WARM UPS

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What triumph are the common people of Rome celebrating as the play opens?
How do the commoners feel about Caesar? Why are the government officials irritated with the commoners and how they feel?
How does Shakespeare add humor to this scene?

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Explain Antony’s role in the Feast of Lupercal.
Why does Caesar want a son?
What is the soothsayer’s warning?
How does Brutus feel about Caesar?
Name two physical weaknesses of Caesar that are described by
Cassius.
Which lines show that Caesar is suspicious of Cassius?
What physical handicap does Caesar reveal about himself?
Describe Caesar’s refusal of the crown.
Define anachronism. Give three examples from the play.
What is Cassius’ final plan to win Brutus to the conspiracy?

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How much time has elapsed between scenes 2 & 3?
Casca says the threatening weather is a result of the anger of the gods over what?
What does Cassius threaten to do if Caesar is crowned king?
Why are Cassius and the other conspirators so eager to have Brutus join them?

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What is Brutus’ reason for joining the conspiracy?
Why is Lucius unable to recognize the conspirators?
Why does Brutus object to the conspirators taking an oath?
Why does Brutus veto the suggestions to include
Cicero?
Why is Brutus’ objection to killing Marc Anthony at the same time?
What is the conspirators’ final plan of action?
Why is Portia worried about her husband?
How has Portia proven that she can stand pain and exercise self-control as well as any man?

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Quote the six lines in this scene which show Caesar’s courage in refusing to fear death.
Vividly describe Calpurnia’s dream.
Why does Calpurnia beg Caesar not to leave the house this day?
How does Decius interpret Calpurnia’s dream?
Give two ways in which Decius convinces Caesar to go to the Capitol.

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What does Artemidorus plan to do with the list containing the names of the conspirators? Find text evidence to support.

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How does the reader know that Portia has been told the details of the conspirator’s plot? Find text evidence to support.

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After Caesar arrives at the Capitol, what two incidents cause the conspirators to fear that their plans may go wrong?
What excuse do the conspirators give for crowding around
Caesar?
Who is the first to stab Caesar? Why is this significant?
What is the reaction of the Senators to Caesar’s assassination?
Why are Caesar’s dying words especially dramatic?
How do the conspirators show their mutual responsibility for
Caesar’s death?
Why is Cassius worried about Brutus’ promise to allow Mark
Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral?
Why is Brutus willing to let Antony speak at Caesar’s funeral?
What does Antony prophesy for the Roman Empire?

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In his speech, does Brutus appeal principally to the people’s intellect of their emotions?
How do the citizens’ comments show their loyalty changes after just one speech?
In his oration, how does Antony describe the assassins?
Why is Antony’s pause when he stops to look at Caesar’s body particularly effective?
Why does Antony uncover the bloody, mutilated body of
Caesar?
How does he say that Caesar has died?
Describe the mood of the crowd at the end of Antony’s oration.

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Why is Cinna out on the streets?
What is the excuse the mob uses to kill Cinna?

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At the beginning of Act IV, what are Antony,
Octavius, and Lepidus discussing?
Describe the triumvirate and their relationship.

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What is Brutus’ present attitude towards Cassius?
Find text evidence to support.

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How does the arrival of the poet help end the conflict between Cassius and Brutus?
What do we learn about Portia? What is Brutus’ reaction to this?
What is the significance of the ghost’s promise to see
Brutus at Philippi?
What does Caesar’s ghost symbolize?

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What news does the messenger bring about Octavius and Antony?
What is Cassius’ complaint about the battle?
Identify and analyze the archetypal heroic qualities that Cassius shows.
What does Cassius think has happened to Titinius?
What error has led to Cassius’ and Titinius’ death?
What does Brutus ask of his servants?

“He is a wolf among sheep and a lion among deer.”
Think about the conspirators view of Caesar.
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What do these slurs about Caesar mean?
Explain with a piece of textual evidence and your own commentary.

“Judge, O you Gods, how dearly Caesar loved him! This was the most unkindest cut of all”
 Explain what it means.
“To you our swords have leaden points; do receive you with all kind of love, good thoughts, and reverence.”
 Explain what it means.
 Now make an assumption about how these two quotes could make Antony’s plan so deceptive.

Brutus hasn’t slept since he first thought about Caesar’s assassination. The time between conceiving a horrible act and the execution of an act is stressful, and can be a nightmare.
Write one paragraph.

 To what extent does experience determine what we perceive?
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Give two examples of situations in which Brutus expects others to act honorable and they fail to do so.
What is the outcome of each situation?
What do these situations suggest about Brutus’ view of himself and the world?