CLASS-9 ENGLISH JULIUS CAESAR ACT-1 SCENE-1 SUMMARY

William Shakespeare, born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, is celebrated as one of history's

greatest playwrights and poets. His birthday, April 23, is also the date of his death in 1616.
Shakespeare’s works, including 37 plays and numerous poems, span comedies, tragedies,
and history plays. Comedies like Twelfth Night and As You Like It explore romantic
misadventures, while tragedies such as Macbeth and Othello delve into human flaws and
passions. His history plays, like Henry V, portray royal dramas. Shakespeare's mastery lies
in his vivid, relatable characters and profound insights into human nature, making his
works timeless and universally revered.

ACT-I SCENE-1:
PLOT DEVELOPMENT – REJOICING CITIZENS REBUKED

The play opens in a street in Rome on February 15th, 44 BC, as common citizens celebrate
Julius Caesar's triumphant return after defeating Pompey’s sons. Eager to honor Caesar
with flowers and cheers, they are rebuked by Tribunes Marullus and Flavius, loyalists to
Pompey. The Tribunes criticize the citizens for their fickle loyalty, accusing them of
abandoning their former hero, Pompey, in favor of Caesar. Feeling guilty, the citizens
disperse quietly. Marullus and Flavius, fearing Caesar’s growing power, strip his statues of
decorations, even as Rome celebrates the feast of Lupercal.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SCENE

Though Caesar doesn’t appear, his influence dominates. The scene introduces key political
tensions, including the conflict between Caesar’s monarchist ambitions and the Tribunes'
support for a republican government. Shakespeare uses the citizens' fickleness to reflect
the unstable political climate and tension between Rome’s classes. The festive atmosphere
contrasts with the underlying unrest and foreshadows strife.

CHARACTERIZATION

Flavius and Marullus: The Tribunes represent Pompey’s democratic ideals and fear
Caesar’s rise to dictatorship. Marullus is more critical of the citizens, while Flavius boldly
orders Caesar’s statues stripped, even during the Lupercal festivities. Their actions
highlight Rome's disunity.

Commoners: The citizens are portrayed as fickle, shifting loyalty from Pompey to Caesar.
Their lack of foresight and susceptibility to guilt emphasize their role in the political chaos.

DRAMATIC IMPACT

Shakespeare vividly depicts Rome’s bustling streets, Caesar’s triumphal return, and the
citizens’ celebratory mood. This opening scene immerses the audience in the political and
social dynamics of ancient Rome, blending humor with tension through the cobbler’s witty
puns and the Tribunes’ stern rebuke. It sets the tone for the play’s exploration of loyalty,
power, and conflict.

CLASS-9 ENGLISH JULIUS CAESAR ACT-1 SCENE-1 MCQ

1. Where does Scene 1 of Act I take place?

(a) in a street in Rome

(b) in a garden in Rome

(c) on the battlefield

(d) on the banks of the Tiber River

Correct Answer : (a) in a street in Rome

2. Who is a tribune?

(a) a nobleman

(b) a leader of people

(c) a magistrate with legal powers

(d) a manual worker

Correct Answer : (b) a leader of people

3. The two tribunes were followers of

(a) Julius Caesar

(b) Pompey

(c) Calpurnia

(d) the common people

Correct Answer : (b) Pompey

4. Who is referred to as 'idle creatures'?

(a) the ordinary citizens of Rome

(b) the citizens of Munda

(c) people of the upper classes of Rome

(d) the statues of Caesar

Correct Answer : (a) the ordinary citizens of Rome

5. An example of the literary device 'alliteration' is when Flavius tells the citizens:

(a) So you do too, where you perceive them thick.

(b) Hence! Home you idle creatures get you home.

(c) Why dost thou lead these men about the street?

(d) ...and keep us in servile fearfulness.

Correct Answer : (b) Hence! Home you idle creatures get you home.

6. Why are they called 'idle creatures'?

(a) they are sitting without moving

(b) they are punning on 'idol' and 'idle'

(c) they should be working and not wasting time

(d) they are rejoicing

Correct Answer : (c) they should be working and not wasting time

7. What does 'being mechanical' mean?

(a) without feelings

(b) ordinary manual workers

(c) traders

(d) citizens belonging to the upper classes

Correct Answer : (b) ordinary manual workers

8. Who is the second citizen?

(a) carpenter

(b) cobbler

(c) soldier

(d) artist

Correct Answer : (b) cobbler

9. One example of punning is when the cobbler tells Marullus

(a) in respect of

(b) I can mend you

(c) why, sir, a carpenter

 (d) nay, I beseech you

Correct Answer : (b) I can mend you

10. The Second Citizen tells Flavius that they have taken a holiday to

(a) walk about in the beautiful parks made by Caesar

(b) meet friends and passers-by

(c) see Caesar pass by on his chariot and to rejoice at his victory

(d) stone Caesar when his chariot passes by

Correct Answer : (c) see Caesar pass by on his chariot and to rejoice at his victory

