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Marvelous mean when he says: Mimi blocks, you stones, and you worse than senseless things! O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, Knew you not Pompom? ” The Roman citizens were cheering for Creaser after they were cheering for Pompom. 5. What does Fluvial mean when he states: “These growing feathers plucked from Career’s wing will make him fly an ordinary pitch? Who else would soar above the view of men and keep us all in servile fearfulness? ” Fluvial means that he takes off the decorations off the statue like he would pluck the feathers Off bird. Scene 2 6. What is the reason Caesar wants Antonym to touch California as he runs the race?
Caesar wants Antonym to touch California as he runs the race because he believes she will get pregnant. 7. What is revealed about Antonym’s character when he says: “When Caesar says ‘Do this,’ it is performed. ” Antonym is loyal to Creaser and he is a flatterer to Creaser. 8. What does the Soothsayer tell Caesar? The soothsayer tells Creaser to beware the ides of March. 9. What is Career’s reaction to the Soothsayer’s words? Creaser dismisses the soothsayer because Creaser thinks the soothsayer is crazy. 10. Compare Career’s attitude toward superstitions with California on the one hand, and the Soothsayer on the other.
What does this suggest about Career’s character? Creaser chooses what he wants to believe. 1 1 . What reason does Brutes give Cassias for his apparently preoccupied behavior? Brute’s reason was because he was having internal conflict. 12. What does Cassias mean when he offers to be the “mirror” into which Brutes should look? Cassias will tell Brutes how highly people think of Brutes. 13. What does Brutes reveal about his own character when he says: “If it aught be toward the general good, set honor in one eye and death l’ other’s, and I will look on both indifferently. ” Brutes will fight for the good of Rome. . Describe the two past incidents that Cassias refers to in his observations about Caesar. Cassias saved Career’s life by pulling him out of the Tiber River. Creaser got sick in Spain. 15. What does Cassias mean when he states: “Why man he doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus, and we petty men walk under his huge legs and peep about to find ourselves dishonorable graves. Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutes, in not in our stars, but in ourselves that we are underlings. Cassias means that Creaser wants all citizens of Rome to look up to him. 16.
What does Caesar indicate when he states: “Let me have men about me that are fat, sleek-headed men, and such as sleep a-nights. Yond Cassias has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous. ” Creaser wants politicians who are satisfied with the position they hold in the government. 17. Why is it ironic when Antonym says to Caesar: “Fear him not, Caesar, he’s not dangerous. ” Cassias is actually dangerous even though Antonym doesn’t know it. 18. What is Career’s response about fearing Cassias? What does this indicate about his character? Creaser says that he is afraid of anything.
Creaser likes to blow up his ego. 19. What does Case report about Caesar, Antonym, Marvelous, and Fluvial? Marvelous and Fluvial were banished for removing decorations from Career’s statue. Antonym offered Creaser the crown three times and Creaser turned it down all three times. 20. What does Cassias mean when he states at the end of the scene: “Well Brutes, thou art noble; yet I see thy honorable mettle may be wrought from that it is disposed; therefore it is meet that noble minds keep ever with their likes, for who’s so firm that cannot be seduced? ” Explain the pun on the word “mettle. Brutes says that he’ll hint about Joining the cause. Cassias says he has a good character and is trying to persuade Creaser that way. Scene 3 21 . Why is Case apprehensive about the storm? Case thinks that the gods are going to destroy the earth because humans are thinking to high of themselves. 22. Explain the meaning of Cicerone’s response to Case concerning the storm: “But men may construe things after their fashion, clean from the things themselves. ” The Roman citizens believe what they want to believe. 23. What is Cassia’s attitude about the storm? Who does he imply is the reason for the storm? ‘e, the heavens being upset?
How is this connected to the concept of the Universal Order? Cassias is not afraid. Creaser is supposedly the center of the universal order. 24. What is the meaning of Cassia’s line when he states: “Cassias from bondage will deliver Cassias. Therein ye gods, you do make the weak most strong; Therein ye gods, you tyrants do defeat. Nor story tower, nor walls of beaten brass, Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, can be retentive to the strength of spirit. ” Cassias is talking about suicide. 25. Explain what Cassias plans to do with the many letters. Cassias wants China to put the letters at Brute’s praetor chair.
Act 2 1. Brutes is at home thinking. How does Brutes begin to Justify Joining the conspiracy? Explain the meaning and the context of the following lines: “It must be by his death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general. ” The senators’ have to kill Creaser for the good of Rome. “He would be crowned. How that might change his nature; there’s the question. It is the bright day that brings forth the adder that craves wary walking… The’ abuse of greatness is when it disjoin remorse from power. ” Creaser is power hungry and when he gets the crown he will be to powerful. 2.
