Julius Caesar
STUDY QUESTIONS
Act One, Scene 1
1. What office, or position in the government, do Flavius and Marullus hold?
2. What classes of society are represented? What is the attitude of each to Caesar?
3. What is a pun? Explain four puns found in this scene.
4. What is an anachronism? Explain the anachronisms found in this scene. (l. 4 & 39)
5. What quality of the mob does Marullus refer to in his speech beginning “Wherefore rejoice…” (line 31). Why is this speech important?
6. Marullus and Flavius go off to “disrobe the images.” What does this mean?
7. For what two celebrations are the people preparing in this scene?
Act One, Scene 2
1. Explain the celebration of Lupercal.
2. Of what does the Soothsayer warn Caesar? (l. 18)
3. What do we learn about Caesar from his reaction to the Soothsayer?
4. What does Brutus mean in saying “yet I love him well?” (l. 82)
5. Explain what Cassius means in lines 54-62.
6. What fear does Brutus express to Cassius concerning Caesar?
7. Why does Cassius tell Brutus about the two incidents mentioned in lines 100-115 and lines 119-128? What is Cassius leading up to in his long talk with Brutus?
8. Explain Cassius’ view of fate in lines 139-141.
9. What kind of men does Caesar favor? (l. 192-5) Why?
10. What does Caesar “put by” three times? (l. 220)
11. Explain the “falling sickness”. (l. 253)
12. What is Cassius planning to do in lines 315-319?
13. What light is thrown on Cassius by his closing speech?
14. What is the conflict that is foreshadowed in Scene 1 and that is now taking more definite form?
15. What happened to Marullus and Flavius? (l. 284-5)
Act One, Scene 3
1. Name three unusual sights witness by Casca (l.2-32)
2. What is the effect of the disturbed night on Casca? (l.59-61) Cicero? (l.33-36) Cassius? (l.57-58)
3. During the thunderstorm, Casca says, “Either there is a civil strife in the heaven, or else the world, too saucy with the gods, incense them to send destruction.” Explain, in relation to what Shakespeare’s audience believed.
4. Cassius explains tht the unnatural happenings (lines 63-71) are “instruments of fear and warning.” Of what are they warning the Romans?
5. According to Casca, what do the senators mean to establish? (l. 85-88)
6. What does the “Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius” mean/ (L. 89-90)
7. How does Cassius plan to use Cinna in advancing the conspirators’ plan? (l. 142-146)
8. Why are Cassius and the others so eager to have Brutus join them? (l. 157-60)
9. List eh conspirators so far.
Act Two, Scene 1
1. What is a soliloquy? In this scene Brutus delivers several soliloquies. What is the purpose of the first soliloquy?
2. How does Brutus justify the decision that he reaches? (lines 10-12)
3. In line 113, Cassius encourages the conspirators to take an oath to their plan. Why does Brutus refuse?
4. While at Brutus’ house, the conspirators make three important decisions. What are their decisions concerning the swearing of the oath, Cicero, and Mark Antony? Whose views do the conspirators follow in these decisions?
