Name______

Julius Caesar: Act II Reading and Study Guide

There is a danger of oversimplifying Brutus by assuming that he simply decides to assassinate Caesar for the good of the Republic. There can be much speculation about the complexity of Brutus. Consider the following: Which line in Act II, Scene I shows Brutus’ resolution to join the conspirators? Which senator wants the conspirators to take an oath? What does this tell you about this senator? Where else in this scene did he reflect a similar attitude?

Early in this act, Brutus seems to be constructing a solid basis for the decision that Caesar must die. Follow Brutus’ reasoning. Caesar may become king, and this new role might change his nature. It is possible that Caesar may lose his capacity not to look down. Caesar, who, after all, is still a man, may follow this pattern. This is Brutus’ position. Does the real Caesar – the Caesar Brutus knows – indicate that he will follow this pattern? Where does the flaw lie in Brutus’ rationalization?

I. VOCABULARY: Be able to define the following words and understand them when they appear in

the play.

taper______

tyranny (tr-n)____________

lest______

II. LITERARY TERMS: Be able to define each term and apply each term to the play.

anachronism(-nkr-nzm)______

Example:______

complication______

personification______

example:______

irony:______

Example: ______

I. dramatic irony ______

Example: ______

II. situational irony ______

III. verbal irony: ______

aside______

example:______

III. Questions: Answer the following questions. Use complete sentences where indicated.

Scene 1:

  1. According to Brutus, why is it is necessary that Caesar be killed?
  1. What actions does Lucius perform that help the plot unfold?
  1. What is Brutus’ internal conflict? What is his feeling toward the conspiracy? Could this conflict be responsible for his downfall?
  1. What does the group of conspirators discuss as soon as they enter? Why don’t they come to the point immediately?
  1. Cassius seems to have a special role in this gathering. What is it? Why do Cassius and the others need Brutus to participate?
  1. Why does Brutus disagree about taking an oath?
  1. Why does Metellus think it would be a good idea to ask Cicero to join the conspiracy?
  1. Why does Brutus say they should not ask Cicero to join the conspiracy?
  1. What does Brutus say about killing Marc Antony? (Note that this is the first of three occasions in the play when Brutus turns aside his friends’ advice.) How do the conspirator’ positions concerning what should or should not be done to Antony reveal something about each one’s personality? (Consider Cassius in particular. Be ready to discuss: Is Cassius a good politician? Why?) By the end of the play, you will know whose judgment of men is really more valid, Cassius’ or Brutus’.
  1. Why does Brutus have contempt for Antony? What does he not recognize in Antony? What similarities do you see between Cassius and Antony at this point?
  1. What reason does Cassius give for why Caesar might not come out of his house today?
  1. By what method does Decius say he will use to get Caesar out of the house?
  1. Why is Portia, Brutus’s wife, worried about Brutus?
  1. How does she prove her strength to Brutus?

Act II, 2-4 continue to anticipate the future. Consider the connotative meaning of the storm. How many different storms does Shakespeare allude to by having one appear on the stage as a theatrical effect?

Note Caesar’s dominant trait that appears in the following scenes.

Scene 2:

  1. Why does Calpurnia want Caesar to stay home?
  1. Describe Calpurnia’s dream. (Use complete sentences.)
  1. How does Decius interpret the interpret Calpurnia’s dream? (Use complete sentences.)
  1. What arguments does Decius use to change Caesar’s mind about going to the Capitol? (A jot list is fine here.)

Scene 3:

  1. What does Artemidorus plan to do?

Scene 4:

  1. Why is Portia so nervous?
  1. What does Portia want Lucius to do?
  1. What does the soothsayer tell Portia?