Lucid, the boy servant, informs Brutes that “March is wasted fifteen days. ” What is significant about this? March 15 is the Ides of March. 3. Brutes now has some thoughts about his own inner conflict and the shameful aspect of the conspiracy itself as Cassias and his friends begin to arrive. Explain the meaning and context of the following lines. “Between the acting of a dreadful thing and the first motion, the entire interim is like a phantasm, or hideous dream. ” Brutes knows he has to kill Creaser and dreads having to do it. “O Conspiracy, Sham’s thou to show thy dangerous brow by night when evils are most free?
O, then by day where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough to mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy; hide it in smiles and affability. ” Brutes tells the senators to smile and act like they did something good. 4. As the conspirators enter, one by one, they are introduced by Cassias. Describe the general attitude of the conspirators towards Brutes. The senators treat Brutes with respect. 5. After Brutes and Cassias have a brief conference, they rejoin the company and Cassias announces that they should swear an oath of resolution. Brutes, however, does not think this is a good idea.
Note the following lines, and explain why Brutes goes not think that the conspirators should swear an oath. “What other bond than secret Romans that have spoke the word, and will not palter? And what other oath than honesty to honesty engaged that this will be, or we will fall for it. ” The senators are honest noble Romans. If the senators have to promise they are not sincere enough to go through with the plan. 6. Why do the conspirators decide that Cicero should not be included in the conspiracy? Cicero is a leader not a follower. 7. Cassias suggests that Antonym be killed along with Caesar.
Again, Brutes contradicts him and denies this action. What is Brute’s reasoning? He says: “Let’s be sacrifices, but not butchers, Caucus… Let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods, not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds. ” Killing Antonym would make people think they are Just murderers. 8. Who is selected to persuade Caesar to come to the capitol? Describe the rhetorical methods that he uses. Decides convinces him by telling him it would be bad for Rome if he didn’t. 9. Brute’s treatment of Portia at this point in the play is not characteristic of their usual relationship.
Describe the kind of marriage that they usually have. Explain how you arrived at your answer. 0. Portia is often portrayed as a woman ahead of her time – intelligent, well bred, strong minded, beautiful, aware of her place in society, yet longing for the freedom and power only enjoyed by men. What words does she use towards Brutes to indicate this? 1 1 . Give at least three examples of the rhetorical (persuasive) strategies that Portia uses to get Brutes to explain to her what has been troubling him and why the group of men is visiting in the middle of the night. 12.
Explain the importance of the short scene involving Brutes and the sickly Lugsails. 13. In Scene 2, why has Caesar sent the priests to perform a sacrifice? What does this say about his character regarding superstitions? 14. California begs Caesar to stay at home today because of her terrible dreams and omens therein. Yet Caesar is determined to go. Explain the meaning of the following line by Caesar: “Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. ” 15. What does the servant report about the findings of the priests? What does Caesar say in response? 16.
Describe at least 2 rhetorical (persuasive) tactics that Decides uses to persuade Caesar to come to the capital. 17. How does Career’s expression of friendship toward his arriving “guests” create suspense and tension in the play? Which of the three types of irony is being played out here? 18. Arteriole’s letter seems to reveal that the conspiracy in not so secret. Name at least two ways in which word of the conspiracy may have been revealed to outsiders. 19. In the final scene of Act 2, we see Portia distraught and indecisive. Explain why her instructions to Lucid seem so radii and confused. Act 3 1. The Soothsayer is met again by Caesar.
What does the Soothsayer mean when he says that the Ides of March have come, but not yet gone? 2. Why does Caesar not read Arduousness’s letter? What is ironic about this? 3. Populist’s comment to Cassias about the “enterprise” reveals what? 4. How does Brutes reassure Cassias and Case that Populous has not told Caesar about the conspiracy? 5. How do the following lines reveal that Career’s private self is often very different from the persona he tries to project as a leader and politician? “These couching and these lowly courtesies might fire the blood of ordinary men, and turn preponderance and first decree in the laws of children…
But I am as constant as the Northern Star, of whose true fixed and resting quality there is no fellow in the firmament. ” 6. Who is the first to strike Caesar? Explain the meaning of Career’s words: “Et TU Brute? Then fall Caesar. ” 7. After Career’s death, what is Brute’s first concern? How is it different from the priorities of Cassias? 8. What news does Tribunes report about Antonym and the public in general? 9. Why does Brutes order the conspirators to “Stoop, Romans, stoop, and let us bathe our hands in Career’s blood up to the elbows, and besmear our swords.
