NAME: ______________________________________ PERIOD: ______ DATE: _____________
JULIUS CAESAR: DRAMA TERMS AND STUDY
GUIDE QUESTIONS
English II PreAP/GT: Porter and Venghaus
Do you know these literary terms?
1. Tragic Hero
2. Soliloquy
3. Protagonist
4. Theme
5. Dramatic irony
6. Oration
7. Pun
8. Tragedy
9. Rhymed couplet
10.Pathos
11.Stoicism
12.Verbal irony
13.Situational irony
14.Archaic words
15.Iambic
16.Pentameter
17.Aside
18.Antagonist
19.Romance
20.Renaissance
21.Prose
22.Verse
23.Tragic flaw
24.Anachronism
25.Blank verse
A. Speech delivered by a character when he is alone on
stage
B. Greek root meaning suffering; passion
C. Phrase which is used in a way to suggest more than one
meaning
D. Literature in which the hero is destroyed by some flaw
in his character
E. Statement about life a particular work is trying to get
across to the reader
F. Reader/audience sees character’s mistake which he
cannot see
himself
G. Character experiences an inner struggle caused by a
personality
flaw
H. Speech given in public
I. Rhymed two line stanza
J. Main character or hero of the story
K. An unexpected outcome in the plot of the play
L. Philosophy of life in which people believed they should
live lives
of virtue, reason, and duty, mastering
all emotion and submitting to fate
M. Saying one thing but meaning another
N. Speaker turns his body toward the audience to make a
brief
comment
O. Words that are old-fashioned and do not sound natural
P. Meaning rebirth, period in history following Middle
Ages
Q. Shortcoming in character’s personality which brings
downfall or suffering
R. A metric line of poetry
S. Unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable
T. A verse of five feet
U. Person/thing opposing the Protagonist/Hero of the
work
V. Written or spoken language without metrical structure
W. Literature which presents life as we would like it to be
rather than
as it is
X. Unrhymed iambic pentameter
Y. Writer puts something in the story that did not exist
during the story’s time period
Dramatic Structure Pyramid
Act III
Turning Point/1st Climax
Act II
Rising Action
Act I
Exposition
Act IV
Falling Action
Act V
Final Climax/
Resolution
I. Exposition —
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II. Rising Action —
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III. Turning Point/1st Climax —
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IV. Falling Action —
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V. Final Climax and Resolution —
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In Shakespeare’s plays, the turning point almost always comes in Act III, when something happens that runs the action
inexorably downward toward tragedy. This moment also marks a climax of the play, but not the final one, or the most
powerful one. Traditionally, this climax comes near the end of the action. At this moment the conflicts in the play are
resolved and the tragedy is completed.
Julius Caesar Study Guide Questions
Act I, scene i
1. What is the significance of Marullus’ rebuke of the commoners?
2. Why does the Second Commoner pun?
3. Identify and explain the cobbler’s puns.
4. Why are Marullus and Flavius upset about Caesar’s triumphant return?
5. Why do the Tribunes chase the commoners away, and for what does Marullus reprimand them?
6. What literary term is illustrated by the following quotation? Does the author use it effectively? Explain.
“And do you now put on your best attire?/And do you now cull out a holiday?/And do you now strew flowers in
his way,/That comes in triumph over Pompey’s blood?”
Act I, scene ii
1. Why does Caesar mention his desire that Calpurnia stand “directly in Antonio’s way”?
2. How might Caesar’s concern reflect the concerns of Elizabethan audience?
3. Why are the tribunes Flavius and Marullus punished?
4. What is the soothsayer’s warning to Caesar? What does it mean?
5. What problem with time sequences does Shakespeare present to his audience?
6. What fear does Brutus note?
7. According to Cassius, what happened when Caesar and Cassius went swimming in the Tiber? What is the point
of the story?
8. What does Cassius say about fate, free will, and being “underlings”?
9. What is noticeably different about Casca’s speech pattern compared to Caesar’s or Brutus’? Why is this
significant?
10. What two physical ailments of Caesar’s are mentioned in this scene? Why are they significant?
11. In response to the “falling sickness,” what is the meaning of Cassius’ sarcasm?
Act I, scene iii
1. Why do the conspirators plant papers on Brutus’ chair?
2. There are four specific things Casca has seen. What are they? How does Casca interpret these strange
happenings? How does Cassius? How would Shakespeare’s audience have interpreted them?
3. On who does Cassius blame Caesar’s power? Why is this significant?
4. Cassius describes Caesar as a wolf and a lion, and the Romans as sheep. What literary term is illustrated here?
What is its significance?
5. Why is it import to the conspirators to have Brutus come in with them?
Act II, scene i
1. Why does Brutus believe that Caesar must be stopped from becoming king? Do you think Brutus’ fear of what
Caesar may become is justified?
