Julius Caesar
by William Shakespeare
Adventures in Appreciation
Study Guide guidelines
1. Write your answers on a separate piece of paper - either loose leaf or in a notebook.
2. Be specific in your answers. Use references to the text with quotations and page numbers when
appropriate.
3. Use the footnotes at the bottom of each page. These notes will help you with the meanings of words and
phrases as well as historical references that you may not know.
4. Be aware of the vocabulary words and their meanings in context. Look up words you do not know.
Expand your reading vocabulary.
5. Do not rely on supplementary texts as a shortcut. Read the version in our textbook. You will be required
to know specific quotes and characters. Using a different text will interfere with your ability to recognize
specific language and quotations.
6. No Fear Shakespeare. If you are struggling to understand the play and temporarily need help with the
language – you can use the No Fear Shakespeare version of Julius Caesar at home. Do not purchase it
and bring it to class. In class you are only allowed to use the textbook version of Julius Caesar. The online
version of No Fear Julius Caesar is available at no cost. Use this version to check your understanding after
you have read the original version. Your goal should be to become less and less reliant on the modern
version of the text so that you can learn to manage the original text.
No Fear Julius Caesar
http://nfs.sparknotes.com/juliuscaesar/
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The Great Chain of Being
GOD
ANGELS (9 ranks)
MAN
Emperor or king
Courtiers
Soldiers
Professionals
Tradesmen
Beggars
ANIMALS
Four-legged Animals (lion ranked highest)
Two-legged Animals – Birds (Eagle or Falcon at top)
Fish – (Dolphin or Whale as highest)
Lowest Animals (such as Insects, Oysters, Barnacles
PLANTS
Fruit trees
Flowers
Vines
MINERALS
Liquids
Metals (Gold ranked on top)
Jewels (highest is Diamond)
Common or Garden-variety Store
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Vocabulary
1. dramatic conventions:
a. time
b. place
c. stage action
d. stage language
2. blank verse:
3. exposition:
4. rising action:
5. climax:
6. falling action:
7. denoument:
8. soliloquy:
9. aside:
10 anachronism:
11. ides of March:
12. tragic hero:
13. tragic flaw:
14. character foils:
15. realistic:
16. idealistic:
17. triumvirate:
18. groundlings:
19. soothsayer:
20. augurers:
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21. history – play:
22. tragedy – play:
23. comedy – play:
24. sonnet – poem:
25. Elizabethan:
26. Plutarch:
27. simile:
28. metaphor:
29. imagery:
30. foreshadowing:
31. irony:
32. Great Chain of Being:
33. omens:
34. puns:
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Act I, scene 1
1. What do the tribunes, Flavius and Marullus, think of Caesar? Cite specific lines to support your
answer.
2. What do the tribunes think of the crowd? Cite specific lines to support your answer.
3. What would you say about the nature of the crowd? Does their mood change during this scene?
4. The final four lines contain a metaphor. Explain the comparison.
5. What are the feelings created in this scene? What two conflicts cause these feelings?
Act I, scene 2
1. What is the dramatic importance of the soothsayer's warning?
2. How does Caesar react to this warning?
3. After Caesar and his followers go in to the games, how does Cassius introduce the topic of Caesar
to Brutus?
4. Has Brutus thought at all that Caesar is a threat to Rome? What lines tell you this?
5. How does Cassius offer to solve Brutus' confusion? (What does he offer to be for Brutus?)
6. Does Cassius say Brutus can trust him?
7. Is it odd that he needs to point this out? Suspicious?
8.What word does Brutus use that Cassius picks up quickly to further his persuasion?
9. What does Brutus say about honor and death?
10. What does Cassius say about Caesar physically? Compared to Brutus? To himself?
11. What does he mean to say about Caesar? Are all his points valid?
12. Explain the metaphor using the Colossus.
13. Paraphrase these words of Cassius lines 139-141. What is Cassius implying to Brutus?
14. How does Cassius persuade Brutus in the rest of that speech?
15. Does Brutus give a definite answer?
16. In what mood do Caesar and his train re-enter the stage?
17. How does Caesar size up Cassius? Does Antony agree with him?
18. What two physical weaknesses do we hear about Caesar?
19. What account does Casca give of (1) the offering of the crown, (2) the crowd's reaction, (3) Cicero's
speech, (4) the fate of the tribunes?
