Julius Caesar: Act 2, Scene 2 - Questions & Answers

Hello students! As we explore the fascinating world of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in our standard 9 English Literature class, I have prepared these questions from Act 2, Scene 2 to help you test your understanding of the play. Read the text carefully and go through these questions to strengthen your concepts!

1. Calpurnia cried out in her sleep three times, saying that Caesar was being murdered.
   Answer: True


2. The priests (augurers) advised Caesar to go to the Senate because they found a very healthy heart inside the sacrificed beast.
   Answer: False


3. Caesar strongly believes that cowards suffer the agony of death many times in their imagination before they actually die.
   Answer: True


4. Decius Brutus agrees with Calpurnia that her dream is a terrible warning of imminent evil.
   Answer: False

1. Caesar instructs his servant to tell the priests to offer a present sacrifice and bring back their opinions of success.


2. According to the frightening sights reported by the night watchmen, a lioness gave birth in the streets, and graves have yawn'd and yielded up their dead.


3. Calpurnia dreamt that she saw a statue of Caesar acting like a fountain with a hundred spouts, running with pure blood.


4. Decius tempts Caesar by revealing that the Senate has concluded to give a crown to mighty Caesar this day.

1. What were the supernatural and horrifying sights reported by the night watchmen that frightened Calpurnia?
   Answer: Calpurnia was frightened by several dreadful sights seen by the night watchmen. These included a lioness giving birth in the streets, graves opening up to release the dead, and fierce, fiery warriors fighting in the clouds in regular battle order until blood drizzled upon the Capitol. She also mentions the noises of battle in the air, horses neighing, dying men groaning, and ghosts shrieking about the streets.


2. What terrible message do the augurers (priests) send to Caesar after performing the sacrifice?
   Answer: The augurers strongly advise Caesar not to leave his house that day. When they plucked out the entrails of the sacrificed animal, they could not find a heart within the beast, which was considered a highly unnatural and terrible omen.


3. How does Caesar react to Calpurnia's fears and the supernatural omens?
   Answer: Caesar dismisses her fears with great courage and fatalism. He states that whatever the mighty gods have purposed cannot be avoided, and these predictions apply to the general world as much as they apply to him. He bravely declares that "Cowards die many times before their deaths; / The valiant never taste of death but once," showing his belief that it is strange to fear death, which is an inevitable end.

1. Explain in detail how Decius Brutus successfully manipulates Caesar into going to the Senate House, despite Calpurnia's warnings.
   Answer: Decius Brutus uses brilliant psychology and manipulation to convince Caesar to leave his house. First, he cleverly twists the interpretation of Calpurnia's terrifying dream. Instead of a warning of death, Decius flatters Caesar by calling it a "fair and fortunate" vision, claiming the bleeding statue signifies that great Rome will draw reviving life and strength from Caesar. Second, he appeals directly to Caesar's ambition by revealing that the Senate plans to officially give him a crown that very day. Finally, he plays on Caesar's immense pride by warning him that if he stays home because of his wife's bad dreams, the senators might mock him, whisper that he is afraid, and potentially change their minds about the crown. Trapped by his desire for power and his fear of looking like a coward, Caesar dismisses his wife's fears and decides to go.


2. Discuss Caesar's fatal flaw as revealed in this scene. How does it lead to his decision at the end of the scene?
   Answer: Caesar's fatal flaw, as vividly revealed in this scene, is his overwhelming pride, overconfidence, and ambition. Despite a series of unmistakable supernatural warnings—the violent storm, Calpurnia's prophetic nightmares, the horrifying sights in the streets, and the terrible omen of the heartless beast—Caesar's pride blinds him. Initially, he agrees to stay home merely to satisfy his wife's "humour" (whim). However, the moment Decius Brutus arrives, Caesar's ego takes over. He refuses to let Mark Antony say he is sick because he thinks it is beneath him to send a lie. When Decius tempts him with the promise of a crown and challenges his masculinity by suggesting people will think he is afraid, Caesar's ambition completely overrides his caution. His arrogance prevents him from seeing through Decius's obvious flattery, leading directly to his fatal decision to walk into the hands of the conspirators.