Julius Caesar Act One Study Guide 1. Where does the first scene take place?
2. What are Flavius and Marullus doing?
3. Who claims to be a “mender of bad soles,” a “surgeon to old shoes,” and one who lives by the “awl?”
4. According to a laborer, why have the people left their shops and assembled? 5. Who was Pompey?
6. How do Marullus and Flavius rebuke the people?
7. Who was Lupercal, and when did the Feast of Lupercal occur?
8. What character establishes the notion that Caesar is ambitious, and that he flies too high and is a danger to free men?
9. The purpose of the Feast of Lupercal was to secure purification and fertility for the spring planting. What other purpose did it serve for women as well?
10. In scene two, who, in particular, is instructed to stand in Antony's way and why? 11. What warning does the fortuneteller give to Caesar?
12. What is Caesar’s response to the fortuneteller’s warning?
13. What do Cassius and Brutus discuss after Caesar and his followers leave? 14. With whom is Brutus upset and why?
15. Cassius openly works on contrasting Brutus’s humility to Caesar’s presumptuousness and arrogance. Why?
16. What fear does Brutus blurt out when shots are heard and a trumpet sounds?
17. When Caesar returns from the race, which character’s countenance seems to disturb him?
18. How does Caesar contrast Cassius with Antony?
20. Why does Brutus grasp Casca’s cloak? What does he want to know? 21. What does Casca tell him has happened?
22. What other physical impairment does Caesar have?
23. According to Casca, did the Roman people seem to want Caesar to be king? 24. What dramatic action had Caesar taken in front of the people before his fainting? 25. How did Casca react to the events at the Lupercal Festival?
26. What has happened to Marullus and Flavius and why? 27. Cassius’s major plan involves Brutus. What is it?
28. What secretive means does Cassius intend to use to persuade Brutus he is more noble than Caesar?
29. In scene three, it is the evening of the Ides of March. Describe the weather. 30. Casca meets Cicero on the streets. State two unexplainable events.
31. What is Caesar to do tomorrow? 32. Cassius compared the storm to whom?
33. According to Casca, what do the senators plan to do tomorrow? 34. What pledge does Casca give to Cassius?
35. Who is Cinna?
36. According to Cinna, acquiring the cooperation of who would be more beneficial? 37. Cinna is to deliver the forged letters to what three places?
38. According to Cassius, what fraction of Brutus remains to be won over? 39. Who “sits high in all the people’s hearts?”
Julius Caesar Act One Quotations 1. “O you hard-hearted people, you cruel men of Rome, didn’t you know Pompey the Great?”
2. “If we can pluck these growing feathers out of Caesar’s wing, we can force him to fly lower.”
3. “barren women, when touched in this holy race, are able to shake off the curse of sterility.”
4. “I shall remember
When Caesar says ‘Do this,’ It is done.”
5. “Beware the Ides of March.”
6. “I fear that the people choose Caesar for their king.”
7. “I was born as free as Caesar and so were you. We both have eaten as well, and we can both Suffer the winter’s cold as well as Caesar.”
8. “Cassius over there is too lean and hungry looking; he things too much. Such men are dangerous.”
9. “Such and such are reasons, they are natural occurrences,
because I believe that they are completely strange events, full of meaning for the place where they occur.”
10. “It’s a very pleasing night to honest men.”
11. “O, he has a high place in the hearts of the Roman people, and what would appear offensive if we did it,
his approval, like precious alchemy,
Julius Caesar Assignments
Campaign Speech
Brutus now would like very much to be the leader in Rome, but as we have heard from Antony’s speech he, too, would like to lead Rome.
Your assignment is to write a campaign speech for one of these two men. Your campaign speech should be at least 150 words in length, typed, double-spaced.
