Act 3 Julius Caesar

What major event happens at the beginning of Act 3?

Caesar is assassinated by the conspirators in the Senate.

Who delivers the first blow in Caesar's assassination?

Casca.

What is Caesar's famous last line before dying?

"Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar."

How does Brutus justify Caesar’s murder to the Roman people?

He claims Caesar was too ambitious and that killing him was necessary for the good of Rome.

Who gives a funeral oration after Brutus speaks?

Mark Antony.

What rhetorical strategies does Antony use in his speech?

Irony, repetition ("Brutus is an honorable man"), and appeals to emotion.

What document does Antony use to sway the crowd?

Caesar's will.

What did Caesar leave to the Roman people in his will?

Money and access to his private gardens and orchards.

How does the crowd react after Antony's speech?

They turn against the conspirators and riot.

What is the turning point (climax) of the play that occurs in Act 3?

The assassination of Caesar and the fallout from Antony’s funeral speech.

What does Antony repeatedly call Brutus and the conspirators during his speech?

"Honorable men" (ironically).

What mistake do the plebeians make after the funeral?

They kill Cinna the poet, mistaking him for Cinna the conspirator.

How does the tone of Rome change after Caesar’s death?

It shifts from political tension to chaos and civil unrest.

Why does Antony not openly accuse the conspirators at first?

To avoid immediate backlash and to manipulate the crowd gradually.

What theme is most prominent in Act 3?

The power of rhetoric and persuasion.