Act 2 scenes 1 and 2

Questions
1. Why did Mark Antony return to Rome from Egypt?

2. What reasons did he give Octavius for not returning sooner?

3. Name two major accusations Octavius brought against Antony.

4. Why was Lepidus anxious to prevent any antagonism between

Octavius and Antony from developing?

5. From which character(s), other than Enobarbus, did Lepidus

receive the most help in allaying the controversy between the two
men?

6. For what comment was Enobarbus severely rebuked by Antony,

and why?

7. Why did Agrippa want Octavia to marry Antony?

8. What was Antony’s comment about Fulvia when Octavius

commented derogatorily on her actions?

9. In the opening Scene of Act II, Menas says: “Know, worthy

Pompey/That what they [the great gods] do delay they do not
deny.” What does Menas mean and what argument does he use to
explain why the great gods act as they do?

10. Referring to Silvius, Pompey says, “He dreams.” Why does

Pompey think Silvius is dreaming instead of accurately reporting the
situation?
Answers
1. Octavius and Lepidus, faced with warfare against Sextus
Pompeius (Pompey), thought their chances of victory would be
greatly increased if Antony were there to command the troops.

2. Antony said that his presence in Rome was not really required
earlier than when he actually returned, that Cleo¬patra’s love and
charms had intoxicated him, and that he did return to Rome as soon
as he thought he really was needed there.

3. Octavius charged Antony with not preventing the rebellion of his

wife and his brother against Rome and not fulfilling his vow to come
to the aid of the other triumvirs when they needed his aid.

4. Lepidus knew that victory over the rebel Pompey would be much
more difficult if Antony and Octavius could not resolve their
differences and put up a united front against the common enemy,
Pompey.

5. Mecenas politely asked the triumvirs to put aside their

differences, and Agrippa proposed marriage between Antony and
Octavius’ daughter Octavia.

6. Enobarbus told the triumvirs that “You shall have time to wrangle
in when you have nothing else to do.” Antony considered it wholly
inappropriate for a mere soldier to so address his betters (the
triumvirs).

7. Agrippa wanted Octavia to marry Antony because he thought

such a marriage would solidify the triumvirate and deepen the
relationship between Antony and Octavius. The marriage had
exactly the opposite effect.

8. Antony said that no man could control Fulvia’s actions, not even
her husband.
9. Menas reminds his superior, Pompey, that a delay in the gods’
answering prayer does not mean their refusal to answer it, and,
furthermore, often we ask the gods for things that would harm
rather than help us. In such a case, the gods’ refusal to answer
would be for our own good.

10. Silvius apparently said that Octavius (Caesar) and Lepidus are
“in the field,” that is, leading an army to attack Pompey. Pompey,
however, cannot believe that Antony would leave Cleopatra and
Egypt to fight against his forces; he believes without Antony’s help,
Octavius and Lepidus would be afraid to attack him.

Act 2 scenes 3,4 and 5

Questions
1. The Soothsayer reappears here. What advice does he give to
Antony?

2. Before Ventidius enters, Antony utters a short soliloquy in which

he makes two important statements. What are they?

3. In Scene 4, Lepidus says to Agrippa and Mecenas, “Trouble

yourselves no further.” What, in fact, is he telling these two men?

4. In the opening lines of Scene 5, to what does Cleopatra

(humorously) compare Antony?

5. What message does the messenger bring to Cleopatra?

6. Why is Cleopatra afraid to hear the message?

7. With what does Cleopatra threaten the messenger?

8. How does Charmian react to the exchange between the queen

and the messenger?

9. What does Cleopatra do after the messenger has exited the

stage?

10. Who was the Gorgon Cleopatra mentions near the end of Scene
5?

Answers
1. The Soothsayer urges Antony to return to Egypt and to stay away
from Octavius (Caesar); he tells Antony that Octavius will win over
him whenever a contest develops between them.

2. The two statements are that Ventidius must go to Parthia to fight

Pacorus (to avenge the murder of Marcus Crassus, a member of the
first triumvirate) and that he (Antony) intends to follow the
Soothsayer’s advice and return more or less permanently to Egypt
and Cleopatra.

3. Lepidus is telling them that they need not accompany him to the
meeting with Pompey in Sicily—that he will make the journey by
himself.

