The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
Act II Study Questions
1. At what day and time does Act II begin?
a. Early morning on March 15
2. What does Brutus believe Caesar will do if he becomes king?
a. Become a tyrant
3. What does Brutus decide at the end of his soliloquy?
a. That Caesar needs to be killed before he can become king
4. Name all the conspirators.
a. Brutus, Cassius, Cinna, Casca, Decius, Trebonius, Metellus Cimber
5. Name one of the three things Brutus says that shows how he becomes the leader of the
conspiracy.
a. He convinces the consiprators there is no need to swear an oath
b. He tells the consiprators they do not need Cicero’s assistance
c. He convinces the conspirators that killing Antony is too much
6. How is Decius going to make sure Caesar gets to the Capitol?
a. Persuade him with flattery
7. Who is Portia and what does she ask of Brutus?
a. his wife; she wants to know what’s going on
8. How does Brutus respond to Portia’s request?
a. He tells her he’ll explain later
9. What does Ligarius do at the end of Scene 1?
a. Agrees to help Brutus
10.How does Shakespeare use Calpurnia to foreshadow what is to happen to Caesar?
a. Calpurnia has dreams of Caesar’s death
11.Describe the feeling behind Caesar’s response to Calpurnia’s instruction that he “shall not
stir out of (his) house today.”
a. Caesar is arrogant and says he will go
12.What strange and horrible things does Calpurnia report to Caesar that have been seen that
night?
a. A lioness gives birth in the streets
b. Graves have opened up and released the dead
c. A battle in the clouds above the Capitol
13.What does Calpurnia mean by the following statement? “When beggars die, there are no
comets seen; the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.”
a. There are only warnings/omens seen when important people die
14.Explain Caesar’s response to Calpurnia’s statement (above).
a. He does not fear death; it cannot be avoided
15.What is Caesar’s reply when his servant tells him the augurers advise that Caesar stay
home?
a. That the augurers are wrong; the gods are scolding Caesar for being afraid
16.How does Calpurnia finally get him to agree to stay with her?
a. She gets down on her knees and begs
17.Describe the two versions of Calpurnia’s dream.
a. Calpurnia – the dream means that Caesar is going to die
b. Decius – the dream means that Caesar will revive Rome
18.What arguments does Decius use to convince Caesar to go to the Capitol?
a. He tells him the senators will think him a coward if he doesn’t go
19.How does Caesar treat those who come to take him to the Capitol? What does this say
about him?
a. He is friendly and has no idea what is going to happen
20.How is Brutus feeling when he says these lines aside? “That every like is not the same, O
Caesar, the heart of Brutus yearns to think upon.”
a. He is mourning the loss of his friendship and unhappy that he has to kill Caesar
21.What is the setting of scene three?
a. A street near the Capitol
22.Who is the man in this scene?
a. Artemidorous
23.Is he for or against Caesar?
a. For
24.What is contained in the letter he is reading?
a. The names of the consiprators and a warning to Caesar
25.Explain the significance of the following lines: “If thou read this, O Caesar, thou mayst live;
if not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.”
a. “If you read it, you will live. If not, you’ll die because it was your fate”
26.Where is scene four set?
a. Brutus’s house
27.How is Portia feeling/behaving now that she knows about Brutus and the conspiracy?
a. She is incredibly worried and behaving strangely
28.On what errand does she send Lucius?
a. To make sure Brutus is okay
29.Why does the soothsayer wish to see Caesar pass on to the Capitol?
a. To warn him again
30.What does “prithee” mean?
a. “I pray thee,” which means “please”