Study Guide to William Shakespeare’s
THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR
LITERARY TERM
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Tragedy: A type of drama in which the
characters experience reversals of fortune,
usually for the worse. In tragedy, catastrophe
and suffering await many of the characters,
especially the hero.
LITERARY TERMS
Tragic flaw: A weakness or limitation of
character, resulting in the fall of the tragic hero
and fate, suffers a fall from glory into suffering.
 Tragic hero: A privileged, exalted character of
high repute, who, by virtue of a tragic flaw and
fate, suffers a fall from glory into sufferings.
 Shakespeare intentionally left the tragic hero of
JC ambiguous. Who do you think the tragic hero
of the story is?
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ACT I SCENE I (A STREET IN ROME)
Summary: Because Caesar has returned from
his victory over Pompey's sons, the working
people of Rome have a day off to celebrate.
 Flavius and Marullus, two Roman officers, are
angered by the celebration because they see
Caesar as a threat to Rome's Republican rule.
They disperse the crowd and remove banners
and signs honoring Caesar.
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IMPORTANT QUOTES
“And do you now strew flowers in his way/ That
comes in triumph over Pompey’s blood?”
(I.i.55-56)
 “These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s
wing/ Will make him fly an ordinary pitch.”
(I.i.77-78)
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IMPORTANT LITERARY TERMS
Pun: a play on words
 Example from the text:

“A trade…which is indeed, a mender of bad soles”
(I.i.13-15)
 “All that I live by is with the awl…I meddle with no
tradesman’s matters nor women’s matters, but
withal…” (I.i.24-26)

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Examples from modern text:

“I think you stand under me if you don’t understand
me” (Lil Wayne, 6 Foot 7 Foot)
ACT I.II
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Summary: With a full entourage, Caesar marches through the streets of Rome. He
has arrived just before the races that are a part of the celebration of the Feast of
Lupercal. From out of the crowd, a soothsayer warns Caesar to “Beware the ides of
March.” Caesar dismisses the man as a dreamer and continues with his attendants.
Lagging behind, two Roman senators (Brutus & Cassius) begin discussing their fears
that Caesar will gain even greater power and take away the powers of their class of
Roman aristocracy. Cassius, long a political enemy of Caesar, begins to flatter
Brutus, a friend of Caesar. Cassius's flattery is designed to plumb Brutus's feelings
about Caesar's growing power and to determine if Brutus is willing to join the
conspiracy to kill Caesar.
Caesar returns from the races and sees Cassius and Brutus talking. He tells Antony
that he doesn't trust Cassius because he has a “lean and hungry look.”
Casca tells Cassius and Brutus that the crowds offered Caesar a crown three times
and that Caesar refused it each time.
This information adds to the misgivings that the men already have about Caesar.
Brutus admits that he is dissatisfied and agrees to talk to Cassius later about his
feelings.
IMPORTANT QUOTES
“I, your glass…” (74-76)
 “Give me some drink…” (134-140)
 “Why, man…” (142-145)
 “Let me have men about me…” (202-205)
 “Yet if my name were liable to fear…” (209222)
 “Marry, before he fell down…” (274-277)
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LITERARY TERMS
Characterization: The means by which writers
present and reveal character. Writers typically
reveal characters through their speech, dress,
manner, and actions.
 Casca, Brutus, Caesar, and Cassius are all
characterized in scene ii. Write notes on each
and how you know.
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ACT I.III (A STREET IN ROME)
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During a violent, stormy night, Cassius recruits
Casca to the conspiracy despite omens the
storm seems to hold. In a further attempt to
recruit Brutus, Cassius instructs Cinna, a fellow
conspirator, to place an anonymous note in
Brutus's chair, throw one through Brutus's
window, and fix yet another note to the statue
of Brutus's father.
IMPORTANT QUOTES
“And why should Caesar be a tyrant then?...”
(107-110)
 “O, he sits high…” (162-165)
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LITERARY TERM

Foreshadowing: Hints of what is to come in the
action of a play or a story.

