18 Questions
According to Brutus, why did he kill Caesar?
Because he loved Rome more than Caesar
What emotion does Brutus express towards Caesar's good qualities in his speech?
Joy
What reason does Brutus give for killing Caesar?
Because he was ambitious
How does Brutus describe his relationship with Caesar?
Friendship
What does Brutus claim about Caesar's ambition in his speech?
It threatened Rome's freedom
How does Brutus invite the citizens to listen to him?
By asking for silence and attention
What was the purpose of Antony's initial statement 'I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him'?
To indicate he wants to honor Caesar's memory without exaggerating his virtues
What effect did Antony's gradual change in position have on the mob during his speech?
The mob started to view Brutus as the villain and Caesar as innocent
Which character spoke the lines 'The noble Brutus Hath told you Caesar was ambitious: If it were so, it was a grievous fault'?
Brutus
What is the main message conveyed in the line 'Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once'?
Fear of death can torment cowards in life
What can be inferred about Caesar based on the line 'Of all the wonders that I yet have heard'?
Caesar was amazed by the wonders he had encountered in his life
Why did Antony initially seemingly agree with Brutus' assessment of Caesar?
To win the mob's trust and support first
What does Calpurnia try to convince Caesar of?
That he will be betrayed by his closest friends
Why does Decius Brutus interpret Calpurnia's dream differently to convince Caesar?
He interprets the dream as a sign of Caesar's long life and prosperity
Who says 'Et tu Brute'? When are these words spoken? Why?
Caesar, as he is attacked by the conspirators, expressing shock at Brutus' involvement
What does Antony say about Caesar after seeing his body?
He mourns Caesar's death and vows revenge against the conspirators
Why does Decius Brutus succeed in convincing Caesar to go to the Capitol over Calpurnia?
Decius manipulates Caesar's ego and pride
'Mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt!'. What does this show Antony to be?
A ruthless manipulator
Study Notes
Brutus' Motivations
- Brutus killed Caesar because he believed Caesar's ambition was a threat to Rome
- Brutus expresses admiration and respect towards Caesar's good qualities, showing a sense of conflicted emotions
- Brutus claims his reason for killing Caesar was to prevent Caesar's ambition from causing harm to Rome
Brutus' Relationship with Caesar
- Brutus describes his relationship with Caesar as a close friendship, emphasizing his loyalty to Caesar
Brutus' Assessment of Caesar
- Brutus claims that Caesar's ambition was a major flaw, implying that it would lead to Caesar's downfall
Antony's Speech
- Antony initially states 'I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him' to appear non-threatening and gain the trust of the crowd
- As Antony's speech progresses, his tone shifts from neutrality to righteous anger, stirring the mob into a frenzy
- Antony says 'The noble Brutus Hath told you Caesar was ambitious: If it were so, it was a grievous fault', questioning Brutus' judgment and highlighting Caesar's virtues
Caesar's Character
- The line 'Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once' suggests that Caesar was brave and fearless in the face of death
- The line 'Of all the wonders that I yet have heard' implies that Caesar was a remarkable and extraordinary person
Antony's Tactics
- Antony initially agrees with Brutus' assessment of Caesar to appear conciliatory and gain the crowd's trust
- Antony says 'O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!' when seeing Caesar's body, emphasizing the tragedy and sense of loss
Calpurnia and Decius Brutus
- Calpurnia tries to convince Caesar to stay home due to her ominous dream
- Decius Brutus interprets Calpurnia's dream differently, convincing Caesar to go to the Capitol, suggesting that Decius Brutus was manipulative and cunning
Caesar's Assassination
- Caesar says 'Et tu Brute' ('And you, Brutus?') when he sees Brutus among his assassins, expressing shock and betrayal
- These words are spoken at the moment of Caesar's assassination, highlighting the personal nature of the betrayal
Antony's Character
- The line 'Mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt!' shows Antony to be cunning, plotting, and willing to take advantage of the situation to achieve his goals
Test your knowledge on Act 3 Scene 2 of William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar. This quiz covers key events and dialogues involving characters like Brutus, Cassius, and Citizens in the aftermath of Caesar's assassination.
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