The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Study Guide
Act 1
Scene 1 (Cast Flavius, Marullus)
1. Why are the people celebrating in the streets?
2. What is the profession of Flavius and Marullus?
3. Rome is considered at this point a Republic with the people being represented by the Senate and
Tribunes. Who did the Senate represent and who did the Tribunes represent?
4. Why are Flavius and Marullus upset with the people who are celebrating in the streets?
5. Explain the pun that one of the commoners used when replying to Flavius and Marullus. How is it
disrespectful?
6. What reason did the second commoner give as to why they were in the streets instead of working?
7. Why did his answer anger Marullus?
8. What does Flavius suggest that he and Marullus do?
Scene 2 (Caesar, Casca, Calpurnia, Antony, Soothsayer, Brutus, Cassius)
1. What request does Caesar make of Antony (Antonius)? Why?
2. What does the soothsayer say to Caesar? What is his reaction? What figurative device does this
represent?
3. Why is Cassius concerned for Brutus? Can we infer intentions other than concern from Cassius?
4. When Brutus explains his acting distant, he says, “Vexed of late I am with passions of some difference.”
What does he mean by this?
5. How does Cassius flatter Caesar? What is he suggesting with this flattery?
6. What does Caesar think might be the reason the people are shouting? What political position does he
reveal to Cassius?
7. What evidence in lines 83-89 suggests that Brutus has a “good” conscience?
8. What does Cassius say about Caesar’s strength compared to other mortals? Why does Cassius say this
to Brutus? How does Cassius’s depiction of Caesar contrast with the people’s depiction?
9. What is Brutus’s response to Cassius?
10. What do Brutus and Cassius notice about Caesar as he walked by?
11. Why does Caesar not trust Casca? There are 6 reasons given.
12. In lines 211-214, how does Caesar reveal his pride and ego?
13. What was Casca’s story as to why the people were shouting?
14. Who offered Caesar the crown? How many times? What happened to Caesar after he refused the crown
the last time? Did Caesar get the reaction he had hoped for from the crowd? How can you tell?
15. What happened to Marullus and Flavius? What does this suggest about Caesar and the kind of ruler he
is?
16. Why would Cassius not want Brutus to hear his soliloquy? How is Cassius manipulating Brutus?
Scene 3 (Cicero, Casca, Cassius, Cinna)
1. What is the date of this scene? What is significant about this?
2. What atmospheric aspects contribute to the mood of this scene?
3. What signs make Casca think the gods may be angry? (4)
4. Why does Casca think the gods are angry?
5. How does Cassius reinterpret the signs in his favor? How did he test the gods?
6. What do the senators plan to do the next day?
7. After Cassius asks Casca where his loyalties lie, what is Casca’s answer?
8. What instructions does Cassius give to Cinna? Why?
9. How would the support of Brutus ease the conscience of the conspirators, like Casca, who recognize
the offensiveness of the action they are planning?