Then walk we forth ever to the market place, and waving our red weapons o’er our heads, lets’ all cry ‘Peace, freedom, and liberty. ” 10. What does Cassias mean by the following lines? How many ages hence shall this our lofty scene be acted over in states unborn and accents yet unknown! ” Why is this strangely ironic today? 1 1 . Antonym servant comes to speak to Brutes. What does he ask of Brutes? 12. What thoughts and feelings is Antonym expressing in the following lines: “O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low? Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, shrunk to this little measure?
Fare thee well. ” 13. What is Antonym saying to the conspirators when he says, “Live a thousand years, I shall not find myself so apt to die; no place shall please me so, no mean of death, as ere by Caesar, and by you cut off, the choice and master spirits of the age. ” 14. Brutes answers Antonym with the following lines. What does he tell Antonym here? “… Yet you see but our hands and this the bleeding business they have done. Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful; and pity to the general wrong of Rome – as fire drives our fire, so pity pity – hath done this deed on Caesar. 15. Why does Antonym take each man’s bloody hand and shake it? 16. After shaking hands, Antonym directs these words to Career’s dead body. What does he mean here? Explain the pun on the word “hart. ” Here waste thou bayed, brave hart; Here didst thou fall, and here thy hunters stand, signed in they spoil and crimsoned in thy Lethe. ” 17. Why does Cassias not want to allow Antonym to speak at Career’s funeral? Why does Brutes over rule him? 18. In the following lines, Antonym reveals his true feelings about Caesar and the conspirators. What promise does he make to Caesar? O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, that I am meek and gentle with these butchers! Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!… And Career’s spirit ranging for revenge shall in these confines with a monarchs’ voice cry ‘Havoc’ and let slip the dogs of war… 19. Whose servant comes to visit Antonym? What does Antonym tell him to do? 20. Brutes delivers his speech from the pulpit… “Not that I loves Caesar less, but that I love Rome more. ” What is the main point of his argument? Why is his speech written in prose instead of poetry? 21. Describe the crowd’s immediate reaction to Brute’s speech.
Give at least two phrases that they shout to indicate what they think of Brutes and his decision to kill Caesar. 22. What is the main point of Antonym speech? Why does it appear in poetry? 23. Describe at least three rhetorical (persuasive) tactics that Mark Antonym uses in his speech. 24. Which of the speeches is more effective-??Brute’s or Antonym’s? Explain why. 25. Why does Shakespeare include the brief scene in which China the poet is killed? 26. In trying to persuade an audience, when is it better to appeal to passion, and when is it better to appeal to reason?
Explain your answer and give examples. Act 4 1 . Describe Antonym character in the first scene of this act. Compare this to how he appeared in Act 3. What is your opinion of Antonym after this scene? 2. What is the subject of the first argument between Brutes and Cassias in the second scene? Brute’s position can be summed up in the following lines: What, shall one of us that struck the foremost man of all this world but for supporting robbers, shall we now contaminate our fingers with base bribes, and sell the mighty space of our large honors for so much trash as may be grasped thus?
I’d rather be a dog and bay at the moon, than such a Roman. ” 3. What is the second point of the argument: Note Brute’s position in the following lines: “I’d rather coin my heart and drop my blood for drachmas than to wring from the hard hands of peasants their vile trash by any direction. ” 4. Brutes shows unusual emotion in the second scene. As Cassias point out: “Of your philosophy you make no use, if you give place to accidental evils. ” So Brutes is not his usual stoic self. What has caused Brutes to lose control? 5. What does Message report about the conditions in Rome?
What has happened to Cicero and several other Senators? What does it say about Antonym’s character that he is responsible for Cicerone’s fate? 6. As the generals plan the coming battle, what is Cassia’s strategy? 7. Again, Brutes contradicts Cassias. What is his reasoning in the following lines? “There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and miseries. ” 8. After the generals and Cassias depart, Brutes calls upon Lucid to play music. But Lucid falls asleep at his instrument.
Then the ghost appears. What does the ghost say to Brutes? 9. Describe your personal opinions of Brutes and Antonym. Which of the characters do you prefer? Why? Act 5 1 . Brutes, Cassias, Antonym, and Octavo’s meet before the battle to trade insults and state their positions. Explain the meanings of the following lines: Brutes: “Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavo’s. ” Antonym: Mimi showed your teeth like apes, and fawned like hounds. And bowed like bondmen, kissing Career’s feet; whilst damned Case, like a cur, behind struck Caesar on the neck.
O you flatterers! ” Caucasus: “Now Brutes, thank yourself; This tongue had offended so today if Cassias might have ruled. ” Cassias: “A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honor, Joined with a masker and a reveler. ” 2. Cassias speaks with Message about this day being his birthday. What omens does Cassias note? 3. With the outcome of the battle uncertain in both Brutes and Cassia’s minds, what are their parting words to each other all about? Explain the meaning behind Brute’s nines: “O that a man might know the end of this days business ere it come!