Download Julius Caesar Summer Reading Assignment

JuliusCaesarStudyGuideQuestions
NOTE:Answeronyourownpaper.Typedanswers
arepreferable;ifyoudohandwrite,pleasebe
extraordinarilyneat.
I. BACKGROUNDKNOWLEDGE
DIRECTIONS:Useanyreputableinternetsourcetoanswerthefollowingbackgroundquestions.Answer
thoroughlyinyourownwords.
1) HowdidtheGreekphilosopherAristotledefine“tragedy”?
2) AccordingtoAristotle,whatelementsmakeupa“tragichero”?
3) TherulingbodyofRomefrom60–53BCwasthe“FirstTriumvirate”madeupofthreeindividuals
whosharedpower:JuliusCaesar,MarcusCrassus,andPompeiusMagnus(Pompey).
a) WhathappenedtoCrassus?
b)WhathappenedtoPompey…thatleftJuliusCaesarinsolecontrolofpower?
4) WhatisaRomanTriumph?
5) WhatisthehistoryoftheRomanFestivalofLupercal?Howisitcelebrated?
II. LITERARYDEVICES
1) ALLITERATION—repetitionofinitialsounds(EX:“Happyheroeshauntthehallowedhallways.”)
Asyoureadtheplay,findandwritedown10EXAMPLESofalliterationandwhereyoufound
them.Thefollowingwouldmakeagoodformatforrecordingthealliterationyoufind.
ALLITERATION:
LOCATION:
_____________________________________________________________
“Ohyouhardhearts!” 1;1;35(FYI—thatmeans:ActI;SceneI;Line35)
2) METAPHORS—comparingonethingtoanother(EX:“Thesunwasanexecutioner.”)
SIMILES—comparisonsusing“like”or“as”(EX:“Oldageliketreesinwinter.”)
Asyoureadtheplay,findandwritedown10EXAMPLESofmetaphorand/orsimile.EX:
METAPHOR/SIMILE: LOCATION:
_____________________________________________________________
“Youblocks!Youstones!”
1;1;34
(saidtoagroupofmen)
3) PERSONIFICATION—anon-humanthingisgrantedhuman-likeattributes(EX:“Thesneeringsea”)
Asyoureadtheplay,findandwritedown10EXAMPLESofpersonification.EX:
PERSONIFICATION:
LOCATION:
_____________________________________________________________
“Tibertrembledunderneathherbanks” 1;1;45
(Tiberisariver)
III. CAESARACTI
SCENE1:TheplayopensonthedayofLupercal—whichShakespearealsomakesoccuronthesamedaythat
CaesarholdsaTriumph.FlaviusandMurellus,twogovernmentofficialscalledtribunes,areupsetthatworking
folkarecelebrating.TheyareupsetbecauseCaesar’svictorywasnotavictoryoverforeigners,butavictoryina
civilwarofRomansagainstRomans(Caesarvs.Pompey)…thereforesomethingtobelamented,notcelebrated.
1) Giveanexampleofapunusedinthisscene:
2) Whenaskedwhyheis“leadingmenaboutthestreets,”theCobblergivesbothacomicalreason
andaseriousreason.Whatarethesetworeasons?
3) WhydoesMurellusfindthecommonershypocritical?(Inotherwords,howdidthecommoners
usedtoactregardingPompeyandnowhowdotheyactregardingPompey’sdefeat?)
4) Inadditiontodrivingthecommonersfromthestreets,MurellusandFlaviusarealsogoingto
“disrobetheimagesif[theyare]deckedwithceremonies.”Usethemarginalnotestofigureout
whatthismeans:
SCENE2:CassiustriestopersuadeBrutustoconspirewithhimagainstCaesar.
5) WhatareCaesar’sinstructionstoMarcAntony/Antonius?Whatdoesthisindicateabout
Calpurnia?
6) WhatwarningdoesCaesarreceivefromaSoothsayer?HowdoesCaesartakeit?
7) CassiusaccusesBrutusofnotbeingasfriendlytowardhimashehadbeenbefore.Whatexcuse
doesBrutusgiveforhisbehavior?
