JULIUS CAESAR – ACT 1 – SCENE - 3

Extract 1
“A common slave—you know him well by sight—
Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn
Like twenty torches join’d; and yet his hand,
Not sensible of fire, remain’d unscorch’d.”
❓ Questions & ✅ Answers:
1. Who is speaking and to whom?
➤ Casca is speaking to Cicero. He describes the strange sights he has
seen in the streets of Rome during a terrible storm.
2. Describe the strange event involving the slave.
➤ Casca saw a slave holding up his left hand, which was on fire.
However, the fire did not burn the hand. It stayed unharmed, which Casca
found shocking and unnatural.
3. What literary device is used in “like twenty torches join’d”?
➤ This is a simile. The flaming hand is compared to twenty torches
joined together, showing how bright and intense the fire looked.
4. What does the burning hand symbolize?
➤ It symbolizes supernatural warning signs. Romans believed such
unnatural sights were omens predicting future danger, possibly Caesar’s
rise to power.
5. What theme of the play is shown through this extract?
➤ The theme of fate and the supernatural is shown here. Casca
believes that the gods are sending warnings through nature.

🔹 Extract 2
“Either there is a civil strife in heaven,
Or else the world, too saucy with the gods,
Incenses them to send destruction.”
❓ Questions & ✅ Answers:
 1. Who speaks these lines and in what context?
➤ Casca speaks these lines to Cicero while discussing the strange and
violent storm in Rome, suggesting that it could be a sign of divine anger.
2. What does “civil strife in heaven” mean?
➤ It means a fight among the gods. Casca wonders if even the heavens
are in conflict, which would explain the strange weather.
3. Explain the phrase “too saucy with the gods.”
➤ It means that people have become too proud or disrespectful toward
the gods, which may have angered them.
4. What is the speaker’s attitude toward the storm?
➤ Casca is afraid and confused. He believes the storm is not natural, but
a sign from the gods that something terrible is about to happen.
5. What theme of the play is highlighted in these lines?
➤ The theme of divine justice and superstition is shown. Romans
believed nature responded to human actions, especially wrongdoings.

🔹 Extract 3
“I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds
Have rived the knotty oaks; and I have seen
The ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam…”
❓ Questions & ✅ Answers:
1. What is Casca describing in this extract?
➤ Casca describes powerful storms he has seen before. He talks about
strong winds breaking trees and the ocean becoming wild and stormy.
2. What does Casca mean by “scolding winds”?
➤ “Scolding winds” refers to angry, howling winds, personified to
suggest that nature is upset or warning people.
3. What literary devices are used in this extract?
➤ Personification is used in “scolding winds.” Also, imagery is used
throughout the description to paint a vivid picture of nature’s violence.
4. Why does Casca mention these natural events?
➤ He wants to show that even though he has seen violent storms before,
the current storm is far more unnatural and frightening.
 5. What do these storms symbolize in the play?
➤ The storms symbolize chaos and unrest, warning signs of political
turmoil and Caesar’s rising power.

🔹 Extract 4
“O, he sits high in all the people’s hearts;
And that which would appear offence in us,
His countenance, like richest alchemy,
Will change to virtue and to worthiness.”
❓ Questions & ✅ Answers:
1. Who is being spoken about here, and why?
➤ Cassius is speaking about Brutus. He wants Brutus to join the
conspiracy because Brutus is respected by the people.
2. Explain the meaning of “he sits high in all the people’s hearts.”
➤ It means Brutus is highly loved and respected by the Roman people.
His support would make the conspiracy seem honourable.
3. What is “alchemy,” and how is it used here?
➤ Alchemy was the ancient practice of turning base metals into gold.
Here, it’s a simile comparing Brutus’ influence to alchemy—he can make
a crime seem like a noble act.
4. What role does Cassius hope Brutus will play in the conspiracy?
➤ Cassius wants Brutus to be the face of the conspiracy. His good
reputation would convince people that Caesar’s assassination is for the
good of Rome.
5. What theme does this extract show?
➤ This extract shows the theme of appearance vs. reality—Cassius
wants to hide the true intention of murder behind Brutus’ honourable
image.