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20. What is Cassius's parting remark to Brutus?
21. In his soliloquy at the end of Act I, 2, what does Cassius reveal (1) about Brutus' noble nature, (2)
about Caesar’s feeling for Brutus and for him, (3) about Brutus’ chances for influencing Cassius if
places were changed, (4) about a dishonest plan to further influence Brutus?
Act I, scene 3
1. This scene opens with a violent thunderstorm. What two reasons does Casca give for this terrible
omen?
2. List four amazing things Casca has seen during the storm. What does he think these things mean?
3. How does Cassius act during the storm? What is he trying to show about himself?
4. Find the line where Cassius turns the discussion of the storm to a discussion of Caesar.
5. What information about Caesar does Casca give us?
6. After Casca joins the conspiracy, Cassius fills him in on the other members. According to Cassius
what percentage of Brutus is already convinced?
7. Casca tells us why the conspirators desperately need Brutus as a fellow member. Paraphrase
Casca’s speech.
8. Shakespeare reminds the audience of time at the end of this scene. What time is it? What date do
you think it is? How does this create suspense in us?
Act II, scene 1
1. What character traits does Brutus’s inner conflict reveal? How has his conflict affected him
physically?
2. What reasons does he find for killing Caesar?
3. What is Brutus saying in the "Lowliness is young ambition's ladder" speech? (lines 21-28)
4. Where does Shakespeare remind us of the time and date in this scene? Why?
5. Find and explain the two references to snakes. Who is being compared to a snake?
6. Summarize Brutus' reasons for joining the conspiracy.
7. After Brutus joins the conspiracy (line 112) three suggestions are made. What are they? How does
Brutus react to each one? Why do the other men let Brutus have his way?
8. Who is the leader of the conspiracy originally? Who takes over?
9. What exact plans do the conspirators make? How farsighted are the plans?
10. Find examples of positive and negative connotation in Brutus' s speech (lines 162-183).
Summarize this speech.
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11. Why is it doubtful that Caesar will come to the Senate and how does Decius intend to make sure
that he gets there?
12. In the Brutus-Portia dialogue we learn several things about Brutus' actions lately. What has he
done? Does Portia think these are normal actions?
13. Why does Portia kneel before Brutus? What has she done to herself to show her patience and
strength?
14. At the end of the scene would you say that Brutus is convinced that he is doing the right thing?
Act II scene 2
1. What is the time at the beginning of the scene? How does Shakespeare establish this?
2. What evidence of belief in superstition can you find?
3. What effect do the reported omens have on Calpurnia?
4. How does Caesar react to Calpurnia's appeal to stay home today?
5. What does Caesar's "cowards" speech mean (lines 32-37). What does it show about him?
6. What is the augurers' report and what does Caesar say about that report?
7. Why does Caesar decide to go to the Senate after telling Calpurnia he wouldn't?
8. Find the line near the end of this scene that establishes the time again.
Act II, scenes 3 and 4
1. Explain the purpose for each of these two scenes. What ideas are added to the plot? Does Portia
seem stronger or weaker than before?
Act III, scene 1
1. Where does Shakespeare mention the date again? Why does he remind us of this again?
2. How do the conspirators show signs of nervousness before the assassination? Who or what makes
them nervous?
3. Why do the conspirators, one after another, beg for the return of Metellus Cimber's brother? Does
Caesar think it is a reasonable request? Why might crowding around Caesar be part of a plan?
4. Paraphrase Caesar's speech (lines 58-73)).
5. What does Casca mean by "Speak, hands, for me!"? (line 76)
6. What has happened to Antony during and after the assassination?
7. What do the conspirators do after killing Caesar?
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8. Paraphrase Antony's servant's speech (lines 123-137). What important assurance does he get?
Who gives this assurance?
