Samacheer Kalvi Class 12 English Solutions Chapter 6 Remember Caesar (Play)

 

Question 1. Complete the summary of the play, choosing the appropriate words from the book Page No. 206.
Answer: Lord Weston was a (1) well-known judge in England. Being pompous and vain, he told his secretary Roger that he had attained glory by hard work and (2) zealous service. He expressed his displeasure over Roger's request for a half-holiday. Suddenly, he discovered a piece of paper with the words (3) Remember Caesar in his pocket. He feared that the message was a warning from enemies who had received legal punishments. As the message was sent on March 15th (the day Julius Caesar was assassinated), he was (4) convinced that someone affected by his fair judgment was plotting his murder. Feeling a definite attack, Lord Weston ordered his secretary to (5) shut all the doors and windows. But his wife remained (6) unperturbed by the threat. So, Lord Weston was angered by her (7) callous reaction. He ordered Roger to send the cook and the (8) gardener away. Both Weston and Roger took elaborate precautionary measures to thwart the (9) assassination attempt. Finally, Lord Weston remembered that he had written the message "Remember Caesar" himself as a (10) reminder. This "Caesar" was actually a gardener who had an appointment to visit Weston's garden. The play highlights Weston's absent-mindedness as its main point. This shows how a small forgotten note can lead to a big misunderstanding.
In simple words: Lord Weston, a well-known judge, found a note saying "Remember Caesar". He thought it was a threat, so he took many steps to protect himself, like shutting all doors. His wife was calm, but he got angry. In the end, he realized "Caesar" was just a gardener he was supposed to meet, and he had written the note himself.

🎯 Exam Tip: When completing summaries, read the entire passage first to understand the context, then choose the most fitting words from the options provided to ensure a logical flow and accurate meaning.

 

Question 2. Based on your understanding of the text, answer the following questions briefly: (Text Book Page No. 206)

 

Question a. How did Lord Weston describe himself?
Answer: Lord Weston proudly said that he earned his awards through hard work and dedicated service. He was seen as the fairest judge in England, always making sure justice was served. He truly believed in his own impartiality.
In simple words: Lord Weston said he got his achievements from hard work and good service. People knew him as a very fair judge in England.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing characters, use adjectives that reflect their personality and actions, and support your answer with examples from the text.

 

Question b. How did Roger react to Lord Weston's advice?
Answer: Roger did not take Lord Weston's advice about the threat very seriously. While Lord Weston was in a panic, Roger seemed more focused on his regular tasks. He often showed great care in his work, even when it wasn't the main point of concern for Lord Weston.
In simple words: Roger did not pay much attention to Lord Weston's advice. He was too busy with his own work and did not seem worried.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the emotional state of the characters to understand their reactions. Roger's practical nature contrasts with Weston's panic.

 

Question c. What made Lord Weston think that his life was in danger?
Answer: Lord Weston found a crumpled piece of paper in his pocket with the words "Remember Caesar". This made him think his life was in danger. He connected this message to the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March, believing his enemies were plotting against him. The unexpected note caused his panic.
In simple words: Lord Weston found a note saying "Remember Caesar" in his pocket. He thought it meant someone wanted to kill him, like Julius Caesar was killed.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the key event that triggers a character's main conflict or fear, as this often drives the plot forward.

 

Question d. Why was the speaker keen to know what day it was?
Answer: Lord Weston, the speaker, was very eager to know the date. When Roger told him it was the fifteenth of March, Lord Weston looked at the paper with horror. He immediately remembered that Julius Caesar was assassinated on the "Ides of March," which is the 15th of March. This made him believe the note was a direct threat to him. He feared the date was a bad omen.
In simple words: Lord Weston wanted to know the date because it was March 15th, the day Julius Caesar was killed. He connected this date to the scary note he found.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to specific dates or historical references in a text, as they often carry symbolic meaning or foreshadow events.