Exposition: The first stage of a fictional or
dramatic plot, in which necessary background
information is provided.
ACT II.I (BRUTUS’ GARDEN)
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Alone in his garden, Brutus decides that Caesar
must be assassinated because of what he might
become (a tyrant). The conspirators join Brutus
and decide they will kill Caesar the next day at the
Capitol. Brutus convinces them not to kill Antony
because that would make them seem too
murderous. Portia, Brutus's wife, enters after the
conspirators leave and pleads with Brutus to tell
her what is troubling him. Although he fears that
she will not be able to bear the news, Portia proves
her strength by wounding herself. After that act of
courage, he tells her.
IMPORTANT QUOTES
“He would be crowned…” (12-14)
 And, to speak truth of Caesar…” (20-28)
 And therefore think him…” (33-36)
 “I have not slept. …” (65-72)
 “Let’s kill him boldly…” (185-187)
 “Good gentlemen…” (243-247)
 “What, is Brutus sick…”(283-290)
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LITERARY TERMS
Rising Action: A set of conflicts and crises that
constitute the part of a play’s plot leading up to
the climax.
 Simile: A figure of speech involving a comparison
between unlike things using like, as, or as though.
 Soliloquy: A speech in a play that is meant to be
heard by the audience but not by other characters
on the stage. If there are no other characters
present, the soliloquy represents the character
thinking aloud.
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ACT II.II (CAESAR’S HOUSE)
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Calphurnia, Caesar's wife, sees evil omens in
the night's storm and asks Caesar not to go to
the Capitol. He agrees until Decius, one of the
conspirators, plays on his pride with a flattering
interpretation of Calphurnia's dream and
convinces him to go.
IMPORTANT QUOTES
“The noise of battle…” (22-24)
 “Cowards die many times…” (34-39)
 “And Caesar shall go forth!” (51)
 “Alas, my lord…” (52-58)
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LITERARY TERMS

Irony: A contrast or discrepancy between what
is said and what is meant or between what
happens and what is expected to happen in life
and in literature. In verbal irony, characters say
the opposite of what they mean. In irony of
circumstance or situation, the opposite of what
is expected occurs. In dramatic irony, a
character seaks in ignorance of a situation or
event known to the audience or to the other
characters.
ACT II.III & IV (A STREET NEAR THE CAPITOL)
Artemidorus reads a paper he plans to give
Caesar warning him about the conspiracy.
 A very nervous Portia sends her servant boy
Lucius to the Capitol to gain news about Brutus.
She also questions a soothsayer for news of
Caesar's whereabouts.

ACT III.I (ROME-BEFORE THE CAPITOL)
Caesar ignores the warnings of Calphurnia and
two others and goes to the Capitol. There he gives
an arrogant speech and is murdered by the
conspirators.
 Antony approaches the conspirators, says he
understands and forgives them, and asks to give
Caesar's eulogy.
 Brutus agrees, against the wishes of the more
realistic Cassius. When left alone with Caesar's
body, Antony vows to seek revenge against the
conspirators.
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IMPORTANT QUOTES
“I could be well moved…” (64-68)
 Et tu, Brute!...’ (85)
 “O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece…” (280284)
 “Passion, I see, is catching.” (309-311)
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LITERARY TERMS
Metaphor: A comparison between essentially
unlike things without an explicitly comparative
word such as like or as.
 Conflict: A struggle between opposing forces in
a play, usually resolved by the end of the work.
 Climax: The turning point of the action in the
plot of a play or story. The climax represents
the point of greatest tension in the work.
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ACT III.II & III (THE FORUM…A STREET)
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Brutus gives a logical, unemotional speech winning the
crowd over to the suggestion of making Brutus the new
Caesar.
Antony halts the crowd's support for the conspirators with a
masterful speech that plays on the crowd's emotions.
Antony learns that Octavius and Lepidus are staying at
Caesar's house, and that Brutus and Cassius have left the
city because of the people's reaction to Antony's speech. He
plans to meet with Octavius and Lepidus to suggest they join
forces.
The enraged crowd attacks the poet Cinna and rips him
apart because they think he is one of the conspirators.
IMPORTANT QUOTES III.II
“Romans, countrymen, and lovers!” (14)
 “As Caesar loved me…” (26-28)
 “Friends, Romans, countrymen…”(82-86)
 “This was the most unkindest cut of all”(195)
 “Moreover, he hath left you…”(261-263)
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LITERARY TERMS
Aside: Words spoken by an actor directly to the
audience, which are not “heard” by the other
characters on stage during a play.
 Logos: appeal to logic and reason, using
supporting evidence.
 Ethos: appeal to ethics and credibility. Tone and
style hints at this.
 Pathos*:A quality of a play’s action that stimulates
the audience to feel pity for a character. Pathos is
always an aspect of tragedy.

