Play: Julius Caesar

 Play: Julius Caesar (for class 7th Oxford Modern English)

Summary of scene: 1 

The play begins in Rome during a big holiday called the Feast of Lupercal. Some workers are in the streets celebrating Julius Caesar because he just won a big battle against Pompey. Pompey was a Roman leader like Caesar, but Caesar defeated him. Two important men, Flavius and Marullus, see the workers celebrating. They get angry because they think the people are being unfair. Not long ago, these same people loved Pompey, but now they’re cheering for Caesar instead. Flavius and Marullus tell the workers to stop celebrating and go back to their jobs. After the workers leave, Flavius and Marullus decide to take down all the decorations honoring Caesar. They are worried that Caesar is becoming too powerful and might turn into a king, which could be bad for Rome.

Question/Answers

a. Who were the workers questioned by Flavius and Marullus?

The workers were a cobbler (shoemaker) and a carpenter, along with other common people.

b. What tools were these workers meant to carry?

The workers were supposed to carry tools of their trade (e.g., hammers or awls) as they were expected to be working, not celebrating.

c. Why does Marullus get annoyed with the cobbler?

Marullus gets annoyed because the cobbler gives him clever, playful answers instead of directly explaining why he is not working.

d. Flavius asks the cobbler why he leads others about the streets. What clever answer does the cobbler give? What does this show about:

The cobbler says he is leading them about to “mend” their soles (souls). This is a pun, playing on the words “sole” (part of a shoe) and “soul” (spiritual essence).

i. Flavius: This shows that Flavius is serious and focused on Roman order. He doesn’t understand or appreciate the cobbler’s humor.

ii. The cobbler: The cobbler is witty and playful, showing he is clever and enjoys wordplay.

e. Why does Marullus call the citizens 'blocks and stones'? What is his attitude toward the common people?

Marullus calls them "blocks and stones" because he thinks they are foolish and unfeeling for forgetting their loyalty to Pompey and celebrating Caesar instead. He looks down on the common people and sees them as fickle and easily swayed.

f. Why do the citizens feel guilty?

The citizens feel guilty because Marullus reminds them that they once loved Pompey and should not celebrate Caesar’s victory over him. They realize their actions are ungrateful.

g. What two special events are being celebrated on this day?

Caesar’s victory over Pompey.

The Feast of Lupercal, a Roman festival.

These questions are more challenging. Discuss them first.

h. Do you think this is a good opening scene for a play? Why or why not?

Yes, it is a good opening scene because it shows the tension in Rome, introduces the conflict, and makes the audience curious about Caesar’s power.

i. Why is Marullus and Flavius’ dialogue subtly menacing? Does this make the play more or less interesting?

Their dialogue is menacing because it shows they are against Caesar and worried about his power. This makes the play more interesting by creating suspense and showing the danger ahead.

j. Who are the two main characters introduced? What is their relationship with each other and Julius Caesar?

The two main characters are Flavius and Marullus. They work together as tribunes and are against Caesar because they fear he is becoming too powerful.

2. Read the following quotations and answer the questions.

a "What dost thou with thy best apparel on?"

i. Who asks this question?

Marullus.

ii. To whom is the question addressed?

To a common worker (one of the citizens).

iii. Why does the speaker ask the question?

Marullus asks this because he is angry that the worker is dressed up and celebrating instead of working.

b. "A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a safe conscience, which is indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles."

i. Who is the speaker?

The cobbler.

ii. Who is the 'sir' that the speaker addresses?

Marullus.

iii. What is the play on words that the speaker makes?

The cobbler plays on the word "soles," meaning both shoe soles and human souls.

iv. How does the person who hears these words react?

Marullus gets annoyed because he thinks the cobbler is not taking him seriously.

c. "What conquest brings him home?"

i. Who says these words and to whom?

Marullus says this to the crowd of commoners.

ii. Who is the 'he' being referred to?

Julius Caesar.

iii. What were the conquests that this person made?

Caesar defeated Pompey and his sons in battle.

iv. Where is 'home'?

Rome.

d. "Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears into the channel..."

i. Who says these words and to whom are they spoken?

Marullus says this to the commoners.

ii. What is the Tiber?

The Tiber is a river in Rome.

iii. Who does the word 'them' refer to?

'Them' refers to the symbols of celebration, such as garlands or decorations.

iv. Why should the person(s) weep?

Marullus believes they should weep for their ingratitude toward Pompey, whom they once admired but now seem to have forgotten.

e. "These growing feathers pluck'd from Caesar's wing will make him fly an ordinary pitch."

i. Who speaks these words, and to whom?

Flavius says this to Marullus.

ii. What is meant by 'growing feathers'? Why would the feathers be growing?

'Growing feathers' refers to Caesar's increasing power and popularity. The feathers are "growing" because the people support him and celebrate his victories.

iii. What is meant by 'fly an ordinary pitch'? Why does the speaker wish for this?

'Fly an ordinary pitch' means to have limited power, like an ordinary man. The speaker wishes for this because he fears Caesar will become too powerful and dangerous.

iv. What would happen if he was not stopped from flying an ordinary pitch?

If Caesar is not stopped, he may gain absolute power, becoming a tyrant and threatening the freedom of the Roman Republic

Draw the character sketch of Marulus.

Character Sketch of Marullus

Marullus is a Roman tribune who is loyal to the Republic. He is serious, strict, and dislikes how quickly the common people change their loyalty. He is upset that they are celebrating Caesar’s victory over Pompey, whom they once loved. Marullus is also bold and outspoken, scolding the people for being ungrateful and fickle. He fears Caesar's growing power and wants to protect Rome from tyranny.