Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra
Questions for Further Study
Act One
Show how both Cleopatra's and Antony's separate "agendas" lead to conflict in Act One.
What does the way they deal with and resolve this conflict show about their relationship?
Analyse the shifts of place, time, tone, mood, point of view, in Act One. What dramatic and other effects does Shakespeare achieve?
Act Two
What is the impact of Enobarbus' description of Cleopatra?
Is this just a "set piece", or does it have a dramatic function? What is it?
Comment on Cleopatra's behaviour to the messenger. What impact should this scene have on the audience?
What do you think should be the audience's impression of Cleopatra so far?
Act Three
Comment on the ways the action and subject matter of the play are advanced in Scenes 5 and 6. What techniques does Shakespeare use to achieve this? (In particular, what is the function of Octavia's entrance in Scene 6.?)
In what ways are the advantages of the Shakespearean stage manifest here?
In what estimation does Antony stand with the audience by the end of Act Three? Is his "fall" truly tragic or the result of folly?
Why is Enobarbus' decision to leave Antony one of the most significant moments in the play? How does Shakespeare highlight this decision and keep it as an ongoing strand of the action in the following Act?
Act Four
Comment on Caesar's description of Antony as an "old ruffian". To what extent is the element of "macho bluster" a significant part of Antony's character?
Does Enobarbus' popularity with the audience detract from the dramatic function of his role?
What is the purpose of this role? How does the audience react to his death?
Comment on Antony's conflicting attitudes to Cleopatra after his final defeat. In what ways is this typical of him, of their relationship; what is the significance of this theme of "changeableness" in the play as a whole?
Act Five
How effective are Cleopatra's descriptions of Antony to Dolabella? Does this convincingly portray her grief?
In what ways is our impression of Cleopatra changing ?
What motive do you think played a greater part in Cleopatra's suicide - her love of Antony or her fear of being shamed by Caesar?
In what ways are Cleopatra's divided motives parallel to the motives of Antony for his suicide?
What allegorical/moral point is Shakespeare making by the juxtaposition of Queen and Clown?
As Antony was greater in life, so Cleopatra is greater in death. Do you agree?
Antony and Cleopatra
Study Guide. Detailed questions:
Act One
What is the point of having the opening scenes in Alexandria at Cleopatra's palace?
Comment on Antony's and Cleopatra's "public displays of affection". In the light of preceding comments ("you shall behold, etc."), what impact are these meant to have?
Comment on Antony's speech "Fie, wrangling queen... speak not to us".
What is the mood and atmosphere of Cleopatra's court?
"These strong Egyptian fetters I must break/Or lose myself in dotage..." "I must from this enchanting queen break off..." Why is it so crucial for the audience to be convinced of the truth of these statements for Antony?
How has he shifted since the opening moments? Why?
What is Cleopatra's main concern in Act One?
Show how both Cleopatra's and Antony's separate "agendas" lead to conflict in Act One. What does the way they deal with and resolve this conflict show about their relationship?
"It is not Caesar's natural vice to hate/Our great competitor..." What then is Caesar's attitude to Antony?
What first impression do we get of Caesar?
What is the purpose of Caesar's speech "...When thou once...that thy cheek so much as lanke'd not."
Comment on the language and imagery of Scene V, and give your assessment of Cleopatra's character in this scene. How do you think her role should be played here?
What impression does she give of Antony?
Analyse the shifts of place, time, tone, mood, point of view, in Act One. What dramatic and other effects does Shakespeare achieve?
Notes:
Other considerations arising from Act One (you needn't answer on these but do think about them).
The role of Enobarbus - is he just the plain-speaking soldier? Other "chorus" characters.
Note already how many points of view in relation to Antony - including his own!
To what extent do the two lovers persuade themselves they are in love? Do they convince the audience? What does the audience within the play think of all this?
To what extent are both Antony and Cleopatra "playing to the gallery"?
Act Two
What is Pompey up to and why? What is the significance of his role for the play as a whole?
Does Antony "suck up" to Caesar in scene 2? If so, why?
What does each want to achieve from this meeting and why?
What is Antony's "personal" agenda?
Comment on the way Octavia is "disposed of". What does this show about the politics of the play?
What is the impact of Enobarbus' description of Cleopatra? Is this just a "set piece", or does it have a dramatic function? What is it?
Comment on the sexual imagery of Scene 5. Comment on the cross-dressing episode as described by Cleopatra. What are the mythical and archetypal overtones?
How do you see Cleopatra in this scene? Is she merely exulting in her power over Antony?
Comment on Cleopatra's behaviour to the messenger. What impact should this scene have on the audience?
What do you think should be the audience's impression of Cleopatra so far?
Comment on the negotiations between the triumvirate and Pompey. What is Enobarbus' view of the state of the world - in particular the marriage of Antony and Octavia?
What do you think is the purpose of Scene 7? Do you consider it a lapse of decorum for Shakespeare to use humour in this and other scenes involving the "serious" characters of the play?
What, if anything, does this scene achieve?
Notes:
Other considerations:The "mirror for magistrates" aspects of Act Two.
