Julius Caesar: Act I Reading and Study Guide
I. VOCABULARY: Be able to define the following words and understand them when they appear in the play.
wherefore: The cause or reason.
exeunt ( k s - nt , - nt ): To or more performers go offstage.
vulgar: Characterized by ignorance or or lack of good breeding or taste.
construe: To give the meaning or intetion of; explain; interpret.
II. LITERARY TERMS: Be able to define each term and apply each term to the play.
blank verse: Is unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter.
prose: The ordinary form of spoken or written language, without metrical structure as distinguish from poetry or verse.
tragedy: Any literal composition, as a novel, dealing with a somber theme carried by a tragic conclusion.
pun: Use of words that are alike in sound but different in meaning; a play on words.
conflict: Is the struggle forces between opposing forces and is the basis of plot in dramatic and narrative literature.
External: 1. _______________ vs. ________________
2. _______________ vs. ________________
3. _______________ vs. ________________
Internal: 4. ________________ vs. ________________
soliloquy (s -l l -kw ): Is a speech in which a character speaks his or her private thoughts aloud.
iambic meter:
iambic pentameter:
metaphor:
simile:
III. Questions: answer the following questions.
Background
1. Where and when was Shakespeare born?
-1564 and England
2. What theatre did Shakespeare help build?
-Globe Theatre.
3. When did he die?
-April 23rd, 1616
4. In what historical period was Shakespeare living? Who was the ruler of England at that time?
-Renaissance and Elizabeth.
5. What three types of plays did Shakespeare write? Give an example of each.
-Histories, Comedies, Tragedies.
6. What was it like to go to a play during Shakespeare’s time?
-Women characters were played by male actors.
7. What historian did Shakespeare use as a source for writing Julius Caesar?
-Plutaarch.
8. When and where did Julius Caesar live?
-July 13, 100 BC-March 15, 44 BC and Roman Ancient Empire.
9. Who is Pompey? Although he is not a character in the play, why is he important to the plot?
-Was an alley of Julius Caesar and a rival of Marcus Crassus. The First Triumvirate.
Scene 1:
10. What is the setting? What holiday is being celebrated?
-February is Lupercal and in the streets.
12. Who are Marullus and Flavius?
-Two tribunes, government officials who supported pompey.
13. Why do they want to drive the commoners from the street?
-Because the commoners are not answering marullus directly.
14. What else do Marullus and Flavius do to further hinder the celebration of Caesar’s victory?
Scene 2:
15. What does Caesar tell Antony to do to Calpurnia?
-to touch her. It would shakeoff their sterile curse.
16. Why might Caesar ask Antony in front of everyone else?
-So everyone can know what he told Antony to do.
17. What is a soothsayer? Of what does he warn Caesar?
-A fortuneteller and to beware of the middle day of march.
18. What does ides mean?
-The middle day of the month.
19. Does Marcus Brutus like Caesar? What does Brutus think of Caesar’s rise to power? Use lines from play to support your answer.
-No, and Brutus thinks that he would be a better ruler.
20. Brutus says, “For let the gods so speed me as I love / The name of honor more than I fear death.” What do these lines imply about Brutus’s most important value in life?
-That honor is more important than life itself.
21. What story does Cassius tell Brutus?
-which Cassius and Caesar were swimming and Cassius claims that he rescued Caesar.
22. What is Cassius’s point in telling this story?
-To make Brutus know that Caesar is just like everyone else.
23. What is Caesar’s opinion of Cassius? Why does he feel this way?
-Dangerous and one who can see through people and understand their secrets.
24. What handicap does Caesar reveal about himself when speaking to Antony?
-His ear is deaf.
25. How many times was Caesar offered a coronet, or a small crown?
-3 times.
26. What was Caesar’s reaction to the offering, according to Casca?
-He refused to accept it and he fainted infront of everyone.
27. What sickness does Caesar have?
-Falling sickness or eplilepsy.
28. What happens to Marullus and Flavius?
-Put to death or have been barred from public life.
29. What does Cassius plan to do to convince Brutus to conspire against Caesar?
-To leave messages at his home that appear to be from other people.
Scene 3:
30. What unusual events occur during the storm?
-Seeing fire from the sky and feeling an earthquake.
31. What meaning does Cassius interpret from the storm?
-Is the gods way of telling the people that Caesar was becoming too powerful.
32. According to Casca, what are the senators planning to do to Caesar tomorrow?
-Make him king of all Roman territories except Rome (Italy).
33. Who is definitely part of the conspiracy?
1.Casca 4.Metellus
2.Cassius 5.Brutus
3.Cinna 6.Decius
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
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thanks bro
ReplyDeleteugh fist of all for number 33 dacius brutis is oneperson.
ReplyDeletedude there are two people named brutus, decius and marcus brutus
DeleteThis was great help, thanks dude
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU OMFG
ReplyDeleteLink for correct answers:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.plt3.org/PHS/mwetzell/lecturenotes/
you are a life saver thank you
ReplyDelete