Group work:
1. Find 2 puns, 2 metaphors, 2 similes, 3 images, and complete 2 scansions of sentences to check for iambic pentameter in Act 1 scenes 1-2 of Caesar
Puns
- "a mender of bad soles" When the cobbler says this he means that he either fixes the soles of shoes or he helps to make bad people good
- "but with awl. I am" The cobbler could either live by the awl in his trade or he could be all emcompasing
Metaphors
- "O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome," Marullus is stating the men of Rome to having hearts of stone
- "These growing feathers pluck'd from Caesar's wing" Flavius is comparing Caesar to a bird
Similes
- "Being mechanical, you ought not walk" A comparison is being made between a machine and man's ability to walk
- "some soil perhaps to my behaviors" Cassius's behavior is not of a truthful nature and is being "soiled" so to speak
Images
- "That Tiber trembled underneath her banks"
- "triumph over Pompey's blood"
- "weep your tears into the channel"
Scansions
U , U , U , U , , U
-"You blocks/, you stones/, you worse/ than sense/less things!" 5 feet
U , , U U , U , U ,
- "He is/ a dream/er; let/ us leave/ him: pass" 5 feet
2. Who speaks in poetry? Who speaks in prose? Who speaks in blank verse? why?
Flavius, Antony, and Brutus speak in poetry because they do now have iambic pentameter, but do not speak in prose either.
The Commoners and Casca do not speak in either poetry or Iambic pentameter so they must speak in prose
Marullus, Caesar, and the soothsayer all speak in blank verse because all of there script is in iambic pentameter
3. Identify at least 5 characteristics found in the characters of Caesar, Brutus, and Cassius.
Ceasar: Power hungry, cautious, boisterous, loud, wary
Brutus: Oblivious, trusting, well tempered, caring, curious
Cassius: theiving, conniving, cunning, convincing, cautious
Brutus
-Loves honor more than he fears death
-His grandfather drove the last kings from Rome (Tarquins)
-Senator
-Friends with Caesar
Cassius
-Does not like Caeasar
-Duplicitous
-Decietful
-Persuasive
-Wants to overthrow Caeasar
-Power hungry
-Jealous/envious of Caesar�s power
-Manipulates Brutus
-Intelligent
-Schemer for the assasination
Casca
-Follower
-Believes in Omens
-Superstitious
-Acts dull witted
-Speaks in prose
-Superstitious
Caesar
-Power hungry
-Leader of society
-Member of the 1st Triumpherant ( 3 leaders of Roman society)
-Intelligent
-Sees people�s motives
-Ambitious
-Has the plebians support
-Offered the crown thrice by Antony
� Denied the crown 3 times
-Refers to himself in the 3rd person constantly
-Arrogant
-Supercilious
-Conceited
-Epileptic
-Cassius compares him to the storm
-Married to Calpurnia
8. �Romans, countrymen and lovers� (Act III Scene2, line13)
a. This is a speech based on reason (unlike Antony�s later, which is based on passion). Why does Brutus say the crowd should believe him?
Because of his honor
b. How many words can you find that are antithetical (that is, in strong contrast), such as �less�/ �more�, �living�/ �dead�? What is the cumulative effect?
Living/ die,
c. Many words and phrases are balanced: for example, �As Caesar loved me, I weep for him ; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him�. Find more, and say why they are calculated to win over the crowd.
loved Caesar less, but that I loved
Rome more, Caesar were living and
die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live
all free men, censure me in your wisdom, and
awake your senses, as he was
valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I
slew him. These statements are calculated to win over the crowd because they portray Caesar as a good leader gone astray and Brutus as the one to correct his mistakes.
9. �Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears� (Act III Scene 2, line 71)
a. Antony uses the word �honourable� to describe Brutus and Cassius eight times. Each time the way in which it is spoken is different, and with a different purpose. Carefully trace the transition from the first �For Brutus was an honourable man� to �They that have done this deed are honourable�, explaining how Antony�s oratory has led the crowd from one point of view to another.
