ICSE Class IX
English
Literature
Julius Caesar – Act 2, Scene 1
Maximum Marks: 40
Time Allowed: 1 Hour
Section A:
Multiple-Choice Questions (8 Marks)
(Each question
carries 1 mark.)
- Who sends Brutus a letter urging him to take action
against Caesar?
A) Cassius
B) Antony
C) Portia
D) An anonymous Roman - What does Brutus mean when he says, "It is the
bright day that brings forth the adder"?
A) Daylight makes snakes more visible.
B) Power can reveal a person's hidden dangers.
C) Caesar will become a threat in the future.
D) Danger can only arise in plain sight. - What is the content of the letter Brutus receives?
A) A warning to flee Rome
B) A call to defend Rome against Caesar
C) Praise for Caesar's rule
D) A threat from Caesar’s allies - What time of day does the conspiracy meet at
Brutus's house?
A) Early morning
B) Afternoon
C) Midnight
D) Evening - Why does Brutus oppose an oath among the
conspirators?
A) He believes their cause should be enough to bind them.
B) He fears the oath will be broken.
C) He doesn’t trust Cassius’s intentions.
D) He believes the gods will punish them. - How does Portia convince Brutus to share his
secrets with her?
A) By questioning his love for her
B) By reminding him of her loyalty
C) By wounding herself to show her strength
D) By threatening to leave him - Who visits Brutus to join the conspiracy, even
though he is unwell?
A) Casca
B) Ligarius
C) Decius
D) Trebonius - Why does Brutus refuse to kill Antony along with
Caesar?
A) Antony is not a threat.
B) Antony is a close friend of Brutus.
C) Brutus wants to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
D) Antony is already planning to leave Rome.
Section B:
Reference to Context (12 Marks)
(Each question
carries 4 marks. Answer in 60–80 words.)
1. Read the
following lines and answer the questions that follow:
"It must be by his death: and for my part,
I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
But for the general. He would be crown'd:
How that might change his nature, there's the question."
a) Who is the
speaker? What is he contemplating here? (2)
b) What does the speaker mean by "no personal cause to spurn at him"?
(1)
c) How does this soliloquy reveal the speaker's internal conflict? (1)
2. Read the
following lines and answer the questions that follow:
"Dear my lord,
Make me acquainted with your cause of grief."
a) Who is
speaking, and to whom? (1)
b) What "grief" is the speaker referring to? (1)
c) How does the speaker try to prove their loyalty? (2)
Section C:
Long Answer Questions (20 Marks)
(Answer the
following questions in about 150–200 words. Each question carries 10 marks.)
- Discuss Brutus’s internal conflict in Act 2,
Scene 1.
- Highlight how Brutus balances his
love for Caesar and his duty to Rome.
- Examine the role of the letter in
intensifying his dilemma.
- Analyze the theme of loyalty and betrayal in Act
2, Scene 1.
- Discuss Brutus’s loyalty to Rome
versus his loyalty to Caesar.
- Explore how Portia demonstrates
loyalty in this scene.
Answers
Section A: Multiple-Choice
Questions (8 Marks)
- D) An anonymous Roman
- B) Power can reveal a person's hidden dangers.
- B) A call to defend Rome against Caesar.
- A) Early morning.
- A) He believes their cause should be enough to
bind them.
- C) By wounding herself to show her strength.
- B) Ligarius.
- A) Antony is not a threat.
Section B:
Reference to Context (12 Marks)
1. Read the
following lines and answer the questions that follow:
"It must be by his death: and for my part,
I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
But for the general. He would be crown'd:
How that might change his nature, there's the question."
a) Who is
the speaker? What is he contemplating here? (2)
The speaker is Brutus. He is contemplating whether Caesar’s rise to
power will corrupt him and make him a tyrant, and he concludes that Caesar must
be killed for the good of Rome.
b) What does
the speaker mean by "no personal cause to spurn at him"? (1)
Brutus means that he has no personal hatred or grievance against Caesar. His
reasons for opposing Caesar are based on concern for the welfare of Rome.
c) How does
this soliloquy reveal the speaker's internal conflict? (1)
The soliloquy shows Brutus’s internal conflict between his loyalty to Caesar as
a friend and his fear that Caesar’s ambition may harm Rome.
2. Read the
following lines and answer the questions that follow:
"Dear my lord,
Make me acquainted with your cause of grief."
a) Who is
speaking, and to whom? (1)
The speaker is Portia, and she is speaking to Brutus.
b) What
"grief" is the speaker referring to? (1)
The "grief" refers to Brutus’s disturbed state of mind and his
preoccupation with the conspiracy to kill Caesar, which he has not shared with
Portia.
c) How does
the speaker try to prove their loyalty? (2)
Portia tries to prove her loyalty by wounding herself in the thigh,
demonstrating her strength and resolve to share in Brutus’s burdens and
secrets.
Section C:
Long Answer Questions (20 Marks)
1. Discuss
Brutus’s internal conflict in Act 2, Scene 1.
Brutus’s internal conflict revolves around his love for Caesar and his loyalty
to Rome. As a friend, Brutus admires and cares for Caesar, but as a Roman, he
fears that Caesar’s ambition will lead to tyranny. This struggle becomes
evident when Brutus receives the forged letter from Cassius, urging him to take
action. The letter intensifies his dilemma by framing the assassination as a
duty to Rome. Ultimately, Brutus resolves that Caesar’s death is necessary for
the greater good, even though he has no personal animosity toward him. This
conflict highlights Brutus’s noble yet flawed character, as his decision is
based on speculation about Caesar’s potential behavior rather than concrete
evidence.
2. Analyze
the theme of loyalty and betrayal in Act 2, Scene 1.
The theme of loyalty and betrayal is central to this scene. Brutus wrestles
with his loyalty to Caesar, his friend, and his loyalty to Rome, which he holds
above personal relationships. His decision to join the conspiracy represents a
betrayal of Caesar, justified in Brutus’s mind by his belief in the greater
good of Rome. Portia’s actions exemplify loyalty within personal relationships;
she demonstrates her devotion by wounding herself to prove her strength and
worthiness to share in Brutus’s troubles. Meanwhile, the conspirators’ oathless
unity reflects their shared loyalty to the cause of Rome’s freedom, though it
also foreshadows the ultimate betrayal of Caesar. This duality of loyalty and
betrayal adds depth to the characters and their motivations.
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