8) NameTWOwaysthatCassiususesflatteryashetalkstoBrutus:
9) WhatdoyouthinkisthepointCassiusistryingtomakebytellingthestoryofCassiusandCaesar
swimminginariver?
10) NameTWOwaysthatCassiustriestoconvinceBrutusthatBrutusisjustasgoodasCaesar:
11) WhatdoesBrutussayhewilldowithalltheinformationCassiushasjusttoldhim?
12) CaesarthinksthatCassiusisdangerous.NameTHREEfaultsthatCaesarattributestoCassius:
13) WhathandicapdoesCaesarrevealwhenheasksMarkAntonytotalktohim“on[his]righthand,”
orinotherwords,onhisrightside?
14) HowmanytimeswasCaesarofferedacrown?Howdoyouknowhewastemptedtotakeit?
15) HowdidthecrowdreacttoCaesarfallingdown?(Bytheway,Caesarisknowntohavebeen
afflictedwithepilepsy;thatiswhywecallattacksofepilepsy“seizures.”)
16) WhathashappenedtoMurellusandFlavius?
17) Attheendofthescene,CassiusrevealsanotherplantofurtherconvinceBrutustoconspirewith
himagainstCaesar.WhatdoesCassiusplantodo?
SCENE3:Moreplottingwhileastormrages.
18) NameFOURunusual/supernaturaleventsthatoccurduringthestorm:
19) Cassiushasgoneaboutinthiscrazystormwithhisjacket“unbraced”(open),baringhischesttothe
storm.HecriticizesCascaforbeingafraidandnotunderstandingthetruecauseofallthestrange
phenomena.DoyourbesttofigureoutwhatCassiusthinksisthetruereasonforthesupernatural
storm:
20) IfCaesariscrownedking,Cassiussays“IknowwhereIwillwearthisdaggerthen,”meaninghe
intendstocommitsuicide.ReadtherestofCassius’sspeechaboutsuicidecarefully.Whatdoes
Cassiusbelieveisthepowerofsuicide?
21) InproclaimingtheRomansweak,whatareTWOthingsthatCassiuscomparesthemto?
22) WhatdoesCassiusaskCinnatodo?
23) IntalkingaboutBrutus,Cascasays“Oh,hesitshighinallthepeople’shearts/Andthatwhich
wouldappearoffenseinus/Hiscountenance,likerichestalchemy/Willchangetovirtueandto
worthiness.”Doyourbestto“translate”thisintomodernlanguage.Inotherwords,whatdoesthis
passagemean?
IV. CAESARACTII
SCENE1:
24) BrutusbelievesthatCaesarisnotdangerousnow…butheisafraidifCaesariscrowned,Caesarwill
changeandhisambitionwillcauseproblems.DescribeoneofthemetaphorsthatBrutususesto
describeCaesar’spotentialfortyranny.
25) AfterBrutusreadstheanonymousletter,whatpromisedoesBrutusmaketoRome?
26) Listthemembersoftheconspiracythatarrive(helpingyougetfamiliarwiththeirnames):
27) WhydoesBrutusbelievetheyshouldNOTaskCicerotojointheconspiracy?
28) WhydoesBrutusbelievetheyshouldNOTkillMarcAntonyaswell?Notethatinexplaininghis
reasons,BrutuscomparesAntonytoalimb(anarm/leg)ofCaesar.
29) WhatreasondoesCassiusgiveforwhyCaesarmightnotgototheCapitol?
30) WhatmethoddoesDeciussayhe’llusetogetCaesarthere?
31) PortiabelievessomethingiswrongwithherhusbandBrutus.NameTHREEpiecesofevidenceshe
statestobackupherbelief.
32) WhydoesPortiabelieveshehasarighttoknowwhatisgoingonwithBrutus?
33) THOUGHTQUESTION:ReadtherestofPortia’sspeechescarefully.HowdoesPortiaview
marriage???
34) WhatunusualthingdidPortiadotoproveher“constancy”(herstrengthofcharacter)?
35) CaiusLigarusshowsup,obviouslysufferingfromanillness.Whataresomewaysheshowshow
muchloyaltyandrespecthehasforBrutus?
