Julius Caesar
Study Guide Questions: Answer the questions on separate sheets of loose leaf.
Act I, Scene 1- A Street (Flavius, Marullus, and commoners)
1. Puns and word-play are a popular part of Shakespeare's plays. Explain the punning and word-play in which
the cobbler engages.
2. How do the Tribunes, Marullus and Flavius, react to this word-play?
3. Why do they chase the commoners away, and with what do they rebuke them?
4. What do they suggest the commoners do?
5. Why do Marullus and Flavius seem to fear Caesar?
Act I, Scene 2- Rome, The Same
(Caesar, Antony, Calpurnia, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, a Soothsayer, and others)
1. What does Caesar say to Antony in front of everyone? what does it say about Caesar? What does Antony's
response say about him?
2. What is the Soothsayer's warning to Caesar? What does it mean?
3. When they are alone, of what does Cassius accuse Brutus? What is Brutus' response?
4. What point is Cassius making when he asks Brutus if he can see his own face? What does he propose he
will do?
5. On what fear of Brutus' does Cassius pick up?
6. How does Brutus explain to Cassius what he means by fear.
7. According to Cassius, what happened when Caesar and Cassius went swimming in the Tiber? What is the
point of this story?
8. Why does Cassius refer to Caesar as "a sick girl"? How would you describe Cassius at this point?
9. What does Cassius say about fate, free will, and being underlings?
10. After delaying an answer, what is Brutus' conclusion about his own feelings on freedom?
Enter Caesar, Antony and others
11. As the scene opens, what does Caesar say to Antony about Cassius? What is Antony's response?
12. What does Caesar's response about fear show about him?
13. According to Casca, what did Antony offer Caesar three times? What was Caesar's response?
14. What two physical ailments of Caesar are mentioned in this scene?
15. In response to the "falling sickness", what is the meaning of Cassius' sarcasm?
16. What happened to Marullus and Flavius? Why?
17. What action will Cassius take to get Brutus to join the conspirators?
18. After Brutus leaves, how is Cassius brutally honest with himself?
Act I, Scene 3- Rome. A Street (Casca, Circero, Cinna, and Cassius)
1. What is Cassius' interpretation of the night’s strange events?
2. On whom does Cassius blame Caesar's power?
3. Why does Casca say he is no "fleering telltale"?
Act II, Scene 1 - Brutus’ House (Brutus, Cassius, Portia, Lucius, Ligarius, and others)
1. Why does Brutus believe that Caesar must be stopped from becoming king? Do you think Brutus' fear of
what Caesar may become is justified?
2. Brutus receives the messages planted by Cassius, and he seems inclined to take action to stop Caesar. What
does he tell us about his mental/emotional state at this point?
3. What does Cassius suggest the conspirators do that Brutus says they don't need to do? Why not?
4. What does the conspirators discussion about Cicero reveal about them?
5. Cassius recognizes that Antony should die, too, but Brutus says no. Why?
6. There is some concern that Caesar, having grown superstitious lately, might not leave the house the next day.
How does Decius say he can manipulate Caesar? What does this day of Caesar's personality?
7. What is Brutus' answer when Portia asks why he has been behaving strangely lately? What is her response to
this?
8. What action did Portia take that swayed Brutus?
Act II, Scene 2- Caesar’s House (Caesar, Calpurnia, Decius, Brutus, and others)
1. What did Calpurnia cry out in her sleep?
2. What does Calpurnia say to prove her point that the evening's strange events relate to Caesar and not to the
world in general?
3. The priest "augurers" offered an animal to the gods. What in their examination suggest to them that Caesar
should not leave his house?
4. What is Decius interpretation of Calpurnia's bloody dream?
5. What, according to Decius, might some senators conclude if Caesar refuses to come to the capitol today?
6. What is the sad irony in Caesar's perception of all those who came to his house
Act II, Scene 3 – A Street Near the Capitol (Artemidorus)
1. Why is Artemidorus waiting for Caesar?
Act II, Scene 4 – Another Part of the Same Street Near Brutus’ House (Portia, Lucius, and the Soothsayer)
1. What order does Portia give Lucius? Why is she so unsettled?
2. In this scene, how is Portia different from the Portia we saw earlier?
Act III, Scene 1 – Rome. Before the Capitol, the Senate Steps (Caesar, Brutus, Antony, Cassius, Soothsayer, Artemidorus, and others)
1. Why does Caesar say he will not read Artemidorus’ letter first? How is this part of the posture he has taken?
2. What does Trebonius do while Popilius Lena speaks to Caesar?
3. In his response to Cimber’s request to lift his brother’s banishment, what posture does Caesar assume?
4. After all the conspirators stab Caesar, Brutus does too? What is Caesar’s comment after Brutus stabs him
and what does it say about Caesar’s perception of friendship?
5. After stabbing Caesar, the conspirators prepare for an attack from Caesar’s friends. What does Brutus say
about death?
6. What does Brutus suggest they do before going to the marketplace? Why?
7. Anthony sends a message to stating that he will support him if Brutus does what?
8. Why does Antony not seem angry with Caesar’s murderers?
9. What conditions are placed on Antony if he is to speak at Caesar’s funeral?
10. After all exit, Antony reveals his true intentions in his famous soliloquy? What are his intentions?
11. What message does Antony want Octavius’ servant to take to Octavius?
Act III, Scene 2 – Rome. The Forum (Brutus, Cassius, Antony, and citizens of Rome)
1. What is Brutus’ answer to any man who might wonder why he killed Caesar?
2. What is the crowd’s reaction to Brutus’ speech?
3. What line about Brutus in Antony’s oration is repeated so often that its meaning becomes ironic?
4. What parchment (piece of paper) does Antony claim to have?
5. How does Antony describe the stab wound Brutus gave?
6. In his speech, Antony claims to lack what talent?
7. What do the reactions of the mob indicate?
Act III, Scene 3 - Rome. A Street (Cinna, the poet, and a mob)
1. Why is Cinna, the poet, killed by the mob?