. 1 Who speaks these words? What does ‘jealous’ mean here? How has the speaker been
convinced of the other person’s feelings for him?

Ans. The above extract has been taken from William Shakespeare’s historical play Julius Caesar,
where Brutus is the speaker of these extracted speech. The word ‘jealous’ here has been used to
mean that Brutus is in no way doubtful of Cassius’s affection for him. He knows that he is a dear
friend & is convinced that Cassius loves him because Cassius had assured him that he was considered
as an honourable man by the common mass of Rome. Cassius tells him that he is also in no way less
than Caesar as regards the virtues of bravery & morality. Infact, he was not meant to let another man
rule his destiny. He reminds him of Junius Brutus who had lead popular movement & expelled the
Roman king Tarquin. He opines that Brutus too should not let a king rule him & should put an end to
the ambition of Caesar.

Q. 2 Explain, “What you would work me to”.

Ans. In this context, Brutus assures that he understands what Cassius is trying to tell him. Brutus tells
him that he knows what Cassius is trying to persuade him to look into the reality of the situation
prevailing in Rome under the authority of Caesar.

Q. 3 What do “this” and “these times” refer to?

Ans. By the term ‘this’ Brutus is referring to what he feels he knows Cassius is trying to convince him
about. He wants to tell Cassius that he has understood what he has been told by him about the
present situation of Rome under the rule of Caesar. But he would give his answer about the condition
prevailing in Rome and how it had to be dealt with later.

Q. 4 What does the speaker promise to do? What assurance does he give?

Ans. Brutus promises to ponder and think over what Cassius had told him about Caesar. He also
promises to listen to whatever he has to say concerning Rome and Caesar, later on. After giving a
proper thought to everything he would put a reply towards all the questions asked to him. Besides,
he assures Cassius that he would certainly do the needful to set the situation proper keeping in mind
the prevailing situation.

Q. 5 Do you think the other one has been able to achieve his goal?

Ans. Cassius has achieved what he actually opted for. Brutus during his conversation with Cassius
pours out his heart about his concern & dissatisfaction regarding the situation in Rome with the idea
of accepting Caesar as an autocratic ruler. Brutus then promised to do something in order to set right
the disheveled situation that satisfied Cassius to achieve his sinister intentions one step ahead.
Q. B Cassius. I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor,

Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder

The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber

Did I the tired Caesar.

Q. 1 To whom does Cassius say these words? When & where?

Ans. These words of Cassius are addressed to Brutus when both of them are alone in the public
place, waiting for Caesar and the rest of the procession to return from the games. Cassius had been
trying to use this precious opportunity to provoke Brutus to turn against Caesar by any means.

Q. 2 What incident is Cassius talking about & What reason does he have behind it?

Ans. Cassius is referring to the incident when sometime earlier in the past, on a cold windy day, when
the River Tiber was turbulently flooded, Caesar had dared him to jump into the water with him. But
the force of the rising river was so raging that soon Caesar had become tired. He would surely have
drowned if Cassius had not carried him on his back safely to the bank. Cassius here simply trying to
establish an adverse impression of Caesar infront of Brutus. He somehow convinces Brutus the fact
that they are as strong as Caesar & therefore are not subject to bow down before Caesar, neither to
obey his commands.

Q. 3 What does this speech reveal about Cassius?

Ans. The speech reveals the physical strength of Cassius & simultaneously we also get an insight of
his cunning & manipulative nature. He directly does not attack Caesar & criticizes how he has
subjugated them. Hence he turns out to be as a cunning political manipulator with sinister
intentions.

Q. 4 Who was Aeneas?

Aeneas was an ancient Trojan leader. After the Greeks had succeeded in intruding Troy with the help
of the wooden horse, they had set fire to the entire city. Aeneas, compelled to leave, had carried his
aged father on his back to safety. After undergoing several hardships while wandering from place to
place, Aeneas had founded the city of Rome.

Q. 5 Explain the phrase, “our great ancestor”.

Ans. Cassius refers to Aeneas as the great ancestor. Aeneas was a great Trojan leader who had loved
his liberty. He had been forced to flee from Troy when the Greeks had treacherously entered the city
hidden in wooden horse. They had burnt the entire city. It is then when Aeneas had escaped along
with his father on his back. But he never lost hope in spite of many hardships and had succeeded in
founding the city of Rome it’s people.

Q. C Why, there was a crown offere’d him; and, being

offere’d him, he put it by with the back of his hand,

Thus, and then the people fell a-shouting.

Q. 1 Who are the characters engaged in the conversation? Mention the name of the speaker.

Ans. The above conversation takes place between Casca, Brutus & Cassius after Brutus had departed
along with his followers. The lines are uttered by Casca who had accompanied Caesar and the regal
procession. Casca here is replying to the question asked by Brutus about what happened in the
Forum that day that had made Caesar look so grim.

Q. 2 Who was offered a crown & by whom?

Ans. Caesar was offered a crown, the symbol of kingship in Rome by Mark Anthony, one of his
trusted General. He was offered the crown for consecutive three times.

Q. 3 Why did he not accept the crown? Did he really want the crown? Justify your answer.

Ans. Caesar did not accept the crown because he knew very well that any public acceptance of a
symbol of monarchy would be unacceptable to majority of the people. Although, he actually craved
to be crowned the king of Rome yet he publicly refused the crown offered by Mark Anthony. In a
dramatic gesture he refused the object that he yearned for the most. He wanted to gain popularity &
this would ensure that unflinching faith & worship of common people upon him

Q. 4 How does the speaker describe the mob and it’s reaction when the crown was refused?

Ans. Casca describes contemptuously of the mob and uses such repulsive words like ‘rabblement’,
‘tag-rag’, ‘common herd’ to implicate them. He describes the common mass to mindless & stupid
who according to him had no sense of their own and would forgive Caesar even if he would have
stabbed their mother. The mob is compliant & worship the person in authority just like animals who
obey unquestioningly.

Q. 5 How do the others present react to this incident & why?

Ans. Both Brutus & Cassius are surprised that Caesar had refused the crown that was offered to him
three times. They question Casca who had offered Caesar the crown & consequently ask him to
narrate the event in detail. They were curious as well as apprehensive about the reactions of the
crowd. They questioned him as to the reason why Caesar fainted & What caused him to look so
morose & depressed. Cassius enquired about Casca’s attitude towards Caesar and therefore invited
him to have dinner together. Since both Brutus & Cassius are baffled about the actual reason behind
Caesar’s refusal of the crown and want to get their answers from Casca.