1. In Scene 1, what do Flavius and Marullus want the commoners to do?
To go back to work because they think this 'holiday' (because Caesar is home) is ridiculous because Caesar killed Pompey.
2. What is the soothsayer's advice to Caesar?
The soothsayer says "Beware the ideas of March
3. Explain the difference between the views of Caesar held by Cassius and Brutus.
Cassius wants to destroy Caesar while Brutus wants the best for Rome
4. Caesar clearly gives his thoughts about Cassius. What does he say?
He says that he is not a trustworthy person. He thinks he is lean and a thinker and he is plotting against him.
5. Summarize Casca's explanation of why Caesar looked so sad.
He has been looking sad because the third time he pushes the crown away, he actually wants it.
6. At the end of Scene II in lines 320-334, Cassius makes plans. What plans does he make? Why?
He says that when Brutus goes home, Cassius will throw that look like they were from citizens letters through windows, saving people unlike Caesar.
7. Casca says, "For I believe they are portentous things/Unto the climate that they point upon." What does he mean?
Bad weather is foreshadowing bad things
8. Why does Cassius want Brutus to join the conspiracy?
Because the people trust Brutus so he could use him.
1. To what decision does Brutus come in his courtyard? Why?
He decides to kill Caesar after reading the letters and thinking of the damage that would occur if Caesar became king. Caesar is a serpent in an eggshell, they need to kill him before he hatches.
2. What does Lucius give to Brutus in Scene 1, Act 2?
Lucius brings Brutus one of Cassius' forged letters that has been thrown through the window. It encourages Brutus to act against Caesar
3. Why doesn't Brutus want to swear an oath with the conspirators?
Because they are honorable men of Rome and they shouldn't need to swear an oath to keep a secret; it's in their blood. It is an "honorable" thing.
4. For what reason does Metellus Cimber want Cicero to join the conspiracy?
Because his hair was grey and is older so he may be wiser.
5. Brutus is against including Cicero and against killing Mark Antony. Why?
Because Brutus says that they are killing Caesar for the good of Rome. There is no reason for killing Mark Antony. They are sacrifices not butchers. Mark Antony is a partier so they don't have to worry about them. Antony is branch and Caesar is the tree.
6. Why did Brutus say, "Render me worthy of this noble wife!"?
After she stabbed herself and Brutus realizes she is strong and trustworthy
7. Of what does Calphurnia try to convince Caesar?
She tries to convince him to stay home because she had a bad dream about his statue and there was blood coming out and he Romans bathed in it.
8. Caesar yields to Calphurnia's wishes at first. Why does he change his mind and decide to go to the Senate meeting?
He changed his mind because Decius reinterpreted it into a good thing. Caesars blood would be beneficial to all the Romans, they all love him. He says the Senators will not give him the crown if he does not come. Caesar will be seen as wimpy
9. What does the note Artemidorous wants to give to Caesar say?
It warns Caesar about the conspiracy and gives the name of the conspirators.
1. What is ironic about the timing of Caesar's murder (in relation to his comment just beforehand)?
He says he is as constant as the Northern Star and immovable as Mount Olympus, but then he is killed. This is dramatic irony.
2. In the moments following Caesar's death, what do the conspirators proclaim to justify their deed?
They are proclaiming that they were doing this for the good of Rome and Caesar was too ambitious and would have made everyone slaves. They are proclaiming "liberty, freedom! Tyranny is dead!
3. Antony's servant brings a message to Brutus. What does he say?
Antony's servant wants to know if Antony can come safety to the conspirators and speak with them.
4. Antony wants to speak at Caesar's funeral. What reaction does Brutus have? What reaction does Cassius have?
Brutus agrees that Antony can speak, but Cassius is concerned that Antony will move the crowd into thinking that the conspirators are the bad guys.
5. Under what conditions will Antony speak at the funeral?
He can speak after Brutus, say that the conspirators are allowing him to speak and say nothing bad about them.
6. How did Brutus justify his actions to the commoners at the funeral?
He said that he killed Caesar for the sake of Rome because Caesar was welcoming too ambitious "loved Caesar less," but he loved "Rome more.
7. What did Antony say to the people at the funeral in his now famous "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears" speech? Why was his speech so clever?
He brought up several points that Caesar wasn't ambitious and he appealed to the people and seemed believable and did not talk down to him. He sympathized with the people and still managed to stay within the boundaries Brutus gave him.
8. Why did Brutus and Cassius flee Rome?
Their lives were in danger after Antony's speech because the plebeians were riled up
9. What is the point of killing Cinna the poet?
It shows how violent and irrational the crowd is. They kill Cinna the poet for no reason.
1. What did Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus gather to discuss?
Who will be killed and who should live. This resulted in the death of 100 senators
2. To what does Antony compare Lepidus?
A donkey who is loyal but has no more use for him
3. What problem has developed between Cassius and Brutus? How is it resolved?
They are fighting about whether each other has taken bribes
4. What news did Messala bring Brutus?
He says that Antony has put 100 senators to death and that Portia is dead
5. For what reasons does Brutus want to lead his armies to Phillippi?
Because Brutus wants to meet Antony there to fight
6. What message did Caesar's ghost bring to Brutus?
He told Brutus that he would see him at Philipi
7. Why did Pindarus stab Cassius?
Because Cassius said that when he took him in as a slave he was to do everything he said and so Cassius told Pindarus to stab him and become a free man
8. What causes Titinius to say, "The sun of Rome is set!"?
This is a pun because he is referring to Cassius as a sun as in he as just died but he is actually the son of Rome (like countryman of Rome)
9. Whom do the soldiers believe they've captured in Scene IV? Who is it really?
They thought they had captured Brutus. It was really Cato
10. How does Brutus die?
he runs himself into a sword
11. Why does Antony say Brutus was the "noblest Roman of them all"?
Because he did not kill Caesar because of jealousy, he did it because he thought he was doing the right thing