“Julius Caesar” Quote Notes and Close Reading Questions
Directions: answer questions in complete sentences on a sheet of paper
Act I, Scene I, Quote Note Question Directions: Who said it, and what does it mean?
Scene I.
35 You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!
61 See, whe’r their basest mettle be not moved;
They vanished tongue-tied in their guiltiness.
68 It is no matter; let no images
Be hung with Caesar’s trophies.
74 Who else would soar above the view of men
And keep us all in servile fearfulness.
Act 1, Scene I, Close Reading Questions Directions: answer in complete thoughts.
1. What does this scene reveal about the atmosphere and the political situation in Rome?
2. The Roman crowd will appear several times in the play. What is your impression of them in this scene?
3. Shakespeare uses puns—words having the same sound but different meanings. Give three examples of such puns. Ex; “mender of souls”.
4. At the close of the scene, Flavius compares Caesar to a bird. Explain why.
Scene II Quotes
10 When Caesar says, “do this,” it is performed.
19 A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
32 Brutus, I do observe you now of late;
I have not from your eyes that gentleness
And show of loves as I was wont to have.
46 Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war,
Forgets the shows of love to other men.
128 As a sick girl. Ye gods! It doth amaze me,
A man of such feeble temper should
So get the start of the majestic world,
And bear the palm alone.
194 Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
234 I can well be hanged as tell the manner of it:
It was mere foolery; I did not mark it.
314 I will this night
In Several hands, in at his window throw,
As if they came from several citizens,
Writings, all tending to the great opinion
That Rome holds of his name.
Act I, Scene II, Close Reading Questions
1. Based on the opening directions and on the events of the scene, how would you stage the grand entrance and the opening speeches?
2. In his first two appearances, what strengths and weaknesses does Caesar reveal?
3. What are your first impressions of Antony? What does Brutus call him?
4. In their long dialogue, what strategies does Cassius use to sway Brutus?
5. Why is Caesar’s comment about his deafness ironic?
6. What do we learn from the first soliloquy of Cassius?
Journal Entry: Cassius tells Brutus, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.” In one paragraph discuss the following question: To what extent do we have control of our fates?
Enrichment: In a drawing or cartoon, visually illustrate one of the puns in the opening scene or another pun of your own choosing
Act 1, Scene III, Close Reading Questions
1. What is the atmosphere of this scene?
2. What meanings do the characters give to the images of night?
3. What changes do you see in Casca and Cassius from the previous scene?
Act II, Scene II, Quote Notes
Scene II
13 How that might change his nature, there’s the question.
32 And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg
Which hatched, would as his kind grow mischievious,
And kill him in the shell.
114 No, not an oath, If not the face of men,
The sufferance of our souls, the time’s abuse
If these be motives weak, break off betimes,
And every man hence to his idle bed.
162 Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius,
To cut the head off and then hack the limbs.
166 Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.
190 There is no fear in him, let him not die,
For he will live and laugh at this hereafter.
255 I should not know you Brutus. Dear my lord,
Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.
268 You have some sick offense within your mind,
Which by the right and virtue of my place
I ought to know of.
Act II, Scene I, Close Reading Questions
1. How does the setting of this scene contrast with those of Act I?
2. What conflict does Brutus reveal in his soliloquy, and what resolution of the conflict does he reach?
3. List three instances in which Brutus overrides the opinions of the other conspirators. Do you think his opinions are correct? Why or why not?
4. What reason does Brutus give for not killing Antony?
5. Interpret Brutus’s statement, “let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods,/Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds.”
6. Why does Shakespeare include the dialogue between Brutus and Portia at this point?
7. How does the incident with Caius Ligarius reveal character and develop the play’s symbolism?
Journal entry: In Act II, Scene I, Brutus receives a letter inciting him to act. Write your own letter to Brutus, advising him what to do.
Enrichment: Write a paragraph either to support or refute the following statement: “Resolved: loyalty to one’s country is more important than loyalty to one’s friend.”
Act II, Scene II, Quote Notes
32 Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
83 This dream is all amiss interpreted;
It was a vision fair and fortunate.
124 Caesar, I will (aside) and so near will I be,
That your best friends shall wish I had been further.