 

Question e. Mention the immediate steps taken by Lord Weston to protect himself from his assassination.
Answer: To protect himself, Lord Weston and Roger took many precautions. They shut all the doors and windows, almost ruining the floors in the process. They even drowned a new velvet cloak and some valuable books while trying to get rid of a suspicious parcel. Lord Weston also pulled out his pistol, ready to attack any intruders. These steps show his extreme fear and panic.
In simple words: Lord Weston and Roger shut all doors, ruined floors, and even drowned a new cloak and books while trying to protect him from a possible attack. He also got his pistol ready.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to list steps, enumerate them clearly and concisely. Highlight the extent of the actions to show the character's level of desperation.

 

Question f. Do you think that Lady Weston did not care about the threat to her husband? State reasons.
Answer: Lady Weston did not seem to care about the threat to her husband. When Lord Weston told her about the danger of assassination, she appeared calm and completely undisturbed. She reminded him that he often panicked over small things and even laughed at his fears. She also commented that his life was not valuable enough for anyone to assassinate him. This showed her practical and calm nature compared to her husband's theatrics.
In simple words: No, Lady Weston did not care. She stayed calm, said he often panicked, and even laughed at his fears. She also said his life was not important enough for someone to kill him.

🎯 Exam Tip: Analyze character responses carefully. Lady Weston's calm demeanor and rational comments directly contradict Lord Weston's overreaction, highlighting the humor.

 

Question g. How did Lord Weston 'defuse' the 'infernal machine'?
Answer: Lord Weston believed the suspicious parcel was an "infernal machine" (a bomb). To defuse it, he decided to submerge it in water. He had Roger bring a pail of water, and then he put the parcel into it. When there wasn't enough water, he added a wet cloth, a new velvet cloak, and even some precious books to fully weigh down and drown the supposed bomb. He thought submerging it would make it safe. This method was quite dramatic for what turned out to be nothing.
In simple words: Lord Weston thought the parcel was a bomb. He tried to "defuse" it by putting it into a pail of water and then adding a wet cloth, a cloak, and books to make sure it was fully underwater.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the character's perception of the object and their subsequent actions, as this is often where the humor or central conflict lies.

 

Question h. Whose life was of 'great value' to England? In what way?
Answer: According to Roger, Lord Weston's life was of great value to England. When Lord Weston wanted to throw the suspicious parcel out the window, Roger insisted that Lord Weston stay away from danger. Roger bravely offered to handle the parcel himself, believing that his own life was less important than the highly valued life of Lord Weston. This shows Roger's loyalty and respect.
In simple words: Roger believed Lord Weston's life was very important for England. He said his own life was not as valuable as Lord Weston's, so he would take the risk.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify instances of loyalty or self-sacrifice in character interactions, as these reveal deep relationships and motivations.

 

Question i. Why did Lord Weston consider Roger's life important?
Answer: Lord Weston considered Roger's life important because Roger was young and had many great things left to achieve in the world. When Roger suggested his own life was not valuable, Lord Weston stopped him. He wanted Roger to live a long life, as Roger was much younger than him. Lord Weston saw Roger's potential and wanted him to fulfill it.
In simple words: Lord Weston thought Roger's life was important because Roger was young and had many good things to do in the future.

🎯 Exam Tip: Note how characters express care or concern for others, even in moments of panic, as it reveals deeper aspects of their personality.

 

Question j. Who reminded Lord Weston about Mr. Caesar?
Answer: Roger reminded Lord Weston about Mr. Caesar. Roger had met Mr. Caesar on Tuesday at Hampton, and Mr. Caesar had come to see Lord Weston specifically to discuss rose trees. This seemingly simple detail was the key to understanding the whole misunderstanding.
In simple words: Roger reminded Lord Weston about Mr. Caesar. Mr. Caesar was a gardener who had come to talk about rose trees.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the resolution point in a comedic play. Often, a simple detail reveals the truth behind a big misunderstanding.

