Study Guide:The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

Pam Winarski/ Denise Walker/Elizabeth Leonard

10th grade English

Act I: scene ii pg 901 Cassius’ monologue

“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 dishonorable graves.” Specifically, what does this mean? What is the significance of Cassius comparing Caesar to a “colossus”? Look at text aids on this page to help you.

Act I: scene ii pg 903

Caesar says that Cassius has a “lean and hungry look” about him.

What feeling is Caesar expressing about Cassius in this statement?

Act II: scene i pg 917: Brutus’ soliloquy speaks about Caesar as a “serpent”

“And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg/ Which hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous,/ And kill him in the shell.”

For what action is Brutus providing reasons?

Act II: scene i pg 919

Brutus says to conspirators “Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough/ To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy;/ Hide it in smiles and affability:”

What does Brutus emphasize by saying this?

Act II: scene i pg 920: Brutus says

“What watchful cares do interpose themselves/ Betwixt your eyes and night?”

Paraphrase those two lines—look at glosses or text aids to help you figure out what it means.

Act II, scene ii: pg 929:

Caesar says “Cowards die many times before their deaths:/ The valiant never taste of death but once.”

Give a good interpretation of these lines. (must paraphrase first to get to interpretation)What does Caesar mean?

Act III: scene i pg 944

Caesar speaks to ‘friends’ (conspirators) and says: “But I am as constant as the Northern Star,/ Of whose true-fixed and resting quality/ There is no fellow in the firmament. “

To what quality in himself is he referring to?

Act III, scene i: pg 946:

Brutus says “So are we Caesar’s friends, that have abridged/ His time of fearing death.”

What is the purpose Brutus says these lines?

5th period ended 11/7

Act III, scene ii: pg 950

Antony speaking over Caesar’s body, says “Over thy wounds now do I prophesy/ (Which like dumb mouths do ope their ruby lips/ To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue), / A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;”

What is the best analysis of the imagery in these lines? (what are the lines, the imagery, telling Antony to do?)

Pg 915

review blank verse; which characters use blank verse most of the time? Which characters use prose most of the time?

What motivation do Cassius and Brutus share?

1st period/ 11/7 end

How are Cassius and Caesar similar?

What internal conflict does Brutus face in Act I?

4th period ended 11/7

Why does Cassius believe that Brutus should be a part of the plot against Caesar?

Judging from his actions in Act I, what might Caesar’s tragic flaw be?

3rd period stopped 11/77th period 11/7

In Acts I and II, there are reports of strange occurrences in Rome. What are they?

What mood is created by using such occurrences?

Why does Antony, at first, refuse to read Caesar’s will to the crowd?

What does the conflict between Brutus and Cassius suggest about their ability to face the challenges that lie ahead of them?

According to Antony, why was Brutus a better man than Cassius?

What is a good argument against Cassius being described as a tragic hero?

(see your characteristics of a tragic hero list)

What reasons may be used to argue that Brutus is the tragic hero of the play?

(see your list of characteristics of tragic hero)

What form does Shakespeare write in for the noble people in his plays?

The commoners?

What does the conflict between Brutus and Cassius suggest about their ability to face the challenges that lie ahead of them?

According to Antony, why was Brutus a better man than Cassius?

What is imagery?

What is the purpose of the text found to the right of the selection (in a play)?

What is this text called?

What is a soliloquy?

How do you know when a soliloquy is being given?

What are the different types of conflict?

What conflict does a tragic hero suffer from most often?