4. Cleopatra compares Antony to fish that she has caught.

5. The messenger from Rome tells Cleopatra that Antony has

married Octavia.

6. Cleopatra was afraid that the messenger had brought news of

Antony’s death.
7. Cleopatra threatens to have the messenger “whipped with wire,
and stewed in brine,/Smarting in ling’ring pickle!” Then she
threatens to stab him with a knife.

8. Charmian tries to restrain the queen from actions that are totally
out of order. Suddenly she realizes that she cannot control Antony
as she has been able to control the members of her court.

9. Cleopatra threatens to faint, sends Alexas to learn all he can

about Octavia and report back to her, and asks Charmian to lead
her to her chamber.

10. The Gorgon, known in legend as Medusa, had her head covered
with snakes instead of normal hair. Whoever looked upon her
immediately turned to stone.
Act 3 scene 1

Questions
1. Why was Antony so anxious to conquer Parthia and its king,
Orodes?

2. What particular function does Silius perform in this scene?

3. What did Silius want Ventidius to do?

4. Why did Ventidius refuse to do it?

5. What did Ventidius plan to do immediately after his victory?

6. What was the most pressing message Ventidius intended to send

to Antony, other than informing him of the victory, and why was
that message of supreme importance?

7. Ventidius says, “Caesar and Antony have ever won/More in their

officer than person.” What did he mean?

8. Who was Sossius?

9. Silius says, “Thou hast, Ventidius, that/Without the which a

soldier and his sword/Grants scarce distinction.” Is this a
complimentary or a disparaging remark to Ventidius, and why?

10. What figure of speech does Ventidius’ use of the word “horse” in
line 34 represent, and what is its meaning?

Answers
1. Antony was anxious to avenge the Parthians’ treacherous murder
of Marcus Crassus, a member of the first triumvirate of Rome.
2. Silius is a “stick” who serves as a foil to allow Ventidius to explain
to the audience what had transpired in Parthia and why it was
important.

3. Silius wanted Ventidius to follow the fleeing Parthians, capture

more territory, and win more honors for Antony.

4. Ventidius knew from his study of military history that subordinate

generals who outshine their superior officers often are destroyed by
those officers to prevent any chance that the subordinate should
supplant the top general.

5. Ventidius planned to go to Athens to communicate to Antony his

victory over Parthia.

6. Ventidius wanted to emphasize that his troops won the great

victory because they were well paid and carried the banners of the
famous General Antony. The distinct implication is that, had the
troops not been well paid and well treated by their generals, they
quite likely would not have won the victory.

7. Ventidius meant that both Antony and Octavius (Caesar) had

been more successful when their subordinates commanded their
armies in actual conflict than when they had commanded the armies
themselves.

8. Sossius, a commander of roughly the same rank as Ventidius,

made the mistake of winning too many great honors for himself,
and thus lost his general’s favor.

9. Silius is compli¬menting his commander, Ventidius, by saying

that Ventidius possesses the discretion without which a commander
is little more than a walking sword.

10. “Horse” is a synecdoche, in which the part (horse) represents

the whole (the Parthian cavalry).
Act 3 scene 2, 3 and 4

 Questions
1.Who are Agrippa and Enobarbus discussing in Scene 2?

2. Why does Lepidus praise both Octavius and Antony?

3. Why does Octavius weep when Antony and Octavia leave?

4. Where are Antony and Octavia going?

5. Whom does Octavius express his distrust of?

6. What mission does Cleopatra give her messenger?

7. Why is Cleopatra concerned about Octavia?

8. In Scene 4, Why is Antony angry at Octavius?

9. Why does Octavia wish to go to Rome?

10. Why does Antony grant Octavia’s wish?

Answers
1. Enobarbus and Agrippa are discussing Lepidus.

2. Lepidus praises both Octavius and Antony because of his own

dwindling status.

3. Octavius weeps out of concern for Octavia’s welfare.

4. Octavia and Antony are departing for Athens.

5. Octavius expresses his distrust of Antony.

6. He is sent to gather information on Octavia.

7. Cleopatra sees Octavia as her rival and is jealous of her.

8. Antony is angry because Octavius has taken action against

Pompey without consulting him.

9. Octavia wishes to go to Rome to reconcile the differences

between her brother and Antony.

10. Antony grants her wish because he fears a full-scale war is

imminent.