Julius Caesar Study Guide 1

Name___Summer

Block______________

 

 

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_____why______________________________________________

 

              exeunt (ks-nt , -nt)go offstage_______________

 

              vulgar__crude, unrefined_______

                            What part of speech is vulgar when used by Flavius in line 72?__________________________________

 

              construe____interpret__________

 

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

 

              blank verse __unrhymed lines an iambic pentameter

                            List characters who speak in verse___________________________________________

 

              prose________________matter of fact, dull quality                           

List characters who speak in prose___________________________________________

 

                                          **What possible reason do some characters speak in prose and some speak in

                                              verse?_________________________________________________________

 

                                              ______________________________________________________________

 

              Tragedy drama

              pun To make puns                           

Example from Act I, scene i:_______________________________________________

 

              conflict _______Problem__________________________

 

                            External:  1.man vs. man                                             

     2 man vs. society

                                              3. Man  vs. nattier                            

                  Internal:              4.man vs. self

 

              soliloquy (s-ll-kw) _____a long speech given by a character alone on stage, to reveal his/her private thoughts.                            Example:_______________________________________________________________

             

              iambic meter ________unstressed             

iambic pentameter _____5 unstressed 1 stressed

 

              metaphor _______________comparing something not using like or as

                                          Example: _________Santa was redder than a cherry

              simile __comparing something using like or as___________________

 

                                          Example: ___She was a red as a cherry

III.  Questions: answer the following questions.

 

Background

 

1.  Where and when was Shakespeare born?

1564

2.  What theatre did Shakespeare help build?

Global theatre

3.  When did he die?

 

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.

Historic, tragedy and comedies

6.  What was it like to go to a play during Shakespeare’s time?

A honor

7.  What historian did Shakespeare use as a source for writing Julius Caesar?

 

8.  When and where did Julius Caesar live?

Rome

9.  Who is Pompey?  Although he is not a character in the play, why is he important to the plot?

Julius Caesar enemy

Scene 1:

 

10.  What is the setting?  What holiday is being celebrated? 

Rome and idles of March

12.  Who are Marullus and Flavius? 

Members of the concil

13. Why do they want to drive the commoners from the street? 

Because they don’t like Caesar or his celebration

14.  What else do Marullus and Flavius do to further hinder the celebration of Caesar’s victory? 

Ruin the statues

Scene 2:

 

15.  What does Caesar tell Antony to do to Calpurnia? 

Keep her out the house

16.  Why might Caesar ask Antony in front of everyone else? 

Casue he is his most loyal friend

17.  What is a soothsayer?  Of what does he warn Caesar? 

a poor person that he will killed of the Ides of March

18.  What does ides mean? 

15^th

19.  Does Marcus Brutus like Caesar?  What does Brutus think of Caesar’s rise to power?  Use lines from play to support your answer. 

He lovles Caesar but is convinced that he will lead home to its down fell.

 

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? 

His country

21.  What story does Cassius tell Brutus? 

That he had to help Caesar through the water because he was not strong enough to last

 

22.  What is Cassius’s point in telling this story?

That Caesar’s is not fit to ne king

23.  What is Caesar’s opinion of Cassius?  Why does he feel this way? 

He Hates him casue he is not loyal

24.  What handicap does Caesar reveal about himself when speaking to Antony? 

He has strokes and mental pronlems

25.  How many times was Caesar offered a coronet, or a small crown? 

5 times

26.  What was Caesar’s reaction to the offering, according to Casca? 

He did not want it

 

27.  What sickness does Caesar have? 

He has some sort of brain problem

28.  What happens to Marullus and Flavius? 

They are killed

29.  What does Cassius plan to do to convince Brutus to conspire against Caesar? 

He comes to him in the night and begs him

Scene 3:

 

30. What unusual events occur during the storm? 

 

Caesar’s wife has night make bout his death

31.  What meaning does Cassius interpret from the storm? 

That tomorrow Caesar need to be killed

 

32.  According to Casca, what are the senators planning to do to Caesar tomorrow?

Kill caesar

33.  Who is definitely part of the conspiracy?

              1. cassius                             4.  metellius

              2.  brutus                            5.  denius

              3.  casca                            6.  All of council