Class X Second 50% Examination
Key Answers
Question No: 6
Antony
O Mighty Caesar! Dost Thou Lie So Low?
Are All Thy Conquests, Glories, Triumphs, Spoils,
Shrunk To This Little Measure? Fare Thee Well.
I Know Not, Gentlemen, What You Intend,
Who Else Must Be Let Blood, Who Else Is Rank:
If I Myself, There Is No Hour So Fit
As Caesar’s Death’s Hour; Nor No Instrument
Of Half That Worth As Those Your Swords, Made Rich
With The Most Noble Blood Of All This World.
(I) Where Does The Mighty Caesar Lie? What Is Meant By “This Little Measure”? Give
One Example Each Of Caesar’s Conquests And His Glories.
Answer :-Caesar Lies Low On The Ground, Having Been Assassinated. “This Little Measure”
Refers To Caesar’s Current State Of Being Reduced To A Small, Lifeless Body. One Of Caesar’s
Conquests Was His Victory In The Gallic Wars, And One Of His Glories Was His Triumphal
Return To Rome After Defeating Pompey’s Forces.
(II) Who Are The “Gentlemen” He Addresses? What Does He Implore Them, To Do ?
What Does His Request Tell Us About His Character?
Answer :- The “Gentlemen” Antony Addresses Are Likely The Conspirators Who Were
Involved In Caesar’s Assassination. Antony Implores Them To Let Him Know Who Else They
Intend To Kill, Indicating That He Is Willing To Participate In Further Bloodshed If
Necessary. This Request Reveals Antony’s Loyalty To Caesar And His Willingness To Avenge
His Death.
(III) Give The Meaning Of: “Who Else Must Be Let Blood, Who Else Is Ran) – What In
Your Opinion, Is Antony’s Reason For Saying So?
Answer :- “Who Else Must Be Let Blood, Who Else Is Rank” Means Who Else Must Be Killed,
Who Else Deserves To Die. Antony’s Reason For Saying This May Be To Assert His Commitment
To Avenging Caesar’s Death And To Seek Clarity On The Conspirators’ Intentions.
(IV) What Does Antony’s Expression, “The Most Noble Blood Of All This World Indicate
About Antony’s Feelings For Caesar?
Answer:-Antony’s Expression “The Most Noble Blood Of All This World” Indicates His Deep
Admiration And Reverence For Caesar. He Sees Caesar’s Blood As The Most Honorable And
Significant In The World, Reflecting His Profound Loyalty And Emotional Attachment To
Caesar.
(V) What Did Brutus Tell Antony About The Conspirator’s Feelings For Caesar? Was Brutus
Honest? Why?
Answer:- Brutus Had Told Antony That The Conspirators Killed Caesar Not Because They
Hated Him, But Because They Loved Rome More. However, This Statement Is Not Entirely
Honest, As The Conspirators Had Personal Grievances And Fears About Caesar’s Growing
Power. They Perceived Him As A Threat To The Roman Republic And Sought To Eliminate Him
To Preserve Their Own Interests. Antony Likely Recognizes The Insincerity In Brutus’s
Words, Which Contributes To His Resolve To Avenge Caesar’s Death.
Question No: 7
Antony
My Credit Now Stands On Such Slippery Ground,
That One Of Two Bad Ways You Must Conceit Me,
Either A Coward Or A Flatterer.
That I Did Love Thee, Caesar, O, ‘Tis True:
(I)What Is Meant By The Word “Credit”? Why Does It Now Stand “On Such Slippery
Ground.
Answer :-In This Context, “Credit” Refers To Antony’s Reputation Or Credibility. It Stands
On “Such Slippery Ground” Because He Fears That His Actions Or Words Might Lead People
To Perceive Him Negatively, Either As A Coward Or A Flatterer.
(II) What Does Antony Mean To Say By The Following Words:
That One Of Two Bad Ways You Must Conceit Me,
Either A Coward Or A Flatterer?
Answer :- Antony Means That His Actions Or Words Could Be Interpreted In One Of Two
Negative Ways: Either As Showing Cowardice For Not Opposing The Conspirators Or As Being
A Flatterer For Praising Caesar Despite His Death.
(III) What Effect Do Antony’s Action And Words Have On His Listeners?
Answer :- Antony’s Actions And Words Stir Emotions Among His Listeners, Causing Them To
Question The Righteousness Of Caesar’s Assassination And Potentially Turning Them Against
The Conspirators.
(IV) What Mistake Did Brutus Make By Granting The Request Of Antony? What Did
Cassius Warn Him Then? What Was The Consequence Of The Mistake?
Answer:-The Mistake Brutus Made Was Allowing Antony To Speak At Caesar’s Funeral. Cassius
Warned Him That Antony’s Eloquence And Popularity Could Sway The Public Against Them. The
Consequence Of This Mistake Was That Antony’s Speech Incited The Crowd To Riot, Leading
To Chaos And Eventually Civil War.
(V) “How Did Antony Prove That He Could Be Both A Coward And A Flatterer?
Answer:- Antony Proved He Could Be A Flatterer By Initially Praising The Conspirators As
“Honorable Men” While Subtly Undermining Their Actions And Motives, Thus Appealing To The
Crowd’s Emotions And Turning Them Against The Conspirators. He Also Proved He Could Be A
Coward By Initially Appearing Submissive To Brutus And The Conspirators, Only To Later
Reveal His True Intentions Of Seeking Revenge For Caesar’s Death.
context Questions II
1.Brutus
Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills
Unto the legions on the other side. [Loud alarum]
Let them set on at once, for I perceive
But cold demeanour in Octavius’ wing,
And sudden push gives them the overthrow.
