Julius Caesar

Act 1 Scene 3
Workbook Notes
1. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (Answers)
1. (b) god's rage with insolent world
2. (a) Unnatural events
3. (d) Caesar
4. (d) Stab himself with a dagger
5. (c) Romans were not so submissive.
6. (a) He equates it with Caesar.
7. (d) By committing suicide
8. (b) Fearful
9. (d) Brutus
10. (c) It will convert their crime into a noble act
11. (a) it filled him with boldness to become master of his fate

Extract I.
Casca
Are you not moved when all the sway of earth
Shakes like a thing infirm? O Cicero,
I have seen tempests when the scolding winds
Have rived the knotty oaks, and I have seen
Th’ ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam
To be exalted with the threat’ning clouds;
But never till to-night, never till now,
Did I go through a tempest dropping fire.

i.)Where is Casca at this time? In what state has he come there? To whom is he speaking?
Casca, at this time, is on a street of Rome.
He is in a state of anxiety and fear,, having witnessed strange and unnatural occurrences in the city within the
storm.
He is speaking to Cicero, a prominent Roman politician and orator.

ii.)Give the meaning of the following :

a) all the sway of earth/Shakes like a thing unfirm?
b) To ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam,
Ans. a. The first phrase means that the entire earth is shaking as if it is unstable and unreliable.
b. The second phrase means that the ocean is rising and becoming agitated, as if it is trying to match
the fury of the storm clouds.

iii.)What are the "scolding winds"? What did they do?

Scolding winds are high velocity storms destroying everything in its way. Scolding winds tore apart very strong
oak trees.

iv.)What did Casca see which he had never seen in his life earlier? What does he conclude, immediately after
the extract, about the calamities?
Casca mentions that he has seen storms with high velocity winds and rising waves, but he has never seen
storms dropping fire
He concludes, immediately after the extracts, that either that there was a civil war in heaven or the gods were
very upset with the people of Rome.

v.)What is the next day supposed to be? Why will it be a fatal day? Who had warned about that day?
The next day is supposed to be the day when Caesar is to be crowned king as well as the Idea of March.
It will be a fatal day because some Romans fear that Caesar will become a tyrant and destroy the Roman
Republic.
A soothsayer had warned Caesar to beware the Ides of March (March 15), which is the day of Caesar’s
assassination.

Extract II.
Cicero: Why, saw you anything more wonderful?
Casca: A common slave (you know him well by sight)
Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn
Like twenty torches joined; and yet his hand,
Not sensible of fire, remained unscorched.

i.) Narrate in your own words the " wonderful" sight seen by Casca as given in the extract?
Casca saw a slave which he knew by sight. He was holding up his left-hand which was on fire and was burning
like twenty torches, but he did not feel the heat and it did not burn his arm.

ii.) Besides the sight referred to in (i) above describe three unnatural sights that Casca narrates after this
extract.
At the Capitol he came across a Lion which stared at him fiercely, but did not attack him. He also saw a group
of hundred women, huddled together. They were pale with fear having seen men walking up and down the
street on fire. He also heard an owl, in the marketplace the previous day, hooting and shrieking during noon
day which was uncommon.

iii.) What does Casca believe about the unnatural events?

Casca believes that these unnatural events are warnings for the country about something unpleasant future
about to happen.

iv.) In what way is Casca's belief a contrast to the one expressed by Cicero about these events?
Casca believes that the events warn the country of an unpleasant future. However, Cicero believes that men
interpret events to suit themselves.

v.) What impact do these strange things have on Caesar, as well as on the audience?
These strange events have no impact on Caesar even though he has been warned of something ominous by
the soothsayer. Caesar gave the message through Antony, that he will be in the capitol tomorrow.
These strange and ominous events frighten the audience. They believe some calamity is about to befall the
people of Rome.

Extract III.
Cassius: I know where I will wear this dagger then;
Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius.
 Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong;
Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat.

Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass,

Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron,
Can be retentive to the strength of spirit;

i.) What were a group of people planning on the following day, which makes Cassius say that he would
"wear this dagger again"? How does Cassius try to prevent that plan from being put into operation?
A group of people, which was the senate, was planning on proclaiming Caesar as King on the following day.
This is why Cassius says the above line.
Cassius tries to prevent this plan by convincing Brutus to join the conspiracy and to assassinate Caesar before
he can become too powerful.

ii.) Why does Cassius say earlier that the Romans now do not have manly courage?
Cassius says that the Romans now do not have manly courage because they have become too submissive and
passive in the face of Caesar’s rise to power. He believes that they have lost their sense of honor and
independence.

iii.) Give the meaning of :

a) "Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius".
This statement means that Cassius would commit suicide if Caesar became king.
b) “Therein ye gods, you tyrants do defeat”
“Therein ye gods, you tyrants do defeat” means that the gods will defeat the tyrants who seek to oppress the
people and take away their freedom.

