Read the following questions and answer:

Q1: Who enters the scene with his sword drawn?

Casca enters the scene with his sword drawn.

Q2: Who does Casca encounter in the street?

Casca encounters Cicero in the street.

Q3: What does Casca say about the state of the earth and the tempest?

Casca says that the earth is shaking like an unstable thing, and he
describes witnessing tempests with scolding winds, raging oceans, and
threatening clouds. He also mentions experiencing a tempest dropping
fire for the first time.

Q4: According to Casca, what are the possible causes of these unnatural
occurrences?

Casca speculates that either there is a civil strife in heaven or the world
has angered the gods, causing them to send destruction.

Q5: Did Casca witness any other strange events?

Yes, Casca saw a common slave whose left hand was on fire but remained
unburned. He also encountered a lion near the Capitol who passed by
without harming him. Additionally, he saw a heap of a hundred ghastly
women transformed with fear, claiming to have witnessed men walking in
fire. Furthermore, he mentions the bird of night sitting and making noises
in the market during daylight.
Q6: How does Cicero respond to Casca’s accounts?

Cicero acknowledges that it is a strange and unusual time, but he

suggests that people can interpret these events according to their own
biases and beliefs, detached from their actual causes.

Q7: Does Casca confirm Caesar’s arrival at the Capitol tomorrow?

Yes, Casca confirms that Caesar will indeed be at the Capitol tomorrow
and that Antony has sent word about it.

Q8: What does Casca say before leaving Cicero?

Casca bids farewell to Cicero and remarks that the disturbed sky is not
suitable for walking.

Q9: Who enters the scene after Cicero exits?

Cassius enters the scene after Cicero exits.

Q10: Who does Cassius encounter?

Cassius encounters Casca.

Q11: What does Casca ask Cassius about the night?

Casca asks Cassius about the nature of the night, expressing surprise and
concern over the threatening signs from the heavens.

Q12: How does Cassius respond to Casca’s question?

Cassius responds by suggesting that those who know the faults and flaws
of the earth would not be surprised by such signs. He states that he has
been walking around the streets, exposing himself to the dangers of the
night, and compares himself to a target for lightning strikes.

Q13: Why does Casca question Cassius about his actions?

Casca asks Cassius why he would willingly tempt the heavens and expose
himself to danger, as it is natural for men to fear and tremble when the
gods send such terrifying signs.

Q14: How does Cassius explain his actions to Casca?

Cassius criticizes Casca for lacking the vigor and spirit expected of a
Roman. He suggests that Casca appears pale, fearful, and full of wonder,
reacting to the unusual signs in the sky. Cassius explains that these signs
are meant to instill fear and serve as warnings to a state in monstrous
condition.

Q15: Whom does Cassius compare to the night in terms of dreadfulness?

Cassius says that he could name a man who is most like the dreadful
night itself. This person thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars like a
lion in the Capitol. Cassius mentions that this man is not more powerful
than himself or Casca, but his actions have become prodigious and
fearful, just like the strange occurrences in the night. He hints at Julius
Caesar.

Q16: According to Casca, what are the senators planning to do tomorrow?

Casca reveals that the senators are planning to establish Caesar as a king
and that he will wear the crown everywhere except in Italy.
Q17: How does Cassius react to the news about Caesar?

Cassius says that Caesar can never be a wolf. He sees the Romans as
sheep. If the Romans were not coward female deer, Julius Caesar could
never be a lion. Rome has become trash to be burnt. While burning it can
do nothing but arouse ambition in a useless Caesar. There are many
people like Casca who are ready to serve Caesar willingly which has made
him a tyrant.

Q18: What does Cassius say he will do?

Cassius declares that he will wear a dagger and free himself from
bondage. He believes that no prison, no matter how strong, can contain
the strength of one’s spirit. Cassius states that if he knows this, the entire
world should also understand that he can easily shake off the tyranny he
bears.

