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Julius Caesar
Source: Shakespeare researched Plutarch’s Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans to create
historical fiction. He combined the historical return of Caesar to Rome with the ancient fertility
festival of Lupercalia; however, in reality these two events did not coincide.
Julius Caesar (100 B.C. – 44 B.C.) The actual Caesar was a conqueror. People feared that he
would set up a monarchy. He was married to Calpurnia.
Marcus Brutus (85 B.C. – 44 B.C.) He was married to Portia. He had supported Pompey against
Caesar. Portia’s father killed himself rather than submit to Caesar’s rule.
Caius Cassius: He had also supported Pompey but was pardoned by Caesar. He was Brutus’
brother-in-law.
Mark Antony: He fought under Caesar and was loyal to him.
JULIUS CAESAR CHARACTER LIST
1. JULIUS CAESAR: HEAD OF ROME; WANTS TO BE KING
2. BRUTUS: ROMAN SENATOR; LOVED BY ROMAN PEOPLE; VALUES ROME ABOVE MURDER
3. MARK ANTONY: CAESAR’S RIGHT HAND MAN
4. CASSIUS: HEAD CONSPIRATOR; BRUTUS’ BROTHER-IN-LAW
5. OCTAVIUS
6. CASCA: ONE OF THE CONSPIRATORS
7. CALPHURNIA: CAESAR’S WIFE; CAN’T HAVE CHILDREN
8. PORTIA: BRUTUS’ WIFE
9. FLAVIUS AND MURELLUS: TRIBUNES LOYAL TO POMPEY
10. CICERO: ROMAN STATESMAN; NOT PART OF THE CONSPIRACY BECAUSE BRUTUS SAYS
CICERO WON’T PARTICIPATE IN ANYTHING HE HASN’T THOUGHT OF FIRST
11. LEPIDUS: PART OF THE SECOND TRIUMVIRATE
12. DECIUS: ONE OF THE CONSPIRATORS; FLATTERS CAESAR SO HE’LL GO TO THE SENATE
13. CINNA: ONE OF THE CONSPIRATORS
Setting: 44 B.C. (ancient Rome); time of Lupercalia (a fertility festival)
Before the play begins, a triumvirate existed between Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey. Caesar
emerged as the clear victor and was granted the title “dictator for life.” Some feared his
increasing power.
Be sure to look up and define the following terms before you read the play:
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1. Lupercalia:
2. triumvirate:
3. tribune:
4. augurers:
5. Ides of March:
6. aside:
7. anachronism:
8. soliloquy:
9. verbal irony:
10. plebians:
Act One, Scene 1
1. What does Flavius (a tribune) ask of the cobbler?
Why he’s not wearing his work clothes
2. How does Marullus (another tribune) treat the commoners? Why is he angry with them?
He looks down on them; he’s angry because they’re celebrating Caesar’s victory.
Act One, Scene 2
3. What request does Caesar make of Antony?
To touch Calphurnia while he’s running the holy race so that she may become fertile
4. What warning does the soothsayer give Caesar? When is the “Ides of March”? How does
Caesar react to this warning?
Beware the Ides of March; March 15; he doesn’t pay any attention to it because of his HUBRIS
(excessive pride)
5. Cassius describes an incident in which he and Caesar went swimming together in the Tiber
River. What is the point of that story? Caesar became weak while they were racing, and Cassius
had to save him. He’s too weak to be the ruler of Rome.
6. Brutus is distracted by the shouts of the crowd. Why do these shouts disturb him? In actuality,
what was happening?
He’s worried that the crowd is making Caesar king. Caesar was actually turning down the crown,
although each time with less vigor.
7. What illness does Caesar have? Epilepsy
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8. What does Cassius plan to do to manipulate Brutus into believing that the Roman citizens
dislike Caesar? Send messages using different handwriting to Brutus extolling his praises and
dissing Caesar.
Act One, Scene 3
9. Name some of the strange sights Casca has seen. These “unnatural events” predict future
happenings. Such a technique is called foreshadowing (literary term).
10. What does Casca say the senators intend to do?
Crown him king
11. Explain the meaning of Cassius’ lines:
“And why should Caesar be a tyrant then?
Poor man, I know he would not be a wolf
But that he sees the Romans are but sheep
He were no lion, were not Romans hinds.”
If the Romans weren’t so easily led, Caesar could never become king.
Act Two, Scene 1 Setting: Brutus’s orchard between midnight and 3 a.m. on the ides of March.
12. Brutus decides that Caesar must be killed. For whose sake must this deed be done?
For the sake of the Roman people
13. Brutus uses a metaphor to describe Caesar, comparing him to a serpent’s egg who may one
day abuse his power. He also compares his rise to power to the climbing of a ladder. Caesar may
one day look back on the lower rungs and scorn his earlier, less powerful days.
14. What does Lucius, Brutus’ servant, find in his room?
The paper thrown through the window by Cassius and the conspirators
15. Why does Cassius fear Mark Antony?
He’s a dangerous plotter with connections which might be used to hurt the conspirators; also, he
deeply loves Caesar.
