ACT 1 SCENE 1
Summary of Julius Caesar, Act 1 Scene 1:
Caesar is at the peak of his power and has become the ruler of Rome. He has won a civil war
by defeating Pompey and is now celebrating his victory with a big parade in Rome. But some
people are unhappy with Caesar’s growing power.
The play begins with a street scene in Rome. It’s February 15th, 44 B.C., and many ordinary
Roman citizens are dressed up and excited to celebrate Caesar’s return after his victories.
However, two officials named Flavius and Marullus are not happy about this celebration and
stop the fun.
The tribunes (Flavius and Marullus) question some citizens about their jobs and why they
aren’t working. One man answers directly, but another jokingly says he’s a cobbler and has
come to celebrate Caesar’s victory.
Marullus gets angry at the workers for forgetting how they once praised Pompey (Caesar’s
enemy), but are now cheering for Caesar who defeated him. He tells them to go home and
ask the gods to forgive them. Flavius orders them to gather all the people and cry by the
river for how disrespectful they’ve been to Pompey.
Feeling guilty, the citizens leave. Flavius and Marullus then decide to take down all the
decorations from Caesar’s statues. Marullus wonders if it’s legal to do this during the festival
of Lupercal, but Flavius says they must do it, or Caesar will soon control everyone
completely and make them live in fear.
Multiple Choice Questions I
1. Flavius tells the commoners,
• (a) to decorate the streets
• (b) to return to work, because it was a day for working fellows of superiors
Answer: (b) to return to work
2. Caesar is offered a crown,
• (a) thrice
• (b) twice
• (c) once
Answer: (a) thrice
3. Pompey is referred to as,
• (a) a traitor
• (b) noble and valiant
• (c) a rebel
Answer: (b) noble and valiant
4. When Caesar returns, commoners decorate the streets,
ACT 1 SCENE 1
• (a) to honour Caesar
• (b) to welcome him
• (c) both of the above
Answer: (c) both of the above
5. Caesar feels that Cassius is dangerous because he is never satisfied
Answer: (e) All of the above
6. Caesar felt Cassius had a lean and hungry look and therefore was dangerous.
Answer: (d) all of the above
Context Questions I
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Question 1
You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!
O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome,
Knew you not Pompey?
1. Who is the speaker of these lines and to whom are these lines addressed?
Ans: The speaker is Marullus, a Roman tribune. The lines are addressed to the
commoners of Rome.
2. Why is the speaker angry with the listeners of these words?
Ans: The speaker is angry because the commoners were celebrating Caesar's return
and had forgotten Pompey, who was once their hero.
3. What does the speaker remind them of?
Ans: He reminds them of how they once celebrated Pompey's victories with equal
energy and cheered for him on the streets.
4. Who was Pompey? Why does the speaker refer to him in this context?
Ans: Pompey was a Roman general and once a part of the First Triumvirate. The
speaker refers to him to highlight the fickle nature of the public.
5. What action does the speaker take against the commoners?
Ans: He, along with Flavius, instructs them to return to work and removes all
decorations celebrating Caesar, trying to curb Caesar’s growing influence.
Context Question 2
MARULLUS:
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!
1. Who is Marullus talking about? Why is he angry?
Answer: Marullus is talking about Julius Caesar. He is angry because the commoners
ACT 1 SCENE 1
were celebrating Caesar’s return as a hero, despite Caesar’s role in defeating
Pompey—someone they once celebrated. Marullus finds their adulation unfair,
citing Caesar’s recent conquests as undeserved and not heroic.
2. Bring out the irony in the above lines.
Answer: The irony lies in how the same citizens who once admired and cheered for
Pompey are now celebrating Caesar’s triumph over him. Their fickle loyalty upsets
Marullus.
3. How does he criticize the common people before these lines as seen in the extract?
What is his key grievance?
Answer: Just prior to the extract, he scolds them as disloyal and insensitive, showing
no moral reasoning behind their admiration shift from Pompey to Caesar. He accuses
them of lacking sense and loyalty. The key grievance is their inconsistent and
politically naive behavior.
4. Give the meanings of:
• tributaries: conquered princes/regions who pay homage or tax
• captive bonds: chains for prisoners
Context Question 3
MARULLUS: —Where is thy leather apron and thy rule?
FLAVIUS: —See whether their basest metal be not moved.
(Enter a certain Commoner)
FLAVIUS:
You, sir, what trade are you?
1. Describe the scene from where Flavius questions the tradesman in the extract?
Answer: The scene is set on the streets of Rome. Flavius and Marullus confront the
tradesmen and commoners celebrating Caesar’s return. Flavius questions the
tradesman on his attire and reason for idleness.
2. Why is Marullus so bitter in his tone in the above extract? What are his grievances
and what does he find odd?
Answer: Marullus is bitter because the people of Rome are honouring Caesar instead
of their old champion, Pompey. He finds it odd that the same people who once
celebrated Pompey’s victories are now celebrating Caesar’s return after defeating
him.
3. Name two Roman Tribunes referred to in the above extract.
Answer: The Roman tribunes are Marullus and Flavius.
4. How does Caesar appear before the commoners?
Answer: Caesar appears before the commoners with a victorious air and is cheered
by them. He is taking a central figure in public admiration, which Marullus and
Flavius find deeply inappropriate.
