Exercise Solutions Available
Step-by-step answers for all textbook questions in this chapter
Chapter 17 — Remember Caesar: Exercise Solutions
| Author: Gordon Daviot (Elizabeth Mackintosh) | Type: Drama (One-act play) |
|---|
How to Use This Page
- Read the Key Concepts table first for a quick overview of important terms and ideas.
- Work through the MCQs, Fill in the Blanks, True/False, and Match the Following sections to test your factual knowledge.
- Use the Briefly (2-mark) answers for short-answer exam questions.
- Use the Detail (5-mark) answers for long-answer exam questions — they include structured sub-points for easy memorisation.
- Review the Common Mistakes section to avoid errors that students frequently make.
- Check the Exam Checklist before your exam to ensure you have covered all key points.
About the Author and Play
Gordon Daviot was the pen name of Elizabeth Mackintosh (1896–1952), a Scottish writer who also wrote detective novels as Josephine Tey. Remember Caesar is a one-act play that uses the historical figure of Julius Caesar to comment on political betrayal, ingratitude, and the fate of great leaders.
Historical Background
- Julius Caesar (100–44 BC): Roman general and statesman; conquered Gaul, became dictator perpetuo.
- Assassination: 15 March 44 BC (the Ides of March); stabbed 23 times by a group of senators including Brutus and Cassius.
- Mark Antony: Caesar's loyal ally; turned public opinion against the conspirators with his funeral speech.
Key Concepts (Quick Recap)
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Gordon Daviot | Pen name of Elizabeth Mackintosh, the Scottish playwright |
| Josephine Tey | Another pen name of Elizabeth Mackintosh, used for detective novels |
| One-act play | A play with a single act, typically with a focused, concentrated theme |
| Julius Caesar | Roman general and dictator assassinated on the Ides of March, 44 BC |
| Ides of March | 15 March, the date of Caesar's assassination in 44 BC |
| Brutus | Caesar's close associate who joined the conspiracy against him |
| Cassius | Leader of the conspiracy against Caesar |
| Mark Antony | Caesar's loyal ally who turned public opinion against the conspirators |
| Ingratitude | Failure to appreciate or acknowledge benefits received; a central theme |
| Legacy | What a person leaves behind after death — their lasting impact and memory |
| Political manipulation | Shaping public opinion for selfish or strategic purposes |
| Rhetoric | The art of persuasive speaking, sometimes used to manipulate |
| Dictator perpetuo | "Dictator for life" — the title Caesar held at the time of his assassination |
| Conspirator | Someone who plans secretly to do something unlawful |
Key Themes Explored
| Theme | Manifestation in Play |
|---|---|
| Ingratitude | Those who benefited from Caesar turn against his memory |
| Political manipulation | Public opinion shaped for selfish ends |
| Loyalty | Contrast between true and false friends |
| Legacy | What great men leave behind vs how they are remembered |
I. Choose the Best Answer (MCQs)
1. Gordon Daviot was the pen name of: (a) Agatha Christie (b) Elizabeth Mackintosh (c) Virginia Woolf (d) George Eliot
2. Julius Caesar was assassinated on: (a) 1 January 44 BC (b) 15 March 44 BC (c) The Ides of March, 44 BC (d) 25 December 44 BC
3. The play Remember Caesar is a: (a) Three-act play (b) One-act play (c) Two-act play (d) Five-act play
4. Elizabeth Mackintosh also wrote detective novels under the pen name: (a) Gordon Daviot (b) Josephine Tey (c) Alpha of the Plough (d) George Orwell
5. The central theme of the play is: (a) Romantic love (b) War strategy (c) Ingratitude and political betrayal (d) Religious faith
6. Who was Caesar's loyal ally who turned public opinion against the conspirators? (a) Brutus (b) Cassius (c) Mark Antony (d) Octavius
7. The title "Remember Caesar" is best described as: (a) A simple statement of fact (b) A command and a lament urging us not to forget the truly great (c) A warning about Caesar's tyranny (d) A celebration of Caesar's military victories
8. Which of the following is NOT a theme of the play? (a) Ingratitude (b) Political manipulation (c) Loyalty (d) Romantic love
9. Brutus is significant because: (a) He was Caesar's greatest military general (b) He was a close associate of Caesar who joined the conspiracy against him (c) He wrote the play (d) He was Caesar's brother
10. The play suggests that the worst betrayal is: (a) Physical assassination (b) Stealing Caesar's wealth (c) Erasing or distorting a great person's legacy (d) Exiling Caesar's supporters
II. Fill in the Blanks
1. Gordon Daviot was the pen name of Elizabeth Mackintosh. 2. Elizabeth Mackintosh also wrote detective novels under the name Josephine Tey. 3. Julius Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March (15 March 44 BC). 4. The title "Remember Caesar" is both a command and a lament. 5. Caesar was stabbed 23 times by a group of senators. 6. Brutus was Caesar's close associate who joined the conspiracy against him. 7. The play is a one-act drama with a focused, concentrated theme. 8. After Caesar's death, his legacy becomes a political tool exploited by others. 9. The play explores the theme of ingratitude — those who benefited from Caesar forget or betray him. 10. Mark Antony's funeral speech turned public opinion against the conspirators.
