Name: ______________________________
Date: __________________
Study Guide Questions - write answers for each question – you will receive a grade for
completing your study guide.
Act I: The purpose of the first act is to provide background (exposition), to introduce
characters, establish the setting and suggest the impending conflict.
1. What conflicting attitudes toward Caesar are shown in scene 1 (commoners vs.
nobility)
2. Why does Marullus remind the people of their previous devotion to Pompey?
3. What are two moments in scene 2 that show the superstition of the times?
4. How does Cassius get Brutus to join the conspiracy? Why does he need Brutus?
5. What does Cassius reveal to prove Caesar’s physical weakness?
6. What does Casca reveal that further suggests a physical weakness?
7. What happens when Caesar is offered the crown?
8. What odd things are occurring in Rome? What do these things suggest?
9. How and why does Cassius use fake notes?
Name: ______________________________
Date: __________________
Act 2: This scene sets up the escalating conflict (rising action)
1. What are Brutus’ reasons for killing Caesar?
2. Who are the conspirators? Why do they not swear to an oath?
3. Why does Brutus not want to kill Antony? Why does Cassius disagree?
4. How does Portia feel Brutus has changed? Why is she worries?
5. Why is Calpurnia worried about Caesar going to the senate building?
6. Why does Caesar decide to go the senate anyway? Who convinces him?
7. What does Act 2 tell us about Caesar?
8. Who is Aretemidorus? What is the purpose of his scene?
Name: ______________________________
Date: __________________
Act 3: The assassination and speeches – the high point of the drama and the turning
point.
1. What reason do the conspirators use to get close to Caesar in the senate? What
are they asking him to do?
2. How does he respond and what does this show?
3. Who stabs Caesar first? Who stabs him last?
4. What does “Et tu Brute” mean? Why is it important?
5. Why does Antony shake the bloodied hands of the conspirators?
6. What does Antony ask to do? How do Brutus and Cassius disagree on this?
7. What does Antony vow to do?
8. Who speaks first at the funeral? What is his point? How does the crowd respond?
9. Who speaks second? What is his point? How is he more effective as a speaker?
10. What are some techniques Antony uses when speaking at the funeral?
11. What is the effect of the speech on the Plebians?
Name: ______________________________
Date: __________________
Act 4 – Impending war and changes in Brutus and Cassius - falling action – leading
to the resolution
1. Who are the members of the triumvirate? What are they doing at the beginning
of act 4?
2. What is Antony’s complaint about Lepidus?
3. How are Cassius and Brutus getting along? How do they see honor differently?
4. How might Brutus be a hypocrite?
5. What happened to Portia? How des Brutus handle this news?
6. What have the triumvirate been doing in Rome?
7. Why are Brutus and Cassius’ arguments for and against marching to meet
Antony and Octavius at Philippi?
8. What does Brutus see when he goes to bed? What might this mean?
Name: ______________________________
Date: __________________
Act 5 – Resolution – deaths of Brutus and Cassius – new leader of Rome.
1. As Antony and Lepidus discuss their strategy against Cassius and Brutus, what
hint do we have that they are not in agreement? Who takes leadership?
2. What omen/sign does Cassius see? How does he interpret this sign?
3. What does Brutus hint that he will do if they are defeated?
4. How does Cassius die? Why is his death a mistake?
5. How does Brutus react to Cassius’ death?
6. Why do the soldiers think they have captured Brutus?
7. How does Brutus die? Why does he choose this?
8. What does Antony’s final speech suggest about Brutus?
9. Who will be the next leader of Rome?
10. How do you think Rome will be lead in the future? (Base this on your knowledge
of the new triumvirate)
Name: ______________________________
Date: __________________
Tragic Hero – Julius Caesar Review Packet
A tragedy forces the reader to focus on one main character, a tragic hero, and
that character’s fall. The trait which leads to this fall is called the tragic flaw.
To what degree is Brutus a tragic hero?
What might be his flaw(s)?
What are some mistakes he makes in the play?
How does the audience feel about him at the end?
How does Shakespeare want us to view Brutus and the fall of Julius Caesar? (in the
context of the play, was it right to kill Caesar?)
Would Brutus have been a good leader? Why or why not?