1.

(a) Workers ought to wear signs of their trade

2. (a) To get himself more work
3. (a) He is a surgeon of old shoes
4. (b) Due to the ingratitude of citizens
5. (c) To quell Caesar’s ego and popularity
6. (c) Pompey
7. (d) Both (b) and (c)
8. (a) For the dishonour shown to Pompey
9. (a) Admiration for Caesar
10. (b) Confusion and Chaos
11. (c) Conflict between dictatorship and democracy
12. (a) Caesar’s triumph over Pompey’s sons

Julius Caesar Act 1 Scene 1 workbook answers

Extract I.
Flavius: Hence! home, you idle creatures, get you
home! Is this a holiday? What, know you not,
Being mechanical, you ought not to walk
Upon a labouring day without the sign
Of your profession? Speak, what trade art thou?
Carpenter: Why sir, a carpenter.
Marullus: Where is thy leather apron and thy rule?
What dost thou with thy best apparel on?
You, sir, what trade are you?
Answers:
1. Flavius and Marullus are two high-ranking officials in the government of ancient
Rome. They are on the streets of Rome. They are there to rebuke the citizens of
Rome for celebrating Julius Caesar‘s recent victory over Pompey in a triumphal
parade. Flavius and Marullus believe that the citizens are being fickle and disloyal to
Pompey, who was once their beloved leader. They also fear that Caesar is becoming
too powerful and popular, and they want to prevent him from becoming a dictator.
They order the citizens to disperse and remove all the decorations and symbols of
Caesar’s triumph, hoping to quell his growing popularity and prevent him from
gaining too much power.
2. The “idle creatures” referred to are the commoners or citizens of Rome who are
celebrating and taking the day off from work. They are called “idle” by Flavius
because he sees their celebration as frivolous and unproductive, and he believes
that they should be working instead. The speaker asks if it is a holiday to mock the
citizens and to emphasize that they are wasting their time instead of doing
something productive.
3. Give the meaning of the following :
a) Being mechanical : Workmen who use manual tools for their profession. Like a
carpenter uses a leather apron and a rule.
b) A labouring day : A working day.
c) Sign of your profession : A tool pertaining to your line of work.
4. Marullus addresses a commoner in the last line of the extract, asking him why he
is not working and why he is participating in the celebration. The commoner replies
that he is taking the day off to celebrate the feast of Lupercal. Marullus reacts with
disdain and disbelief, questioning the commoner’s loyalty to Rome and accusing
him of being fickle and easily swayed by the whims of the government. Marullus
believes that the citizens of Rome should be working and that their celebration is a
waste of time.
5. Flavius and Marullus are men in authority who exercise their power in different
ways. Flavius uses his authority to scold and rebuke the citizens of Rome for
celebrating and taking the day off work. He says, “Hence! home, you idle creatures
get you home”
On the other hand, Marullus exercises his authority by questioning and challenging
the commoners who are participating in the celebration. He says, “Wherefore
rejoice? What conquest brings he home? What tributaries follow him to Rome, to
grace in captive bonds his chariot-wheels?”
Between the two, Marullus appears to exercise greater authority due to his ability
to question and challenge the citizens’ actions and beliefs. He is not afraid to
express his opinions and to criticize others, even in the face of opposition.
Extract II.
Cobbler: A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a
safe conscience, which is indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.
Flavius: What trade, thou knave? Thou naughty
knave, what trade?
Cobbler: Nay, I beseech you sir, be not out with me,
yet if thou be out, sir, I can mend you.
Answers
1. The term “trade” refers to a person’s profession or occupation. The second
citizen mentioned in the scene is a cobbler, who works with leather and shoes.
When Marullus asks him what his trade is, the cobbler replies, “Sir, a mender of bad
soles.”
The pun involved with the word “soles” is a play on words. “Soles” refers to the
bottom part of shoes that the cobbler repairs. However, it also sounds like “souls,”
which means a person’s spirit or essence. The cobbler is making a joke about his
profession by suggesting that he is not just repairing shoes, but also the souls of
the people who wear them. The pun adds a bit of humor to the scene and shows
the cleverness of the cobbler.
2. In Act 1, Scene 1 of Julius Caesar, the citizen says that he “may use” his trade with
a safe conscience because he is doing an honest day’s work and earning a living
through his profession as a cobbler. He is proud of his trade and sees it as a
legitimate way to support himself and his family.
3. The expression “naughty knave” is a derogatory term used to refer to the cobbler
by Flavius. It suggests that the Romans looked down on artisans and craftsmen as
being of lower social status. Two more examples of such expressions from the
scene are “mechanical slaves” and “you blocks, you stones.”
4. In the line “be not out with me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you,” the cobbler
is using a pun to make a joke. “Out” can mean either “angry” or “worn out.” The
cobbler is saying that if Flavius is angry with him, he can calm him down. But if his
shoes are worn out, he can also mend them.
5. Two character traits of the common people in the scene are humor and loyalty.
The cobbler is witty and makes jokes, such as the pun about “soles.” The common
people are also loyal to Julius Caesar, as evidenced by their excitement at his
upcoming triumph and their eagerness to celebrate his victories. For example, the
second citizen says, “Why, there was a crown offered him; and being offered him,
he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a-shouting.”
Extract III
Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?
What tributaries follow him to Rome?
To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels?
You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!
O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome!
Knew you not Pompey?