SCENE2:
36)
37)
38)
39)
40)
WhydoesCalpurniawantCaesartostayathometoday?
WritedownONEsignificantlinethatshowCaesar’sattitudeaboutdeath:
Whatbadomendotheaugurers(fortunetellers)discover?
WhatbaddreamdidCalpurniahave?
HowdoesDeciusre-interpretthisdream?
SCENE3:
41) WhatisthegistofArtemidorus’sletterandwhatdoesheplantodowithit?
SCENE4:
42) WhydoesPortiasendLuciustotheCapitol?
43) WhatdoestheSoothsayerplantodo?
V. CAESARACTIII
SCENE1:ThedeathofCaesar
44) WhatreasondoesCaesargivefornotreadingArtemidorus’sletter?
45) MetellusCimberkneelsbeforeCaesartopleadinbehalfofhisbanishedbrother(exceptreallyhe
justwantstogetcloseenoughtoCaesarsohecanstabhim).HowdoesCaesarreacttothis
pleading?
46) WhatdotheconspiratorsdowithCaesar’sblood?
47) WhatdoesMarcAntony’sservantaskinMarcAntony’sbehalf?
48) WhatdoesMarcAntonysayaboutthepossibilityofbeingkilledbytheconspirators?
49) WhydoesMarcAntonygiveanapologytoCaesar(well,hisspirit/corpse,anyway)?
50) Onceassuredofhissafety,whatfavordoesMarcAntonyaskoftheconspirators?
51) WhatdoesCassiusthinkaboutgrantingAntony’sfavor?
52) WhattwoconditionsdoesBrutussetbeforehegrantsthefavorAntonyaskedofhim?
53) WhenMarcAntonyisalonewithCaesar’scorpse,summarizethegistofhisspeechoverthedead
body:
54) WhoiscomingtoRometomeetwithMarcAntony?
SCENE2:Caesar’sfuneral
55) BRUTUS’SFUNERALSPEECH(“Bepatienttillthelast…”)
a. NameTWOwaysBrutustriestoestablishhisowncredibility
b. NameTWOrhetoricalquestionsthatBrutususes:
c. GiveONEexampleoftheuseofrepetitionfordramaticeffect.
56) WhatdoesthecrowdthinkaboutBrutusonceBrutushasfinishedspeaking?
57) Brutustellsthecrowdheisgoingtoleavebutasksthecrowstostayanddowhat?
58) ANTONY’SFUNERALSPEECH(“Friends,Romans,Countrymen…”)
a) NametwowaysAntonyuseslogos(appealingtologicalreasoning)tomakeapoint:
b) NametwowaysAntonyusespathos(appealingtoemotions)tocreateaneffect:
59) Howdoesthecrowdreacttothisspeech?
60) WhydoesAntonyinsistthathenotreadCaesar’swill?
61) ANTONY’SNEXTSPEECH(“Ifyouhavetears…”):
a) HowdoesAntonyusevisualaidestomovetheaudienceatvarioustimesinthisspeech?
b) SummarizewhatAntonytriestopersuadetheaudienceaboutconcerningBrutusandthestab
woundmadebyBrutus.
62)
63)
64)
65)
NameTWOexamplesofhowAntonyusesself-deprecation(puttinghimselfdown):
Howdoesthecrowdreacttothisspeech?
WhatdidCaesargivethepeopleofRomeinhiswill?
TheservantofOctaviusreportswhataboutCassiusandBrutus?
SCENE3:Whyoneshouldbegladone’snameisnotCinna
66) Brieflysummarizewhattakesplaceinthisshortscene:
VI. CAESARACTIV
SCENE1:Thethreemenwhowillbecomethe“SecondTriumvirate”ofRome(OctaviusCaesar,LepidusandMarc
Antony)meettodecidewhotheyneedtokilloffandhowtheycanalterCaesar’swilltotheirbenefit.
67) MarcAntonycomparesLepidustobothanassandahorsetowhatpurpose?Whatpointishe
tryingtomakewiththesecomparisons?
SCENE2:
68) WhydoesBrutussuggestthatheandCassiusgointothetenttocontinuetheirargument?
SCENE3:
69) CassiusbelievesBrutushaswrongedhimbecauseofwhatcircumstance?