Act II, Scene II, Close Reading Questions
1. What is the atmosphere/mood of this scene?
2. How does Caesar react to the omens and the upheavals?
3. Why does Caesar change his mind and yield to Calpurnia’s pleas?
4. What change does Caesar make in this scene in the way he refers to himself? Why does he make the change?
5. Why does Shakespeare make Caesar change his mind so often in this scene?
6. Compare the relationship of Caesar and Calpurnia’s to that of Brutus and Portia?
7. How does this scene illustrate Cicero’s earlier remark, “Men may construe things after their fashion,/Clean from the purpose of the things themselves”?
8. How does Decius prevail upon Caesar to go to the Capitol?
9. What flaws in Caesar are revealed by his not listening to Decius?
Act II, Scene IV, Quote Notes
Scene IV
8 I have a man’s mind, but a woman’s might.
How hard it is for women to keep counsel!
Act II, Scenes III and IV
1. What purposes do these two brief scenes serve?
Journal entry: At this point in the play, you have studied soliloquies by Cassius and Brutus but none by Caesar. You are Caesar. Write a soliloquy to speak on your way to the Capitol. Reveal your thoughts and feelings.
Enrichment: Using a medium other than written words (e.g., paint, pen and ink, collage, audio tape or sound effects), create a picture of Rome on the night of March 14, 44 B.C.
Act III, Scene I, Quote Notes
Scene I
8 What touches us ourself shall be last served
57 I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar.
66 But I am constant as the Northern Star.
83 Et tu Brute? Then fall Caesar.
123 Stoop then, and wash. How many ages hence
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over
In the states unborn and accents yet unknown!
169 If I myself, there is no hour so fit
As Caesar’s death hour.
185 Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful.
200 I doubt not of your wisdom.
Let each man render me his bloody hand.
210 My credit now stands on such slippery ground
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
Either a coward or a flatterer.
280 O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
Act III, Scene I, Close Reading Questions
1. What example of dramatic irony appears in the opening lines of this scene?
2. What traits does Caesar show in dealing with those who approach him in this scene?
3. In the exchange between Caesar and the conspirators, pick out three images of height and lowliness
4. Look closely at Caesar’s dying words. What do they reveal about him?
5. What is the immediate general reaction to Caesar’s death?
6. What previous event foreshadowed the conspirators’ dipping their hands in Caesar’s blood?
7. What qualities does Antony display as he confronts the conspirators?
8. Brutus disregards the advice of Cassius and allows Antony to speak, why?
9. What does Antony reveal by his soliloquy after the conspirators have departed?
10. What purposes are served by the last episode of this scene?
Journal entry: Act III, Scene I is filled with ironies. Write a half page in which you tell about an incident in your life that turned out to be ironic. Report the incident, and tell how you felt about it.
Enrichment: Write a paragraph from the point of view of one of the senators during the assassination of Caesar depicting the expression and gestures of the conspirators as wells as your feelings as a senator.
Act III, Scene II, Quote Notes
Scene II
21 If then that friend demand why
Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: Not
That I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.
26 As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate,
I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him’ but, as
He was ambitious, I slew him.
82 Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
109 I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know
194 Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all.
222 Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up
To such a sudden flood of mutiny.
275 Now let it work: Mischief, thou art afoot,
Take thou what course you wilt.
Act III, Scene II
1. What is the difference in form between the speeches of Brutus and Antony, and what is the significance of this difference?
2. The Plebeian responds to the speech of Brutus thus: “Let him be Caesar.” What does this response indicate?
3. Antony’s oration is filled with a wide range of emotions. What emotions can you identify?
4. Why does Antony repeatedly claim that “Brutus is an honorable man”?
5. What actions and tricks of Antony’s particularly impress the mob?
6. Describe the crowd during this scene.
7. After reading the two speeches, do you agree with Antony’s statement, “I am no orator as Brutus is,/But (as you know me all) a plain blunt man”?
Act III, Scene III
1. Why does the mob attack Cinna the poet, and what does this reveal about them?
2. What is the significance of Cinna’s opening speech?
3. Where can you find touches of humor in this scene, and what earlier scene do these recall?
Journal entry: Brutus and Antony are “character foils” to each other, that is, characters whose opposite traits emphasize qualities each possesses. In a paragraph, tell about two people you know who are character foils.
Enrichment: Read some famous speeches by such people as John F. Kennedy, Winston Churchill, or Martin Luther King Jr. Discuss the qualities these speeches have in common with the speeches of Brutus and Antony.