ENG1D
Julius Caesar: Study Questions
ACT ONE
I.i.
1.What is your initial impression of Caesar based on information presented in the play?
2.What do we learn about public opinion of Caesar in this scene?
I.ii.
1.Provide two quotes from his speech in lines 198-216 which demonstrate Caesar’s conceitedness.
2.Describe Brutus’s mood in this scene. (ll.37-47)
3.What is Brutus’s opinion of Caesar? (l.82)
4.What is Caesar attempting with regards to the general public throughout this scene?
What character trait would best describe him him?
5.What is Cassius”s main argument against Caesar (once he sees that Brutus will listen)? (ll.97-131 and
ll.135-161)
I.iii.
1.For each of the following characters, describe his reaction to the situation at hand and explain what
his reactions indicate about his potential future involvement in the conspiracy:
a) Cassius (ll.69-71)
b) Casca (ll.31-32)
c) Cicero (ll.34-35)
ACT TWO
II.i.
1.What decision does Brutus arrive at regarding Caesar?
2.How does he arrive at this decision?
3.What potential flaw can be seen in his thinking?
II.ii.
1.Describe Calpurnia’s dream. (ll.71-79)
2.How do Caesar and Calpurnia interpret the dream? (ll.80-82)
3.How does Decius interpret it? (ll.82-90)
4.How does Shakespeare make the audience sympathetic with Caesar in this scene?
5.How does Decius convince Caesar to go to the Capitol? (ll.92-104)
6.How does Brutus feel about Caesar as the scene ends? (ll.128-129)
II.iii.
1.How might Artemidorous have received the information that he wants to pass on to Caesar?
II.iv.
1.How does Portia seem different in this scene compared to when we first meet her in I.i.?
ACT THREE
III.i.
1.Fate offers Caesar two opportunities to avoid his death in this scene. What are they and what qualities
of Caesar lead him to miss these opportunities?
2.Explain “Et tu Brute.”.
3.Thoroughly explain how Antony is able to manipulate the conspirators in this scene. (ll.147-252)
III.ii.
Brutus’s Speech (ll.13-33)
1.What does Brutus believe to be the proper way to deal with a public audience? (ll.13-14)
2.Does Brutus try to convince the citizens of his feelings or does he try to get them in touch with their
own feelings? Provide an example and a quote in your answer.
3.Does Brutus believe in appealing to the audience’s reason or to its emotions? Explain.
4.a) Would you say that Brutus’s sense of justice is strongly (fairly) formed? Explain.
b) Does he believe that his audience’s sense of justice is properly formed? How might this be a
mistake?
Antony’s Speech (ll.73-252)
1.Throughout his speech, how does Antony describe Brutus and the conspirators? Would this have the
same effect on the audience at the end of the speech as it does at the beginning? Explain.
2.How does Antony respond to Brutus’s charge that Caesar was ambitious? (ll.77-80)
3.What personal feelings towards Caesar does Antony express? (ll.84-85)
4.How might lines 88-91 appeal to the citizens?
5.Antony briefly attacks the audience in lines 101-105. What is his point? How is this point ironic?
6.What does Antony deny attempting to do in lines 121-124? How is this ironic?
7.In lines 125-129, Antony makes perhaps his wisest appeal to emotion. Which emotion is he appealing
to here? Explain.
8.In lines 140-146, what effect on the audience does Antony appear worried about achieving? How is
this ironic?
9.What does Antony remind the citizens of in lines 169-173?
10.Explain the irony in lines 217-219.
11.What does Antony believe to be the best way to deal with a public audience?
IV.i.
1.Provide two examples of Antony’s hypocrisy in this scene.
IV.ii. and IV.iii.
1.What wrong does Cassius accuse Brutus of?
2.What two wrongs does Brutus accuse Cassius of?
3.How does Brutus feel about the murdering of Caesar at this time? (ll.18-28)
4.What quality does Brutus feel he possesses which strengthens/protects him against any threats?
(ll.65-69)
5.Once reconciled, Brutus and Cassius discuss strategies for the pending battle with Antony:
a.What strategy does each man suggest?
b.In each case, explain their reasoning.
6.a)Why does Caesar’s ghost “visit” Brutus?
b)What resolution does Brutus make based on this visit?