16. What does Portia, Brutus’ __wife_____________________, want to know?
What’s bothering him
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What does Brutus tell her?
That he’s not feeling well.
At the end of the scene, Brutus leaves for the Capital with the other conspirators.
Act Two, Scene 2
17. What kind of dreams has Calpurnia been having? What other events frighten her?
She dreams that a statue of Caesar is spouting blood
A lioness gave birth in the street and graves cracked open and dead people came out; warriors
fought in the clouds until blood rained down
These warnings are an example of ____foreshadowing__________ (literary term).
18. Explain the meaning of Caesar’s famous quote:
“Cowards die many times before their deaths
The valiant never taste of death but once”
Cowards fear so many things; each time they don’t do something because they’re afraid, it’s like
a little death. The valiant ( or brave) are fearless and die only once.
19. Why does Caesar reluctantly agree to stay home?
Because his wife begs him not to go
20. How does Decius convince Caesar to go to the Senate?
He reinterprets Calphurnia’s dream so that it’s positive; the blood being bathed in by the Romans
is holy and will sustain them
Act Two, Scene 3
21. How does Artemidorus, a teacher, intend to warn Caesar of the conspiracy?
He’s written a letter that he will give to Caesar, pretending that it’s a petition
Act Two, Scene 4
22. Why is Portia so nervous?
She suspects that something bad is happening in the Senate
23. Does Portia support her husband in his betrayal of Caesar?
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Yes“Oh, Brutus, may the gods aid you in your endeavor.”
Act Three, Scene 1 Setting: Rome before the Capitol.
24. Of what does the soothsayer remind Caesar?
To beware the Ides of March
25. Cassius fears that Popillus, a senator, will tell Caesar of their plot. What does Cassius say he
will do if their plans are revealed?
He will kill himself
26. Why does Caesar think that Metellus is kneeling before him?
To ask that his brother’s (PUBLIUS) banishment be lifted
27. How does Caesar respond to the pleas of Metellus, Brutus, and Cassius?
No way – he’s (Publius) not coming back
28. What famous line does Caesar utter when he discovers that Brutus was part of the conspiracy?
Et tu, Brute
__________________________________________.
29. What do the conspirators do to symbolize their actions?
Bathe their hands in blood; symbolizes their purpose - liberty
30. When Antony returns, what does he do with each of the conspirators? Who does he think will
judge this act?
Shakes their hands; Caesar may judge this act from the grave
31. Antony has just one request. What is it?
He wants to speak at Caesar’s funeral
What conditions does Brutus place on this request?
Brutus speaks first; Antony speaks by permission; Brutus is following the law = Antony cannot
blame the conspirators
32. In his soliloquy (speech) by Caesar’s body, what does Antony ask of Caesar?
Asks for his forgiveness
Act Three, Scene 2 Setting: Rome – the Forum. Plebian – commoner
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33. Brutus and Cassius each speak separately to the people of Rome. In his speech, Brutus gives
his famous explanation for why he killed Caesar: “not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved
Rome more.” What does he mean?
He loved his city: even though he loved Caesar, he didn’t want him to become king because it
would affect the republic of Rome
Brutus says he killed Caesar because of Caesar’s ambition
34. What does Brutus say he would be willing to do for the good of Rome?
Kill himself
35. How do the plebians respond to Brutus?
They respond positively – building a statue to him, celebrating him, making him Caesar
36. In Antony’s speech is one of the greatest examples of rhetoric in all literature. Explain the
meaning of the opening lines of Antony’s famous speech:
“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him;
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones.
So let it be with Caesar.”
We’re here at his funeral and will not talk about him positively. Just like other men, the bad
things he’s done will be talked about after his death, and the good stuff will be buried with him.
37. Antony is saying the opposite of what he feels. This speech is an example of
________verbal________________
_______irony_________________________.
38. Antony repeats the phrase, “Brutus is an honorable man.” What effect do these words have
on the crowd?
The crowd knows that Antony is being ironic, and they start to agree that Brutus is not honorable
39 Name specific actions of Caesar’s which Antony uses to persuade the crowd that Caesar was
not ambitious:
a.) captured people from different countries to make Rome rich
b.)when the poor cried, Caesar cried, too
c.)Caesar refused the crown 3 times
40. Antony has all of the plebians gather in a circle around Caesar’s body. Which wound does he
focus upon above all? The one that Brutus made
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41. When Antony says, “Let me not stir you up to such a sudden flood of mutiny,” he is being
________________________ironic__________.
42. What did Caesar leave to the citizens in his will?
Each citizen gets 75 drachmas; land to be made into a public garden
43. What do Brutus and Cassius do after Antony’s speech?
They leave Rome
Act Three, Scene 3
The crowd mistakenly attacks Cinna, the poet instead of Cinna, the conspirator. Even after Cinna
explains that they have the wrong man, a plebian says, “It is no matter, his name’s Cinna…pluck
by his name out of his breast.”