Q19: How does Casca respond to Cassius’ statement?

Casca agrees with Cassius and says that every slave has the power to
cancel their own captivity by their own hand.

Q20: Whom does Cassius want to recruit to their cause?

Cassius expresses his desire to win over the noble Brutus to their party.

Q21: What task does Cassius assign to Cinna?

Cassius instructs Cinna to deliver a letter to the praetor’s chair and place
it where Brutus will find it. He also tells Cinna to throw another into
Brutus’ window and set up another letter with wax on the statue of old
Brutus. After completing these tasks, Cinna should meet them at
Pompey’s porch.

Q22: Who is absent among the conspirators?

Metellus Cimber is absent among the conspirators because he went to

seek Cassius at his house.

Q23: Where do Cassius and Casca plan to go next?

Cassius and Casca plan to go to Brutus’ house and meet with him before
daybreak. They believe that three parts of Brutus are already on their
side, and they aim to win over the entire man in their next encounter.

Q24: What is Casca’s opinion of Brutus?

Casca believes that Brutus holds a high position in the hearts of the
people, and even if their actions may seem offensive, Brutus’
countenance can transform them into acts of virtue and worthiness.

Q25. How is Cassius trying to win over Brutus?

Cassius is trying to win over Brutus by appealing to his sense of honor

and love for Rome. He believes that Brutus is a noble and honorable man
who cares deeply about the welfare of Rome and its people. Cassius tries
to convince Brutus that Caesar’s rise to power would be detrimental to
the Roman Republic and that they must act to prevent him from
becoming a tyrant.

Cassius also plays on Brutus’ pride and sense of importance by

suggesting that Rome needs him as a leader and that he is the only one
who can save the Republic. He flatters Brutus, praising his noble lineage
and reputation, and portrays him as the savior of Rome.

Furthermore, Cassius manipulates Brutus’ emotions by presenting him

with forged letters from concerned citizens, which express their fear and
worry about Caesar’s growing power. The letters are meant to create a
sense of urgency and convince Brutus that the people are relying on him
to take action.
Q26: Who does Cassius compare Caesar to in terms of his rise to power?

Cassius compares Caesar to a lion roaring in the Capitol, suggesting that

although Caesar is not physically mightier than Cassius or himself, he has
grown powerful and fearsome due to the political support he has gained.

Q27: What does Cassius mean when he says, “our fathers’ minds are
dead, and we are governed with our mothers’ spirits”?

Cassius implies that the current generation of Romans lacks the strong
and decisive mindset of their forefathers, and instead, they are influenced
and ruled by a more passive and submissive feminine spirit, which he
perceives as weak.

Q28: Why does Cassius think that Caesar would not be a wolf or a lion?

Cassius believes that Caesar would not naturally be a tyrant or act in an

oppressive manner. Instead, he suggests that Caesar perceives the
Romans as weak and submissive, much like sheep, and takes advantage
of their lack of strength and resistance.
Q29: Why does Cassius want to deliver Rome from Caesar’s rule?

Cassius fears that Caesar’s ascent to power would lead to the downfall of
the Roman Republic and the loss of personal freedom. He believes that
Caesar’s rule would turn Rome into a tyranny and suppress the rights and
liberties of its citizens. Cassius seeks to preserve the ideals of the Roman
Republic and prevent Caesar from becoming a dictator.

Q30: What is the significance of Cassius wanting to wear a dagger and

deliver himself from bondage?

The significance of Cassius wanting to wear a dagger and deliver himself

from bondage lies in his desire for personal freedom and liberation from
what he perceives as the oppressive rule of Caesar. By wearing a dagger,
Cassius symbolizes his readiness to take action and free himself from the
metaphorical chains of tyranny. It reflects his determination to resist
Caesar’s authority and regain control over his own destiny. Cassius
believes that through their plot against Caesar, they can overthrow the
chains of servitude and restore the ideals of a free and democratic Rome.