Julius CaesarAct II
Scene 1
1. At the beginning of Act II, Brutus makes a decision. Tell what he decides in your own words, then quote his exact words and cite them:
______
3. Who is at Brutus’ door in the middle of the night?
______
4. Cassius asks that the conspirators join hands and swear an oath. Why doesn’t Brutus want them to do that?
______
5. Cassius then suggests that they ask Cicero to be part of the conspiracy. What is Metellus’sresponse? What is Brutus’s response?
______
6. Lastly, Cassius suggests that Antony should be killed along with Caesar, and Brutus responds, “Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, / To cut the head off and hack the limbs / Like wrath in death and envy afterwards; / For Antony is but a limb of Caesar” (Shakespeare 2.1. 75-78). What does he mean by this statement?
______
7. Before the conspirators leave for the Capitol, Cassius says he fears Caesar may not come out today? How does Decius say he will then convince Caesar to come forth to the Capitol?
______
8. Summarize what Portia says to her husband Brutus on lines 257-276 on Act II:______
9. What does Caius Ligarius’ words to Brutus at the end of scene 1 tell you of Brutus’ reputation in Rome?
______
Scene 2
10. What is the setting of the beginning of scene 2:
______
11. Calphurnia tells Caesar that she had a terrible dream. What did she dream, and what does she thinks the dream means?
______
12. Caesar responds to Calphurnia that “cowards die many times before their death / The valiant never taste of death but once” (2.2. 34-350). What does he mean?
______
13. How does Decius reinterpret Calphurnia’s dream? What other reason’s does he give why Caesar should go to the Capitol?
______
Scene 3
14. What does Artemedorus say he will do in his soliloquy at the beginning of Scene 3?
______
15. Summarize Portia’s conversation with the soothsayer:
______