Class 10, Julius Caesar - NCERT Solutions of CBSE English Literature Reader Communicative

Class X, English Literature Reader (Communicative)

JULIUS CAESAR (English Drama by William Shakespeare)

NCERT Answers of Chapter Exercise Questions plus Solutions of CBSE Sample Questions (published in series of posts) 

Question.5. Answer the following questions by ticking the correct options.

1) When Caesar says “Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night” he sounds ______.

a)     Worried

b)     Angry

c)     Joyous

d)     Frightened

2) Caesar’s reference to the senators as “greybeards” shows his _______.

a)     Confidence

b)     Cowardice

c)     Arrogance

d)     Ambition

3) Decius Brutus changes Caesar’s mind about going to the Senate by appealing to his _______.

a)     Ambition

b)     Vanity

c)     Greed

d)     Generosity

4)   The offer that Cassius makes to Antony after Caesar’s assassination is that _______.

a)     The conspirators would like to be friends with him

b)     He may take Caesar’s body to the pulpit and speak to the crowd praising Caesar for his achievements

c)     His recommendations will be as strong as that of the conspirators while distributing the powers and benefits to friends

d)     He may join the conspiracy against Caesar

5)   Cassius tries to stop Brutus from letting Antony speak at Caesar’s funeral as he ______.

a)     Knows the Roman mob loves Caesar and Antony

b)     Knows Brutus is not a good orator

c)     Knows they should not have killed Caesar

d)     Knows Antony is a good orator who can sway the mob

6)  What prophecy does Antony make over Caesar’s dead body?

a)     Romans will see Caesar’s ghost roaming on the streets

b)     Rome will experience fierce civil war in which many people will die

c)     Rome will be ruled by Ate

d)     Roman women will smile at the death of Caesar

7)  After listening to Brutus’ speech, the Third Citizen says ‘Let him be Caesar’. This clearly shows he ______.

a)     Has not understood Brutus’ reason for killing Caesar

b)     Loved Caesar more than he loves Brutus

c)     Loves Brutus more than he loved Caesar

d)     Thinks Brutus killed Caesar to assume power

8)   When Antony calls the conspirators ‘honorable men’, his tone is _____.

a)     Admiring

b)     Flattering

c)     Angry

d)     Mocking

9)   Antony’s reference to Caesar’s conquest of the Nervii is to _______.

a)     Remind the mob of Caesar’s greatness as a warrior

b)     Make the mob feel afraid of being attacked by the war-like race

c)     Make the crowd weep for Caesar who died at war

d)     Stop and collect his emotion as he is feeling very upset

10)  Antony’s remark Mischief, thou are afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt!, Shows him to be ________.

a)     A ruthless manipulator

b)     An honorable man

c)     A loyal friend

d)     A tactful man

Answer: 1-(a), 2-(c), 3-(b), 4-(c), 5-(d), 6-(b), 7-(a), 8-(d), 9-(a), 10-(d) 

Question.6 (a): How do the heavens 'blaze forth' the death of Julius Caesar?

Answer: The heavens ‘blaze forth’ the death of Julius Caesar through thunder and lighting.

Question.6 (b): What does Calpurnia try to convince Caesar of?

Answer: Calpurnia tries to convince Caesar that he should not leave the house as some mishap might fall on him. For this she tells him about her ill-omened dreams and the same are forbidding him not to the house. For having the safety and her interest, he should not step out.

Question.6 (c): Why does Calpurnia say that Caesar's 'wisdom is consumed in confidence'? What does she mean?

Answer: Calpurnia has tried her best to convince Caesar not to step out of the house as she has seen horrible dreams in the night. But Caesar refutes her arguments on the basis that he does not want to be considered as a coward. She remarks that Caesar's self-confidence has beaten his judgment and also shadowed his wisdom. Riding the crest of of self-confidence, Caesar forgets his actual position and thinks that there cannot be any danger that can make him afraid of. 

Question.6 (d): What does Calpurnia dream about Caesar? How does Decius Brutus interpret the dream?

Answer: In a fearful dream Calpurnia saw uncommon things occurring in the streets. She dreamt a lioness giving birth to cubs in the streets of Rome, graves opening and fiery warriors fighting. Calpurnia also dreamt that Caesar’s statue with a hundred spouts emitting blood from them like a fountain. Many lusty Romans were bathing their hands in it. There were crooked smiles on their faces. Calpurnia apprehended it as a prophecy of her husband’s death. 

Decius Brutus is a smart, clever flatterer of Caesar. He cleverly turns Calpurnia’s interpretations about her dream to his own advantage. He tells that it has been a lucky and fortunate dream as it points out that his creative energy will bring new life and strength to Rome. Decius tells that the dream symbolizes Caesar’s spirit of influence and Rome will derive sustenance from Caesar. 

Question.6 (e): What are the arguments put forward by Decius Brutus to convince Caesar to go to the Capitol?

Answer: Decius Brutus Brutus is a smart, clever flatterer of Caesar. He cleverly turns Calpurnia’s interpretations about her dream to his own advantage. Decius points out that it has been a lucky and fortunate dream. 

Further to convince Caesar, Decius tells him that the people would think of as a coward if he stays at home because of her wife’s strange dream. He also tells Caesar that the senate has decided to crown him and if he did not go then people might change their minds. All these arguments put forward by Brutus ultimately convinces Julius Caesar to go to the Capitol. 

Question.6 (f): Why is Decius more successful in persuading Caesar than Calpurnia?

Answer: Decius is more successful than Calpurnia in persuading Caesar on the point that flattery never goes without touching the inner core of one's heart. It is the art of talking that controls the sense of wisdom even. His clever flattery gets an upper hand and arouses Caesar's pride. He pleads that Calpurnia's dream has been wrongly interpreted. Indeed out was a lucky dream for him. 

Question.6 (g): What is the petition put before Caesar by conspirators? How does Caesar respond to it? 

Answer: The conspirators put a petition before Julius Caesar to recall Publius Cimber home as he has banished him. They request Caesar to review his earlier decision. But Caesar says that he is firm like a Pole Star. Caesar says that his heart cannot be softened by bowing and stopping activities. He is high above such petty things and if Metellus Cimber persists in his servile activities, he would spurn him away just like a street dog.

• For rest exercise questions visit: CBSE Guide Class X, Julius Caesar - NCERT Solutions of English Communicative Chapter Exercise Questions

• Solutions of CBSE Sample Questions, MCQs and CBSE Notes (to be published)