Name_________________________________________________Date____________________Hour________
Julius Caesar
Act IV
Study Guide
Act IV Reading Questions: Scene 1 At a table in Antony’s house in Rome.
Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus now rule Rome as a triumvirate—a committee of three. The scene opens on the
triumvirate, meeting to draw up a list of their enemies who must be killed. They also discuss changing Caesar’s
will. As Lepidus goes to fetch the will, Antony expresses his low opinion of Lepidus as a leader. Then, Antony
and Octavius begin to discuss how to defeat the armies of Brutus and Cassius.
1. (1) Who are the three men (triumvirate) who now rule Rome?
2. (2) Line 17: What details in this dialogue suggest that this triumvirate is showing signs of strain? How
has Antony changed from the person we saw in Act III?
3. (1) What are the members of the Triumvirate doing at the beginning of Act IV?
4. (3) Antony compares Lepidus to two animals. What are they?
5. (1)How does Antony’s description of Lepidus add to what he has already revealed about himself in?
6. (3 )How has Antony changed since he delivered the funeral oration? Think about how his actions,
words, and goals are different. Look in Act IV for specific examples that support your views.
7. (1) How does the Second Triumvirate compare to the conspirators?
8. (1) What does Antony say they will do to Caesar's will?
9. (1) What reason does Antony give for letting Lepidus help in choosing who will die?
Scene 2: A military camp near Sardis. In front of Brutus’ tent.
Displeased at the way events are developing, Brutus tells his servant about Cassius’ new cold and distant
attitude. Cassius arrives, and he and Brutus go into the tent to talk about their disagreements.
10. (4) Why do you think about Brutus and Cassius quarrel? Which character engages your sympathy more?
Support your response with details.
11. (1) Line 18: What details show that a split might be taking place in the conspirators’ ranks?
Scene 3: Inside Brutus’ tent at Sardi
Brutus and Cassius argue angrily, as Brutus accuses Cassius of corruption and greed. After a while, though,
they calm down and become friendly once again. Brutus informs Cassius of Portia’s death. Soon after, Massala
enters. He tells of all the killings in Rome and of Antony and Octavius approaching with their armies. Brutus
persuades Cassius that their forces must meet the enemy at Philippi, in Greece. Later, as Brutus reads, the
ghost of Caesar appears and promises to see Brutus at Philippi.
12. (1) Line 12: What does Brutus accuse Cassius of doing?
13. (2) If Brutus were able to go back in time and decide all over again whether to participate in the
conspiracy, what do you think he would do and why?
14. (2) How does Brutus think that the condition of his conscience compares to that of Cassius? How can
you tell? (details)
15. (1)Why had Brutus wanted Cassius to send him money?
16. (3) What conclusion would you draw about Brutus’ honesty in light of his request for money from
Cassius? Explain your answer. How is this ironic?
17. (2) Study the dialogue in Scene III between Brutus and Cassius regarding Portia’s death. What does
each man’s reaction say about his character?
18. (2) Does Brutus seem to have a guilty conscience about Portia’s death? Should he? Explain. How is
Brutus’ response to the news of death similar to what Caesar says about death in Act II, Scene II?
(Caesar: “What can be avoided/Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?”)
19. (1) Why might Brutus choose to tell Cassius the news about Portia after they have resolved their
quarrel?
20. (3) What arguments do Brutus and Cassius make regarding whether they should march to Philippi to
fight their enemies? What decision is made?
21. (4) Before the battle of Philippi, Brutus tells Cassius:
“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 in miseries.”
Paraphrase these lines. Paraphrase means keep the length but put each line in your own words.
22. (2) What do you predict will be the outcome of the decision of question 15? Give reasons for your
prediction.
23. (2) Reread lines 218-249 in Scene III. What tragic flaw does Brutus reveal in his response to Cassius’
concerns about marching their armies to Philippi? Cite details to support your answer.
24. (1)________________ told Brutus, “Thou shalt see me at Philippi.”
25. (2) Do the Romans seem better or worse off under their new rulers than they were under Julius
Caesar? Cite evidence to support your answer.
26. (1)___________________ is the idealist in the play.
27. (1)___________________ is the realist in the play.
28. (4) Tragedy is a serious work of literature that narrates the events leading to the downfall of a tragic
hero, who displays noble qualities but also has a tragic flaw, or fatal character weakness. How does
Brutus fit this definition? Name his tragic flaw?