Ride, ride, Messala: let them all come down.
(i) Where does this scene take place? What is meant by “these bills”? What is referred
to as “the legions on the other side”?
Answer: The scene takes place on the battlefield during the final conflict between the
forces of Brutus and Cassius against those of Octavius and Antony. “These bills” refers to
the written orders or directives that Brutus hands to Messala, which he is to deliver to the
legions. “The legions on the other side” refers to Brutus’s own troops that are stationed
elsewhere on the battlefield, presumably in a different part of the field, who are to receive
these orders.
(ii) What instructions does Brutus give? To whom are these instructions to be given?
Answer: Brutus instructs Messala to deliver the orders (“these bills”) to his legions
stationed on the other side of the battlefield. The instructions are likely orders to advance
and engage in battle against Octavius’s forces.
(iii) Brutus hopes to have advantage at this juncture. What indications has be perceived
in this regard?
Answer: Brutus perceives that Octavius’s forces are showing “cold demeanor,” suggesting a
lack of enthusiasm or resolve. He believes that a sudden and forceful attack could lead to a
swift victory over them.
(iv) What warning did Octavius give to Brutus the previous night? How was the warning
taken?
Answer: The previous warning from Octavius is not mentioned directly in the scene provided,
but within the context of the play, Octavius’s warning could refer to the earlier omen of
Caesar’s ghost, which appeared to Brutus, foretelling his downfall. This warning was taken
seriously by Brutus, causing him unease but ultimately leading him to continue with his plans.
(v) What changes do you notice in the character of Brutus in this scene?
Answer: In this scene, Brutus appears decisive and resolute, focused on the battle at
hand. This contrasts with earlier moments in the play where he exhibited uncertainty
and contemplation. Here, his instructions are clear and direct, showing a shift from a
contemplative leader to one who takes swift action in the face of battle. Context
Questions II
1.Brutus
Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills
Unto the legions on the other side. [Loud alarum]
Let them set on at once, for I perceive
But cold demeanour in Octavius’ wing,
And sudden push gives them the overthrow.
Ride, ride, Messala: let them all come down.
(i) Where does this scene take place? What is meant by “these bills”? What is referred
to as “the legions on the other side”?
Answer: The scene takes place on the battlefield during the final conflict between the
forces of Brutus and Cassius against those of Octavius and Antony. “These bills” refers to
the written orders or directives that Brutus hands to Messala, which he is to deliver to the
legions. “The legions on the other side” refers to Brutus’s own troops that are stationed
elsewhere on the battlefield, presumably in a different part of the field, who are to receive
these orders.
(ii) What instructions does Brutus give? To whom are these instructions to be given?
Answer: Brutus instructs Messala to deliver the orders (“these bills”) to his legions
stationed on the other side of the battlefield. The instructions are likely orders to advance
and engage in battle against Octavius’s forces.
(iii) Brutus hopes to have advantage at this juncture. What indications has be perceived
in this regard?
Answer: Brutus perceives that Octavius’s forces are showing “cold demeanor,” suggesting a
lack of enthusiasm or resolve. He believes that a sudden and forceful attack could lead to a
swift victory over them.
(iv) What warning did Octavius give to Brutus the previous night? How was the warning
taken?
Answer: The previous warning from Octavius is not mentioned directly in the scene provided,
but within the context of the play, Octavius’s warning could refer to the earlier omen of
Caesar’s ghost, which appeared to Brutus, foretelling his downfall. This warning was taken
seriously by Brutus, causing him unease but ultimately leading him to continue with his plans.
(v) What changes do you notice in the character of Brutus in this scene?
Answer: In this scene, Brutus appears decisive and resolute, focused on the battle at hand.
This contrasts with earlier moments in the play where he exhibited uncertainty and
contemplation. Here, his instructions are clear and direct, showing a shift from a
contemplative leader to one who takes swift action in the face of battle.
3. he dropped her glove, to prove his love, then looked at him and smiled;
He bowed, and in a moment leaped among the lions wild:
The leap was quick, return was quick, he has regained his place,
Then threw the glove, but not with love, right in the lady’s face.
“By God!” said Francis, “rightly done!” and he rose from where he sat:|
“No love,” quoth he, “but vanity, sets love a task like that.”
(i) Who were watching the lion fight? How was the fight progressing?
Ans. The king, the noble men and their ladies were watching the fight. The fight was a ferocious one.
(ii) What idea struck De Lorge’s beloved? How did she put it into practice?
Ans. She thought of proving the Count’s bravery by setting him a task to prove his love for her. She dropped
her glove in the arena where the lions were fighting and asked the Count to get it back for her.
(iii) What could have happened to De Lorge?
Ans. He could have been attacked by the lions.
(iv) What was De lorge’s reaction when he came back safe from the pit?
Ans. He was angry and threw the glove at the beloved’s face.
(v) What did no one else but De Lorge understand at the end?
Ans. He understood that the lady did not love him but she was proud of her beauty. That is why she put the
Count’s life in danger. She wanted to prove that the man loved her so much that he could do anything for
her. She was full of vanity and lacked true love.