 

Question k. What was the truth about the crumpled piece of paper?
Answer: The crumpled piece of paper had the words "Remember Caesar" written on it. The truth was that Lord Weston himself had written this note. He was absent-minded and had written it as a reminder about Mr. Caesar, the gardener he was supposed to meet at Hampton to discuss rose trees. Lord Weston had completely forgotten writing it and mistakenly linked it to the assassination of Julius Caesar. The note was just a simple memo for himself.
In simple words: Lord Weston had written the note "Remember Caesar" himself. It was a reminder about a gardener named Mr. Caesar, but Weston forgot he wrote it and thought it was a threat.

🎯 Exam Tip: The irony in such stories often hinges on a simple, misunderstood object or event. Understanding this reveals the humor of the plot.

 

Question l. Bring out the irony in the message "Remember Caesar”.
Answer: The irony in the message "Remember Caesar" creates suspense and humor. Lord Weston found the note, thought it was a warning from enemies, and believed someone was planning to assassinate him. The actual irony is that he wrote the note himself as a simple reminder about Mr. Caesar, a gardener. His own forgetfulness led to a huge misunderstanding and a lot of unnecessary panic. The message was a reminder, not a threat.
In simple words: The irony is that Lord Weston wrote the "Remember Caesar" note himself as a reminder for a gardener. But he forgot this and thought it was a death threat, causing much panic.

🎯 Exam Tip: Irony in literature often involves a contrast between expectation and reality, especially when a character's actions are based on a misunderstanding.

 

Question 3. Based on your understanding of the play, complete the Graphic Organiser (GO) suitably: (Text Book Page No. 206)
Answer: The graphic organizer for the play "Remember Caesar" can be completed as follows:
Title: Remember Caesar
Author: Gordon Daviot
Setting: The play takes place with Lord Weston sitting by a fireplace, talking to Roger. A table with books and papers is nearby. This creates a cozy yet formal atmosphere.
Characters: The main characters are Lord Weston, Roger Chetwynd (his secretary), and Lady Weston.
Climax: The climax occurs at the end when the real Mr. Caesar arrives. It is revealed that he is a gardener who had an appointment to visit Lord Weston's garden that morning. This clarifies the entire misunderstanding.
Humorous elements: The main humor comes from Lord Weston's absent-mindedness. He wrote the "Remember Caesar" message himself as a reminder but completely forgot about it. This forgetfulness leads to all the confusion and panic, creating many funny situations in the play. The misunderstanding of the simple note is key to the play's comedic elements.
In simple words: The play is titled "Remember Caesar" by Gordon Daviot. It happens by a fireplace with Lord Weston, Roger, and Lady Weston. The main event is when the gardener, Mr. Caesar, arrives, showing the whole panic was a mistake. Lord Weston's forgetfulness makes the play funny.

🎯 Exam Tip: When filling out a graphic organizer, ensure each section (title, author, setting, etc.) is concisely and accurately described using key details from the text.

 

Question 4. Answer the following questions in a paragraph about 150 words each: (Text Book Page No. 207)

 

Question a. "Remember Caesar” is a light-hearted comedy. Discuss the statement and identify various aspects such as title, plot, and characterization that contribute to the humour in the play.
Answer: "Remember Caesar" is indeed a light-hearted comedy that makes us laugh through its title, plot, and characters. The play is set on the Ides of March, the 15th, a day historically known for Julius Caesar's assassination. The humor begins when Lord Weston, a proud and self-important judge, finds a note saying "Remember Caesar" in his pocket. He immediately fears for his life, believing it's a threat. This sets off a funny chain of events where he orders his assistant, Roger, to take extreme and often absurd protective measures. Roger's serious approach to these silly tasks adds to the comedy. Even Lady Weston finds her husband's panic amusing and makes jokes, especially when he pulls out his pistol. The main source of humor is Lord Weston's severe absent-mindedness. His inability to recall that *he himself* wrote the note about a gardener named Mr. Caesar creates all the funny misunderstandings and keeps the audience entertained, proving it is a delightful comedy. The play cleverly uses a historical date to build a mountain out of a molehill, showing human folly.
In simple words: "Remember Caesar" is a funny play. The title refers to a day of assassination, but the plot becomes funny because Lord Weston, a proud judge, panics over a note he wrote himself. His assistant, Roger, takes silly precautions, and his wife makes fun of him. Lord Weston's forgetfulness causes all the humor.