ACT IV. I ( A HOUSE IN ROME)
The triumvirate (political regime with three
powerful rulers, each called a triumvir) of
Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus plan to pursue
and destroy Brutus and Cassius. In their
preparations, they coldly compile a death list of
anyone who might stand in their way. Antony
shows his contempt for Lepidus after Lepidus
goes to get Caesar’s will.
 What are Antony’s plans for Lepidus?
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ACT IV.II & III (A CAMP NEAR SARDIS)
Brutus waits for Cassius's arrival by speculating
that their relationship has deteriorated.
 Brutus and Cassius argue violently over Cassius
allowing his officers to accept bribes. The quarrel
ends when Cassius learns that Brutus's anger is
really the result of the news that Portia has died by
swallowing hot coals.
 That night Brutus is visited by the ghost of Caesar
who tells Brutus he will meet him at Philippi. *_*
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IMPORTANT QUOTES
“Brutus has rived my heart…” (95-97)
 “For Cassius is aweary of the world…” (106110)
 “Ha! Who comes here?” (318-321)
 “Thy evil spirit, Brutus.” (325)
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Falling Action: In the plot of a play, the action
following the climax of the work that moves it
towards its denouement or resolution.
 Hyperbole: A figure of speech involving
exaggeration.
 Dramatic monologue: a type of poem in which a
speaker addresses a silent listener. As readers,
we overhear the speaker in a dramatic
monologue.
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ACT V.I (THE PLAINS OF PHILIPPI & THE FIELD OF
BATTLE)
The two armies meet and the generals argue
over who is at fault. When nothing is resolved,
they return to their armies and prepare for
battle. Brutus and Cassius vow to win or not be
taken alive.
 Brutus sends a messenger to Cassius
instructing him to attack Octavius.
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ACT V. III & IV (THE FIELD OF BATTLE)
Retreating from the onslaught of Octavius's troops,
Cassius sends his trusted friend Titinius to see if
the oncoming troops are friends or foes.
 Seeing Titinius suddenly surrounded by the troops,
Cassius mistakenly believes they are enemies.
Having lost all hope for victory, he takes his own
life (having Pindarus do it). Pindarus flees from the
battle field and Brutus mourns Cassius's death.
 Lucilius, masquerading as Brutus, is captured by
Antony's troops. Antony honors him for protecting
Brutus.
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IMPORTANT QUOTES
“O Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet!” (105107)
 “Friends, I owe more tears…” (112-115)
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LITERARY TERMS

Catastrophe: The action at the end of a tragedy
that initiates the denouement or falling action
of a play.
ACT V.V (THE FIELD OF BATTLE)
When he sees that the battle is lost, Brutus
runs upon his own sword rather than being
captured. Antony gives a moving eulogy over his
body proclaiming him “the noblest Roman of
them all.”
 In a gesture of good will, Octavius agrees to
pardon all Brutus's men and take them into his
service. The civil war ends with an omen of
peace for the future.
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IMPORTANT QUOTES
“This was the noblest Roman of them all…”(7481)
 “Within my tent his bones tonight shall lie.”
(84)
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LITERARY TERM
Denouement: The resolution of the plot of a
literary work.
 Protagonist: the main character of a literary work.
 Antagonist: a character or force against which
another character struggles.
 Theme: the idea of a literary work abstracted from
its details of language, character, and action, and
cast in the form of a generalization.
 Write your own theme! What was important about
the play? The umbrella term, overarching theme?
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