INTRODUCTION - Questions & Answers

True / False Questions

1. The play Julius Caesar is divided into five Acts.
Answer: True

2. Caesar carefully reads the letter of warning given to him by Artemidorus.
Answer: False

3. The ghost of Caesar appears before Brutus at Sardis and warns him that they will meet again at Philippi.
Answer: True

4. Mark Antony's speech appeals to the reason and logic of the Roman mob.
Answer: False

5. Shakespeare uses prose in the play for ordinary conversations, letters, and to represent common people.
Answer: True

Fill in the Blanks

1. In Act I, the commoners of Rome were celebrating Caesar's victory over the sons of Pompey.

2. Caesar goes to the Capitol without caring for the entreaties of his wife, Calpurnia, who had premonitions of the murder.

3. Following the assassination, Antony combines forces with Octavius and Lepidus to overthrow Brutus and Cassius.

4. According to the five stages of action in the play, Act III represents the Crisis, marked by Caesar's murder and its immediate aftermath.

5. The title character, Julius Caesar, only makes three appearances in the entire drama before he is killed.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why do the Tribunes scold the workmen in Act I?
Answer: The Tribunes scold the workmen for absenting themselves from work to celebrate Caesar's victory over Pompey's sons. The Tribunes are jealous of Caesar's growing power and popularity.

2. What warning does the soothsayer give to Caesar, and how does Caesar react to warnings about his life?
Answer: The soothsayer warns Caesar to beware of the "ides of March." Caesar ignores this forecast, just as he ignores his wife's bad dreams and a warning letter from Artemidorus, because he is too proud and self-confident.

3. What is the outcome of the Battle of Philippi in Act V?
Answer: At the Battle of Philippi, Cassius mistakenly believes that Brutus has been defeated and orders his servant to kill him. Brutus fights on but is ultimately defeated, and he takes his own life by running upon his sword.

4. Why does Brutus speak in prose while Antony speaks in verse after Caesar's murder?
Answer: Brutus speaks in prose because his speech consists of well-balanced arguments meant to appeal to the reason and logic of the mob. Antony's speech is in verse because he is appealing to the deep emotions and passions of the Roman citizens.

Longer Answer Questions

1. Describe the historical background that led to the assassination of Julius Caesar as explained in the introduction.
Answer: In the early first century BC, Rome was ruled by a triumvirate of three men: Pompey, Crassus, and Julius Caesar. After Crassus was killed, Caesar and Pompey refused to share power, leading to a civil war. Caesar defeated Pompey and his sons, establishing himself as the dictator of the Roman Empire from 46 BC to 44 BC. However, Rome had been a republic since 509 BC, and many senators wanted to preserve those old republican ways. Led by Cassius and Brutus, a group of about sixty senators formed a conspiracy to murder Caesar to prevent him from acting like a king. They stabbed him to death on the ides of March (March 15, 44 BC).

2. Justify Shakespeare's choice of naming the play "Julius Caesar" even though the character is assassinated halfway through the plot.
Answer: Even though Julius Caesar makes only three physical appearances and is murdered in the middle of the play (Act III), he completely dominates the entire drama. The first half of the play is driven by his immense physical power, greatness, and influence, which causes the conspirators to plot against him. After his assassination, the second half of the play is ruled by Caesar's spirit. His death acts as a catalyst for all the tragic events that follow, and his ghost even haunts Brutus. Ultimately, Caesar's spirit brings about the downfall and death of his enemies. As the introduction notes, "Caesar dead was more powerful than Caesar living," making him the central, guiding force of the tragedy.