NCERT Solutions Class 10 English Literature Reader Chapter 14 Julius Caesar

Answer :
lt was believed that when kings or princes die. a bright star shoots in the sky and falls down. It leaves a blazing light behind it. So, when Caesar was murdered. a star blazed forth in the sky.

Question (b) What does Calpurnia try to convince Caesar of?

Answer :
Calpurnia tries to convince Caesar that what she has seen in her dream means a danger to his life. So.he must not go to the senate-house. He must not leave home. Caesar doesn’t listen to hers and murdered

Question (C) Why does Calpurnia say ‘Caesars wisdom is consumed in confidence’? what does she mean?

Answer :
She says this because she is afraid Of something happening to Caesar if he goes Out. What she means is that he is overconfident because Of his wisdom, but the ill omens mean that something bad will happen today

Question (d) What does Calpurnia dream about Caesar? How does Decius Brutus interpret the dream?

Answer :
Calpumia dreamt that statue had a hundred spouts and pure blood ran from them. Many strong Romans came smiling. They bathed their hands into it. She meant this as an ill-omen. So.she asked Caesar rot to go the senate-house that day. But Decius Brutus interpreted the dream saying that the Romans’s bathing their hands in his blood that Caesar’s blood was his ‘spirit of influence’. It should be treated as a great thing, It shall serve as colours added to a coat of arms, an object of reverence, mementos and a badge of service.

Question (e) What are the arguments put forward by Decius Brutus to convince Caesar to go to the Capitol?

Answer :
First, Decius Brutus convinces Caesar that the dream is good omen. Secondly, the senators want to crown If he does not go to senate today. the senators’, minds may change and they may not offer him the crown later on.

Question (f) Why is Decius more successful than Calpurnia in persuading Caesar?

Answer :
Decius Brutus appeals to Caesar’s vanity by telling him that the senators want to crown him. whereas Calpurnia only talks about her dream, which was ominous. It appears that Caesar s not very superstitious and his vanity overcomes any doubts that he had.

Question (g) What is the petition put before Caesar by the conspirators? How does Caesar respond to it?

Answer :
The conspirators put a petition before Caesar to repeal the banishment of MetellusCimber’s brother, who had been banished by Caesar on valid grounds. Caesar responds to it by refusing to do so because this will undermine h s authority and also make laws made earlier meaningless.

Question (h) Who says ‘Et tu Brute When are these words spoken? Why?

Answer :
The words ‘Et tu Brute’ are spoken by Caesar just before dying conspirators when Brutus stabs Caesar. Caesar speaks these words as Caesar has not expected such a treacherous act from him as Brutus was his trusted friend.

Question (i) In the moments following Caesar’s death what do the conspirators proclaim to justify Caesar death?

Answer :
In the moments following Caesar’s death the conspirators proclaim that tyranny is over with his killing. Now the people will have liberty, freedom and enfranchisement because Caesar is no alive.

Question (j) Seeing the body of Caesar, Antony is overcome by grief. What does he say about Caesar?

Answer :
He praises Caesar. He his conquests, glories, triumphs and spoils. He calls him ‘mighty’ and wonders how ‘low’ he lies in his death. He pays him a warm homage by calling him a ‘bleeding piece of Earth’ and ‘the ruins of the noblest man’. He also calls him ‘the choice and master spirits Of this age’ that ever lived.

Question (k) Whom does Antony call “the choice and master spirits of this age”. Why?

Answer :
Antony calls Caesar as ‘the choice arid master spirits Of this age’ because no human being matched him in any way. He was simply unparalleled in every human aspect.

Question (l) How do Brutus and Cassius respond to Antony’s speech?

Answer :
Brutus and Cassius respond to the of Antony in different ways. Cassius feels the Antony’s words will affect the audience so that it goes against them. At this Brutus’s that he will address the public first, giving the reasons for Caesar’s assassination. He (Antony) will speak later on only with their permission.

Question (m) Why does Cassius object to allowing Antony to speak at Caesars funeral? How does Brutus overcome this objection?

Answer :
Cassius does not think it proper that Antony Should speak at Caesars funeral because his words may change the mood of the audience. But Brutus tells that Antony will be allowed to say only their permission.

Question (n) What are the conditions imposed by the conspirators before allowing Antony to speak at Caesars funeral?

Answer :
The conspirators laid down the following conditions on Antony’s speaking at Caesars funeral.
(i) He will speak only after Brutus has finished speaking.
(ii) He will not blame the conspirators for killing Caesar.
(iii) He can speak whatever good he wants Of Caesar, but must
mention that he is speaking this With the permission of all of them.

Question (o) When he is left alone with the body of Caesar what does Antony call Brutus and the others?

Answer :
He calls them butchers and curses them.

Question (p) What prediction does Antony make regarding the future events in Rome?

