Julius Caesar (Shakespeare)

Notes, Literary Devices, amongst others.

early in the play how does Cassius try to persuade Brutus?

\

Tells Brutus he has support of the citizens of Rome.

\
What is wrong with Brutus

Internal Conflict

Why does Caesar ask Antony to touch Calpurnia

So she can get pregnant; cure infertility

What do Flavius and Marullus do after they tell the commoners to stop celebrating Caeser’s return.

Take down the decorations

What is the Soothsayer warning?

Beware The Ides of March

Who did Caesar kill at the beginning of the play?

Pompey

What kind of look does Caesar say Cassius has?

Lean and Hungry

How many times does Caesar deny the crown?

3

Important Date?

March 15

What finally convinces Brutus to join the conspiracy?

The letter found from Cassius that shows the citizens support

What did Lucius find in Brutus’s window

Letters

What are two examples that shows Caesars weakness

Cassius saving him while swimming and looking after him while he was sick,

What is Caesar’s reaction to the Soothsayers warning?

Ignores it. (Calls him crazy)

After Caesar is killed does Cassius believe Antony should also be killed?

Yes

Who convinces Caesar to go to the senate after his wife convinced him to stay home?

Decius

Who stabs Caesar first?

Casca

Why does Brutus want to leave Antony alone after Caesar’s murder?

Antony wouldn’t be a threat without Caesar and he doesn't want the killings to seem too bloody.

\

\
Right before stabbing Caesar what were the conspirators asking of him

To free a prisoner from banishment

How many times does Calpurnia yell out in her dream?

3

Describe Calpurnia’s bad dream

Statue of Caesar bleeding with holes

What does Brutus instruct the conspirators to do right after they kill Caesar

Wash their hands in his blood

What does Antony request after Caesar's death in relation to Caesar's funeral

Speak at the funeral

Where does the funeral take place?

Market place

What is the reason Brutus gives the commoners to Caesar’s death.

He was too ‘ambitious’

How does the faction decide they need to act the morning after Caesar’s death.

Act like normal

What does Antony reveal in the funeral speech?

He mourns Caesar’s death and will get revenge

What does Caesar say as he dies?

“et tu Brute” (and you Brutus)

In his speech how does Antony explain the citizens that Caesar wasn't ambitious

Caesar cried for poor and turned down the crown three times.

Who said “Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears?”

Antony

What does Caesar leave the commoners in his will?

Money & all his walks, orchards and gardens were to be opened to the public.

What does Antony wish the God of Revenge would to in response to Caesar’s death.

Release dogs of war on the conspirators.

What is Trebonius’s role in the conspiracy?

Get Antony out of the way

Artemidorus

Warns Caesar with a letter

\

Brutus

one of the assassins of Julius Caesar; made a speech to explain why Caesar had to be killed

Caesar

the great Roman leader who grew too powerful and became a dictator for life. This eventually gave patriotic Romans cause to assassinate him

Calpurnia

Caesar's wife

Casca

First to stab Caesar

Cassius

organizes the conspiracy and gets Brutus to join

Cinna

plants the forged letter for Cassius, also a conspirator

Decius

reinterprets Calpurnia's dream and convinces Caesar to go to Senate

Flavius

tribune who breaks up crowd waiting to honour Caesar's triumph

Lucilius

captured by Antony's soldiers, mistaken for Brutus

\
Mark Antony

devoted follower of Caesar; defeats Brutus

Metellus

distracts Caesar's attention so conspirators can carry out their plan

Octavius

heir of Julius Caesar

Portia

\
Brutus' wife

Soothsayer

fortune teller

Strato

holds Brutus' suicide sword

Trebonius

takes Antony away from the assassination scene so he won't interfere

Aside

a line spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for others on the stage

blank verse

unrhymed iambic pentameter

monologue

(n.) a speech by one actor; a long talk by one person

prose

Any writing that is not poetry

solioquy

a speech given by a character alone on stage

Tragedy

A serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character

tragic hero

a protagonist with a fatal flaw which eventually leads to his demise

anachronism

something out of place in time

conspirator

one who plans with others to commit an illegal act

imminent

about to happen

misconstructed

misinterpreted

portentous

foreshadowing an event to come; causing wonder or awe; self-consciously weighty, pompous

prodigies

\
a person with extraordinary talents, especially a highly gifted child; an act or thing that causes amazement; a marvel

tyrant

a cruel and oppressive ruler

in scene I, what do Flavius and Marcellus want the commoners to do?

They want the commoners to break up and move along

Explain the difference between the views of Caesar held by Cassius and Brutus.

Cassius is jealous and openly wants Ceasar gone. Brutus loves Ceasar but still agrees with Cassius

Ceasar clearly gives his thoughts about Cassius what does he say

Caesar says Cassius has a "lean and hungry look. He thinks too much and such men are dangerous.

