Julius Caesar Act 3 Study Questions: Due 10/27

   

   

   1)      After Antony gives the famous “Friends, Romans, Countrymen” speech, he continues to talk to the citizens. Explain how he uses Caesar’s “will” to manipulate the masses and turn them against Brutus and Cassius. Use a quote in your response:

    2)     How does Antony use the body of Caesar (remember that it is still lying on stage for everyone) to further manipulate the masses into doing what he wants. Use a quote in your response:

    3)     At the end of Act 3 Scene 2, who has arrived in Rome? And what happened to Brutus and Cassius?

Act 3 Scene 3: “His name’s Cinna too; classic mix-up.”

    1)      Explain what happens in this short scene. What do you think the purpose is of it? Why did Shakespeare incorporate it?

Julius Caesar: Excerpts from the Funeral Speeches

BRUTUS
Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my
cause, and be silent, that you may hear: believe me
for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that
you may believe: censure me in your wisdom, and
awake your senses, that you may the better judge.
If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of
Caesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Caesar
was no less than his. If then that friend demand
why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer:
--Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved
Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and
die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live
all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him;
as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was
valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I
slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his
fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his
ambition. Who is here so base that would be a
bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended.
Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If
any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so
vile that will not love his country? If any, speak;
for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.
All
None, Brutus, none.
BRUTUS
Then none have I offended. I have done no more to
Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of
his death is enrolled in the Capitol; his glory not
extenuated, wherein he was worthy, nor his offences
enforced, for which he suffered death.
Enter ANTONY and others, with CAESAR's body
Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony: who,
though he had no hand in his death, shall receive
the benefit of his dying, a place in the
commonwealth; as which of you shall not? 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.
All
Live, Brutus! live, live!
First Citizen
This Caesar was a tyrant.
Third Citizen
Nay, that's certain:
We are blest that Rome is rid of him
Citizens
Peace, ho! let us hear him.
ANTONY
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest--
For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men--
Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me:
But Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
He hath brought many captives home to Rome
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
You all did see that on the Lupercal
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And, sure, he is an honourable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause:
What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him?
O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me;
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.
First Citizen
Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.


1) Short Answer Question:
After reading the two speeches, which Roman (Brutus or Antony) delivers a more effective speech? Use at least two quotes in your response:

A Message from Mr. Achimore

Hello Briterature students!

As you can tell, I am still absent from class this week, and I know it’s just been killing this Julius Caesar unit (get it! Haha). As much as I want to be in P-21 finishing this unit with all of you, it appears as though the fault in my stars is that Yolo County needs me elsewhere for the time being. And much like Brutus who values his civic duty, I too must oblige. This just means that you all will need to take control of your own fate and master this text with less interaction with a teacher. Since I know you are all fantastic students who look forward to reading Shakespeare every day, this will not be a problem.

For today’s block period, you will need to get in groups of four (I recommend staying with the group you worked with last week with the Obama-Reagan assignment), and you are going to open up your books to Act 3 Scene 2. Since we already looked at the Funeral speeches, I want you to open the plays up to when Antony’s funeral speech ends. He will then continue speaking to the crowds of Romans with the hidden agenda of turning them on Brutus and Cassius. The four of you will “Act Out” or perform a “lively reading” of the rest of the Act. Pay attention to how Antony manipulates the citizens who were all supporting Brutus’s speech a few moments ago, but now seem to find Antony’s message much more appealing. Also pay attention to these citizens in both this scene, and the next when a man named Cinna finds out how much it sucks to share the same name with a back stabbing Roman. Never a good time.

Answer the new study guide questions and stay tuned for a new update on this site in case I am still gone on Friday.

Julius Caesar Act 2 Study Questions: Due 10/17

Act 2 Scene 1: Kill him in the shell

   1)       Read through Brutus’s soliloquy. Map out line by line the internal struggle he is going through. Which way is he leaning in each line of the speech?

   2)     What does this soliloquy show about Brutus’s character? Use a quote for support.

   3)      How does Brutus personify Conspiracy? What does he say about it? What does this show us about Brutus’s state of mind? Use a quote in your response.

   4)     Explain Brutus’s reasoning behind not swearing an oath.

   5)     Explain the difference of opinion between Cassius and Brutus when it comes to handling Marc Antony. What do they ultimately decide to do with him? Do you think this is a wise choice?

   6)     How would you describe the relationship between Portia and Brutus? How does Brutus act towards her? Does he value her opinion? Use a quote in your response.

Act 2 Scene2: Cowards Die Many Times Before Their Deaths

   1)       Find two quotes of Caesar’s that show his human/ personal side.

   2)     Find two quotes of Caesar’s that show is public/ egotistical side.

   3)      What was the dream Calpurnia had of her husband? How does Decius “interpret” the dream?

   4)     What other tactic does Decius use to persuade Caesar to go to the Senate? Use a quote.

   5)     Compare Brutus’s relationship with his wife to that of Caesar’s and Calpurnia’s relationship. When considering their marriages, what conclusions do you reach on these characters?

Julius Caesar Act 1 Study Questions: Due 10/10

Act 1 Scene 1: You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!

   1)       Write down a quote that seems to show whether Shakespeare is supporting the mindset of the commoners or of the patricians:

   2)     Explain the importance of the quote “These growing feathers pluck'd from Caesar's wing/ Will make him fly an ordinary pitch,/ Who else would soar above the view of men/ And keep us all in servile fearfulness.” What does this quote say about Caesar’s power?

Act 1 Scene 2: It was Greek to me…

   1)       What does Caesar say that could be considered insulting to his wife?

   2)     When Cassius first approaches Brutus and asks him about the state of his mind, how does Brutus respond?

   3)      During the conversation between Brutus and Cassius, identify three different tactics Cassius uses to convince Brutus to distrust Caesar. Use quotes to support your answer:

a.       

b.       

c.        

   4)     What does Brutus mean when he says “The fault dear Brutus, is not in our stars,/ But in ourselves, that we are underlings.”

   5)     How does Caesar describe Cassius? Does he trust him?

   6)     According to Casca, what events occurred offstage while Brutus and Cassius were speaking?

   7)      What does Cassius’s soliloquy at the end of the scene tell the audience about him and his plan? Use a quote for your support.