Julius Caesar Character List by Act
Act One
Flavius Carpenter Murellus Shoemaker
Fortune-teller Caesar Casca Calpurnia
Antony Brutus Cassius Cicero
Cinna
Act Two
Lucius Calpurnia Artemidorus Decius
Brutus Casca Cinna Caesar
Cassius Publius Fortuneteller
Mettelus
Ligarius Trebonius Portia Servant
Antony
Act Three
Caesar Fortuneteller Decius Artemidorus
Publius 3rdcitizen 4thcitizen Cassius
Popilus Brutus Cinna Mettellus
1stcitizen Casca Trebonius Servant
Antony Citizens 2ndcitizen
Act Four
Antony Octavius Lepidus Brutus
Lucilius Ghost Pindarus Cassius
1stsoldier 2ndsoldier 3rdsoldier Claudio
Poet Messala Titinius Lucius
Varrus
Act Five
Octavius Antony Messenger Cato
Clitus Dardanius Brutus Cassius
Lucilius Young Cato Voluminous Messala
Titinius Pindarus 1stsoldier 2ndsoldier
Magic Squares
Directions: In the squares in the box below are 16 letters of the alphabet.
Below the box, the letters occur again, but this time with Julius Caesar clues.
On the right is the list of times that match up with the Julius Caesar clues.
Match the word or phrase with its match by placing the number preceding
the word or phrase in the box with the letter found in front of the definition.
When you complete the puzzle, the number in each vertical column and each
horizontal column row should add up to the same total.
Magic Number:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
A. A. Cassius’ servant
1. Pindarus
B. B. A Tribune
2. Lucius
C. C. Caesar’s loyal follower
3. Brutus
D. D. Poet
4. Octavius
E. E. Brutus’ accomplice in the conspiracy
5.
Fortuneteller
F. F. Foretells the future
6.
Artemidorous
G. G. Portia’s father
7. Flavius
H. H. He seemed useless to two others
8. Cassius
I. I. Holds Brutus’ sword while he runs into it
9. Titinius
J. J. Brutus’ wife
10.
Calpurnia
K. K. A teacher who tries to warn Caesar
11. Cato
L. L. The Roman who must join the conspiracy for
12. Cinna
it to be successful
13. Strato
M. M. Inflicts the first wound in Caesar
14. Messala
N. N. Caesar’s wife
15. Lepidus
O. O. Antony’s primary accomplice
16. Casca
P. P. Kills himself with Cassius’ sword
17. Portia
18. Antony
WHAT IF BRUTUS . . .?
Read each of the following statements and circle the letter that best completes the statement in terms of what you think would fit the character of Brutus. For each question, select one passage from the play to support your answer.
1. If Brutus had been a general in Adolf Hitler's Secret Service, he would have A. waited until the right opportunity and then shot Hitler
B. hired someone to assassinate Hitler C. worked to overthrow Hitler
D. praised Hitler
2. If Brutus were at a baseball game, he would A. be a pitcher
B. be an umpire
C. sit quietly and enjoy the game
D. sit near the opposing team's dugout and harass players, coaches, and umpires 3. If people started a campaign today to elect Brutus president, he would
A. pretend that he didn't want to run
B. try to talk them into running a better candidate
C. make deals with other political leaders to make sure that he won the election D. refuse to run
4. Today if Brutus were at a large family picnic, he would most likely A. go off by himself, sit under a tree, and read a book
B. organize and participate in contests and games
C. stand around and sulk until someone asked him to participate in the activities D. have long talks with anyone who might give the family a bad name
5. Brutus would most admire
A. George Washington C. Jack the Ripper B. General George Patton D. the Beatles 6. In school Brutus's favorite course would be A. philosophy C. Political Science
7. If Brutus were alive today, he would most likely live A. in a mansion C. in an apartment
B. in a monastery D. on a farm
8. Brutus would probably most enjoy a social gathering of A. close friends C. Hollywood film stars
B. family D. college professors
9. Today, Brutus's favorite hobby would most likely be A. listening to music C. travel
B. playing cards D. reading
10. If Brutus were alive today, his job or profession would probably be A. computer programmer C. sports announcer
B. used car salesman D. lawyer or judge
11. Brutus's favorite type of television program would be A. detective show C. game show
POLITICS, PATRIOTISM, AND PROTEST OPINIONNAIRE
In the space provided mark whether you agree or disagree with each statement. Agree or Disagree
_______________ 1. It is never right to kill another person.
_______________ 2. Political leaders usually act in the best interest of their countries. _______________ 3. If a political leader has done something wrong, it is all right to get rid of him or her by whatever means necessary.
_______________ 4. "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." _______________ 5. In certain situations it may be justified for a political leader to bend or break the law for the good of the country.