Summarize Casca's explanation of why Caesar looked so sad.

Antony offered Caesar the crown. When he refused it the crowd cheered. He had a seizure after.

At the end of Scene II in lines 312-326, Cassius makes plan. What plans does he make? Why?

He is going to forge notes to Brutus from several citizens in order to stay away from Brutus against Caesar

Casca says, "For I believe they are portentous things/Unto the climate that they point upon." What does he mean?

He thinks the list of unnatural signs he just saw are about signs of the tragedy about to unfold in their country

Why does Cassius want Brutus to join the conspiracy?

Brutus is a favourite of the people, he is honourable and well thought of . If people saw Brutus supported the conspiracy they would be in better favour of the people.

To what decision does Brutus come in his orchard ?why?

He decides to join the conspiracy to murder Caesar because he thinks Caesar will abuse his power if he is crowned.

What does Lucius give to Brutus in Scene I?

He brings the forged note which had been thrown through Brutus' window.

Why doesn't Brutus want to swear an oath with the conspirators?

He thinks a just cause needs no oath to bind the doers to their cause

For what reason does Metellus Cimber want Cicero to join the conspiracy?

Metellus wants Cicero join the conspiracy because Cicero is old and wise

Brutus is against including Cicero and against killing Mark Antony. Why?

Cicero will not follow any plan he did not make. Killing Antony is not necessary and it will be too bloody.

Why did Brutus say, "Render me worthy of this noble wife!"?

Portia has shown her concern for him and wants to insist on sharing his emotional burden

Of what does Calpurnia try to convince Caesar?

She tries to convince him that her dreams are omens of tragedy and that Caesar should not go out

Caesar yields to Calpurnia's wishes at first. Why does he change his mind and decide to go to the senate meeting?

Decius reinterprets Calpurnia’s dream

\
What does the note Artemidorus wants to give to Caesar say?

It warns him about the conspiracy

What is ironic about the timing of Caesar's murder (in relation to the preceding events)?

He is destroyed just after proclaiming his magnificence and indestruction

In the moments following Caesars death, what do the conspirators proclaim to justify the deed?

"Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!".

Antony's servant brings a message to Brutus. What does he say?

His servant says "Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honourable.' He ask for a safe passage for Antony to see Brutus and hear why Caesar deserved to be killed.

Antony wants to speak at Caesar's funeral. What reaction does Brutus have? Cassius?

Brutus would let him speak. Cassius thinks it is too dangerous for them to let Antony to speak to the people.

Under what conditions will Antony speak at the funeral?

Antony would be allowed to speak but he must not blame the conspirators, say he is speaking with there consent , and he must speak after Brutus

What did Brutus say to the people at the funeral?

He said he loved Caesar, but he loved Rome more. He asked them if they would "rather Caesar were living and die all slaves then that Caesar were dead, to live all freemen." He asked for anyone he had offended to step forth. (No one did.) Brutus attempted to appeal to the crowd's reason, to show them that the assassination was the only logical way to do the best thing for the people.

What did Antony say to the people at the funeral in his now famous "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears" speech?

Antony calls the conspirators honourable men. He also contradicts the accusations made by the conspirators. He manipulates the crowds emotions, and in the end they are ready to riot.

Why did Brutus and Cassius flee Rome?

Their lives were in danger after Antony's remarks at the funeral.

What is the point of Act III Scene III?

It graphically shows the violent mood of the crowd.

What did Antony, Octavious, and Lepidus gather to discuss?

They were deciding which Romans should live or die. They wanted to eliminate anyone who would cause trouble.

To what does Antony compare Lepidus?

He compares him to his own horse and calls him an animal to be trained and used.

What problem has developed between Cassius and Brutus? How is it resolved?

Cassius was offended that Brutus didn't seriously consider his letters on behalf of such a man. It is resolved by the end of their conversation Brutus basically holds to his positions and lets Cassius talk himself out

\
What news did Messala bring Brutus?

He brought news that Antony, Octavius and Lepidus have had a hundred Senators killed and that Portia also is dead.

For what reasons does Brutus want to lead his armies to Phillipi

They can gather fresh forces as they march to Phillipi, that the enemy is increasing and his army is at a high point ready to decline, and they should strike while they are on the good tide

Why did Pindarus stab Cassius?

Cassius asked him to do it when they thought Titinius had been captured by the enemy.

What causes Titinius to say, "The sun of Rome is set!"?

He learns of Cassisus death

Who do the soldiers believe they have captured in Scene IV? Who is it really?

They believe they have captured Brutus but they actually captured Lucius

How does Brutus die?

Brutus runs on his own sword. He recognizes defeat and refuses to give Anthony the "honour" of killing him.

Why did Antony say Brutus was the "noblest Roman of them all"?

All the other conspirators killed Caesar of envy or personal gain. Brutus truly believed he was doing right thing for their country.