Antony begins by agreeing with the murderers. His point of view slowly changes and eventually is against the conspirators and rallies the crowd behind him.
b. In his second sentence, Antony says he is content to let Caesar�s good points be buried with his bones. How many good points does he in fact make before this 35-line speech is ended?
three
c. How does Antony deploy the words �ambition� and �ambitious� to win over the commoners to his point of view?
He uses these words to prove that Caesar, is in fact, not ambitious in the eyes of the people, even if he may be in reality
15. On his arrival at the Senate, Caesar has 30 lines (Act III Scene 1, lines 35-48; 58-73) to speak before Casca strikes his first blow. Find examples in those lines of:
a. his pomposity
-These couchings and these lowly courtesies
b. his vanity
-To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood
c. his arrogance
-Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
d. his affection
-I mean, sweet words
e. his pride
-Will he be satisfied
9. In his address to the mob in the forum (Act III Scene 2, lines 12-44), Brutus speaks in prose, not blank verse. His words have been described as �a lecture�.
a. Show from the speech that Brutus knows he enjoys the respect of Roman citizens.
-believe me
for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour
b. Show that he believes the crowd is capable of making rational and just decisions.
-censure me in your wisdom
c. Show that his speech is based on an appeal to reason and logic.
-Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved
Rome more.
d. Show that he is proud of his patriotism and his republicanism.
- Had you rather Caesar were living and
die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live
all free men?
e. Show that he wishes to act magnanimously. Comment on the wisdom of his approach and assumptions. Do you think it is reasonable to describe him as politically na�ve?
-Had you rather Caesar were living and
die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live
all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him;
as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was
valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I
slew him.
- If any, speak; for him have I offended.
Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If
any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so
vile that will not love his country?
�Brutus believed Cassius that Caesar would be a tyrant and decided that it would be just to slay him. It is not reasonable to call him politically na�ve though. Brutus does know how to handle politics. He does not, however, know how to tell when a person is lying to him.
6. In Act II Scene I, in which Cassius wins over Brutus to the conspiracy, show evidence of
a. his tact
- A shrewd contriver; and, you know, his means,
If he improve them, may well stretch so far
As to annoy us all: which to prevent,
Let Antony and Caesar fall together.
b. his ability to strike the right note when making his approach.
- Yes, every man of them, and no man here
But honours you; and every one doth wish
You had but that opinion of yourself
c. His willingness to take a second place when it suits him.
- Yet I fear him;
4. Antony shows a masterly control over the fickle nature of the common people.
a. Before Antony ascends to the Public Chair to make his oration, which remark typifies the commoners� dull-wittedness?
- Caesar's better parts
Shall be crown'd in Brutus.
b. Whereas Brutus�s speech appealed to the intellect, Antony�s is emotional. He ends his opening remarks by choking back tears. How do the people react?
�The people are siding with Antony now and are angry and sad that Caesar has been killed
c. Marullus says of the commoners, �You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things� (Act I Scene I, line 36). Antony says, �You are not wood, you are not stones, but men� (Act III Scene I, line 140). Explain why Antony�s oratorical approach shows a greater understanding of crowd psychology.
�Antony�s approach is more kind and is not insulting, unlike Marullus�s harsh words. Antony knows how to set the mob�s mentality in the direction that he chooses
d. Why does Antony mention the will to the crowd, but decline at first to read it?
-Caesar�s Will
g. The commoners forget the will till Antony reminds them of it (line 236). What does this tell us of their powers of concentration?
�The commoners are very one track minded and are not very quick to act with reason, instead of emotion
Identify and Explain where each occurs in Julius Caesar
Perepetiea: Reversal of Fortune
- In the battle against Antony and Octavius, Brutus lost his dear friend Cassius. Because of this, he finally realizes that what he has done is wrong
Anagnorisis: Recognition
- In Act IV, Brutus said �I wish things done, undone� showing that he is regretting his decision to kill Caesar
Hamartia: Error in judgement
-
Hubris: Excessive pride
- Brutus is showing hubris when he proclaims that he killed Caesar only for the good of the people
Catharsis: Purgation of pity and fear
- When Brutus realizes in Act V Scene V that even though the actions he took were, in his mind at least, for good, the repercussions were extremely bad in nature. The audience can relate because everyone makes decisions that they think are right, but are in actuality, wrong.