2. What are the “exhalations” by which Brutus reads the letter Lucius delivers?
3. What strategical error do Brutus and Cassius make when they are discussing Caesar’s death? Why do they
commit such a blunder?
4. What does the fact that Caesar is so easily swayed by flattery say about his character?
5. Why does Portia stab herself?
Act II, scene ii
1. What is the significance of Calpurnia’s dream, as recounted by Caesar?
2. What types of evidence does Calpurnia offer to support her assertion that Caesar should stay home?
Act II, scene iii
1. What is the purpose of the scene?
2. What major theme does Artemidorus’ letter advance?
Act II, scene iv
1. Why is Portia so distracted?
2. What is the soothsayer’s plan?
3. Why is Shakespeare going to such lengths to try to warn Caesar?
Act III, scene i
1. What motivates Caesar to say he will not read Artemidorus’ letter first?
2. What is significant about the way Caesar opens the senatorial session?
3. Why does Metellus bring a petition to Caesar? What is his purpose?
4. Who is the first to stab Caesar? And the last?
5. What is interesting about Caesar’s reaction to the stab from Brutus?
6. What figure of speech or rhetorical device is exemplified by Caesar’s famous, “Et tu, Brute?—Then fall,
Caesar!”?
7. What is the significance of the simile: “How like a deer stricken by many princes/Dost thou here lie!”?
8. What additional blunder do Cassius and Brutus commit in agreeing to let Antony speak at Caesar’s funeral?
9. What is the purpose of Antony’s soliloquy at the end of the scene?
Act III, scene ii
1. What is the reason Brutus gives for Caesar’s death?
2. What rhetorical devices does Brutus employ in his speech?
3. What is being foreshadowed by Brutus’ ending his speech by saying: “With this I depart, --that, as I slew my best
lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my
death”?
4. Compare Antony’s speech with Brutus’. Why is Antony’s more successful?
5. When does Antony also employ anaphora in his speech?
6. At the end of his speech, Antony claims to lack what talent?
7. What do the reactions of the mob indicate?
Act III, scene iii
1. What is the dramatic significance of this short scene?
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Summary Act IV and Act V
Act IV
 Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus form the new Triumvirate and proclaim death to all who oppose them no
matter who they are…Lepidus, “Sorry, bro. Your number’s up.”
 Antony has misgivings about allowing Lepidus to become part of the coalition but Octavius defends him
calling him a “tried and valiant soldier.”
 Antony and Octavius decide to increase their preparation for battle with the armies of Brutus and Cassius.
 They plan to also discuss how to deal with the many enemies they have, both secret and open.
 They prepare to fight the exiled Brutus and Cassius who are raising their own armies outside the city.
 Brutus and Cassius argue like children over money and honor but reconcile their differences.
 Brutus is grief-stricken because Portia has committed suicide by “swallowing fire.” Ouch!!!
 The Ghost of Caesar appears to Brutus, announcing that Brutus will meet him again on the battlefield at
Philippi.
Act V
 The army of Octavius and Antony and the army of Brutus and Cassius arrive at the field of battle; they
exchange insults.
 After their meeting, Cassius reflects on the possible outcomes of the day, mentioning an omen that he
interprets as predicting their loss (two birds fighting in mid-air).
 The opposing armies face each other on the plains of Philippi with Brutus gaining advantage over Octavius’
forces.
 On another part of the battlefield, Cassius learns that his army is surrounded by Antony’s men and that
Brutus’ soldiers are occupied with looting.
 Cassius sends Titinius to get a closer look and report back to him
 Believing that Titinius has been captured by the enemy, Cassius orders Pindarus to kill him with the sword
that stabbed Caesar; HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CASSIUS!! YOUR GIFT—DEATH!!
 Titinius had actually met with Brutus’ men, not the enemy; they find Cassius’ body, and while Messala goes
to notify Brutus, Titinius stabs himself
 Brutus, who has seen Caesar’s Ghost again, believes defeat inescapable and commits suicide saying as he dies
that Caesar can now rest satisfied.
 Brutus tries to persuade his companions to help him end his life, but each refuses
 The enemy’s forces approach, so Brutus’ army retreats; Brutus stays behind with Strato, who does help him
kill himself.
 Antony speaks over Brutus’ body, calling him the noblest Roman of all. While the other conspirators acted
out of envy and ambition, he believed that Brutus acted for the benefit of Rome.
 Octavius orders that Brutus be buried in the most honorable way. The men then depart to celebrate their
victory.
Themes
 Chaos results when the social order is overturned.
 The best intentions of good, noble men can lead to tragedy.
 Language is a powerful weapon which can be used to manipulate others.
 Violence and bloodshed can never have morally good results.
 Orderliness and a stable rule, even though dictatorial, are preferable to social chaos.