5. What are Brutus’ reasons for each of his decisions?
6. Explain the conspirators’ final plan of action.
7. Of what is the “sick offense” within Brutus’ mind that Portia speaks? (line 268)
8. What are the reasons Portia gives Brutus for telling her what is on his mind?
9. What has she done to prove she can keep a secret? (l. 299-301)
10. How would you characterize Portia?
11. Explain lines 327-328.
12. Who has joined the conspirators?
Act Two, Scene 2
1. What one question dominates this entire scene?
2. What traits does Caesar display as he wrestles with this problem?
3. Explain Caesar’s famous speech. (lines 32-37)
4. Name four omens that cause Calpurnia to beg Caesar to stay away from the Capitol.
5. Who convinces Caesar to go to the Capitol?
6. How does Decius interpret Calpurnia’s dream?
7. In what way does Decius show his understanding of Caesar’s personality during their conversation?
8. What is an aside? What is the meaning of the aside made by Trebonius? (lines 124-125)
Act Two, Scene 3
1. How does Artemidorus’ letter differ from the warning in the earlier scene (the soothsayer)?
Act Two, Scene 4
1. How do you know Portia now shares Brutus’ secret? In what ways does Shakespeare bring out Portia’s feverish anxiety?
2. What excuse does Portia finally give to Lucius for his going to the Capitol for her?
Act Three, Scene 1
1. Explain why Artemidorus fails to get Caesar to read his letter. (l. 8)
2. After Caesar appears at the Capitol, what incident causes the conspirators to fear that their plan may go wrong? (l. 13-17)
3. What is the suit the conspirators used to get close to Caesar? Who presents it? (l. 49-51)
4. What is your final opinion of Caesar in this scene?
5. What is Trebonius’ role in the assassination? (l. 25-6)
6. Who is the first to strike Caesar? (l. 30)
7. What does “Et tu, Brute?” mean? Who said it? (l. 77)
8. Why are Caesar’s dying words especially dramatic?
9. What is ironic about where Caesar falls? (l. 115)
10. What urgent problem do the assassins face immediately after stabbing Caesar?
11. Which of them assumes the leadership in attacking that problem? How?
12. State briefly Brutus’ argument of justification for Caesar’s murder.
13. What does Antony send his servant to tell Brutus?
14. What does Antony ask the conspirators to do in lines 154-163?
15. Why is Cassius worried by Brutus’ promise to allow Mark Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral? (l. 233-4)
16. Why is Brutus willing for Antony to do so? (l. 235-42)
17. What news does the servant bring? (l. 276, 285-6)
Act Three, Scene 2
1. In his speech, does Brutus appeal principally to the people’s intellect or emotions?
2. Quote the parts of Brutus’ speech that you think best explain why the conspirators killed Caesar? (l. 13-34)
3. How do the citizens’ comments show that they have missed the entire point of Brutus’ speech?
4. As Mark Antony ascends the pulpit, the citizens are still shouting. From their remarks what do you learn about their present feelings toward Brutus? (l. 49-53) Toward the dead Caesar? (l. 69-70)
5. If Antony is to change those feelings, he must choose his words carefully. What tactics does he use to play on the emotions of his audience?
6. Why does Antony keep repeating “For Brutus is an honorable man”?
7. Why is Antony’s pause where he stops to look at Caesar’s body effective? (lines 105-107)
8. Why doesn’t Antony read Caesar’s will when he first mentions it? (l. 140-7)
9. How does Antony almost miss the chance to read the will at all?
10. Explain lines 175-184. Why does he do this?
11. In what way does Antony appeal to the morbid curiosity of the crowd? (l. 197-8)
12. What does Caesar leave to the Romans in his will? (l. 241-252)
13. What qualities of leadership does Mark Antony possess?
14. What news does the servant bring now? (l. 263-265)
Act Three, Scene 3
1. What does the beating of the poet Cinna show about the crowd’s attitude after hearing the funeral speeches?
Act Four, Scene 1
1. Who are the men in the Second Triumvirate which is formed after Caesar’s murder?
2. What is the significance of the marked names on Antony’s list?
3. What does the plan for dealing with the suspected Romans show about the character of each man in the second triumvirate?
4. How does Antony propose to use Caesar’s will now?
5. To what animal does Antony compare Lepidus? (l. 21) Why? (1.12)
6. When Antony characterizes Lepidus for Octavius, he also betrays his own traits. What does he reveal about himself?
Act Four, Scene 2
1. In lines 13-14, what does Brutus ask Lucilius? What is Lucilius’ answer?
2. When their armies meet, why does Brutus not want to argue with Cassius? (l. 43-44) Where does he suggest they go to settle things? (l. 46)
3. Keeping in mind what you have learned in the play up to this point, explain why a quarrel between the two men is inevitable.
