Question

at Support the Central Idea
Read the passage. Then answer the question that follows.

ANTONY. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

The evil that men do lives after them;

The good is oft interrèd with their bones.

So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus

Hath told you Caesar was ambitious.

If it were so, it was a grievous fault,

And grievously hath Caesar answered it.

Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest—

For Brutus is an honourable man,

So are they all, all honourable men—

Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral.

–The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,

William Shakespeare

Which details support the central idea that Antony is not being straightforward, but is criticizing the conspirators? Check all that apply.

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.”
“I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.”
“The good is oft interrèd with their bones.”
“For Brutus is an honourable man”
“So are they all, all honourable men”

Answer 1

Choose all except the first line.

- “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.” — ironic: he says he won't praise Caesar but proceeds to do so, showing he’s not straightforward.
- “The good is oft interrèd with their bones.” — asserts Caesar’s good has been buried (hidden) and contrasts with the conspirators’ claim, criticizing them.
- “For Brutus is an honourable man” — the tone and later repetition make this clearly sarcastic, undermining Brutus.
- “So are they all, all honourable men” — repeated sarcasm extends the criticism to all the conspirators.

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.” is just an opening address and does not itself show criticism.