🎯 Exam Tip: When discussing humor in a play, break down how different elements like the plot's setup, character traits, and specific situations all work together to create the comedic effect.

 

Question b. Compare the character traits of Lord Weston and his wife.
Answer: Lord Weston and his wife, Frances, have very different personalities. Lord Weston is a proud and ambitious judge. He is hardworking and always focused on his achievements, often giving advice to his staff like Roger. His main flaw is his extreme absent-mindedness, which causes him to forget things easily. This forgetfulness leads to him wasting time on unnecessary precautions, like those against a supposed assassination. He has a habit of writing notes to remember things but then forgets about the notes themselves. In contrast, Lady Weston, also known as Frances, is calm, collected, and much more practical. She is steady-minded and doesn't get easily flustered. She gently teases her husband about his foolishness, almost like a patient mother trying to correct her child. She remains unfazed by his dramatic fears and can even laugh at his panic. She is sensible and provides a stable presence against her husband's chaos. Their contrasting natures create much of the play's humor, with Lady Weston often being the voice of reason. Her sensible nature helps to ground Lord Weston's extravagant reactions.
In simple words: Lord Weston is proud, hardworking, and very forgetful. His forgetfulness causes him problems. His wife, Lady Weston, is calm, practical, and steady-minded. She often makes fun of her husband's panic in a gentle way.

🎯 Exam Tip: When comparing characters, focus on their key personality traits, how they react to situations, and what their primary motivations are. Use direct comparisons to highlight differences.

 

Paragraph:

 

Introduction:

The play "Remember Caesar" is a funny comedy. It is set on March 15th, which is known as the Ides of March, the day Julius Caesar was killed. The story is about a proud and forgetful judge who thinks someone wants to kill him. This entire setup leads to many amusing situations as he tries to protect himself from an imagined threat. The play uses this historical date to create a humorous plot twist.

 

Plot:

Lord Weston is a judge who is both proud and very forgetful. He worries about his life after finding a paper with "Remember Caesar" written on it. He believes it is a threat from an assassin. He then tells his assistant, Roger, to be very careful and take many detailed safety steps. Lord Weston becomes very scared and makes Roger carry out many elaborate protective actions. The plot builds suspense around this perceived threat, focusing on Lord Weston's reactions and his absent-mindedness as the central theme.

 

Characterization:

The title "Remember Caesar" fits the play's plot well, and the characters are designed to bring out a lot of humor. Lord Weston and Roger, his assistant, are especially funny. Even Lord Weston's wife, Frances, teases him when he grabs his pistol to defend against enemies. The story creates suspense but mainly focuses on Lord Weston being forgetful. Because he often forgets things, the play continues with many funny moments. In the end, Roger reminds Lord Weston about Mr. Caesar, who is a gardener coming to talk about rose trees. This resolves the central confusion. Their distinct personalities drive the comedic interactions.

 

Question C. Group Work: (Text Book Page No. 207)
Answer: The play shows how Lord Weston and Lady Weston react to a supposed threat, but for this exercise, we imagine their roles are switched. Lady Weston becomes panic-stricken, and Lord Weston becomes light-hearted. Here is the rewritten dialogue with their roles reversed:

Lady Weston: Dear husband. Look at this paper. Your life is in danger.
Weston: No dear, you thought my life was in danger when I ate game pie last time. What is it this time?
Lady Weston: You may be assassinated?
Weston: Assassination? It is silly.
Lady Weston: Don't be so careless.
Weston: They don't assassinate anybody. Particularly not me. You know, I am the most respected judge close to the king. Don't worry. This reversal highlights how their personalities change the whole situation.
In simple words: When Lady Weston and Lord Weston switch roles, she becomes worried about the threat, and he becomes calm and dismissive. He explains that no one would assassinate him because he is an important judge.