Act Four, Scene 3
1. Cassius starts the argument with Brutus. Why is he mad? (lines 1-5)
2. Of what does Brutus accuse Cassius in lines 9-12?
3. Explain what Brutus means in lines 18-28.
4. What is Brutus also angry about? (l. 69-71)
5. How does the argument end? (lines 100-111)
6. What news has Brutus received that partially explains his emotional outburst? (l. 145)
7. What other news from Rome does Messala bring? (l. 165-8, 171-3)
8. Cassius and Brutus discuss marching their armies to Philipp. (l. 194-215) Explain their different opinions about it.
9. Explain Brutus’ famous speech in lines 215-223.
10. How does Julius Caesar again become an important character as the play nears its end?
11. What do you think the ghost means when he says that Brutus would see him at Philippi?
Act Five, Scene 1
1. What kind of relationship now exists between Mark Antony and Octavius?
2. When Brutus and Cassius meet Antony and Octavius on the field of battle, Octavius says that he will not put away his sword until “Caesar’s three and thirty wounds be well avenged; or till another Caesar have added slaughter to the sword of traitors!” What does he want to do, and who is “the other Caesar”?
3. What omens does Cassius see on the day of the battle? (l. 79-85) How does he interpret them? What is his mood?
Julius Caesar
“Quotable Quotes”
DIRECTIONS: For each quote you will need to know (1) WHO is speaking, (2) TO WHOM the quote is directed, and (3) WHAT the quote is about.
Act I: Quotes / WHO / TO WHOM / WHAT“Hence! Home, you idle creatures, get you home! Is this a holiday? What, know you not, Being mechanical, you ought not walk Upon a laboring day without the sign of your profession?”
“Forget not in your speed, ______, To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say The barren, touched in this holy chase, Shake off their sterile curse.”
“Beware the ides of March.”
“…For let the gods so speed me, as I love The name of honor more than I fear death.”
“Fear him not, Caesar, he’s not dangerous; He is noble Roman and well given.”
“Ay, marry, was’t, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting – by mine honest neighbors shouted.”
“…I will this night, In several hands, in at his windows throw, As if they came from several citizens, Writings, all tending to the great opinion That Rome holds of his name;…”
“O, he sits high in all the people’s hearts; And that which would appear offense in us, His countenance, like richest alchemy, Will change to virtue and to worthiness.”
Act II: Quotes / WHO / TO WHOM / WHAT
“It must be by his death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, But for the general. He would be crowned. How that might change his nature, there’s the question.”
“Never fear that. If he be so resolved, I can o’ersway him… For I can give his humor the true bent, And I will bring him to the Capitol.”
“Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily. Let not our looks put on our purposes.”
“…You have some sick offense within your mind, Which by the right and virtue of my place I ought to know of;…”
“…O ye gods, Render me worthy of this noble wife!”
“______, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet now they fright me… O ______, these things are beyond all use, And I do fear them.”
“This dream is all amiss interpreted; It was a vision fair and fortunate…”
“…Here will I stand til Caesar pass along, And as a suitor will I give him this. My heart laments that virtue cannot live Out of the teeth of emulation…”
“Madam, what should I do? Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? And so return to you, and nothing else?”
Act III: Quotes / WHO / TO WHOM / WHAT
“Et tu, Brute?”
“Stoop then, and wash. How many ages hence Shall this our lofty scene be acted over In states unborn and accents yet unknown!”
“By your pardon: I will myself into the pulpit first, And show the reason of our Caesar’s death…”
“…this is my answer: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more…”
“…This was the most unkindest out of all; For when the noble Caesar saw him stab, Ingratitude, more strong than traitors’ arms, Quite vanquished him…”
Act IV: Quotes / WHO / TO WHOM / WHAT
“Thou hast described A hot friend cooling… When love begins to sicken and decay It useth an enforced ceremony…”
“You wrong me every way; you wrong me ______; I said, an elder soldier, not a better. Did I say, better?”
“Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine. In this I bury all unkindness, ______.”
“…Ha! Who comes here?... That shapes this monstrous apparition…Speak to me what thou art.”
Act V: Quotes / WHO / TO WHOM / WHAT
“…They mean to warn us at Philippi here, Answering before we do demand of them.”