Name ________________________________________ Period _____________ Date _____________________________
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar: Act II Reading and Study Guide
Scene i :
1. According to Brutus, why is it is necessary that Caesar be killed? Provide a quote to support your answer.
2. What actions does Lucius perform that help the plot unfold?
3. Why does Brutus disagree about taking an oath?
4. Why do the senators think it would be a good idea to ask Cicero to join the conspiracy? Quote the line.
5. Why does Brutus say they should not ask Cicero to join the conspiracy? Provide a quote to support your answer.
6. Who suggests adding Marc Antony to the murder plot and why?
a. Who suggests:
b. Why:
7. What does Brutus say about killing Marc Antony? Provide a quote to support your answer.
8. “Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers…” Who says this and what does he mean?
a. speaker:
b. meaning:
9. What reason does Cassius give for why Caesar might not come out of his house today?
10. As the group of conspirators leave Brutus’s orchard, what does Brutus tell them about their actions while in
public?
11. By what method does Decius say he will use to get Caesar out of the house?
12. Why is Portia, Brutus’s wife, worried about Brutus?
13. How does she prove her strength to Brutus?
Scene ii:
14. Why does Calpurnia want Caesar to stay home?
15. Describe Calpurnia’s dream.
16. How does Decius change Caesar’s mind concerning the interpretation of Calpurnia’s dream?
17. What arguments does Decius use to change Caesar’s mind about going to the Capitol?
Scene iii:
18. What does Artemidorus plan to do?
Scene iv:
19. Why is Portia so nervous?
20. What does Portia want Lucius to do?
21. What does the soothsayer tell Portia?