9. What is Antony's reaction to seeing Caesar's body? How does Brutus feel about what Antony
says?
10. Would you say Antony is a practical man who does what is necessary to survive? Summarize
Explain lines 183-193.
11. What request does Antony make of Brutus that Brutus grants? What is Cassius's reaction? What
is yours?
12. What is foreshadowed in Antony's soliloquy? (lines 254-275) Be able to paraphrase this soliloquy.
13. Who is Octavius? Why might Caesar have sent for him? What message does Antony give the
servant?
Act III, scene 2
1. What mood does the crowd seem to be in? line 1 and lines 8-10) Are these people probably some of
the ones we saw in the opening scene of the play? What did we learn about them then?
2. What reason does Brutus give for killing Caesar? Find at least three abstract words in Brutus'
speech. Does Brutus give concrete support for these abstractions? How effective is such
communication?
3. What is the reaction of the crowd to this speech? Does this match other comments you have made
about the crowd? When? What is ironic about line 19?
4. Is Antony facing a friendly or hostile crowd? Write down lines to support your answer.
5. Does Antony say anything to the crowd that breaks his agreement with Brutus? If so, what?
6. What line summarizes Antony’s purpose for speaking? Do you think that’s his real purpose?
Explain.
7. Can you see evidence of a clever use of words? Any tricks? Any loaded words?
8. Antony uses three visual aids effectively. What are they and how are they used effectively?
9. Antony also uses the power of suggestion cleverly. Where does he use it and what is its effect?
10. What is the result of Antony's speech? Is this in spite of Antony or because of him? Can you find
the lines to prove your answer?
11. What mention is made of a coming three-way rule? Who is named?
12. Where are Brutus and Cassius at the end of this scene?
Act III, scene 3
1. What happens in this scene is, in part, a case of mistaken identity. What does happen and what is
the mistake in identity?
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2. Why does Shakespeare include this brief scene?
Act IV, scene 1
1. According to the stage directions, how much time has elapsed since Act III?
2. Why are the triumvirs making a list of names?
3. What fact shows the cruelty of these men?
4. Why does Antony want Caesar's will?
5. Characterize Antony. Is this the same Antony who was quick-spirited and ran races in Act I? For
example, what does Antony say about Lepidus as soon as Lepidus leaves?
6. Is the position of the triumvirate a safe and stable one? Write down lines to support your answer.
Act IV, scene 2
1. Paraphrase Brutus' speech (lines 6-9). What is he saying about Cassius and friendship?
2. Paraphrase Brutus’s speech lines 18-22. What is he saying about friendship?
3. What is Cassius's mood when he enters?
4. Why do Brutus and Cassius decide to continue their discussion inside Brutus' tent?
Act IV, 3
1. What is the reason for the argument between Cassius and Brutus?
2. What attitude does each take toward the other?
3. What does Brutus' speech (lines 18-28) reveal about him? What does he fail to realize even now?
4. How does the quarrel end?
5. What news does Brutus tell Cassius? Does Brutus want to discuss it? Why or why not?
6. What is the news reported about the triumvirs' actions back in Rome?
7. Paraphrase Brutus' speech at the top of lines 217-223. What metaphor is Brutus using?
8. What does Brutus’s treatment of Lucius tall us about Brutus? Lines 239-271
9. What does the ghost of Caesar say to Brutus? What effect does the ghost of Caesar have on Brutus?
10. What action does Brutus take after seeing the ghost?
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Act V, scene 1
1. Explain the speeches of Brutus and Cassius (lines 93 – end of scene). Is there the scent of victory in
the air?
2. Paraphrase Brutus’s speech lines 123 – 126.
Act V, scene 3
1. Why is Cassius's army defeated in battle by Antony's army?
2. What mistaken impression does Pindarus give to Cassius?
3. How does Cassius die? What are his dying words? Explain the irony of these words.
4. How does Titinius feel about Cassius' death? How does Brutus feel?
Act V, scene 5
1. Explain Brutus' mood. What factors could explain his mood?
2. How does Brutus die? What do his dying words mean?
3. What does Antony say over Brutus' body?
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