Julius Caesar - Act One
Study Guide
Pre-AP
Scene i
1. What is the setting of the story?
2. How does Shakespeare make the common people appear to be less than noble?
3. What are the people doing that angers Marullus and Flavius? Why does this anger them?
4. What actions do Marullus and Flavius take to correct the situation?
5. Name and explain 3 puns used in this scene.
a.
b.
c.
6. Who was Pompey?
7. Who was Lupercus, what did he represent, and when is his feast day?
8. Quote one example of anaphora.
9. Quote one rhetorical question.
10. What character establishes the notion that Caesar is ambitious? How does he express this
feeling?
Scene ii
11. What was the purpose of the Feast of Lupercal and for which woman in particular did it serve?
12. What is Antony’s response to Caesar’s instructions? What does this suggest about their
relationship?
13. What warning does the fortuneteller give to Caesar?
14. What is Caesar’s response to the warning?
15. What complaint does Cassius make about Brutus’s behavior towards him? How does Brutus
answer this complaint?
16. Cassius’s story attacks what aspect of Caesar’s makeup? What is this attack supposed to say to
Brutus?
17. What does Cassius mean when he says, ”Brutus’ will start a spirit as soon as Caesar.”
18. How does Brutus respond to Cassius’s attack on Caesar?
19. What astute observation does Caesar make of Cassius?
20. What faults does Caesar see in Cassius’s nature?
21. What story does Casca relate to Brutus and Cassius? What does Casca tell us by the personal
remarks he adds to the story?
22. What information does Casca give about Marullus and Flavius?
23. What dramatic action had Caesar taken in front of the people before his fainting?
24. How did the people react to Caesar’s fit? What does this tell us about their feelings for Caesar?
25. What was Casca’s reaction to the events at the Lupercal Festival?
26. What metaphor is used to describe Casca?
27. What secretive means does Cassius intend to use to persuade Brutus he is more noble than
Caesar?
28. Quote an example of an extended metaphor.
29. Quote an example of personification.
30. Quote an example of an epic simile.
31. Quote an example of a regular metaphor.
32. Quote an example of a regular simile.
Scene iii
33. Quote 2 examples of imagery in this scene.
34. What wondrous things has Casca seen on this night?
35. What are Caesar’s plans for tomorrow?
36. How does Cassius react to the storm?
37. Quote a metaphor for Caesar.
38. According to Casca, what do the senators plan to do tomorrow?
39. What pledge does Casca give to Cassius?
40. According to Cinna, whose cooperation would be more beneficial?
41. Cinna is to deliver the forged letters to what three places?
a.
b.
c.
42. According to Cassius, what fraction of Brutus remains to be won over?
43. Who “sits high in all the people’s hearts?”
44. Quote an example of anaphora.
45. Quote an example of polysyndeton.
46. Quote an example of negative diction.
47. Quote an example of apostrophe.
48. Quote an example of a metaphor for the Roman people.
Quotes – Identify the speaker, and the meaning of each of the following quotes.
1. “. . . but for mine own
Part, it was Greek to me.”
2. “Men at some time are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.”
3. “Let me have men about me that are fat,
Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep a-nights.
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.”
4. “O, he sits high in all the people’s hearts;
And that which would appear offense in us,
His countenance, like richest alchemy,
Will change to virtue and to worthiness.”
5. “Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet I see
Thy honorable mettle may be wrought
From that it is disposed;”
6. “You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things?
O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome,
Knew you not Pompey?”
7. “And I will set this foot of mine as far
As who goes farthest.”
8. “These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wing
Will make him fly and ordinary pitch,
Who else would soar above the view of men
And keep us all in servile fearfulness.”
9. “Beware the Ides of March.”
10. “When Caesar says ‘Do this,’ it is performed.”