EXAM TIPS FOR ENGLISH CLASS 10, Chapter – Julius Caesar

In today’s article, we will focus on the key points of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

Main characters in the play:

• Marcus Brutus: Supporter of the Republic, friend to Caesar.
• Julius Caesar: Great Roman general and Senator.
• Calipurnia: Wife to Julius Caesar.
• Mark Antony: Friend to Caesar, expert orator
• Cassius:A talented general and long time acquaintance of Caesar.
• Decius Brutus: Co-conspirator in Caesar’s assassination.
• Octavius: Caesar’s adopted son and appointed successor.
• Casca: A public figure opposed to Caesar’s rise to power.

Character traits of some important characters:

• Julius Caesar: Nobleman, Courageous, Law-Abiding, Benevolent, Mighty, Credulous.
• Marcus Brutus: Nobleman, Orator, Learned, Easily Instigated, Lack of will power, Democratic, Advocate of Liberty and Freedom.
• Mark Antony: Expert Orator, Loyal, Faithful, Manipulative, Trustworthy.
• Cassius: Main conspirator, Influential, Persuasive, Witty.

Plot Structure:

• Different interpretations of Calipurnia’s dream and Caesar’s decision to not to go to the Capitol.
• Caesar’s arrival at the Capitol and the humble submission of Cimber before Caesar to repeal the verdict on his brother.
• Assassination of Caesar by his conspirators such as Brutus, Cassius and others who shout ‘Liberty, freedom and enfranchisement’.
• Address of the conspirators to the public justifying their act of murdering Caesar.
• Mark Antony’s funeral speech which turned the mob against the conspirators.

Click on the link for chapter summary:
http://cbse.meritnation.com/cbse-english-literature-reader/julius-caesar/371/2242/tutorials.html

Questions you need to focus on to know the core of the lesson:
1. Importance of Antony’s speech in Julius Caesar.
Or,
Compare Antony’s speech with that of Brutus on Caesar’s funeral.
Or,
How did the mob come to know about the plot of the conspirators who killed Julius Caesar?Or,
Discuss Antony as a fantastic orator.
Or,
What reasons does Brutus give for murdering Caesar and how does Antony contradict his views? Explain by contrasting their motives in their respective funeral speeches.
2. Julius Caesar was an ambitious man. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for the same.
3. Explain the role of superstitions in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.
Or,
Significance of Calipurnia’s dream in the play Julius Caesar.
4. Antony addresses Brutus as “honourable man”. Why? Give reasons.
5. Who was the main person responsible for the conspiracy against killing Caesar? Give reasons from the text.
6.  What role did Decius play in convincing Caesar to go to the Capitol?
7. On what basis did Antony agree to befriend Cassius and Brutus?
8. Justice wins the race. Or, any wrong deed gets punished in the long run. Explain with reference to the play Julius Caesar.
9. Character sketches of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Brutus, Cassius and Calipurnia.
10. Theme of democracy in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.
11. Who can be justifiably called the tragic hero in the play Julius Caesar? Give your arguments for the same.

Here are a few RTCs from the text which will give you a comprehensive view of the entire chapter:
1. A lioness hath whelped in the streets;
And graves have yawn’d, and yielded up their dead;

2. This dream is all amiss interpreted;
It was a vision fair and fortunate:

3. Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful;
And pity to the general wrong of Rome–

4. Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar.

5. You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
But speak all good you can devise of Caesar,

6. But Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.

7. Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot,
Take thou what course thou wilt!

8. In every wound of Caesar that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.