Period 6
Julius Caesar: Close Reading Questions
Julius Caesar: Close Reading Questions
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?
Brutus says that the crowd should believe him because he thought about it a lot and him and many others ended that they should kill Caesar.
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?
In this passage I found three separate words. He makes the people proud that they are Romans and creates as strong sense of nationalism.
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.
s 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. He changing the story so that people respect the assassination because it was correct and lawful.
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.
For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men--
And Brutus is an honourable man.
And Brutus is an honourable man.
And, sure, he is an honourable man.
Who, you all know, are honourable men:
Than I will wrong such honourable men.
I fear I wrong the honourable men
They were traitors: honourable men!
They that have done this deed are honourable:
By using the word �honourable�, he is telling the crowd what the want to hear, so that they do not get to angry with 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?
Antony makes about 15 or 16 good points before the 35 line speech ended.
c. How does Antony deploy the words �ambition� and �ambitious� to win over the commoners to hid point of view?
By saying this, Antony is giving Brutus a real reason for killing Caesar.