Julius Caesar Act III Note Guide
CP English 10
Answering the following questions as we read through Act III will help you keep pace
with the story. This will also give you a chance to reflect on what was most important
in the scene, and it will ultimately lead you to a better understanding overall.
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER.
PRINTED COPIES OF THIS NOTE GUIDE MAY NOT BE USED DURING THE ACT
III QUIZ, NOR MAY THEY BE SUBMITTED FOR CREDIT.
You may use these answers to improve your own personal notes for Act III.
Scene I
1. What is happens between Caesar and the soothsayer? (III.i.1-2)
Caesar notices the soothsayer while going to the capitol. He mentions the fact
that it is the Ides of March, and nothing has happened to him. The soothsayer
gives that ominous reply that the day is not yet over.
2. What happens between Caesar and Artemidorus? (III.i..3-13)
Artemidorus attempts to give his letter to Caesar, telling him that it is something
of personal importance. Caesar, in a rare act of humility, tells him that personal
matters can wait; he is here for the people. Ironically, Caesar’s tragic flaw (his
ego) could have saved him. Fate seems to be completely aligned against him.
3. What can we make of Caesar comparing himself to the “North Star?” (III.i.60-70)
When Caesar makes this comparison just before he is stabbed, he is showing
one last act of arrogance. He equates himself to the brightest and most constant
star in the sky. Fittingly, this is his last major speech before he is killed for his
“ambition.”
4. What surprises Caesar the most as he falls? (Et tu, Brute?) (III.i.78)
This Latin phrase translates roughly to, “And you, too, Brutus?” Caesar cannot
believe that even his friend Brutus has turned against him.
5. Why is Brutus the first one urged to take the pulpit? (III.i.83)
Brutus is the “face” of the conspiracy. It is important that Brutus be the one to
first “take the pulpit” and address the Roman citizens about the assassination.
6. Why does Brutus suggest to “stoop, / And let us bathe our hands in Caesar’s blood”?
(III.i.105-110)
Remember that the conspirators are not ashamed of this act. By bathing their
hands and swords in Caesar’s blood and then walking around the streets of
Rome, they are showing their pride in what they feel to be a valiant act for the
good of Rome. It also shows a bond amongst the conspirators, as they all
(literally) have Caesar’s blood on their hands.
7. What message does Antony’s servant bring? What are the reactions of Brutus and
Cassius? (III.i.130-146)
Antony’s servant enters shortly after the assassination to tell the conspirators
that Antony will support the conspiracy so long as they are not planning to kill
him as well. Brutus thinks that this proves his belief that Antony will cause them
no problems. Cassius, though, is still skeptical about Antony’s motives.
8. Discuss Antony’s first major speech in the play. (III.i.148-163)
Even by Shakespeare’s standards, Antony’s initial lines in the play are quite
eloquent. This characterizes him as someone who is intelligent and thoughtful,
despite having been referred to earlier in the play as someone who simply likes
to party all night and sleep all day.
9. How does Antony end up reacting to the conspirators? (III.i.183-193)
Antony eventually shakes the hands of all the conspirators, telling them that he
will support their cause so long as he is given a clear explanation of Caesar’s
flaws.
10. What are Antony’s two requests of Brutus and Cassius? (III.i.226-230)
Antony asks the conspirators if he may take Caesar’s body to prepare for public
viewing. He also requests to speak at his funeral.
11. What is the response of Brutus and Cassius to this? (III.i.231-251)
Brutus (as usual) sees no problem with this. Cassius (as usual) feels that it is a
mistake to let Antony speak to the Roman people. Brutus decides that giving
Antony three guidelines will be enough to keep him under control: (1) Antony
must speak after Brutus, (2) Antony must speak from the same location as
Brutus, and (3) Antony may not blame the conspirators in his speech.
12. Summarize Antony’s closing soliloquy. (III.i.254-275)
When the conspirators are gone, Antony speaks several lines to the body of
Caesar. In these lines, he reveals to the audience that he is manipulating the
conspirators and that he plans on creating havoc in Rome to avenge Caesar’s
death.
Scene II
1. Where does the scene take place? (III.ii)
The scene is set at the Forum in Rome. Caesar’s funeral is about to take place.
2. How will Cassius leaving affect the speeches? (III.ii.3-8)
Cassius is skeptical about Antony; he does not trust him. When Cassius leaves,
it removes a big hurdle for Antony to get his message across to the Roman
people.
3. What is different about Brutus’s speech? Why is it like this? (III.ii.12-35)
Brutus’s speech is spoken in prose (everyday, common language). This is
different from the verse (poetic, elevated language) that he speaks when
addressing others in the upper class. He may have done this as a means of
connecting with the common people. He feels that speaking at their level will
help them more easily understand his message.
