ANSWERS Julius Caesar Acts II-III Review
ACT II
1. On what day does Act II begin? __March 15_______
Test Date:
2. How would you paraphrase the following line?
“For he is superstitious grown of late…” _lately he has become superstitious / listens to omens________
3. Why does Calpurnia ask Caesar not to go to the Senate?_she believes her bad dreams and omens mean danger for him
4. Why does Decius tell Caesar that the Senate has decided to offer Caesar the crown?
He knows that this will get Caesar to the senate
5. At the end of Act II, what plans do Artemidorus and the soothsayer have?
to try to warn Caesar as he walks to the senate
6. What decisions does Brutus make against Cassius’ wishes?
Not to swear an oat; not to include Cicero; not to kill Antony
7. In Act II, the reports of strange occurrences in Rome creates what kind of mood?
Foreboding, ominous, threatening
8. Act II, scene iii of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is only fifteen lines long and has only one character, who wants to
warn Caesar about the conspirators’ plans. What is the main purpose of this scene?
To build suspense
9. What action creates the most suspense in Act II?
Portion freaking out
10. Once Brutus joins the group, he says that an oath is not necessary because _____.
If they all belive that their plan is honorable, they will be loyal without having to swear an oath
11. Portia insists she can withstand any news Brutus has to tell her. She proves this by
Stabbing herself in the thigh
ACT III
12. At the beginning of Act III, the conspirators gather around Caesar and ask him to pardon someone. How does Caesar
answer them? he arrogantly says he never makes mistakes or changes his mind- He says he is immovable –
13. What is the real reason the conspirators gather around Caesar at the beginning of Act III?
To get close enough to stab him
14. When Antony speaks to the conspirators right after Caesar’s death, what does he say?
He says he will support them if they explain their actions
15. When Antony delivers a dramatic speech over Caesar’s body, he is alone on stage. What is the name for this kind of
speech?
soliloquy
16. In his speech over Caesar’s body, Antony says that Caesar’s wounds “beg” him to do something. What do they beg
him to do?
Get revenge
17. Brutus is the first to speak at Caesar’s funeral. How would one describe the feelings he expresses?
sincere
18. Which term is the name for a long speech by one character that is heard by the other characters on stage?
monologue_____________
19. Despite his words, what does Antony convince the crowd of in his funeral speech?
Brutus is NOT honorable, and Caesar was NOT ambitious
20. Why does a group of plebeians attack Cinna, the poet, at the end of Act III?
He has the same name as one of the conspirators
21. What impression of the plebeians does Shakespeare give in Act III?
They are fickle and easily manipulated
22. When Antony first shakes hands with the conspirators, what impression does the reader get?
That he is going to support them and accepts the murder of his friend
23. Why does Cassius deliver an aside to Brutus after Antony arrives?
To privately tell Brutus not to trust Antony
24. How are Antony’s true feelings about the conspirators first revealed?
_____in his soliloquy over Caesar’s body
25. In his monologue at Caesar’s funeral, what is Brutus’ attitude?
He is very calm and confident that his words will convince the plebians. No emotions.
26. In his funeral oration, how does Antony show that the conspirators were not honorable?
He contrasts Caesar’s deeds with the reasons the conspirators gave for killing him
27. Although it is occasionally interrupted by the plebeians, what description best fits Antony’s speech at Caesar’s
funeral? ___monologue____________________
28. At first, why does Antony refuse to read Caesar’s will to the crowd?
He wants to stir up their curiosity and build suspense
29. Why does Antony point to the wounds on Caesar’s body and the rips in his cloak and identify whose dagger made
each one?
He wants to emphasize the treachery involved and hold each assassin responsible
30. What does Antony’s aside after his oration reveal?
“Mischief, thou art afoot.” He is satisfied that he has stirred them up to mutiny
31. What is suggested by the bloody imagery? What did the conspirators do IMMEDIATELY after Caesar’s death?
Bathe their hands/arms/swoards in Caesar’s blood.
32. What was Casca’s role in the assassination?
First to stab Caesar
33. What was Trebonius’ job in the plot?
Get Antony away from Caesar
34. List the 4 conditions under which Marc Antony could speak at the funeral.
1. may not blame the conspirators 2. speak all good of Caesar 3. say he speaks with the conspirators’ permission
4. speak from the same pulpit as Brutus after Brutus
35. What did Antony say was in Caesar’s will?
Caesar’s money and property for each citizen