III. True or False (with corrections)
IV. Match the Following
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| Gordon Daviot | Pen name of Elizabeth Mackintosh |
| Josephine Tey | Pen name for detective novels |
| Julius Caesar | Roman dictator assassinated in 44 BC |
| Ides of March | 15 March — date of Caesar's assassination |
| Brutus | Close associate who betrayed Caesar |
| Mark Antony | Loyal ally who turned public opinion |
| Ingratitude | Failing to acknowledge benefits received |
| Rhetoric | Art of persuasive speaking, sometimes manipulative |
V. Answer Briefly (2-mark)
Q1: Why is the play titled "Remember Caesar"? The title is both a command and a lament. It urges the audience — and by extension, all of us — not to forget the truly great. After his assassination, Caesar's memory becomes a political tool. Different factions claim or distort his legacy for their own purposes. The play says: amid all this manipulation, remember the real Caesar — his greatness, his achievements, what he actually was. The title also warns against the ingratitude that allows great men to be betrayed and then forgotten.
Q2: Discuss the theme of betrayal in the play. Betrayal runs through the play at multiple levels. The most obvious is political betrayal — Caesar was killed by men who claimed to act for Rome but had personal and political motivations. But the deeper betrayal is of memory and legacy. After his death, Caesar is not remembered justly — his name is used by opportunists. Daviot suggests that the worst betrayal is not the knife but the erasure — allowing a great person's real legacy to be replaced by a false version that serves the interests of the living.
Q3: Who was Gordon Daviot and why does the author's identity matter? Gordon Daviot was the pen name of Elizabeth Mackintosh (1896–1952), a Scottish writer. She also wrote acclaimed detective novels under another pen name, Josephine Tey. The author's identity matters because it highlights the play's perspective — a woman writing about political power, betrayal, and legacy from a thoughtful, critical angle. Students sometimes assume Daviot was male, which changes how they read the play's treatment of authority and loyalty.
Q4: What is the significance of the Ides of March in the play? The Ides of March (15 March 44 BC) is the date of Julius Caesar's assassination. In the play, it symbolises the moment when political ambition and personal betrayal converge to destroy a great leader. The phrase has become synonymous with betrayal and the unexpected downfall of the powerful. In the context of the play, it reminds the audience that even the greatest are vulnerable to those closest to them.
Q5: How does the play deal with public opinion and political manipulation? The play shows how easily public opinion can be manipulated after a great event. Caesar's death creates a power vacuum, and various figures rush to fill it by claiming Caesar's authority or distancing themselves from his memory depending on what is convenient. Daviot shows this as timeless — political manipulation of public memory is not unique to ancient Rome. The play implicitly criticises audiences (ancient and modern) who are easily swayed by rhetoric rather than truth.
VI. Answer in Detail (5-mark)
Textbook Questions — Model Answers
Q: Why is the play titled "Remember Caesar"? A: The title is both a command and a lament. It urges the audience — and by extension, all of us — not to forget the truly great. After his assassination, Caesar's memory becomes a political tool. Different factions claim or distort his legacy for their own purposes. The play says: amid all this manipulation, remember the real Caesar — his greatness, his achievements, what he actually was. The title also warns against the ingratitude that allows great men to be betrayed and then forgotten.
