D 2: Julius Ceasar (by William Shakespeare)

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Q. What unnatural scenes and sights had been reportedly seen that stormy night?

A. The bizarre scenes seen that night were that of a lioness giving birth to her cubs on the street, the dead being thrown out of their graves. Moreover, armies battling each other were seen, which caused a rain of blood over the Capitol.
Q. How did Brutus explain Calpurnia's dream?

A. Brutus very cleverly turned Calpurnia's negative and depressing dream into an optimistic one for his own advantage. He deciphered Calpurnia's dream of many young Romans bathing their hands in Ceaser's blood as a sign of Ceaser's greatness. He said that Ceaser's blood was a source of energy and inspiration for the youth, urging them to grow Rome's glory.
Q. RTC

"Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears,
I come to bury Ceasar, not to praise him,
The evil the men do lives after them,
The good is often erred with their bones."

i) Who speaks the words and to whom?

A.i) Mark Antony speaks these words to the Roman mob present at Ceaser's funeral.

ii) Give the meaning of: "The good is often erred with their bones."

A.ii) By this line, Mark Antony tells the Roman public that, the good deeds done by a person are very conveniently forgotten by everyone after the person dies but the wrong deeds done by the person are not forgotten.

iii) Which evil is Ceasar said to have done? Give 2 examples of good done by Ceasar.

A.iii) Ceasar was accused by the conspirators to be ambitious. The 'evil' done by Ceasar, as alleged by the conspirators, was that he wanted to be the dictator of Rome.
Q. What does Calpurnia try to convince Caesar of?    [N.C.E.R.T.]

 A. Calpurnia tries to convince Caesar to refrain from attending the Roman senate. She tries to coax him that her nightmare and vision carried a negative omen for Caesar and thus he should not go outside for his own safety.
Q. Why does Calpurina say Caesar's 'wisdom is consumed in confidence'? What does she mean?    [N.C.E.R.T.]

 A. Calpurnia says so when Caesar, dripping with overconfidence, refutes her request to be absent at the senate. Caesar says that he is the elder brother of danger and is more dangerous than danger itself; he thus has nothing to fear. Death is inevitable, Caesar argues, and will come when it will have to come and hence it is useless to fear it. Thus Calpurnia resentingly says that Caesar's 'wisdom is consumed in confidence'.
Q. Why is Decius more successful than Calpurnia in persuading Caesar?     [N.C.E.R.T.]

 A. The cunning Decius slyly manipulates Calpurnia's dream and gives an interpretation of it which appeals to the ego, pride and confidence of Caesar. He says that Calpurnia's dream actually carried a positive omen. He argues that Caesar's statue, with blood spilling from it, actually signifies that from Caesar, Rome shall get inspiration and energy. People shall, according to Decius's interpretation, stain their handkerchiefs in Caesar's blood and these handkerchiefs would then become pious symbols for them.
Q. Who says "Et tu Brute"? When were these words spoken? Why?
[N.C.E.R.T.]

 A. "Et tu Brute" are the famous last words of Caesar. He speaks these words just before succumbing to the blow inflicted upon him by his most trustworthy friend Brutus. He speaks these words out of the shock and agony caused to him by Brutus's betrayal.

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