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O-LevelLiterature in EnglishDramaMay/June 2013Paper 1 Q425 Marks

Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: Cassius: I think we are too bold upon your rest. Good morrow, Brutus. Do we trouble you? Brutus: I have been up this hour, awake all night. Know I these men that come along with you? Cassius: Yes, every man of them; and no man here But honours you; and every one doth wish You had but that opinion of yourself Which every noble Roman bears of you. This is Trebonius. Brutus: He is welcome hither. Cassius: This, Decius Brutus. Brutus: He is welcome too. Cassius: This, Casca; this, Cinna; And this, Metellus Cimber. Brutus: They are all welcome. What watchful cares do interpose themselves Betwixt your eyes and night? Cassius: Shall I entreat a word? [They whisper. Decius: Here lies the east. Doth not the day break here? Casca: No. Cinna: O, pardon, sir, it doth; and yon grey lines That fret the clouds are messengers of day. Casca: You shall confess that you are both deceiv'd. Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises; Which is a great way growing on the south, Weighing the youthful season of the year. Some two months hence up higher toward the north He first presents his fire; and the high east Stands as the Capitol, directly here. Brutus: Give me your hands all over, one by one. Cassius: And let us swear our resolution. Brutus: No, not an oath. If not the face of men, The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse, If these be motives weak, break off betimes, And every man hence to his idle bed. So let high-sighted tyranny range on, Till each man drop by lottery. But if these, As I am sure they do, bear fire enough To kindle cowards, and to steel with valour The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen, What need we any spur but our own cause To prick us to redress? What other bond Than secret Romans that have spoke the word And will not palter? And what other oath Than honesty to honesty engag'd That this shall be or we will fall for it? Cassius: Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous, Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear Such creatures as men doubt; but do not stain The even virtue of our enterprise, Nor th' insuppressive mettle of our spirits, To think that or our cause or our performance Did need an oath; when every drop of blood That every Roman bears, and nobly bears, Is guilty of a several bastardy, If he do break the smallest particle Of any promise that hath pass'd from him. Cassius: But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him? I think he will stand very strong with us. Casca: Let us not leave him out. Cinna: No, by no means. Metellus: O, let us have him; for his silver hairs Will purchase us a good opinion, And buy men's voices to commend our deeds. It shall be said his judgment rul'd our hands; Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear, But all be buried in his gravity. Brutus: O, name him not! Let us not break with him; For he will never follow any thing That other men begin. What striking impressions does Shakespeare create of Brutus and the other conspirators at this moment in the play?

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About This O-Level Literature in English Question

This structured question appeared in the Cambridge O-Level Literature in English (2010) May/June 2013 examination, Paper 1 Variant 2. It tests the topic of Drama and is worth 25 marks.

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