_______________ 6. People should never compromise their ideals or beliefs. _______________ 7. "My country right or wrong" is not just a slogan; it is every citizen's patriotic duty.
_______________ 8. No cause, political or otherwise, is worth dying for.
_______________ 9. "Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant taste of death but once."
_______________10. "The evil that men do lives after them; the good is [often buried] with their bones."
ACT I
Scene 1:
10. What is the setting? What holiday is being celebrated? 12. Who are Marullus and Flavius?
13. Why do they want to drive the commoners from the street?
14. What else do Marullus and Flavius do to further hinder the celebration of Caesar’s victory?
Scene 2:
15. What does Caesar tell Antony to do to Calpurnia?
16. Why might Caesar ask Antony in front of everyone else? 17. What is a soothsayer? Of what does he warn Caesar? 18. What does ides mean?
19. Does Marcus Brutus like Caesar? What does Brutus think of Caesar’s rise to power? Use lines from play to support your answer.
20. Brutus says, “For let the gods so speed me as I love / The name of honor more than I fear death.” What do these lines imply about Brutus’s most important value in life? 21. What story does Cassius tell Brutus?
22. What is Cassius’s point in telling this story?
23. What is Caesar’s opinion of Cassius? Why does he feel this way?
24. What handicap does Caesar reveal about himself when speaking to Antony? 25. How many times was Caesar offered a coronet, or a small crown?
26. What was Caesar’s reaction to the offering, according to Casca?
28. What happens to Marullus and Flavius?
29. What does Cassius plan to do to convince Brutus to conspire against Caesar?
Scene 3:
30. What unusual events occur during the storm?
31. What meaning does Cassius interpret from the storm?
32. According to Casca, what are the senators planning to do to Caesar tomorrow? 33. Who is definitely part of the conspiracy?
1. 4.
2. 5.
3. 6.
ACT II
Scene 1:
1. According to Brutus, why is it is necessary that Caesar be killed? 2. What actions does Lucius perform that help the plot unfold?
3. What is Brutus’s internal conflict?
4. Why does Brutus disagree about taking an oath?
5. Why does Metellus think it would be a good idea to ask Cicero to join the conspiracy?
6. Why does Brutus say they should not ask Cicero to join the conspiracy? 7. What does Brutus say about killing Marc Antony?
8. What reason does Cassius give for why Caesar might not come out of his house today?
9. By what method does Decius say he will use to get Caesar out of the house?
10. Why is Portia, Brutus’s wife, worried about Brutus? 11. How does she prove her strength to Brutus?
Scene 2:
12. Why does Calpurnia want Caesar to stay home? 13. Describe Calpurnia’s dream.
14. How does Decius interpret the interpret Calpurnia’s dream?
15. What arguments does Decius use to change Caesar’s mind about going to the Capitol?
Scene 3:
16. What does Artemidorus plan to do?
Scene 4:
17. Why is Portia so nervous?
18. What does Portia want Lucius to do?
19.What does the soothsayer tell Portia?
ACT III
Scene 1:
1. What reason does Caesar give for not reading Artemidorus’s letter? 2. What Roles do the following characters play in the conspiracy?
Trebonius: Metellus Cimber: Casca:
4. What does “Et tu, Brute?” mean? How do these words relate to the theme of friendship in the play?
5. Where does Caesar’s dead body lie? How is this ironic?
6. What does Brutus tell the conspirators to do after killing Caesar?
7. What promise does Brutus tell the servant to relay to Antony?
8. What does Antony say about the possibility of being killed by the conspirators?
9. After being assured he is in no danger, what favor does Antony ask of the conspirators?
10. What does Cassius think about granting Antony this favor?
11. What restrictions does Brutus set?
12. Summarize Antony’s main points in his speech to Caesar’s body?
13. Who is coming to Rome to meet with Antony?
Scene 2:
14. According to Brutus’s speech to the commoners, what reasons does he give for Caesar’s death?
15. What is the mood of the crowd as Brutus finishes his speech?
16. What does Brutus offer at the end of his speech?
17. List three points of Antony’s speech that work to persuade the crowd to turn on the conspirators.
18. What reason does Antony give for why he cannot read Caesar’s will?
19. What has Caesar bequeathed the Romans in his will?
20. How does the crowd react to Antony’s speech?
Scene 3:
