julius ceasar act 1 reading and study guide

Julius Caesar: Act I Reading and Study Guide

I. VOCABULARY: Be able to define the following words and understand them when they appear in
the play.

wherefore archaic for what, why____________________________________________________________________

exeunt ( k s - nt , - nt )_____________________to go off stage_____________________________________

vulgar_crude, indecent______________________________________________________________________



construe_to give the meaning of ____________________________________________________________________

II. LITERARY TERMS: Be able to define each term and apply each term to the play.

blank verse unrymed poetry written in iambic petameter ___________________________________________________________________



tragedy___a type of play in which the main character or hero dies ___________________________________________________________________

pun_joke________________________________________________________________________

conflict _a fight__________________________________________



soliloquy (s -l l -kw ) _____________________a speech in which a character speaks his or her private thoughts allowed_____________________________________

iambic meter __________a meter that is iambic_______________________________________________________

iambic pentameter ________________see meter_____________________________________________

metaphor ____________when you compare something to something else using like or as________________________________________________________

simile ___________________when you comepare something to something not using like or as____________________________________________________



III. Questions: answer the following questions.

Background

1. Where and when was Shakespeare born? england date unknown

2. What theatre did Shakespeare help build? the globe

3. When did he die? april 25 1616

4. In what historical period was Shakespeare living? Who was the ruler of England at that time? elizabeathen era, queen elezabeth 1

5. What three types of plays did Shakespeare write? Give an example of each. sonets, comedeys tragetys

6. What was it like to go to a play during Shakespeare’s time? interesting

7. What historian did Shakespeare use as a source for writing Julius Caesar? books

8. When and where did Julius Caesar live? england

9. Who is Pompey? Although he is not a character in the play, why is he important to the plot? an ancient city, ceasar just defeated them in war

Scene 1:

10. What is the setting? What holiday is being celebrated? rome, luprecal

12. Who are Marullus and Flavius? two people who roll with ceasar

13. Why do they want to drive the commoners from the street? they do not want people

14. What else do Marullus and Flavius do to further hinder the celebration of Caesar’s victory? remove crowns from his statues

Scene 2:

15. What does Caesar tell Antony to do to Calpurnia?
get her pregnate
16. Why might Caesar ask Antony in front of everyone else? to make it public knowlege

17. What is a soothsayer? Of what does he warn Caesar? the ides of march

18. What does ides mean? the 15th

19. Does Marcus Brutus like Caesar? What does Brutus think of Caesar’s rise to power? Use lines from play to support your answer. yes but he feels his friend is gaining to much power


20. Brutus says, “For let the gods so speed me as I love / The name of honor more than I fear death.” What do these lines imply about Brutus’s most important value in life? he values honor and glory

21. What story does Cassius tell Brutus? that he is ploting aginst ceasar


22. What is Cassius’s point in telling this story? to gain opposition aginst ceasar

23. What is Caesar’s opinion of Cassius? Why does he feel this way? he thinks too much

24. What handicap does Caesar reveal about himself when speaking to Antony?
he has seziurs
25. How many times was Caesar offered a coronet, or a small crown? 3

26. What was Caesar’s reaction to the offering, according to Casca? un enthusiastic


27. What sickness does Caesar have? epelepcy

28. What happens to Marullus and Flavius? they get killed

29. What does Cassius plan to do to convince Brutus to conspire against Caesar? tell him that the people of rome are unhappy with ceasar

Scene 3:

30. What unusual events occur during the storm? she has dreams


31. What meaning does Cassius interpret from the storm? ceasar will be killed if he goes to the senate


32. According to Casca, what are the senators planning to do to Caesar tomorrow? crown him king

33. Who is definitely part of the conspiracy?
1. brutus 4.
2. cassius 5.
3. 6.