Answers:
1. The lines are spoken by the second citizen. These words are addressed to the
first citizen. The extract refers to the rejoicing of the people on the occasion of
Caesar’s victory over Pompey.
2. “He” in the first line of the extract refers to Caesar. The speaker wants to convey
to his listeners that they are foolish to rejoice over Caesar’s victory as it has not
brought any personal gain to them.
3. The conquest referred to in the first line of the extract is Caesar’s victory over
Pompey. The conqueror has not brought any territory to Rome by his conquest as
Pompey was a Roman general, and his defeat has created political instability and
chaos in Rome.
4. The lines mean that Caesar has conquered many territories, and now the
conquered people are following him to Rome as prisoners of war. They will be
displayed in Caesar’s victory parade, and their captivity will glorify Caesar’s chariot
wheels.
5. The custom referred to in question (iv) is the tradition of the triumphal
procession, where a victorious general parades through the streets of Rome,
displaying his spoils of war, followed by his captive prisoners.
Extract IV
Marullus:
And when you saw his chariot but appear,
Have you not made an universal shout,
That Tiber trembled underneath her banks
To hear the replication of your sounds
Made in her concave shores?
And do you now put-on your best attire?
And do you now cull out a holiday?
And do you now strew flowers in his way
That comes in triumph over Pompey’s blood?

Answers:
1. Pompey’s chariot was seen when Pompey came home triumph from various
battles.
Marullus asks the commoners if they remember the time when they saw Caesar’s
chariot appear and made a universal shout. The specific time is not mentioned in
this extract. It can be assumed that Marullus is referring to a time when Caesar
returned to Rome in triumph after his victory over Pompey. On seeing the chariot,
the commoners made a universal shout that was so loud that it made the Tiber
river tremble underneath her banks.
2. “Universal shout” refers to a loud cheer or outcry that is made by everyone
together. The people are being asked if they remember the time when they made
such a shout upon seeing the conqueror’s chariot. The consequence of the shout
was that the sound of it was so loud that it caused the Tiber river to tremble.
3. Pompey’s blood refers to the bloodshed in the civil war between Julius
Caesar and Pompey, in which Caesar emerged victorious. The conqueror who is
now coming in triumph over Pompey’s blood is Julius Caesar himself.
4. The people are putting on their best attire, declaring a holiday, and strewing
flowers in the way of Julius Caesar’s triumphal entry.
5. The speaker, Marullus, wants to remind the people that just a short while ago,
they were celebrating Pompey’s victory, and now they have turned to celebrate
Julius Caesar’s victory. He wants to emphasize the fickleness and inconsistency of
the people and their tendency to blindly follow whoever is in power. He also wants
to prevent the people from glorifying Caesar too much and making him appear
greater than he actually is.
Extract V.
Marullus: May we do so?
You know it is the feast of Lupercal.
Flavius: It is no matter. Let no images
Be hung with Caesar’s trophies. I’ll about
And drive away the vulgar from the streets.
So do you too, where you perceive them thick.
These growing feathers, plucked from Caesar’s wing will make him fly an ordinary pitch,
Who else would soar above the view of men
And keep us all in servile fearfulness.

