ACT I Preview
 The Roman people are celebrating Caesar’s victory
over Pompey (the former and very popular leader of
Rome) and the Festival of Lupercal
 Two tribunes, Marullus and Flavius encounter several
commoners and chastise them for changing their
attitudes so quickly and easily.
 After confronting the commoners Marullus and
Flavius take down the decorations honoring Caesar.
 Take note of the Roman citizens attitudes and the
criticism that Marullus and Flavius direct at them.
This will become important later in the play.
 Think of the importance Julius Caesar even though he
is not present in the scene. Knowing that he will be
assassinated – do you think he will remain important
throughout the play?
 l. 13-14 “A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe
conscience, which is indeed, sir, a mender of bad
soles.” - Cobbler
 L. 34 “You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless
things! - Marullus
 Concave
 curved in or hollow
 L.45-56 “To hear the repetition of your sounds made in her concave shores”
 After years of being subjected to rain and moisture, the wall became concave








instead of flat.
Ingratitude –
sungrateful or thanklessness
L. 53 – 54 “Pray to the gods to intermit the plague that needs must light on this
ingratitude”
The student showed a great amount of ingratitude by not thanking the teacher
for the extension date to complete his homework.
Servile –
slavish or subservient
L. 74 – “and keep us all in servile fearfulness”
Many students feel that they are in a servile relationship with their teacher.
 Caesar arrives at the Festival of Lupercal
 He is warned by the Soothsayer about the Ides of March
 Cassius feels that Caesar has become too powerful and must be






stopped.
It turns out that Brutus feels the same way.
Cassius tries to convince Brutus that Caesar must be removed
from power.
Brutus tells of his inner conflict (What is best for Rome v. his
love for Caesar)
Caesar confides in Antony his distrust of Cassius
Casca tells Brutus and Cassius how Caesar was offered the crown
three times but turned it down.
Everyone agrees to meet later to discuss what should be done
regarding Caesar
 Take note of the following character traits
 Caesar’s arrogance
 Antony’s loyalty to Caesar
 The inner conflict of Brutus
 The passion of Cassius
 Pay attention to how the crowd was manipulated by
Antony
 Does Cassius make a legitimate argument for replacing
Caesar?
 L. 11-12 “I shall remember. When Caesar, ‘Do this,’ it is
performed.” - Antony
 L. 28 “Beware the Ides of March.” – Soothsayer
 L. 202 “He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.”
– Julius Caesar
 Construe –
 Interpret; take to mean
 L. 48, 50- 51 - “But let not therefore my good friends be grieved …nor construe













any further my neglect than that poor Brutus, with himself at war.
Do not construe my calm manner means I am not upset with you.
Cogitations
ideas; thoughts
L. 55 “Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.”
I have several cogitations on how we may solve the problem.
Lamented
expressed sorrow or grief
L. 60 “and is very much lamented Brutus ….”
Sometimes, at night, I lament many of my lost loves.
Fawn
To flatter in order to receive special favors.
L. 80 “That I do fawn on men and hug them hard, …”
Many students fawn over Mr. Manning (“I like your tie”) when semester grades
are about to be issued.
 Chafing
 resisting; showing irritation
 L. 108 “The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,..”
 The students chafed at the amount of work Mr. Manning made them do.
 Conjure
 To imagine or make up
 L. 53 “Conjure with’em”
 The student conjured a reason for being late to Mr. Manning’s class.
 Encompassed
 Contained; included
 L. 162 “…That her wide walks encompassed but one man?”
 Mr. Manning’s lessons encompass many academic skills.
 Infirmity
 Illness; sickness
 L. 273 -275 “… When he came to himself again, he said, if he had done or said
anything amiss, he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity.”
 Mr. Manning’s infirmity (Achilles injury) prevented him from competing in any
triathlons this summer.
 It is the night before the Ides of March
 Casca encounters Cicero and tells him of many odd




occurrences he seen during the evening
Cassius draws a parallel between the evening and the
potential fall of Rome should Caesar be made king.
Casca informs Cassius that this may very well happen.
The two of them plot against Caesar but realize that
they must have Brutus on their side to make their plan
work.
They send a letter to Brutus to help convince him.
 Pay attention to the supernatural events that take
place. This is a trademark of many Shakespearean
plays.
 Cassius has strong feelings regarding Caesar becoming
king. Is it personal or is it for the “good of Rome”
 L. 93 “Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius” –
Cassius
 L. 105 – 106 “So every bondman in his hand bears The
power to cancel his captivity” - Casca












Incenses
angers; enrages
L. 13 “Incenses them to send destruction”
Nothing incenses Mr. Manning more than tardies.
Portentous
meaningful; ominous
L. 31 “For I believe they are portentous things”
The dark clouds that suddenly appeared portended rain.”
Redress
Make right; remedy
L. 122 “Be factious for redress of all these griefs.”
Mr. Manning was able to redress the misreported grade with no
problem.