iv.) What does Cassius say about the "strength of the spirit" in the extract.
Cassius says that the “strength of the spirit” is more important than physical strength or bravery in battle. He
believes that if one has the will to act and to fight for what is right, then they can achieve anything.
Cassius says that by giving humans the ability to take his own life God has given him the option to escape any
oppression at any time.

v.) How does Cassius show in the extract that he is a zealous lover of freedom and democracy?
Cassius shows his zealous love for freedom and democracy by speaking out against Caesar’s potential
coronation as king and by urging Brutus to join the conspiracy. He believes that the Roman people deserve to
have a say in their government and that they should not be ruled by a single person.

Extract IV.
Cassius:
And why should Caesar be a tyrant then?
Poor man, I know he would not be a wolf,
But that he sees the Romans are but sheep.
He were no lion were not Romans hinds.
Those that with haste will make a mighty fire
Begin it with weak straws. What trash is Rome,
What rubbish and what offal, when it serves
For the base matter to illuminate
So vile a thing as Caesar!
i.) Who is referred to as a "poor man"? On what condition he would not have been a Wolf or a Lion?
Caesar is being referred to as a "poor man". Cassius says that if Caesar had not been born into a position of
power, he would have been no different from a wolf or a lion.

ii.)Explain how the sentence " those that ... weak straws" refers to Caesar. In what way is Caesar "vile" in the
eyes of Cassius.
The sentence “those that with haste will make a mighty fire, begin it with weak straws” refers to Caesar
because Cassius is saying that despite Caesar’s seemingly insignificant and weak appearance, he has managed
to gain power and influence.
Cassius considers Caesar “vile” because he believes that Caesar is no better than any other man and does not
deserve to be in a position of power over others.

iii.) Does Cassius blame Caesar or Rome? Give three reasons given by him for the greatness of Caesar at this
time.
Cassius blames Rome for all the troubles that are being faced by the citizens of Rome. According to Cassius the
reasons for Caesars greatness were:
- Romans behaved like live sheep giving Caesar the ability to be a Wolf.
- Romans behaved like Deer making Caesar look like Lion.
- Romans behaved like twigs giving Caesar the ability to put it on fire.

iv.) What does Casca extend to Cassius as a sign of fellowship? What does he say he is willing to do?
Casca offers a handshake as a sign of fellowship. He says he is willing to be a part of a group to fight the
injustice given out by Caesar and be deeply involved in the group.

v.) What appointment must Cassius and Casca keep later that night? Where will these friends meet? What
will be the purpose of their meeting?
Cassius and Casca must keep an appointment later that night to meet with other conspirators who are plotting
against Caesar. They will meet at Pompey’s Theatre (Porch), and the purpose of their meeting is to finalize their
plans for the assassination of Caesar.

Extract V.
Cinna
I am glad on 't. What a fearful night is this!
There's two or three of us have seen strange sights.
Cassius
Am I not stayed for? Tell me.
Cinna
Yes, you are.
O Cassius, if you could
But win the noble Brutus to our party —
Cassius
Be you content. Good Cinna, take this paper,

i.)Where are Cinna and Cassius at this juncture? What else was with them?
Cinna and Cassius are on the streets of Rome at this juncture. Casca was also with them.
ii.) Why does Cinna say " I am glad on't?" Why was he here?
Cinna says that "I am glad on't' since he heard that Casca had joined the group. Cinna was there because he
was searching for Cassius.

iii.) Earlier in this scene, which other person describes the "fearful night”? Mention two "strange sights" this
person had seen earlier in this scene.
Casca is the person who describes the “fearful night”. The two “strange sights” he had seen earlier in this scene
were a hundred women who were shaken with fear after having seen men walk on fire and owls hooting and
shrieking during broad daylight.

iv.) Explain "stay'd for". Point out clearly why Cassius asked the question: "Am i not stay'd for?
"Stay'd for" mens waited for. Cassius is asking if the others are for him. Cassius asks this question since he was
meeting others at Pompey's theater and he wanted to know if others were waiting for him there.

v.) Why was Cinna eager for Brutus to join the party? What does Cassius have in mind when he says "be you
content"? What does he now instruct Cinna to do in connection with Brutus?
Cinna is eager for Brutus to join the party because he is an influential and respected figure in Rome, and his
support would give credibility to their cause.
When Cassius says “be you content”, he means that Cinna should trust him and follow his lead.
Cassius instructs Cinna to leave the forged letters in prominent places like the Praetors (Magistrates) chair, the
statue of Brutus's ancestors and throw a letter through his (Praetors) window.
He hopes when Brutus will find them he will read them and join their cause.