11. Why does Marullus scold the citizens?

(a) they are crowding the streets

(b) he is angry and bitter to see that Pompey has been forgotten

(c) he fears that they will do no work that day

(d) he has to keep an eye on them all the time

Correct Answer : (b) he is angry and bitter to see that Pompey has been forgotten

12. What does 'captive bonds his chariot wheels' refer to?

(a) the chariot wheels

(b) people out there rejoicing

(c) citizens running after the chariot

(d) the captured princes tied to the chariot wheels of Caesar

Correct Answer : (d) the captured princes tied to the chariot wheels of Caesar

13. Julius Caesar is returning to Rome after having defeated

(a) a foreign army

(b) invaders of Rome

 (c) the sons of his old rival, Pompey (Pompey's blood)

(d) the mutineers

Correct Answer : (c) the sons of his old rival, Pompey (Pompey's blood)

14. Marullus addresses the citizens by calling them

(a) towers, windows and chimney tops

(b) blocks, stone and worse than senseless things

(c) infants, chariot wheels and senseless things

(d) blocks, walls and battlements

Correct Answer : (b) blocks, stone and worse than senseless things

15. For whom had these same people waited for in the years gone by?

(a) Julius Caesar

(b) Flavius and Marullus

(c) Pompey

(d) the tradesmen

Correct Answer : (c) Pompey

16. The common citizens are to welcome Caesar by

(a) shouting out his name aloud and throwing their caps up in the air

(b) taking a holiday, dressing up and scattering flowers before his passing chariot

(c) going about their work as usual

(d) taking a stroll along the river Tiber

Correct Answer : (b) taking a holiday, dressing up and scattering flowers before his passing
chariot

17. In order to intermit the plague, the commoners are instructed to

 (a) run back to their homes

(b) jump into the river

(c) run back home and pray to the gods

(d) weep tears of repentance into the river

Correct Answer : (d) weep tears of repentance into the river

18. An example of the literary device, 'hyperbole' is when Flavius tells the commoners to go
to the Tiber and cry tears of repentance till

(a) the lowest stream rises to the top of the bank

(b) the river rises with their tears and causes floods

(c) they have no more tears to shed

(d) they are exhausted with crying

Correct Answer : (a) the lowest stream rises to the top of the bank

19. After Marullus and Flavius have shouted at the common people, they

(a) ignore the two tribunes

(b) insist on staying back

(c) go away without saying anything

(d) raise slogans against them

Correct Answer : (c) go away without saying anything

20. What does 'Caesar's trophies' refer to?

(a) flags, garlands and laurel crowns

(b) flags

(c) flowers and bouquets

(d) ribbons and necklaces

Correct Answer : (a) flags, garlands and laurel crowns

21. What does Flavius instruct Marullus to do?

(a) count the statues of Caesar in the city

(b) remove all the decorations from Caesar's statues

(c) break Caesar's statues

(d) go and bow before Caesar's statues

Correct Answer : (b) remove all the decorations from Caesar's statues

22. What was the Capitol?

(a) the main city of Rome

(b) a busy area in the centre of the city

(c) the name of the river

(d) the temple to Jupiter situated on a hill

Correct Answer : (d) the temple to Jupiter situated on a hill

23. What is Caesar compared to?

(a) lion

(b) falcon

(c) raven

(d) dove

Correct Answer : (b) falcon

24. What does 'growing feathers' refer to?

(a) the decorated statues of Caesar, his growing popularity and ambition

(b) that his statues are decorated with feathers of the falcon bird

(c) the entry of Caesar on his chariot

(d) the triumphal procession

Correct Answer : (a) the decorated statues of Caesar, his growing popularity and ambition

25. What does Shakespeare do through Flavius and Marullus?

(a) uses them as the two main characters in the play

(b) shows their importance for Rome

(c) presents the atmosphere of strife and unrest in Rome

(d) shows the common people shouting out there and rejoicing on the streets

Correct Answer : (c) presents the atmosphere of strife and unrest in Rome

26. Which of the following statements is NOT true of the two tribunes?

(a) they have legal powers

(b) they believe in the monarchist form of government

(c) they are accusing the commoners of praising Caesar

(d) they are speaking with a cobbler and a carpenter

Correct Answer : (b) they believe in the monarchist form of government

27. Read carefully and choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct
order:

1. Flavius and Marullus get angry with the commoners and order them home.

2. Flavius and Marullus strip Caesar's statues of all the decorations hoping to lessen his
growing popularity.

3. The citizens reply that they have taken a holiday to see Caesar and rejoice in his
victory.

4. Flavius and Marullus enter the stage and question the citizens for not working that
day.

- a. 4, 3, 1, 2

- b. 1, 2, 3, 4
- c. 4, 3, 2, 1

- d. 3, 4, 2, 1

Answer: a. 4, 3, 1, 2