PROMPT:
ACT ONE
Getting at Meaning (RECALLING)
Scene 1
1. What two reasons do the people of Rome have for Celebrating? They are celebrating Caesar's triumph and The Lupercal.
2. Who are Marullus and Flavius? Why are they angry with the crowd of Commoners? Find a line in which Marullus expresses his attitude toward the commoners. Marullus and Flavius are the tribunes of the people. They are angry with the crowd because they think the commoners should be paying tribute to Pompey not Caesar. "You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!"
Scene 2
3. In whose way does Caesar tell Calpurnia to stand? According to the elders, what will happen to "The barren touched in this holy chase"? Caesar tells Calpurnia to stand in Antonius way. It will, "shake off their sterile curse."
4. What warning does the soothsayer give Caesar? What is caesar's response? To "Beware the Ides of March" Caesar says, "He is a dreamer let us leave him."
5. What is Cassius' complaint against Brutus? According to lines 44-52, why is Brutus vexed of late? Cassius complaint toward Brutus is that he is not as friendly as he use to be. Brutus is vexed of late because he is having problems making up his mind (internal conflicts).
6. How many times does Antony offer Caesar the crown that would make him king? What happens each time Caesar refuses the crown? Antony offers Caesar The crown three times. The crowd cheers every time Caesar refuses the crown.
7. What has happened to Marullus and Flavius "for pulling scarfs off caesar's images"? Flavius and Marallus were to silence. Vanished.
Scene 3
8. Name three of the unusual sights witnessed by Casca. What interpretation does he give to these occurrences? Casca met a lion who glared at him, a hundred ghastly some transformed with their fear who swore they saw men all in fire walk up and down the streets, and the bird of night sitting even on noonday upon the marketplace hooting and shrieking. Bad times in their time (disaster).
9. According to Casca, what do the senators mean to establish? The senators mean to establish Caesar as king.
INTERPRETING
10. Who was Pompey? What point does Marullus make in Scene 1 through his reference to Pompey? Pompey was the political rival of Caesar. A Roman general overthrown by Caesar. That the people changed their minds quick of whom should be king first it was Pompey and after his death they quickly chose Caesar.
11. In Scene 2 what does Cassius mean when he says that many people in Rome have been wishing "that noble Brutus had his eyes"? What is Cassius' intention when he offers to function as Brutus' "glass," or mirror? He means that many people would pick him as king if Caesar had not been there. His intentions are to make him see what's going on and take control.
12. What are Cassius' feelings about Caesar? What example s does Cassius use in Scene 2 to illustrate his views? Explain the meaning of the famous lines: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,/ But in ourselves, that we are underlings." Cassius thinks that anyone can be like Caesar. Caesar also has weaknesses and is like any other human being. "Help me Cassius, or I sink!" While having a fever he shook, he groaned, his lips lost color and his eyes lust. It isn't any ones fault but theirs that they are inferior or that Caesar became king.
13. Why does Cassius speak of Brutus' ancestor in Scene 2? What does Cassius want from Brutus? How does Brutus respond to Cassius' arguments? To make him realize that he too can become a king, he too can do the same as Caesar. He wants Brutus to act the same way as his ancestors did. Brutus says that he will think about it before joining the conspiracy.
14. What does Caesar mean in Scene 2 when he says, "Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look"? Caesar thinks that Cassius is very suspicious because he is very quiet. He knows that Cassius is trouble. Caesar does not trust him.
15. What is Casca's view of Caesar? In Scene 3 what does Cassius mean when he says, "Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius"? What does he mean when he says of Caesar, "... I know he would not be a wolf/But that he sees the Romans are but sheep;/He were no lion, were not Romans hinds"? Casca thinks like Cassius. He says that anyone can overtake Caesar's power. He doesn't like theidea of Caesar being king. Ceasar will stay the king (lion) because the people are week (sheep).
16. What do the conspirators plan? How does Cassius convert Brutus to the conspiracy? They plan to join Brutus to their conspiracy. He writes an anonimous letter telling Brutus that if he joins the conspiracy they (the people) will do a petition and in his name.
CRITICAL THINKING: EVALUATING
17. What are some of caesar's physical weaknesses? Do you agree with Cassius that these frailties make Caesar unsuitable as a leader? Caesar is apalepsic. No, because everyone makes mistakes, if Brutus was to become king he also would probably be rejected by some people.