Eng II – Julius Caesar – Guiding Questions
Act 1, Scenes 1-3, page 1
Name ________________________
Date _______ Hour ________
DIRECTIONS: Answer these questions as we discuss them in class.
1. 1.1.1. Scene 1 starts us in a crowded street in Rome. It is lined with statues near what is
today known as the Palatine Hill (which is where the palaces, or palatia, were). A
joyous, peaceful crowd is milling about. Two tribunes – military men – enter with the
noisy mob of commoners. What tone does Flavius’s first speech bring immediately to
the play?
2. 1.1.15. It is important in this play to watch the moods of the crowd. Do you think these
commoners are afraid of the military men, or are they acting comically and boldly?
Explain.
3. 1.1.35. What do you think Marullus is doing as he speaks?
4. 1.1.52. How should this short line be spoken?
5. 1.1.55. What is the key word in the last line of this speech? Why is Marullus angry at the
mob?
6. 1.1.60. Pay attention to the movements of the crowd. What mood has taken over these
commoners as they leave the stage? Would you have them leave in a defiant mood, or
are they ashamed?
7. 1.1.75. What does Flavius fear about Caesar?
8. 1.2.1. As Caesar and his retinue enter, the crowd makes way for them. Antony is dressed
for the race held on the Feast of Lupercal, which this year also celebrates Caesar’s latest
victory. Caesar would be richly dressed – perhaps too richly. What mood would
Marullus and Flavius be in?
9. 1.2.10. This speech suggests something important about Antony. What is it?
10. 1.2.12. A lot of ceremonial music and ritual have opened this scene, so our attention has
been focused on Caesar and his followers. But now the soothsayer or foreteller of the
future is suddenly visible. This is a dramatic moment; it foreshadows what will happen.
Where would you place the soothsayer? How should Caesar react to his call?
11. 1.2.17. What physical disability might this line suggest?
12. 1.2.18. The ides of March are March 15. In some productions this warning is heard as an
ominous and disembodied cry. In what different ways could the line be spoken?
Eng II – Julius Caesar – Guiding Questions
Act 1, Scenes 1-3, page 2
13. 1.2.24. Except for Brutus and Cassius, the stage is empty for a few moments as they
stand looking at the departing Caesar. The action line of the play—the assassination—
begins now with Cassius’s rather casual question (line 25). How should Brutus answer?
14. 1.2.47. How does Brutus explain his behavior?
15. 1.2.60. How would Cassius say the parenthetical remarks?
16. 1.2.78. What, in sum, is Cassius telling Brutus here?
17. 1.2.79. The trumpet sounds offstage, and the crowd’s roar is heard again. How would
Cassius and Brutus react?
18. 1.2.80. This is what Cassius has wanted to hear. How should he deliver this speech?
19. 1.2.89. Brutus could sound noble, here, or he could be played as foolishly idealistic, even
priggish. How would you deliver this speech?
20. 1.2.97. This is a long and important speech. What is Cassius’s chief complaint about
Caesar?
21. 1.2.118. How should Cassius say this last sentence?
22. 1.2.121. What word should be stressed here? Why?
23. 1.2.131. Why has Cassius told these anecdotes about Caesar? What is his point?
24. 1.2.142. There is often a pause here, after the Colossus metaphor. How would Cassius
say the names “Brutus” and “Caesar?”
25. 1.2.161. Why does Cassius mention Brutus’s famous ancestor?
26. 1.2.177. According to Cassius’s speech, how has Brutus delivered his pervious line? Has
Cassius gotten what he wants?
Eng II – Julius Caesar – Guiding Questions
Act 1, Scenes 1-3, page 3
27. 1.2.178. Cassius and Brutus move downstage left to allow the procession (Caesar’s train)
to pass across the width of the backstage area and an entrance down right. In this way,
the audience sees two acting areas at one time—one for the conspirators and their
growing intimacy, and one for the pompous world of public ceremony. Would the two
actors next speak openly, or are they already acting secretively?
28. 1.2.188. Cicero at this time is sixty-two years old, famous as a great advocate of the
Republic. Though he had supported Pompey and opposed Caesar, Cicero liked Caesar
personally and had nothing to do with the assassination. What does Brutus think of
Cicero?
29. 1.2.190. Cassius and Brutus move away and we focus on Cassius, now downstage left.
What does Caesar’s next speech tell you about Cassius’s physical appearance?
30. 1.2.212. Caesar’s analysis is accurate. Why does he fear Cassius? What does the speech
tell us about Caesar himself?
31. 1.2.214. As the procession leaves through an upstage portal at left, Brutus pulls on the
toga of Casca as he passes. Casca is rough and sarcastic. How is his sarcasm suggested
in the following lines?
32. 1.2.233. How would Brutus respond to this news about the crown?
33. 1.2.250. How does Casca feel about the Roman mob?
34. 1.2.256. What do you think Cassius means here?
35. 1.2.275. Casca gets very sarcastic here. What does he think of Caesar?
36. 1.2.286. Why are Marullus and Flavius silenced? What does this tell you about Caesar?
37. 1.2.308. Why do you think Cassius uses the respectful “you” when talking to Brutus but
then switches to the familiar “thou” here?
38. 1.2.322. What is Cassius going to write in the letters to Brutus? What does he hope
these letters will accomplish?
Eng II – Julius Caesar – Guiding Questions
Act 1, Scenes 1-3, page 4
39. 1.3.1. In Shakespeare’s day, other than a drum roll or “thunder sheet,” there was no way
to reproduce the drama of nature onstage. How might the actors themselves suggest the
threatening weather?
40. 1.3.13. How is Casca different here from the way he was depicted earlier?
41. 1.3.32. Shakespeare often uses disorder in nature to suggest a nation’s disorder. What
does Casca think?
42. 1.3.35. How does the aged Cicero respond to Casca’s report?
43. 1.3.43. Can you explain Cassius’s response to the disordered night?
44. 1.3.72. How might Cassius’s tone of voice change here?
45. 1.3.89. Cassius’s response to this news is usually played as one of anger. What is he
probably holding in his hand?
46. 1.3.100. What is Cassius threatening to do?
47. 1.3.115. Does Cassius seriously mean that Casca is a willing slave of Caesar’s? What
reaction is he looking for?
48. 1.3.130. Cassius has begun his conversation with Casca by showing him his dagger and
threatening suicide as a way to free himself from bondage. At what point does the
conversation shift to an altogether different method of freeing himself?
49. 1.3.139. What is Cassius’s mood?
50. 1.3.148. What is Cassius asking Cinna to do?
51. Summarize Act I. Name five major events that happened to help you remember. Put
them in chronological order.