Answers:
1. Marullus is asking Flavius if they can stop the common people from celebrating
Caesar’s triumph because it is the feast of Lupercal.
2. The feast of Lupercal was a festival celebrated on February 15 in ancient Rome. It
was a fertility festival, dedicated to the Roman god of fertility and agriculture,
Lupercus. The festival involved animal sacrifices and rituals to purify the city and
ensure fertility.
3. Trophies are the spoils of war, such as weapons, armor, and banners, that were
displayed as symbols of victory. Flavius says that no images should be hung on
Caesar’s trophies because he wants to prevent the people from glorifying Caesar
too much and making him appear greater than he actually is.
4. The vulgar refers to the common people or the masses. Flavius wants to drive
them away because he sees them as fickle and easily swayed by popular opinion.
He wants to prevent them from becoming too enamored with Caesar and
forgetting their loyalty to Rome.
5. The scene reflects the changing fortunes of men in power because it shows how
quickly public opinion can shift. The common people were originally celebrating
Caesar’s triumph, but they are quickly swayed to stop celebrating by Flavius and
Marullus. It also indicates the behaviour of the common people in Rome, who are
shown to be easily influenced by those in power and prone to changing their
minds.
Extra MCQ
1. Who are the two high-ranking officials in Act I, Scene 1 of “Julius Caesar”?
a) Julius Caesar and Pompey b) Flavius and Marullus
c) Brutus and Cassius d) Antony and Octavius
2. What is the reason for Flavius and Marullus’ anger towards the citizens of Rome?
a) They are celebrating Pompey’s defeat b) They are celebrating
Caesar’s victory
c) They are protesting against the government d) They are causing chaos in
the city
3. What is the main conflict portrayed in Act I, Scene 1 of “Julius Caesar”?
a) Conflict between Caesar and Pompey b) Conflict between anarchy and
democracy
c) Conflict between monarchy and republicanism d) Conflict between the
wealthy and the poor
4. What does Flavius say will happen if Caesar becomes too powerful?
a) He will be exiled from Rome b) He will become a dictator
c) He will be assassinated d) He will be forced to share power
5. What do Flavius and Marullus order the citizens to do?
a) Celebrate Caesar’s victory b) Disperse and leave the city
c) Protest against the government d) Join the army
6. What is the occasion that the citizens of Rome are celebrating in Act I, Scene 1 of
“Julius Caesar”?
a) Caesar’s victory over Pompey b) The birth of a new prince
c) The Roman New Year d) The anniversary of a famous battle
7. Why do Flavius and Marullus want the citizens to stop celebrating?
a) They are concerned for the citizens’ safety b) They want to honor
Pompey’s memory
c) They fear Caesar is becoming too powerful d) They are jealous of the
citizens’ joy
8. What are some of the insults that Flavius and Marullus hurl at the citizens?
a) They call them traitors and cowards b) They accuse them of being
ungrateful and fickle
c) They say they are uneducated and ignorant d) They insult their clothing and
appearance
9. How do the citizens respond to Flavius and Marullus’ orders?
a) They immediately stop celebrating and leave b) They ignore the orders and
continue celebrating
c) They become violent and attack the officials d) They express confusion and
disbelief
10. What does Flavius compare Caesar to in his speech to the citizens?
a) A tyrant b) A god c) A snake d) A coward
11. What is the purpose of the decorations and symbols that the citizens are
carrying?
a) To celebrate Caesar’s victory b) To honor Pompey’s memory
c) To protest against the government d) To show off their wealth and
status
12. What is the historical context of the play “Julius Caesar”?
a) The Middle Ages in Europe b) The Renaissance in Italy
c) The Classical period in Rome d) The Enlightenment in Europe
13. What is the significance of the title “Julius Caesar”?
a) It refers to the historical figure who was a Roman general and statesman
b) It represents a metaphor for political power and ambition
c) It alludes to the idea of betrayal and assassination
d) It symbolizes the conflict between dictatorship and democracy
14. Who is the author of the play “Julius Caesar”?
a) William Shakespeare b) Christopher Marlowe c) John Webster d)
Ben Jonson
15. What are some of the major themes explored in “Julius Caesar”?
a) Betrayal, power, and ambition b) Love, friendship, and loyalty
c) Justice, revenge, and forgiveness d) Faith, religion, and spirituality