🎯 Exam Tip: When reversing character roles, ensure their dialogue and reactions reflect their new personalities consistently throughout the conversation.

 

ஆசிரியரைப் பற்றி:

கோர்டன் டேவியாட் என்பது மிஸ் எலிசபத் மேக்கின்டோஷ் (Elizabeth Mackintosh) என்பவரின் புனைப்பெயர். இவர் 1896-1952 வரை வாழ்ந்தார். ஸ்காட்லாந்தில் பிறந்த இவர் ஒரு நாவலாசிரியர் மற்றும் நாடக ஆசிரியர் ஆவார். அவர் இங்கிலாந்து மற்றும் ஸ்காட்லாந்தில் கல்வி பயின்றார். மேலும், உடற்பயிற்சி ஆசிரியராகவும் இருந்தார். அவர் ஜோசபின் டே (Josephine Tey) என்ற புனைப்பெயரிலும் கதைகள் மற்றும் நாவல்கள் எழுதினார். அவர் ஒரு திறமையான எழுத்தாளர் மற்றும் கல்வியாளர் ஆவார்.

 

கதைச் சுருக்கம்:

ஜூலியஸ் சீசர் ஒரு பெரிய ரோமன் தளபதி மற்றும் மன்னர் ஆவார். அவர் கி.மு 100, ஜூலை 13 அன்று பிறந்தார். அவர் ஜூலியன் நாட்காட்டியை உருவாக்கினார். கி.மு 44 இல் ரோமன் செனட்டர்களின் ஒரு குழுவால் அவர் படுகொலை செய்யப்பட்டார். ஜூலியஸ் சீசர் கொல்லப்பட்ட மார்ச் 15-ம் நாள், பண்டைய ரோமில் "ஐட்ஸ் ஆஃப் மார்ச்" என்று அழைக்கப்பட்டது. இந்த நாடகம் மார்ச் மாத நிகழ்வுகளைப் பற்றியது, அதாவது ஜூலியஸ் சீசர் படுகொலை செய்யப்பட்ட மார்ச் 15-ம் நாள்.

வெஸ்டன் பிரபு ஒரு நீதிபதி. அவர் அடிக்கடி விஷயங்களை மறந்துவிடுவார். அவர் தன் கோட் பையில் ஒரு துண்டு காகிதத்தைக் கண்டார். அதில் "சீஸரை நினைவு கொள்" என்று எழுதப்பட்டிருந்தது. ஒரு ஜோதிடரின் எச்சரிக்கையால் வெஸ்டன் அதைப்பற்றி நினைத்ததும் அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்தார். இது தன் உயிருக்கு ஒரு அச்சுறுத்தல் என்று அவர் நினைத்தார். யாரோ இந்த சீட்டை தன் பாக்கெட்டில் போட்டிருக்கலாம் என்று அவர் சந்தேகித்தார். அவர் தன் உதவியாளரிடம் வீட்டின் கதவுகள் அனைத்தையும் மூடும்படி கூறினார். தோட்டக்காரனையும் சமையல்காரனையும் வெளியே அனுப்பச் சொன்னார். ஆனால் உண்மையில், "சீசர்" என்பது ஒரு தோட்டக்காரரின் பெயர். "சீஸரை நினைவு கொள்" என்று எழுதியது வெஸ்டன் பிரபுவே. ஒரு சந்திப்பைப் பற்றி நினைவூட்ட, அவர் தன் கையால் எழுதிய குறிப்பு அது. நாடகத்தின் முடிவில் உண்மை வெளிவரும். இது ஒரு மனிதனின் மறதியால் ஏற்படும் நகைச்சுவையான குழப்பத்தை அழகாகக் காட்டுகிறது.

