Julius Caesar Act II
Vocabulary – All vocabulary words can be found in the literature textbook
 Augmented –
o Part of Speech:
 Entreated –
o Part of Speech:
 Conspiracy –
o Part of Speech:
 Resolution –
o Part of Speech:
 Exploit –
o Part of Speech:
 Imminent –
o Part of Speech:
Grammar Concept – Commonly Confused Words “Affect/Effect”
 Affect:
o Part of Speech:
o Example Sentence 1:
o Example Sentence 2:
 Effect:
o Part of Speech:
o Example Sentence 1:
o Example Sentence 2:
Julius Caesar, Act II
The following questions ask you to read and comprehend William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. To
answer the questions, you will have to consider what you read and apply it to the question. Please
use textual evidence from the play to help support your answers.
Act II, Scene I
1. Brutus decides he is going to join the “dark side” while he is alone in his orchard. What is
Brutus’ reasoning behind joining the “dark side”? (2.1.10-34)
2. What information does Lucius, the slave boy, tell Brutus on line (2.1.59)? Why is this
important to know?
3. The conspirators discuss asking Cicero to join their conspiracy on lines (2.1.142-154).
a. Why does Metellus want Cicero to join the “dark side”? What does Cicero bring to
the table, so to speak?
b. How does Brutus react to the idea of asking Cicero to join the “dark side”?
c. What does this show us about the relationship between Brutus and the conspirators?
4. In lines (2.1.155-193), the conspirators determine who should and should not die, and why.
a. What decision do the conspirators come to?
b. What reasoning do the conspirators use to come to their decision?
5. What is Cassius worried about in lines (2.1.197-204)? How will the conspirators take care of
this issue?
6. Why is Portia so upset with her husband, Brutus? What has she done to prove to Brutus that
she is trustworthy – and why? (2.1.301-303)
Act II, Scene II
1. There are many unusual events going on in Act II, Scene ii. Below, list an unusual event and
the line number you found it on. The first is done for you:
a. A lioness gave birth in the streets (2.2.17)
2. Caesar has an animal slaughtered to have its entrails, or insides “read.” (2.2.5-6)
a. What do the priests discover upon slaughtering the animal? (2.2.38-40)
3. What details are revealed to us about Caesar’s character in this scene? Find an example in the
text you can cite to support your claim.
4. Caesar recounts Calphurnia’s dream to Decius in lines (2.2.76-82).
a. Describe her dream:
b. What is Calphurnia’s interpretation of the dream?
c. What is Decius’ interpretation of the dream?
5. How does Decius lure Caesar to the Capitol building in lines (2.2.92-104)? What reasons
does Decius give Caesar for going with him?
6. What are Brutus’ emotions like at the end of Act II, Scene ii? How is this different than the
other conspirators?
Act II, Scene III
1. What is the importance of this incredibly short scene? For what purpose did Shakespeare
create this short scene?
Act II, Scene IV
1. Portia is still concerned about Brutus in Act II, Scene iv. What is her state of mind like at
the end of Act II? How do we know this?
2. What is the soothsayer planning to do in lines (2.4.26-27) and (2.4.34-40)?
3. What might Portia be concerned about at the close of Act II? Use textual evidence to
support your prediction.
Famous Quotations, Act II
There are many famous expressions that come from the play Julius Caesar, as well as many
important quotations that help us figure out what the characters are up to. For each quote below,
state who is the speaker and what the quotation means – why is it important enough to be on this
page?
1. “…Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods, /Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds.”
(2.1.175-176)
a. Who said it:
b. What does it mean?
c. What does this show us about the speaker?
2. “Cowards die many times before their deaths. /The valiant never taste of death but once.”
(2.2.32-33)
a. Who said it:
b. What does it mean?
3. “And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg - /Which, hatched, would as his kind grow
mischievous - /And kill him in the shell.” (2.1.32-34)
a. Who said it:
b. What does it mean?