4. Discuss Brutus’s speech to the crowd. (III.ii.12-35)
Brutus crafts his speech around two persuasive appeals: ethos and logos. Early
on, he establishes himself as someone who is honorable and trustworthy
(“Believe me for mine honor, and have respect to mine honor, that you may
believe.”). He proceeds to use rhetorical questions to prove the need for
Caesar’s death, thereby appealing to his audience’s sense of logic and thought
(“Who is here so base that would be a bondman? If any, speak, for him have I
offended.”). This rhetorical question puts his audience in a position in which it
cannot logically disagree with him; therefore, he must be correct.
5. How do the citizens react to the speech? (III.ii.42-48)
The Roman citizens react positively to the speech. They shout about their love
of Brutus. Ironically, one of them calls out that Brutus should be the new Caesar
(III.ii.45). This line highlights the fickle nature of the crowd, as well as the fact
that the Roman citizens may not possess the logic necessary to truly understand
Brutus’s message about why Caesar had to be assassinated.
6. What is the mindset of the crowd as Antony begins? (III.ii.64-67)
The crowd does not want to hear what Antony has to say. They believe that
Caesar had to die, and Antony is simply going to praise him.
7. What is the (structural) difference between the speeches? (III.ii.70-85)
As opposed to Brutus’s use of prose to address the commoners, Antony opts to
continue using his eloquent verse. While there is risk in speaking “over the
heads” of his audience, it may also be advantageous while trying to manipulate
the people.
8. How does Antony thoughtfully open his speech? (III.ii.70-74)
Antony tells his audience that he is speaking to acknowledge Caesar’s faults, not
his achievements. By doing this, he manages to keep the citizens’ attention
(rather than immediately disagreeing with them).
9. What role does the word “ambition” play in Antony’s speech? (III.ii.74-96)
10. What role does the word “honor” play in Antony’s speech? (III.ii.74-96)
Both “ambition” and “honor” play important roles in both speeches, but Antony
particularly uses them to his advantage. He chooses to use these words because
they were key in Brutus’s explanation to the people. As Antony continually
references Caesar’s “ambition” while giving examples of his humility, it becomes
clear that he is using these words with a (not-so-subtle) sense of irony. He
takes Brutus’s own words and twists them back against him. This creates the
feeling of anger within his audience (pathos).
11. What does Antony reveal is in his possession? How does he use this to his advantage?
(III.ii.127-134)
Antony tells the commoners that he has Caesar’s will and that they are his heirs.
He proceeds to tease them with it, saying that he does not intend to share its
contents. This stirs up their emotions even more.
12. What does Antony do to relate more closely to his crowd? (III.ii.157)
Antony descends from the pulpit to stand amongst the commoners during his
speech. While Brutus tried to change his language to relate to his audience,
Antony physically stood near them. The uneducated commoners perhaps could
not appreciate Brutus’s change in language, but as physical beings, they could
easily connect with Antony’s presence next to them.
13. Why does Antony remove the cloak covering Caesar’s body? (III.ii.192-194)
Antony shows the people exactly what happened to their beloved Caesar. The
shock of this sight causes gasps and tears from his audience. He continues to
play on their raw emotions as he turns them against the conspiracy. Again, the
commoners understand feelings and images, not words. Seeing the dead body
sends a much greater message to them than any speech could.
14. What is ironic about how Antony describes himself and his speech? (III.i.213-219)
In these specific lines, after using his intelligence and manipulative speech to rile
up the commoners’ emotions, he explains to them that he is not a powerful
public speaker like Brutus. He claims that he is simply a “plain blunt man” who
speaks to them as straightforward as possible. This is, of course, absolutely the
opposite of the truth. He claims that only Brutus has the power to enrage them
to mutiny, all while Antony is doing exactly that.
15. What do Antony’s lines after the crowd leaves reveal to the audience? (III.ii.256-257)
As the enraged crowd storms off to locate the conspirators, Antony speaks two
lines to himself that sum up his entire goal. He has caused the “mischief” that
he set out to create, and this “mischief” will now determine Rome’s fate.
16. What does Antony’s servant reveal to us at the end of the scene (two things)?
(III.ii.258-265)
Antony’s servant tells him that Octavius (Caesar’s chosen heir) has come to
Rome and that Brutus and Cassius have fled Rome in fear.
Scene III
1. What happens in this short scene and what purpose does it serve? (III.iii)
Cinna the poet (not the conspirator) is ripped to shreds by an angry mob of
commoners. Hearing his name, they assume he is “Cinna” from the conspiracy.
This scene underscores just how blood-thirsty and blind to reason the
commoners have become because of Antony’s speech.