70) BrutusaccusesCassiusofhaving“anitchingpalm”(beinggreedy)andmeddlingwithbribes.How
doesCassiusreacttothisaccusation?
71) WhatdoesBrutusfurtheraccuseCassiusof(i.e.whatdoeshesayCassiushasdeniedhim?)
72) Cassiussayshehasbeen“hated,”“braved”(bullied)”and“checked”(scolded)byBrutus,soBrutus
mayaswell_____________________.Cassiussayshegetshisbadtemperfromhis____________.
73) ArandompoetshowsuptotryandpersuadeBrutusandCassiustodowhat?
74) WhathappenedtoPortia?(Makesuretoconsultanymarginalnotesavailabletohelpyou
understandwhathappenedtoher).
75) WhatreasonsdoesCassiusgiveforNOTmarchingtoPhilippi?
76) WhatreasondoesBrutusgiveasacounter-argument?
77) Laterinhistent,BrutusaskshisservantLuciustodowhat?Whydoesn’tLuciusfinishthistask?
78) WhatisthemessageofCaesar’sghost?
79) THOUGHTQUESTION:WhatdidyoupersonallythinkaboutBrutus’sreactiontotheghost?
VII.
CAESARACTV
SCENE1:Thefourgeneralsoftheopposingarmies(Cassius/Brutusvs.Octavius/MarcAntony)meetto“parley”
(talk).
1. Giveanexampleofaninsultthateachofthefollowingcharactersgivestohisenemy:
a. Octaviusinsultingfillinwithaname:
b. Antonyinsulting________:
c. Brutusinsulting________:
80)
81)
82)
83)
d. Cassiusinsulting_________:
WhatissignificantaboutthisdayforCassius?
CassiussaysthatheusedtobelieveinthephilosophyofEpicurus,whodidnotbelieveinomens
thatpredictthefuture.Whatdidheseethatmadehimchangehismind?
WhatdidCatodothatBrutusdoesnotapproveof?
Evenso,Brutussays:“Thinknot,thounobleRoman,thateverBrutuswillgo________toRome.
He_________toogreata________.”
SCENE2:
84) HowdoesthebattleseemtobegoingforBrutusatthispoint?
SCENE3:Atthispoint,Brutus’sarmyhasdefeatedMarcAntony’s…butinsteadofhelpingCassius,Brutus’s
soldiershavestartedspoilingtheenemy.Inthemeantime,CassiusislosingtothearmiesofOctavius.
85) WhydidCassiuskillhisownflagbearer?
86) Cassiusseesthathistentsareonfire,sohesendsTitiniustoseeifthetroopsbyhistentsarefriend
orfoe.Becausehecannotseewell,hesendshisservantPindarusupahilltoobservewhat
happenstoTitinius.WhatdoesPindarusreportaboutTitinius?
87) HowdoesCassius’sdeath“help”PindarusandwhatdoesPindarusintendtodoonceCassiusis
dead?
88) TitiniusreportsthatPindarusdidn’tcorrectlyperceivewhatwasgoingon.Whatreallyhappened
whenTitiniusreachedthesoldiershewassenttogosee?
89) HowdoesTitiniusprovehisloyaltytoCassius?
SCENE4:
90) LuciliuspretendstobeBrutusinordertosparehismasterandgetscaptured.WhatdoesLucilius
tellAntonyaboutBrutus?
91) WhydoesAntonytreatLucilius(hisenemy)sowell?
SCENE5:
92) Brutusasksfourmeniftheywillhelpkillhim;allrefuseexceptthelastman.Thefourmen’snames
are:
93) THOUGHTQUESTION:Beforehedies,Brutussays,“Countrymen,Myheartdothjoythatyetinall
mylife/Ifoundnomanbuthewastruetome.”WhatdoesthisrevealaboutBrutus’scharacter?
94) WhyareStratoandLuciliusproudofthewayBrutusdied?
95) Attheendoftheplay,MarcAntonygivesatributetoBrutus(hisenemy!)SummarizewhatMarc
AntonythinksaboutBrutus:
96) WhatisgoingtohappentoBrutus’sbodythatnight?
TheEnd!