ANSWERS Julius Caesar Act I Study Guide
Literary terms:
aside: private words a character speaks to the audience or to another character which are not overheard
by the other characters on stage.
dramatic irony: the audience knows something the character in the story does not.
motifs: recurrent thematic elements such as images, objects, or actions that enhance the artistry.
Act I, scene i (page 893)
1. Where does scene i take place?___ A street in Rome
2. What fact about the commoners attracts Flavius’ attention? They are tribunes. They are appointed to protect the people.
3. Why is Marullus angered about the common people celebrating Caesar’s triumph? The people are wrong to celebrate Caesar’s triumph and he reminds them that they once also celebrated Pompey, whom Caesar defeated. They are ungrateful and should go home
4. What do Marullus and Flavius plan to do at the end of this scene Remove all the decorations from the statues of Caesar
5. What is the feast of Lupercal? Fertility celebration
Act I, scene ii (page 897)
1. Why does Caesar want Calphurnia to stand in Antony’s path during the race in honor of the feast of Lupercal So Marc Antony can strike her with the goatskin so she will be fertile and produce a child.
2. What is the relationship between Caesar and Antony“Whatever Caesar says, I will do it.” He is loyal to Caesar and follows his instructions.
3. Define soothsayer. A fortune-teller; a psychic
4. Define foreshadowing The use of clues to indicate what will happen later in the story.
5. What is Caesar’s reaction to the soothsayer’s warning? He pays little attention to him. He calls him “a dreamer”.
6. Read lines 32-47. How do we know that Brutus is struggling with an internal conflict? He explains tht his behavior has been affected by “passions,” or feelings, “of some difference” and “conceptions,” or thoughts, that only concern him. He also says that he is “with himself at war.”
7. According to Cassius, what does Brutus not realize about himself? He has several noble qualities and is respected by many.
8. Read lines 79-82. What internal conflict in Brutus do these lines reveal? Brutus loves Caesar but does not want Caesar to be king.
9. Read lines 135-138. To which ancient landmark is Cassius comparing Caesar? What is Cassius implying? The Colussus of Rhodes---a statue of Apollo at the ancient harbor
10. How does Brutus respond to Cassius’ attack on Caesar? He promises to think about what Cassius has said and will listen to him again in the future. He sees that Caesar is becoming too powerful.
11. Read lines 172-175. What tragic flaw in Brutus’ character might these lines reveal? His flaw might be an error in judgment.
12. Why does Cassius compare Brutus and Caesar? To prove that Caesar is no greater than Brutus; he wants to appeal to Brutus to prevent Caesar from becoming king.
13. Read lines 198-214. What faults does Caesar see in Cassius’ nature?
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a. He thinks too much. e. He doesn’t hear music.
b. He reads too much. f. He rarely smiles.
c. He is a people-watcher. g. He rarely goes out.
d. He is very discerning. h. He is jealous of Caesar.
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15. Read lines 220-232. What is the common people’s reaction to Antony’s gesture? They shout.
16. According to the Literature in Context feature on page 900, why might the common people support Caesar? A mass of poor people with no work, including many farmers who could no longer compete with wealthy landowners, have poured into Rome. These common people may believe that if Caesar became king, their situation would improve.
17. Read lines 234-291. What important information does Casca give Brutus and Cassius in this scene?
a. Caesar refused the crown three times.
b. Caesar had a seizure
c. Marullus and Flavius have been “silenced” for removing the decorations from the statues.
18. Flavius and Marullus were “silenced”. What might this punishment mean? a. lost their positions as tribunes b. exiled c. killed
NOTE: Casca, like the commoners from Scene i, speaks in prose. Shakespeare reserved verse for his aristocratic and tragic characters and prose for the lower class and broadly comic ones. Casca, however, is NOT a commoner
19. Read line 254. Brutus says that Caesar has the “falling-sickness”. What is the modern term for this illness? Epilepsy
20. What does Cassius mean when he says the Roman people, not Caesar, have the falling-sickness? The people have been willingly subjecting themselves to Caesar’s desires. Rome has reverted to the way it was under the old monarchy.
21. How does Caesar respond when he is offered the crown? He refuses all three times, each time a bit more slowly than the one before, which is an indication that he seems to want to accept it.
22. The commoners clapped for and even forgave Caesar after he had the seizure. What does this reaction tell us about their feelings for him? They appear to be loyal to him and to love him.
23. Read lines 308-322. After his conversation with Brutus, what does Cassius say he will do? He will write forged notes into Brutus’ windows. The notes will praise Brutus and hint at Caesar’s ambition---a cunning part of Cassius’ plan to force Brutus to act.
24. Name three physical weaknesses concerning Caesar that have now been revealed.
a. epilepsy b. deaf in his left ear c. general physical weakness
Act I, scene iii (page 907)
Scene iii takes place in the early morning hours of the Ides of March--March 15th. The weather is very stormy.
1. How does the weather foreshadow Cassius’ plan to make sure that Caesar does not become king? The strange events that occur represent the state of the city; there is civil unrest that is growing stronger, even to the point of becoming violent.
2. What wondrous things has Casca seen this night?
a. A slave’s hand was on fire, yet did not burn.
b. A lion roamed the streets but did not attack anyone.
c. Men on fire were walking the streets.
d. An owl hooted in the marketplace at noon.
4. Read lines 57-78 and the corresponding glosses (side margin notes). Explain what Cassius means in these lines. Casca lacks the Roman virtue of courage. He fears the omens without understanding them--they are warnings of the present Roman government.
5. Read lines 85-91. What is supposed to happen the next day? The senators will make Caesar king.
6. What connection does Cassius make between the night’s strange events and Caesar’s rise to power? The night’s events indicate that Caesar’s rise to power is not a good thing and will have terrible consequences.
7. Why does Cassius believe the Roman people are largely responsible for Caesar’s growing power?
They have become soft and allowed themselves to be manipulated. They have not stood up to Caesar.
8. What has Cassius done to try to stop Caesar from becoming more powerful? He has already spoken to others who are displeased with Caesar and they have formed a conspiracy against him.
9. Cinna is concerned about whether or not Brutus can be persuaded to join the cause. What is the plan to win Brutus over? Cinna is to plant three letters calling for Brutus to lead.
10. Where are these letters to be left?
a. on the praetor’s chair (Brutus’ chair)
b. by old Brutus’ statue
c. thrown into Brutus’ window at his house
11. Why is Brutus a needed member of the conspiracy? His “honorable” reputation and support will make the conspiracy less traitorus.
12. What is the main conflict that Shakespeare has established in Act I? He has established a conflict between those who want Caesar to be king and those who do not.
Act I quotes: Identify the speaker of each of the following quotes.
1. “Let me have men about me that are fat,/ Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep a-nights./ Yond Cassius has a mean and hungry look; / He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.” Caesar
2. “When Caesar says ‘Do this,” it is performed.” Antony
3. “Be not deceived: if I have veiled my look, / I turn the trouble of my countenance/ Merely upon myself.” Brutus
4. “I was born free as Caesar: so were you.” Cassius
5. “For whom so firm that cannot be seduced?” Cassius
6. “What means this shouting? I do fear the people/ Choose Caesar for their king.” Brutus
7. “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world/ Like a Colossus, and we petty men/ Walk under his huge legs and peep about/ To find ourselves dishonorable graves.” Cassius
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