 

வெஸ்டன் பிரபுவும் ரோஜரும்:

வெஸ்டன் பிரபு தீயருகே அமர்ந்திருந்தார். அவருக்கு அருகில் புத்தகங்கள் மற்றும் தாள்கள் கொண்ட மேசை இருந்தது. அவர் பேசிக்கொண்டிருந்தார். அவருக்கு நேர் எதிரே, ஒல்லியான, விசுவாசமான, ஆனால் சற்று மறதி கொண்ட, மனசாட்சி உள்ள இளைஞர் திரு. ரோஜர் செட்விண்ட் அமர்ந்திருந்தார். ரோஜர் எவ்வளவு மனசாட்சி உள்ளவர் என்றால், விடுமுறையில் இருந்தாலும் தன் எஜமானரின் வேலைகளைப்பற்றி நினைப்பார். அவர் தன் எஜமானரின் பேச்சைக் கேட்டுக்கொண்டு குறிப்பெடுக்கத் தொடங்கினார். ஆனால் வேலையின் தீவிரம் படிப்படியாக அதிகரித்தது. எஜமானர் சொல்லும் வார்த்தைகள் அவர் காதுகளில் விழுந்தபோது, அவர் ஒரு தாளிலிருந்து மற்றொரு தாளுக்கு எழுதிக் கொண்டிருந்தார். அவருடைய உதடுகள் வார்த்தைகளை அமைத்துக் கொண்டே இருந்தன.

வெஸ்டன்: ரோஜர், இது வெறும் கடமையின் கேள்வி மட்டுமல்ல. உலகில் உன் வாழ்க்கையை முழுவதும் செயலாளராகவே கழிப்பதுதான் உன் எண்ணம், இல்லையா? இல்லை, இல்லையா? இல்லை. அது மிகவும் நல்லது. உன்னிடம் கூர்மையும், விளக்கங்களைப் பற்றிய தெளிவும் இருக்க வேண்டும். நான் சோம்பேறியாகவோ அல்லது பாராட்டுக்களை எதிர்பார்த்தோ வெஸ்டன் பிரபுவாக வரவில்லை. கடின உழைப்பாலும், அர்ப்பணிப்புடனும் நான் மரியாதையைப் பெற்றேன். இன்று இங்கிலாந்தில் நான் மிகவும் புகழ்பெற்ற ஒரு நடுநிலையான நீதிபதி. மேலும், மாண்புமிகு இரண்டாம் சார்லஸ் மன்னரின் விருப்பமான ஊழியன். அன்புள்ள ரோஜர், நீ கற்றுக்கொள்வதற்கு நான் ஒரு உதாரணம். அரை நாள் விடுமுறை கேட்பது உனக்கு சரியானது அல்ல. இது உன்னுடைய திறமைக்குச் சரியாகப் பொருந்தாது. நான் கவலைப்படுகிறேன்..... (அவர் தன் செயலாளரை நோக்கித் திரும்புகிறார். தன் புத்திசாலித்தனம் தவறாக மதிப்பிடப்பட்டுள்ளது என்று உணர்கிறார்.) (ஒரு இடைவெளிக்குப் பிறகு, ஆர்வம் இல்லாமல்) நீ என் பேச்சைக் கேட்காமல் இருக்கிறாய். திரு. செட்விண்ட் அவர்களே, இது எப்படி சாத்தியம்?

ரோஜர்: (வார்த்தைகளின் ஓசை நின்றதால் இயல்பு நிலைக்குத் திரும்புகிறார்) என்ன, எஜமானரே, நீங்கள் என்ன சொன்னீர்கள்? ஓ.... இல்லை, ஆம், நிச்சயமாக நான் கேட்டுக் கொண்டிருக்கிறேன். நான் கவனமாக உங்கள் வார்த்தைகளை கேட்டேன்.

There are no explicit questions (e.g., "Question 1.", "Question a.") found in the specified page range (pages 15 to 28) that match the required content processing rules for question extraction. The content within these pages consists primarily of dialogue from the play in Tamil. There are no questions that fit the specified formatting rules for "Question/Answer" pairs or "Exercise Headings" within the content provided for pages 29 to 39. The content in this range consists of dialogue from the play script in Tamil, narrative descriptions, stage directions, and website navigation/footer elements, none of which can be converted into the required HTML question-answer format.