Julius Caesar: Act III Reading and Study Guide

I. VOCABULARY: Be able to define the following words and understand them when they appear in
the play.

vouchsafe- to condescend; deign

conspiracy- an evil unlawful, treacherous plan formulated
in secret by two or more people

foe- eneny

II. LITERARY TERMS: Be able to define each term and apply each term to the play.

climax- the most dramatic part of a story or play

What is the climax of this play?- The death of caesar

allusion- a passing or csual reference; an incidental mention of something

Example: seeing unicorns wold be an exaple of an allusion

imagery- the things you think up in your head that have not or cannot happen

verbal irony-what is said is the opposite of what is meant

Example: saying "Great!" when told bad news.


III. Questions: answer the following questions.

Scene 1:
1. What reason does Caesar give for not reading Artemidorus’s letter?
-what caesar should first should be a personal matter but for the public

2. What Roles do the following characters play in the conspiracy?
Trebonius:
to get marc antony away from caesar

Metellus Cimber: tell caesar what he wants to hear and get caesar off his quard

Casca: to be the first one to stab ceasar

3. What is Caesar’s opinion of himself?
-how he is no different from anyone else and metellus shouldn't bow down to him

4. What does “Et tu, Brute?” mean? How do these words relate to the theme of friendship in the play?
-And You Brutus?
-Caesar was shocked that someone as close to him as brutus would turn around and stab him in the back

5. Where does Caesar’s dead body lie? How is this ironic?
-the capitol, because that where his wife warned him not to come to

6. What does Brutus tell the conspirators to do after killing Caesar?
-to not be ashamed of killing caesar and wave around their blood weapons and cry out "peace, freedom, and Liberty"

7. What promise does Brutus tell the servant to relay to Antony?
-to have antony brought their where brutus will explain everthing

8. What does Antony say about the possibility of being killed by the conspirators?
-that the conspiritors might find antony corrupt and may need to kill him as well because he is caesars right hand man.

9. After being assured he is in no danger, what favor does Antony ask of the conspirators?
-to join hands and praise caesar for his death

10. What does Cassius think about granting Antony this favor?
-he doesn't like the idea of antony becomeing their friend after the sudden death of caesar

11. What restrictions does Brutus set?
-that at the funeral , antony shallnot blame the conspiritours and that he shall speak after brutus on the same great platforn

12. Summarize Antony’s main points in his speech to Caesar’s body?
-Antony had no control over the murder, caesar was the greatest and whoever committed this crime is cursed without caeasr Itally will suffer

13. Who is coming to Rome to meet with Antony?
-Octavious, caesars nephew and heir
Scene 2:
14. According to Brutus’s speech to the commoners, what reasons does he give for Caesar’s death?
-caesar couldn't be trusted. so he had to die. Brutus loved him but he loved rome more

15. What is the mood of the crowd as Brutus finishes his speech?
-they felt the same as brutus sad but happy becasue he would do no harm to them

16. What does Brutus offer at the end of his speech?
-to kill himself for murdering ceasar

17. List three points of Antony’s speech that work to persuade the crowd to turn on the conspirators.
-Brutus says Ceasar is ambitious without proof
-Caeasr refused the crown tree times
-what resaons did brutus have for killing caesar?


18. What reason does Antony give for why he cannot read Caesar’s will?
-becuase he said it will upset them and make them mad

19. What has Caesar bequeathed the Romans in his will?
-he left them money

20. How does the crowd react to Antony’s speech?
-they are praising caesar and turn against brutus and what he had said

Scene 3:
21. What happens to Cinna the Poet? Why?
-she has a dream about having a dream. she feels guilty.