Following is the complete question bank for Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar Extra Questions and Answers
Character Based Questions and Answers-/Â Main Characters of the Play
- Character Sketch of Julius Caesar
Answer-Â Julius Caesar is very much a warrior. He thinks that he is above everyone else and that he is more than an ordinary man. As a result he is very arrogant and overconfident and takes very little notice of the people around him. Though he claims to be as constant as the northern star, he is indecisive and easily swayed by others (as in the case of his indecision in going to the senate). As far as he is concerned, the senators are unimportant and to be spurned out of his way. Common people have a great deal of respect for Caesar and believe that he would be a good, powerful leader who has Rome’s welfare at heart. Caesar is also ruthless and craves power. He also believes that everybody likes him and that is why he is surprised when the conspirators attack him.
- Character Sketch of Calpurnia
Answer-She is superstitious about her dreams. She takes her dream to be an evil omen which signifies murder of her husband. She is worried about her husband’s well-being and repeatedly dissuades him from meeting the Senate that day. She tells Caesar—
‘When beggars die, there are no comets seen;
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
‘She loves Caesar and is afraid for him.
- Character Sketch of Decius Brutus
Answer-He shows himself to be a clever manipulator who changes Caesar’s mind about going to the senate. He flatters Caesar by giving a favourable explanation of Calpurnia’s dream—
‘Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,Â
In which so many smiling Romans bathed,Â
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suckÂ
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance.’
He plays to Caesar’s ambition when he says-
-‘the senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
If you shall send them word you will not come,Â
Their minds may change.
‘He plays to Caesar’s vanity when he says-Â
‘most mighty Caesar,/from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood, …’
- Character Sketch of Marcus Brutus
Answer-
He is simple and straight-forward. He says —                                                                       Â
‘I will myself into the pulpit first, Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â And show the reason of our Caesar’s death: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
What Antony shall speak, I will protest
He speaks by leave and by permission.’ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
He is honourable in his intentions when he murders Caesar as is reflected in this speech-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
‘Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.                                                                                   ‘He is a poor judge of character and allows Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral                                           Â
without realising that the mob has no brains. He appeals to their logic and as a true democrat he declares that he loves liberty and dignity and he says with reference to        Caesar’s murder –      Â
‘As he was ambitious, I slew him.’
- Character Sketch of Cassius
Answer-Â Cassius is very crafty and tactful. He sees through most people to judge what they are truly like. He is also very good at manipulating people. He can see that Mark Antony is not being sincere when talking to Brutus and he can see that Mark Antony does not indeed place his loyalty with the conspirators but is, in fact, determined for revenge. He can also see that Mark Antony does not plan on saying good things about the conspirators at Caesar’s funeral. That is why he tries to bribe Antony—‘Your voice shall be as strong as any man’s/ In the disposing of new dignities.’ His tragedy lies in the fact that he is in awe of Brutus and allows himself to be overruled by him, despite possessing better judgment.
- Character Sketch of Antony
 Answer- Mark Antony is a great friend of Caesar and thinks very highly of him. He is a very cunning man and he is able to manipulate people. He cares a lot for Caesar and he wants revenge. Although he can hide it, he has a lot of hatred for the conspirators who have killed Caesar. At first he seems so upset with Caesar’s assassination that he would wish to die also. However, he decides that avenging his death would be a better way. He is a good judge of character and appeals to Brutus and not Cassius when he pretends friendship with the conspirators. A good orator, he plays upon the emotions of the crowd and ruthlessly sets them on the path of mischief against the conspirators.Â
- Write a brief character sketch of Antony.
 Answer: Antony is a noble personality. He has all the human virtues of love, sympathy, sincerity, integrity, solidarity, devotion, etc. Ile is also a great orator and craftsman. He is extremely devoted to Caesar. He wishes that Caesar should be crowned the king. A clever man, Antony, is successful in fooling Brutus into believing that he is with the conspirators after the death of Caesar. lie delivers an influential speech which makes the mob realise conspiracy behind Caesar’s murder. He has genuine love and affection for Caesar and wishes to avenge his death. It is because of his speech, the conspirators are crushed.
- Character Sketch of The Mob
Answer-The mob is being referred to as a ‘Hydra-headed multitude’ who possess an incapacity to understand logic. Brutus talks to them of Liberty and Democracy but as he leaves they say ‘Caesar’s better parts/Shall be crown’d in Brutus.’ They are not democratic at heart and want a hero to worship—’Let him be Caesar.’ They are emotional in their approach as they say ‘Kind souls, what, weep you when you but behold Our Caesar’s vesture wounded?’ They are also fickle-minded as their opinion of Caesar keeps on changing between suspicion and respect. Initially they say- ‘This Caesar was a tyrant.’
Later the same mob says–‘If thou consider rightly of the matter, Caesar has had great wrong.’ They are brutal and barbaric as they say—
‘We’ll burn the house of Brutus …
We’ll burn his body in the holy place,
And with the brands fire the traitors’ houses.’
They are the deciding element of this play as they turn the action around, swing the tide in Antony’s favour.