🔹 Extract 5
“So every bondman in his own hand bears
The power to cancel his captivity.”
❓ Questions & ✅ Answers:
1. Who says this and what is meant by “bondman”?
➤ Cassius says this. A bondman means a slave. He’s saying that even
slaves can free themselves if they choose.
2. How does this line relate to Rome’s political situation?
➤ Cassius is comparing Roman citizens to slaves under Caesar. He says
they must take control and fight for freedom by removing Caesar.
3. What does “cancel his captivity” mean in this context?
➤ It means to end one’s slavery or oppression. Cassius encourages
rebellion against Caesar’s growing power.
4. What theme does this line express?
➤ The theme of freedom vs. tyranny is shown. Cassius argues that it is
better to die free than live under a dictator.
5. What persuasive technique does Cassius use here?
➤ He uses emotional appeal and rhetoric to make people feel oppressed
and inspire them to act against Caesar.

Key Literary Devices in Act 1, Scene 3:

Device Example Effect

“Like twenty torches Emphasizes brightness and
Simile
joined” unnatural sight
“A man most like this Compares Caesar to a violent
Metaphor
dreadful night” storm
Personification “Scolding winds” Gives nature human emotions
Creates a vivid picture of
Imagery “Tempest dropping fire”
unnatural chaos
Symbolize divine warning and
Symbolism Fire, storms, strange sights
political tension

1. How does Casca interpret the nature's fury of a storm showering fire?
o (a) An attempt to punish Caesar
o (b) God's rage with insolent world below
o (c) A sign of something strange likely to happen
o (d) None of the above
2. What is meant by 'prodigies' in this scene?
o (a) Unnatural events
o (b) Storms
o (c) Fire
o (d) Accidents
3. Who, according to Cassius, is a source of as much fear as the strange
outbreaks of nature?
o (a) Antony
o (b) Brutus
o (c) Casca
o (d) Caesar
4. What would Cassius do if Caesar would be crowned as the king?
o (a) Leave Rome forever
o (b) Start a rebellion against him
o (c) Would never go to the Senate
o (d) Stab himself with a dagger
5. According to Cassius, Caesar would not have become a ruthless dictator
if
o (a) Romans were not on the streets to welcome him.
o (b) his powers had been curbed earlier.
o (c) Romans were not so submissive.
o (d) None of the above.
6. How does Cassius interpret the storm in this scene?
o (a) He equates it with Caesar.
o (b) He equates with his inner turmoil
o (c) He contrasts it with his peaceful inner self
o (d) None of the above.
7. How would Cassius deliver Cassius from bondage?
 o (a) By running away from Rome
o (b) By inciting himself to rebel
o (c) By provoking Brutus to rebel
o (d) By committing suicide
8. In what condition is Casca in a state of servitude, according to Cassius?
o (a) Cheerful
o (b) Fearful
o (c) Remorseful
o (d) None of the above.
Answers:
Question 1: Casca's interpretation of the storm
Correct answer: (c) A sign of something strange likely to happen
Casca views the unnatural storm ("storm showering fire") as a warning or
omen that something unusual is about to take place.
Question 2: Meaning of 'prodigies' in this scene
Correct answer: (a) Unnatural events
In this context, 'prodigies' refers to strange, supernatural, or unnatural
events witnessed in Rome.
Question 3: Who is the source of as much fear as strange outbreaks
of nature, according to Cassius?
Correct answer: (d) Caesar
Cassius compares the fear caused by Caesar's rise to power to the terror
caused by the unnatural occurrences.
Question 4: What would Cassius do if Caesar would be crowned as
king?
Correct answer: (d) Stab himself with a dagger
Cassius declares that he will kill himself (stab himself with a dagger)
rather than live under Caesar's rule.
Question 5: According to Cassius, when would Caesar not have
become a ruthless dictator?
Correct answer: (c) Romans were not so submissive.
Cassius believes that if the Romans were not so submissive (i.e., if they
resisted), Caesar would not have become so powerful.
Question 6: How does Cassius interpret the storm in this scene?
Correct answer: (a) He equates it with Caesar.
Cassius uses the storm as a metaphor for the chaos and disturbance
Caesar brings to Rome.
Question 7: How would Cassius deliver Cassius from bondage?
Correct answer: (d) By committing suicide
Cassius says that if Caesar becomes king, he will kill himself to free
himself from tyranny (bondage).
Question 8: Casca's condition in a state of servitude
Correct answer: (b) Fearful
According to Cassius, Casca is in a state of servitude because he is fearful
of Caesar's growing power.