Q: Discuss the theme of betrayal in the play. A: Betrayal runs through the play at multiple levels. The most obvious is political betrayal — Caesar was killed by men who claimed to act for Rome but had personal and political motivations. But the deeper betrayal is of memory and legacy. After his death, Caesar is not remembered justly — his name is used by opportunists. Daviot suggests that the worst betrayal is not the knife but the erasure — allowing a great person's real legacy to be replaced by a false version that serves the interests of the living.
Q: How does the play deal with public opinion and political manipulation? A: The play shows how easily public opinion can be manipulated after a great event. Caesar's death creates a power vacuum, and various figures rush to fill it by claiming Caesar's authority or distancing themselves from his memory depending on what is convenient. Daviot shows this as timeless — political manipulation of public memory is not unique to ancient Rome. The play implicitly criticises audiences (ancient and modern) who are easily swayed by rhetoric rather than truth.
Connection to Other Texts
- The Hour of Truth (Ch. 9): Integrity vs. compromise.
- God Sees the Truth But Waits (Ch. 3): Justice and truth ultimately prevail.
- The Chair (Ch. 13): Ambition and the corruption that follows power.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Conspirator | Someone who plans secretly to do something unlawful |
| Legacy | What a person leaves behind after death |
| Ingratitude | Failure to appreciate or thank |
| Rhetoric | Persuasive language (sometimes with negative connotation of manipulation) |
| Manipulation | Controlling others for one's own benefit |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Assuming Gordon Daviot was male: Many students make this mistake because the pen name sounds male.
- Wrong: "Gordon Daviot, a male playwright, wrote Remember Caesar."
- Right: "Gordon Daviot was the pen name of Elizabeth Mackintosh, a female Scottish writer."
2. Confusing the play with Shakespeare's Julius Caesar: Both deal with the same event but are different works.
- Wrong: "Remember Caesar is the same as Shakespeare's Julius Caesar."
- Right: "Though both deal with Caesar's assassination, Daviot's play is a separate, original one-act drama with a different focus."
3. Thinking the Ides of March is in a different month: The Ides of March is specifically 15 March.
- Wrong: "Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March in February."
- Right: "The Ides of March is 15 March — the exact date of Caesar's assassination in 44 BC."
4. Reducing the theme to just "betrayal": The play is about much more — ingratitude, legacy, political manipulation, and memory.
- Wrong: "The play is about Caesar's assassination and betrayal."
- Right: "The play uses Caesar's assassination to explore themes of ingratitude, legacy, political manipulation, and the distortion of great men's memories."
5. Forgetting the author's other pen name: Elizabeth Mackintosh also wrote as Josephine Tey.
- Wrong: "Elizabeth Mackintosh only wrote as Gordon Daviot."
- Right: "Elizabeth Mackintosh wrote plays as Gordon Daviot and detective novels as Josephine Tey."
6. Missing the symbolic meaning of the title: "Remember Caesar" is not just a historical reference — it is a moral command.
- Wrong: "The title just means the play is about Caesar."
- Right: "The title is a command and lament urging the audience to resist ingratitude and remember the truly great as they were, not as others distort them."
Exam Checklist
- [ ] I know that Gordon Daviot is the pen name of Elizabeth Mackintosh (female, Scottish)
- [ ] I can explain the significance of the title "Remember Caesar" as both a command and a lament
- [ ] I can state the date of Caesar's assassination: 15 March 44 BC (Ides of March)
- [ ] I can distinguish this play from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
- [ ] I can discuss the themes of loyalty, ingratitude, legacy, and political manipulation
- [ ] I can explain the role of Brutus (close associate who betrayed Caesar)
- [ ] I can explain the role of Mark Antony (loyal ally who turned public opinion)
- [ ] I can write a 5-mark answer on how the play treats legacy and memory
- [ ] I can connect the play's themes to modern examples of political manipulation and public memory
- [ ] I know the play is a one-act drama — confined setting, focused action
- [ ] I can define key vocabulary: conspirator, legacy, ingratitude, rhetoric, manipulation
- [ ] I know the author also wrote as Josephine Tey (detective novels)
- [ ] I can discuss the role of Mark Antony in preserving Caesar's legacy