The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

Act I, Scene i

Character List Flavius Marullus 1st Commoner 2nd Commoner

Setting the Stage  Scene begins on February 15, 44 BCE.  The Roman people are celebrating the religious feast of Lupercal, a celebration of Pan, the goddess of fertility.  Julius Caesar is returning to Rome after defeating his political rival, Pompey.

Reading Questions 1. Give two reasons why Flavius scolds the citizens. 2. List two words or phrases Marullus uses to describe the crowd of working people. 3. Marullus reminds the crowd that not long ago they had cheered for ______. Now they cheer for ______, who defeated Pompey’s sons. 4. What does Flavius suggest that he and Marullus do to stop the celebration? 5. Flavius uses a comparison to explain what must be done about Caesar. He says, “If we can pluck these growing feathers out of Caesar’s wing, we can force him to fly lower.” a. What are Caesar’s “feathers?” b. What do you think Flavius wants to do about Caesar? 6. There are conflicting views of Caesar in Scene i. The common people see him as a ______. But Marullus and Flavius consider Caesar a ______.

Quotes 1. “These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wing / will make him fly an ordinary pitch, / who else would soar above the view of men / and keep us all in servile fearfulness.”

Act I, Scene ii

Character List Caesar Casca Calpurnia Antony Soothsayer Brutus Cassius

Setting the Stage  Caesar is attending the festivities of the feast of Lupercal.  Caesar is warned to beware the ides of March, or March 15.  Cassius and Brutus begin conspiring against Caesar

Reading Questions 1. The soothsayer warns Caesar to “beware the ides of March.” a. What do you think this means? b. How does Caesar react to the warning? 2. What reasons does Brutus give for being harsh and distant lately? 3. Cassius tells Brutus that many men wish that “noble Brutus had eyes in his head.” What does Cassius insist that Brutus cannot see? 4. What does Brutus fear when he hears the crowd shouting? 5. Cassius says, “What a shame for this age we live in.” What does he mean by this? 6. Caesar is suspicious of Cassius. List four qualities in Cassius that Caesar doesn’t like. 7. Casca believes that Caesar’s behavior in the arena is set up to fool the people. Complete the sentence below that describes Caesar’s actions when he is offered the crown. First, Caesar ______the crown ______times. Caesar offers to let the crowd ______. Then he ______to the ground. During this time, the crowd ______and ______him as they do for ______. 8. How does Cassius plan to get Brutus to join the plot against Caesar?

Quotes 1. “Beware the ides of March.” 2. “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings.” 3. “He loves no plays, / As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music. / Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort / As if he mocked himself, and scorned his spirit / That could be moved to smile at anything”

Act I, Scene iii

Character List Cicero Casca Cassius Cinna

Setting the Stage  It is the night of March 14.  Casca fears that a storm is an omen of terrible events to come. This superstitious belief would be common during that time period.  Cassius believes the storm is a sign that Caesar must be overthrown.

Reading Questions 1. Casca reports that he has seen many unnatural wonders this night. List four unusual happenings that he observed. 2. According to Cassius, what is the real cause of these unnatural events? 3. What does Cassius threaten to do if Caesar is made king? 4. Cassius complains that Caesar would not be a ______or a ______if Romans did not act like ______or ______. What do you think Cassius means by this statement? 5. Explain why Casca wants Brutus to join the conspiracy.

Quotes 1. “Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man / Most like this dreadful night / That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars / As doth the lion in the Capitol” 2. “I know he would not be a wolf / But that he sees the Romans are but sheep; / He were no lion, were not the Romans hinds. / Those that with haste will make a fire / Begin it with weak straws.”