Julius Caesar: Act 1 Scene 2 - Questions & Answers

1. True / False Questions

Question 1: Caesar takes the Soothsayer's warning very seriously.

Answer: False

Question 2: Cassius saved Caesar from drowning in the troubled waters of the river Tiber.

Answer: True

Question 3: Mark Antony offered Caesar a crown three times, and Caesar gladly accepted it the third time.

Answer: False

Question 4: Caesar considers Cassius to be dangerous because he reads much, is a great observer, and rarely smiles.

Answer: True

Question 5: Marullus and Flavius were rewarded for pulling scarves off Caesar's images.

Answer: False

2. Fill in the Blanks

Question 1: Caesar asks Antony to remember to touch his wife Calpurnia during the holy race to cure her barrenness.

Question 2: The soothsayer calls out from the crowd and warns Caesar to beware the ides of March.

Question 3: Cassius complains that Caesar now bestrides the narrow world like a Colossus, while they walk under his huge legs.

Question 4: According to Casca, Caesar fell down in the market-place and foamed at the mouth because he suffered from the falling sickness.

Question 5: At the end of the scene, Cassius plans to forge several letters in different handwritings and throw them in Brutus's window.

3. Short Answer Questions

Question 1: Why does Caesar instruct Mark Antony to touch Calpurnia during the race?

Answer: Caesar instructs Mark Antony to touch his wife, Calpurnia, because according to Roman belief, barren women touched by a runner in this holy race would be cured of their curse of sterility.

Question 2: What is the Soothsayer's warning to Caesar, and what is Caesar's response?

Answer: The Soothsayer warns Caesar to "Beware the ides of March" (the 15th of March). Caesar asks to see the man's face, listens to him repeat the warning, and then arrogantly dismisses him by calling him a "dreamer."

Question 3: Name the two instances Cassius narrates to Brutus to prove that Caesar is physically weak.

Answer: Cassius mentions two instances: first, he had to save Caesar from drowning in the rough, raging waters of the river Tiber; second, Caesar suffered from a severe fever in Spain, during which he shook and cried for a drink like a sick girl.

Question 4: What kind of men does Caesar wish to have around him, and why does he dislike Cassius?

Answer: Caesar wants to be surrounded by fat, sleek-headed men who sleep soundly at night. He dislikes Cassius because Cassius has a "lean and hungry look," reads too much, closely observes the hidden motives of men, and rarely smiles, making him highly dangerous to Caesar's absolute power.

4. Longer Answer Questions

Question 1: Describe the events that took place at the games, as narrated by Casca to Brutus and Cassius.

Answer: Casca narrates that during the festivities, Mark Antony offered Caesar a small crown three times. Each time, Caesar pushed it away, but Casca noticed he seemed very reluctant to let it go. The ordinary citizens cheered wildly at his fake humility, clapping their rough hands and throwing their sweaty nightcaps in the air. The foul smell of their breath choked Caesar, causing him to faint and suffer an epileptic seizure. Before fainting, Caesar dramatically opened his coat and offered the crowd his throat to cut. When he regained consciousness, he blamed his illness and quickly asked for their forgiveness, which the crowd eagerly gave.

Question 2: Explain how Cassius manipulates Brutus against Caesar in this scene. What is his final plan to completely win Brutus over?

Answer: Cassius cleverly manipulates Brutus by appealing to his strong sense of honor and his deep love for the freedom of Rome. He highlights Caesar's physical weaknesses to prove that Caesar is just an ordinary mortal, no better than them. Cassius complains that noblemen have been reduced to mere underlings serving a giant "Colossus" and reminds Brutus of his great ancestors who fought against kings. To fully win Brutus over, Cassius reveals a secret plan in his closing soliloquy. He decides to write several fake letters, pretending they are from ordinary Roman citizens who highly respect Brutus but are deeply concerned about Caesar's growing ambition. He plans to throw these forged letters through Brutus's window that night to secure his participation in the conspiracy.