What is Shakespeare saying about mob mentality?
Mob mentality is dangerous and can easily take over a crowd
Act Four, Scene 1 Setting: Antony’s house.
44. What decisions are the three new triumvirs – Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus – making at the
beginning of Scene 1?
Which people will die
What message is Shakespeare saying about their rule?
They are as much tyrants as the previous rulers
45. Why does Antony send Lepidus for Caesar’s will?
So that Octavius and Antony can talk about Lepidus
46. How does Antony feel about Lepidus? Cite lines which reveal his attitude.
He doesn’t think Lepidus needs to be in power with them and compares him to his horse
47. Why did Antony include Lepidus in the triumvirate? Describe the metaphor he uses to
describe Lepidus’ purpose.
NO ANSWER REQUIRED
Act Four, Scene 2 Setting: Camp near Sardis.
48. Describe the relationship between Cassius and Brutus.
They’re fighting and arguing.
49. Brutus suggests that he and Cassius meet in Brutus’ tent. Why?
He doesn’t want the troops to hear them arguing
Act Four, Scene 3 Setting: Brutus’ tent
50. Of what does Brutus accuse Cassius? (lines 9-13)
Greed and corruption
51. Why does Brutus find Cassius’ behavior so offensive? (see lines 19-29).
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Brutus sent a messenger to Cassius for gold for his troops, but the messenger was an idiot and
gave Brutus the wrong message; he said Cassius denied him the money
52. Brutus later reveals that he has a deeper reason for being angry with Cassius. What is it? Cite
the lines from the text.
NO ANSWER REQUIRED
53. What information does Brutus reveal that explains why he has been so short-tempered?
His wife Portia is dead
How was this deed accomplished?
She swallowed hot coals to kill herself
54. What news do Brutus and Cassius hear of Antony and Octavius?
Their army is coming to meet Brutus and Cassius’s armies at PHILIPPI: they’re also killing
Senators
55. Cassius and Brutus cannot agree on whether they should attack or wait to be attacked by
Antony and Octavius. What is Cassius’ position and why?
Wants to wait where they are for Antony’s army to come to them; the reasons are that Cassius’s
army will be rested and fresh whereas Antony’s army will be tired from marching
What is Brutus’ position and why?
Wants to march to Philippi and meet Antony’s army there: they are at the top of their game right
now and should strike while they have a lot of men in their army
56. Explain the meaning of the following quote:
“There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and miseries.”
Brutus argues for striking at the crest of the wave – if you wait, you might end up in misery
57. Why does the ghost of Caesar visit Brutus?
To tell Caesar that he’ll see him at Philippi – meaning that Brutus will die
Act Five, scene 1
58. How does Octavius feel about Brutus and Cassius’ decision to attack at Phillippi?
ANSWER NOT REQUIRED
59. Octavius and Antony have also begun to squabble, a sign of their future political difficulties.
Over what issue do they bicker?
ANSWER NOT REQUIRED
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60. Cassius reminds Brutus that he made a serious error in judgment. What was it?
ANSWER NOT REQUIRED
61. How many times was Caesar stabbed?
ANSWER NOT REQUIRED
62. Cassius fears omens he has seen. What are they?
ANSWER NOT REQUIRED
63. Brutus and Cassius have what they know may be their last conversation. What question does
Cassius ask of Brutus? How does he respond?
ANSWER NOT REQUIRED
Act Five, Scene 2 – battle begins
Act Five, Scene 3
64. What advice does Titinius, a fellow soldier, give to Cassius?
ANSWER NOT REQUIRED
65. On what errand does Cassius send Titinius?
To ride his horse and find out whether the troops Cassius can see are friendly or not
66. What directive does Cassius give to Pindarus, his servant?
To go up on a hill and watch Tintinus
67. What message does Cassius receive?
Pindarus says that Tintinus was taken
68. Cassius gives Pindarus an order and offers him a promise in exchange. Describe this order
and promise.
Pindarus will get his freedom if he kills Cassius
69. Titinius realizes Cassius misinterpreted their military position. How does he respond?
ANSWER NOT REQUIRED
Act Five, Scene 4
70. Lucilius claims to be Brutus. Why?
ANSWER NOT REQUIRED
71. Describe Antony’s reaction when he sees “Brutus.”
ANSWER NOT REQUIRED
Act Five, Scene 5
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72. What does Brutus request of Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius? How do they respond?
Asks them to help him kill himself; they say no
73. Re-read lines 38-42. Describe Brutus’ attitude towards life and death. How does Brutus die?
He runs into his sword
74. Describe Brutus’ attitude toward Caesar even as he is about to die.
Positive attitude toward Caesar even as he dies
75. Re-read Antony’s and Octavius’ final comments about Brutus. Relate to Brutus’ role as a
tragic hero.
He will be buried with all the honors of a fallen hero. While the other conspirators killed Caesar
because they envied him, Brutus truly believed he was doing the right thing for Rome by killing
Caesar.