Answer :
Antony predicts that the Whole Of their country will witness a civil war, which will be bloody and destructive. Foul be so Common that all feelings Of compassion Will vanish from the hearts of man. The ghost Of Caesar shall roam about to take revenge and punish. tie enemies. The Earth polluted by the evil smell of rotting bodies.

Question (q) What reasons does Brutus give for murdering Caesar?

Answer :
Brutus gives various reasons for murdering Caesar. First of all, he says that Caesar was ambitious. He would have become a dictactor if he had lived. He loved Caesar, no doubt, but he loved Rome more. so, Brutus states that they killed Caesar more for the sake of Rome and not for any personal reasons.

Question (r) Who says, “Let him be Caesar”? What light does this throw on the speaker?

Answer :
The third citizen. who signifies the common citizen of Rome. speaks the above words while Brutus has finished his speech justifying the reasons for Caesars death. Brutus too has proclaimed that the people can slay him if he becomes ambitious like Caesar. This shows that the citizens were fully satisfied with the reasons given by Brutus and there was all praise for Brutus. They praise Brutus and show their sympathy for the act _

Question (s) Why is Antony’s speech more effective?

Answer :
Antony’s speech is more effective because he appeals to the basic sentiments of the common people. i.e. the mob. He very cleverly directs his speech towards Caesar S greatness as a human being. He, in that way, arouses their basic instinct of revenge against the conspirators. He does so by stating from will that Caesar’s has left everything to them.

Question (t) At the end of the scene, what is the fate of Brutus and Cassius?

Answer :
By his skillful oratory Antony has aroused the anger and hatred Of the mob against Brutus, Cassius and Other conspirators. The mob plans to torch their houses with the burring sticks of wood from Caesars pyre. Pursued by such a hostile, furious and bloodthirsty mob. Brutus and Cassius have no option but to run away from Rome to save their lives.

Question 9: Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow?
(i) Caesar Cowards die many time before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that, I yet have heard. It seems to me most that men should fear: seeing that death, a necessary end, come when it will Come.
(a) Whom is Caesar speaking to? Why does he say these words?

Answer :
Caesar is speaking to his Wife Calpurnia. Caesar says these words because Calpurnia has seen a horrible dream indicating Caesar’s death. So, she requests him not to go to the senate-house and remains at home.

Question (b) What fears has the listener expressed?

Answer :
The listener Calpurnia has shown her fear that her dream means danger to Caesars life. It indicates that Caesar may be killed or may die, This is the fear

Question (c) What is the basis for the fears expressed?

Answer :
The basis is that Calpurnia has seen a horrible dream. In it she has seen unnatural occurrences These are like the lioness giving birth in the streets and graves opening up with throwing of the dead persons.

Question (ii) But here’s a parchment with the seal of Caesar: I found it in his closet, ‘it’s his will: Let but the commons hear this testament-

which, pardon me. I do not mean to read— and they would go and kiss dead Caesars wounds.

(a) Who speaks these words? Where is the speaker at this moment?

Answer :
Antony says these words to the mob. He is in ‘he Capitol at this moment.

Question (b) What are the contents of Caesars will that he is referring to?

Answer :
The contents of Caesar’s will are that he has given everything belonging to him to the people Of Rome, These are his money, gardens and orchards,

Question (c) Why does the speaker read Caesar’s will to the citizens?

Answer :
The speaker reads Caesars will to prove that Caesar was not ambitious and should not have been assassinated. On the other hand, he was a prey of the conspirators ambition.

Question (d) What is the reaction of the listeners to the will?

Answer :
The listeners get agitated and violent. They are after the conspirators who have murdered Caesar in cold blood.

Question 10. A reporter covers the event Of the assassination of Julius Caesar in the Senate giving graphic details and a catchy headline. Write the newspaper report in about 200 words.

Answer :
Breaking News

Julius Caesar Murdered in Cold Blood in the Senate by RohitBasu, Special Today our beloved leader Julius Caesar was killed by fellow senators in the

Senate House by stabbing. The details of this dastardly deal are really frightening.

In the morning when Caesar had just taken his seat in the Senate, MetellusCimber petitioned him to repeal tre banishment of his brother. Caesar refused to accede to his request. as his brother was valid grounds. Many senators, Who were all part of the conspiracy then surrounded him to press him to repeal the order. When Caesar also refused them.one by they all stabbed him with daggers which had been hidden in their clothes.

Caesar fell down, crying, “Et tu Brute”, as Brutus, who of the persons who had stabbed him, was a friend of his. Then the conspirators started proclaiming that Caesars tyranny was over and also started celebrating.

Just then, Mark Antony, who was a follower of Caesar, entered tre Senate and was aghast at what he saw. He told the conspirators to kill him also if they wanted, as there was nothing left for him in life.