Fall 2011
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar Study Guide Questions
English 10
PLEASE use the plot summaries in this study guide,
class discussions, and online tools like No Fear Shakespeare
to make sense of the play. (http://nfs.sparknotes.com)
Act I Due____________
Act II Due____________
Act III Due ___________
Act IV Due ___________
Act IV Due ___________
Tracking Themes due_______________
List of Characters1
1
Bloom, Harold. William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. New York: Chelsea House, 1996. Print.
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Tracking Themes (aka big ideas or abstract ideas)
Pick one of the following “big ideas” and track it throughout Julius Caesar. Find at least FIVE different situations in which
the word is used and the idea is developed. Record the specific act, line, and scene for each situation. Then translate the
line into your own words. Then discuss the line. This means you should evaluation or analyze the ideas suggested in the
line: How does the line define the theme? What is Shakespeare saying about glory, love, or power? How does this
definition contrast to other definitions throughout the text? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
AMBITION
CONSPIRACY
COWARDICE
DECEPTION
ENVY
FATE
Tips:


FRAILTY
GLORY
HEROISM
HONOR/HONOUR
IDEALISM
LEADERSHIP
LOVE
LOYALTY
MANHOOD
PATRIOTISM
POWER
REALISM
REVENGE
Listen for the word in class and record lines each day.
Search the full text of the play at http://shakespeare.mit.edu/julius_caesar/full.html
o Use the Find function (control-F or command-F) to build a big ideas quotations bank and search
all five acts.
o Search using other parts of speech (for example, coward or cowardly instead of cowardice or
deceive for deception) or synonyms (e.g. for envy, try jealousy).
Example:
Theme/Word Selected: honor
a.
“If it be aught toward the general good, set honor in one eye and death i' the other and I will look at both
indifferently”….” said Brutus to Cassius (I. ii. 86-89).
Translation:
Brutus tells Cassius if it would be good for Rome he would look at honor and death fairly
or without opinion and do what Cassius needs even if it requires his own death. In other words, he would
accept death to maintain honor.
Analysis: Shakespeare is suggesting Rome and honor are more important than self preservation for Brutus.
This pushes readers to consider the definition: Is honor worth dying for? Is it always honorable to die for
your country? What if the death is for a false cause?
Theme/Word Selected:__________________________________
a. _________________________________________________________________ (
)
Translation:__________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Discussion:____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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b. _________________________________________________________________ (
)
Interpretation:__________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Discussion:____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
c. _________________________________________________________________ (
)
Interpretation:__________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Discussion:____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
d. _________________________________________________________________ (
)
Interpretation:__________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Discussion:____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
e. _________________________________________________________________ (
)
Interpretation:__________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Discussion:____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Tracking Persuasive Strategies
Identify three different places in the play when characters use persuasive strategies. Find at least one example of
each strategy.
Ethos
a. _________________________________________________________________ (
)
b. _________________________________________________________________ (
)
Logos
a. _________________________________________________________________ (
)
b. _________________________________________________________________ (
)
Pathos
a. _________________________________________________________________ (
)
b. _________________________________________________________________ (
)
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Fall 2011
Act I Summary2
Act I, scene i
1. Give two reasons why Flavius scolds the citizens.
a.___________________________________________________________________
b.___________________________________________________________________
2. List two words or phrases Murellus uses to describe the crowd of working people.
a.__________________________________ b.__________________________________
3. What does Flavius want to do about Caesar? Give two reasons you know this.
______________________________________________________________________________
a.__________________________________ b.__________________________________
Act I, scene ii
4. The Fortune-Teller warns Caesar to “beware the ides of March.” What does this mean and
how does Caesar react to the warning?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2
Scott, Mark W., ed. Shakespeare for Students: Book I. Detroit: Gale Research, 1992. Print.
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5. What reasons does Brutus give for being harsh and distant lately?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
6. Cassius tells Brutus that many men wish that “noble Brutus had eyes in his head.” What
does Cassius insist that Brutus cannot see?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
7. What does Brutus fear when he hears the crowd shouting?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
8. Cassius says, “What a shame for this age we live in!” What does he mean by this?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
9. Caesar is suspicious of Cassius. List four qualities in Cassius that Caesar does not like.
a. _____________________
b. _____________________
c. _____________________
d. _____________________
Act I, scene iii
10. Casca reports that he has seen many unnatural wonders this night. List four of his
observations.
a. _________________________________________
b. _________________________________________
c. _________________________________________
d. _________________________________________
11. According to Cassius, what is the real cause of these unnatural events?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
12. Explain why Casca wants Brutus to join the conspiracy?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Translation Activity3
Directions:
1.
Read the passage below aloud two different times (Act I, scene ii, lines 135-150)
2.
Translate each line by writing what the line means below it.
3.
Respond to Questions for Analysis.
