Julius Caesar
by William Shakespeare
COMPREHENSION
1. Answer the following questions.
a. Who were the workers questioned by Flavius and Marullus?
= The workers questioned by Flavius and Marullus were a carpenter and a cobbler.
b. What tools were these workers meant to carry?
= The carpenter was meant to carry a leather apron and the cobbler was meant to carry his awl.
c. Why does Marullus get annoyed with the cobbler?
= Marullus gets annoyed with the cobbler as he says him that he can mend Marullus if he wants to start a with him.
d. Flavius asks the cobbler why he leads others about the streets. What clever answer does the cobbler give? What does this show about.
i. Flavius and ii. the cobbler?
= Flavius asks the cobbler why he leads others about the streets. The cobbler answers that he would mend the shoes of the people if anyone have any problem in their shoes. He will get more work there.
i. Flavius - This shows about Flavius that he was against all types of gathering for Julius Caesar. He tried his best to send the people back.
ii. the cobbler - This shows about the cobbler that he is very intelligent to beguile Flavius in his intention to send him back home without rejoicing the triumph of Julius Caesar.
e. Why does Marullus call the citizens 'blocks and stones'? What is his attitude towards the common people?
= Marullus calls the citizens 'blocks and stones' as they were gathering without any reason. They had no idea about the achievement of Caesar.
According to him, Caesar had not conquered any kingdom. He had just won a civil war. There is no reason to rejoice and enjoyment. That is why he was angry and annoyed for the activities of the common people. He treats them as the stupid and nonsense fellows.
f. Who was Pompey?
= Pompey was a general of Julius Caesar. He was rebellious against Caesar. Then Caesar fought against him and defeated him.
g. Why do the citizens feel guilty?
= The citizens feel guilty as they were rejoicing in the execution of Pompey who was once their reason of joy. They used to gather beside the streets of Rome along with their children to get a glance of Pompey. They used to shout loudly after getting a view of Pompey's chariot. But today they are waiting to cheer for the killer of Pompey.
h. What two special events are being celebrated on this day?
= The two special events that are being celebrated on this day are the triumph of Julius Caesar against Pompey and the feast of Lupercal.
This question is more difficult. Discuss it first.
i. Do you think this is good opening scene for a play? Say why you agree or disagree that it is good.
= I think this is a good opening scene for a play. William Shakespeare wrote the play about the life of Julius Caesar. It is an exciting play, with many colourful characters, some powerful speeches and lots of action. Caesar gets assassinated by Brutus, Cassius and other members of the Roman Senate.
Here is the first scene of the play. In in we do not meet any of the main characters, but we hear Caesar's name mentioned. The citizens of Rome have stopped their work and gathered in the streets to welcome Caesar back to Rome. Caesar has just defeated Pompey in a civil war. Marullus and Flavius, two government officials, try to discourage the workers from celebrating the event.
The scene describes the set and the ongoing situation of the kingdom. It evokes interest in the mind of the audience. They waits with patience to know the next events of the play.
2. Read the following quotations and answer the questions.
a. "What dost thou with thy best apparel on?"
i. Who asks this question?
= Marullus asks this question.
ii. To whom is the question addressed?
= The question is addressed to the cobbler.
iii. Why does the speaker ask the question?
= The speaker asks the question as the cobbler was waiting beside the street of Rome leaving his works.
b. "A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a safe
conscience, which is indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles."
i. Who is the speaker?
= The cobbler is the speaker.
ii. Who is the 'sir' that the speaker addresses?
= Marullus is the 'sir' that the speaker addresses.
iii. What is the play on words that the speaker makes?
= The speaker further says that he mends shoe soles and if Marullus starts out a fight, he may mend him also.
iv. How does the person who hears these words react?
= Marullus gets angry upon the cobbler and he calls him a 'saucy fellow'.
c. "What conquest brings him home?"
i. Who says these words and to whom?
= Marullus says these words and to the Second Citizen i.e. the cobbler.
ii. Who is the 'him' being referred to?
= The 'him' being referred to Julius Caesar.
iii. What were the conquests that this person made?
= Caesar just defeated Pompey in a civil war.
iv. Where is 'home'?
= "Home' is in Rome.
d. "Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears
Into the channel..."
i. Who says these words and to whom are they spoken to?
= Marullus says these words and they are spoken to the citizens present before him especially the carpenter and the cobbler.
ii. What is the Tiber?
= The Tiber is the river flown through Rome.
iii. Who does the 'them' refer to?
= The 'them' refers to the citizens who were gathered to welcome Julius Caesar beside the streets of Rome.
iv. Why should the person(s) weep?
= The person(s) should weep as they were rejoicing in the execution of Pompey who was once their reason of joy. They used to gather beside the streets of Rome along with their children to get a glance of Pompey. They used to shout loudly after getting a view of Pompey's chariot. But today they are waiting to cheer for the killer of Pompey.
e. "These growing feathers pluck'd from Caesar's wing
Will make him fly an ordinary pitch."
i. Who speaks these words and to whom?
= Flavius speaks these words to Marullus.
ii. What is meant by 'growing feathers'? Why would the feathers be growing?
= 'Growing feathers' meant the achievements of Julius Caesar. As Caesar was trying his best to make his kingdom united, prosperous and peaceful, he becomes popular amongst all.
iii. What is meant by 'fly an ordinary pitch'? Why does the speaker wish for this?
= 'Fly an ordinary pitch' means to make him common and simple to the citizens of the kingdom.
The speaker wishes for this as they were supporters of Pompey and they never want to work under the bondage of Caesar.
iv. What would happen if he was not stopped from flying an ordinary pitch?
= If he was not stopped from flying an ordinary pitch, he would be invincible and omnipotent king of the kingdom. He would be the lord of everyone. They would have to live under severe fearfulness.
About the Author:
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English poet and playwright. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer of the English language and certainly one of the best dramatists the world has known. He wrote about 38 plays, 154 sonnets and many poems. His works have been translated into many languages, and his plays have been performed all over the world. His words will live on forever because he is the most quoted writer in the literature of the English-speaking world.