To what extent is this Act an allegory of the political process - and how are the considerations it raises relevant today?
If the first Act dealt largely with power in one sphere, this Act deals with its larger implications... in what ways are the Acts related, comment on each other?
Act Three
What theme or "matter" is introduced in the opening scene?
What are the implications of this scene for our understanding of Antony's subsequent behaviour?
What is the tone of Agrippa and Enobarbus' discussion of Lepidus. Why?
What issue is raised here?
Comment on Caesar's farewell to Octavia. What feelings towards her does the audience have?
How do these feelings contrast with Caesar's?
Comment on the asides of Enobarbus and Agrippa.
Comment on the humour in Scene 3 ("Dull of tongue and dwarfish...") - but what are the underlying tensions in the scene?
Comment on the ways the action and subject matter of the play are advanced in Scenes 5 and 6. What techniques does Shakespeare use to achieve this? (In particular, what is the function of Octavia's entrance in Scene 6.?)
In what ways are the advantages of the Shakespearean stage manifest here?
How does Shakespeare compensate for the lack of "spectacle" in conveying the action in Scenes 7 - 10?
What do you think of Cleopatra's determination to take part in the battle? Is Enobarbus' view meant to be correct?
What are the contrasts between Antony and Caesar as generals?
What is the significance of Antony's decision to fight by sea?
In what estimation does Antony stand with the audience by the end of Act Three? Is his "fall" truly tragic or the result of folly?
Discuss Antony's attitude to Cleopatra. Why has the play's focus shifted from her to Antony? (After all, she lost the battle too!)
Does Cleopatra intend to betray Antony to Caesar? What do you think the audience is intended to think?
Comment on her speech "Ah dear, if it be so.../ Have buried them for prey"Does this convince Antony?
If so does it convince the audience?
Is Cleopatra herself convinced?
What is Enobarbus' reaction to all this?
Why is Enobarbus' decision to leave Antony one of the most significant moments in the play?
How does Shakespeare highlight this decision and keep it as an ongoing strand of the action in the following Act?
Notes:
Other considerations:
More on the metadramatic aspects of the play - the extent to which Antony is self- indulgently emoting - playing once again to an audience within the play as well as to the one in the theatre... do you think that he does this, should be played as a character who self-dramatises?
How would you make this come off in performance - and what are the risks of doing so???
Of what importance is the contrast between Caesar andAntony in Act Three?
Act Four
Comment on Caesar's description of Antony as an "old ruffian". To what extent is the element of "macho bluster" a significant part of Antony's character?
Comment on Antony's speech to his 'servitors'.
Why does this behaviour so upset Enobarbus and Cleopatra?
In the light of Antony's later references to the "shirt of Nessus", what are the ambiguities of Cleopatra's role in the "armouring" scene?
Does Enobarbus' popularity with the audience detract from the dramatic function of his role? What is the purpose of this role?
How does the audience react to his death?
Comment on the reactions of Antony and Cleopatra to their partial victory. In what ways does this typefy their "court"?
Comment on the contrasting reactions of Caesar's camp.
Comment on Antony's conflicting attitudes to Cleopatra after his final defeat. In what ways is this typical of him, of their relationship; what is the significance of this theme of "changeableness" in the play as a whole?
Does he intend to commit suicide before hearing of Cleopatra's "death"?
Comment on the play's change of mood and pace with and following Antony's speech: "I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and/Weep for my pardon..."
We seem to have shifted into a new phase of the action which lasts until the end of the play - how does Shakespeare sustain this and what is the prevailing tone?
What is the theatrical effect of the "lifting" of Antony?
Comment on the speeches which accompany Antony's death. Is this a tragic scene, or does it have pathos merely?
Act Five
Do you think Caesar is sincerely moved by the news of Antony's death?
What moral does this speech underline for the audience?
Comment on Cleopatra's speech at the beginning of Scene 2.
How much weight do you think is given to the idea of Fortune in the play, and what is your understanding of the word as it applies here?
Comment on Caesar's intended treatment of Cleopatra. What are his motives?
Comment on Cleopatra's first attempt at suicide.
How effective are Cleopatra's descriptions of Antony to Dolabella? Does this convincingly portray her grief?
In what ways is our impression of Cleopatra changing ?
Do you think it is legitimate (as both the BBC and Wharf productions did) to cut the dialogue concerning Cleopatra's wealth?
What if anything would be added to the play were it to be included in performance?
What motive do you think played a greater part in Cleopatra's suicide - her love of Antony or her fear of being shamed by Caesar?
In what ways are Cleopatra's divided motives parallel to the motives of Antony for his suicide?
What allegoriacl/moral point is Shakespeare making by the juxtaposition of Queen and Clown?
What is the impact of Cleopatra's saying "Husband I come"? No pun intended - either by us or Shakespeare!!!!
As Antony was greater in life, so Cleopatra is greater in death. Do you agree?
Comment on Caesar's final speech. To what extent could he be regarded as speaking outside the confines of the play and his character to guide the responses of the audience?
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