Context: Cassius, a nobleman and a senator, shares thoughts about Julius Caesar.
Act I, scene ii, lines 135-150
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 dishonourable graves.
________________________________________________________________________
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.
________________________________________________________________________
Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that „Caesar‟?
________________________________________________________________________
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
________________________________________________________________________
Write them together, yours is as fair a name;
________________________________________________________________________
Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well;
________________________________________________________________________
3
From Teaching Julius Caesar: A Differentiated Approach © 2010 Lyn Fairchild Hawks
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Julius Caesar
Weight them, it is as heavy; conjure with ‟em,
________________________________________________________________________
„Brutus‟ will start a spirit as son as „Caesar‟.
________________________________________________________________________
Now in the name of all the gods at once,
________________________________________________________________________
Upon what meat does this our Caesar feed
________________________________________________________________________
That he is grown so great?
________________________________________________________________________
Questions for Analysis: (Prove all answers with specific detail.)
1. What is Cassius‟s attitude toward Caesar?
2. What is Cassius encouraging Brutus to do? What does Cassius want Brutus to believe?
3. What methods does Cassius use to convince Brutus?
4. What character traits does Cassius seem to have?
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Act II Summary4
Act II, scene i
13. What is written in the letters that Lucius finds on Brutus‟s bed?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
14. What reason does Brutus give for not swearing an oath of secrecy?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
15. Cassius suggest that Anthony should also be killed. Why does Brutus oppose this idea?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4
Scott, Mark W., ed. Shakespeare for Students: Book I. Detroit: Gale Research, 1992. Print
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16. How will Decius persuade Caesar to go to the Capitol?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Act II, scene ii-iii
17. Several strange events scare Calphurnia. List four of them.
a. _____________________
b. _____________________
c. _____________________
d. _____________________
18. What reason does Caesar give for not being afraid of death?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
19. Why do the fortune-tellers advise Caesar to stay at home?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
20. What message does Caesar tell Decius to give the senators?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
21. According to Decius, what is the real meaning of Calphurnia‟s dream?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
22. List the eight people Artemidorus names as conspirators.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Act II, scene iv
23. Write the words Portia speaks that show Brutus has told her his secrets.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
24. What information does Portia ask Lucius to bring from the Capitol?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
25. What does Portia blame for her weakness?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Act III Summary5
Act III, scene i
26. What does Caesar‟s refusal to pardon Metellus‟ brother show you about Caesar?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
27. Write Caesar‟s dying words below.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
28. Brutus thinks the conspirators did Caesar a favor by killing him because…
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
29. Anthony makes three requests of Brutus and Cassius. List them below.
a.________________________________________________________________
b.________________________________________________________________
c.________________________________________________________________
5
Scott, Mark W., ed. Shakespeare for Students: Book I. Detroit: Gale Research, 1992. Print.
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30. Anthony warns that Caesar‟s murder will cause terrible events to happen. List four of his
warnings below.
a. _________________________________
b. _________________________________
c. _________________________________
d. _________________________________
Act III, scenes ii-iii
31. What reason does Brutus give the crowd for killing Caesar?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
32. After listening to Brutus‟ speech, what does the crowd wants to do?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
33. After listening to Antony, what does the crowd call the conspirators?
a. _____________________
b. _____________________
c. _____________________
34. In his will, Caesar leaves each citizen ______________ And to all of Rome, he leaves
______________________________________________________________________________
35. What messages does Antony‟s servant bring him?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Act IV Summary6
Act IV, scene i
36. Which relatives of the three leaders are among the prescribed people?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
37. How does Antony want to change Caesar‟s will and why?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
38. What does Octavius mean when he says “we are chained to the stake”?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Act IV, scenes ii-iii
39. Brutus refers to Cassius as a “warm friend cooling.” What does Brutus mean?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
40. Why do Cassius and Brutus go inside Brutus‟ tent to talk?
6
Scott, Mark W., ed. Shakespeare for Students: Book I. Detroit: Gale Research, 1992. Print
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______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
41. Of what does Brutus accuse Cassius?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
42. Cassius says he is “weary of living.” What does he ask Brutus to do?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Act V Summary7
Act V, scene i
43. What does Cassius mean when he says, “Now, Brutus, you have only yourself to thank”?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
44. What sign makes Cassius fear the coming battle?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
45. What do Cassius and Brutus agree to do if they lose the battle and why?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Act V, scenes ii-iii
46. Why does Titinius take his own life?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
47. Why does Brutus refer to Cassius and Titinius as “the last of all the Romans”?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
7
Scott, Mark W., ed. Shakespeare for Students: Book I. Detroit: Gale Research, 1992. Print
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Act V, scene iv-v
48. What does Brutus ask Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius to do? How do they respond?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
49. Why does Octavius invite all of Brutus‟ soldiers to join his own men?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
50. In what way does Antony honor Brutus?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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