Grade 10 English Literature Name:________________
Date :_________________
JULIUS CAESAR: ACT 3, SCENE 1
Questions to Consider
1) What can we assume Artemidorus wants to tell Caesar? Why does Decius interrupt his request by presenting
Caesar with a petition from someone else?
2) Why do all the men step forward to support Metellus’s petition to have his brother’s banishment revoked? What is
Caesar’s response to their pleas?
3) Who is the last to stab Caesar? Why is this notable?
4) What message is Brutus trying to convey by having the conspirators go out in public smeared with Caesar’s
blood?
5) What message does Antony’s servant bring to Brutus? How does Brutus react?
6) When Antony comes on scene, he thinks that the men may have some hard feelings towards him (because he was
aligned with Caesar). What does he say they can do to him if that is the case ?
7) How does Brutus respond to what Antony says (in lines ___177-190_____________)?
8) Brutus wants to explain to Antony why Caesar was murdered, but he says he must do something first. What does
he say he must do first ____________page 78 lines 192-196________?
9) After shaking hands with the conspirators, Antony immediately feels guilty and apologizes to Caesar. Why does
he feel guilty ?(lines 210 -224)
10) What is Cassius’s reaction to Antony’s apology to Caesar? What question does he pose to Antony (lines_pg 79 -
lines 230________________)? How does Antony respond to the question?( lines pg 79 line233-34)
11) What does Antony request of Brutus in lines 242-246 pg 79? How does Brutus respond?
12) Cassius doesn’t agree with Brutus’s response to Antony’s request. Why doesn’t he think Antony should speak at
Caesar’s funeral? How does Brutus respond to Cassius’s complaint (pg 80 lines 253-260)?
13) In order for Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral, what are the rules he must follow, as outlined by Brutus in lines
262-269 pg 80?
14) When all the conspirators leave the stage and Antony is alone, he is able to speak truthfully. His soliloquy shows
what he really thinks of the men who have just left and what he intends to do about the murder. What does he
think of the murder and the men who committed it? What does he intend to do?pgs 80-81 Lines 281-294
15) A servant of Ocatvius Caesar comes on scene after Antony’s soliloquy. Octavius Caesar, Ceasar’s adopted son
was not in Rome at the time of Caesar’s murder. He is coming back to Rome upon Caesar’s request, not knowing
that Caesar has actually been murdered. What two things does Antony instruct the servant to do?pg 82 lines306-
308
16) What reason does Caesar give for not reading Artemidorus’ letter?
17) What Roles do the following characters play in the conspiracy? Trebonius: Metellus Cimber. Casca
18) What is Caesar’s opinion of himself?
19) What does “Et tu, Brute?” mean? How do these words relate to the theme of friendship in the play?
20) Where does Caesar’s dead body lie? How is this ironic?
21) What does Brutus tell the conspirators to do after killing Caesar?
22) What promise does Brutus tell the servant to relay to Antony?
23) What does Antony say about the possibility of being killed by the conspirators?
24) After being assured he is in no danger, what favour does Antony ask of the conspirators?
25) What does Cassius think about granting Antony this favour? What restrictions does Brutus set?
26) Summarize Antony’s main points in his speech to Caesar’s body?
27) Who is coming to Rome to meet with Antony?
Multiple choice questions
1. What is Caesar's response when Artemidorus urges him to read his letter?
(a) Caesar ignores Artemidorus completely
(b) Caesar agrees and reads the letter immediately
(c) Caesar suggests that he will read the letter last
(d) Caesar tears up the letter in front of Artemidorus.
2. What is Cassius's reaction when Popilius wishes him well in his "enterprise"?
(a) Cassius ignores Popilius, knowing he isn't aware of the conspiracy
(b) Cassius privately fears that Popilius has discovered the conspiracy
(c) Cassius thanks Popilius, assuming he's talking about Cassius's own political campaign
Grade 10 English Literature Name:________________
Date :_________________
(d) Cassius realizes that Popilius is going to join in the assassination.
3. How does Caesar respond to Metellus Cimber's appeal for his banished brother?
(a) Caesar remains steadfast and refuses to change his mind
(b) Caesar agrees to reconsider after hearing Metellus's appeal
(c) Caesar changes his mind and agrees to immediately lift the banishment
(d) Caesar grows angry and banishes Metellus as well.
4. How does Caesar react to Brutus joining the conspirators' violent attack on him?
(a) He continues to resist and fight back against the conspirators
(b) He appears shocked by the betrayal and gives up resistance
(c) He pulls out a dagger and stabs Brutus in self-defense
(d) He reveals that he knew about the conspiracy all along.
5. What does Brutus suggest the conspirators do after Caesar's assassination?
(a) Hide all evidence of their involvement and say nothing
(b) Tell the Roman people that Caesar was killed in an accident
(c) Flee from the Rome immediately to avoid punishment
(d) Cover themselves in Caesar's blood and publicly announce the assassination.
6. What does Brutus's reaction to Antony's appeal foreshadow?
(a) Brutus's alliance with Antony
(b) Antony's decision to leave Rome
(c) Antony's further manipulation of Brutus
(d) Brutus's murder of Antony.
7. How does Brutus plan to handle Antony's mistrust and the fear of the crowds?
(a) He plans to use a logical explanation to establish unity
(b) He plans to flee Rome to avoid scrutiny
(c) He plans to arrest Antony and silence the crowds
(d) He plans to declare himself the new leader of Rome.
8. What request does Antony make of the conspirators?
(a) He asks to be made the new leader of Rome
(b) He asks to be allowed speak at Caesar's funeral
(c) He asks them to leave Rome immediately
(d) He asks for a personal guard for his protection.
9. Why is Brutus naïve about Antony's upcoming speech at Caesar's funeral?
(a) He overestimates Antony's ability to sway the crowd with logic
(b) He places too much faith in Cassius's influence over Antony
(c) He underestimates the emotional power of Antony's words
(d) He assumes that Antony will not show up to the funeral
10. What does Antony prophesy after the others have left Caesar's corpse?
(a) Antony predicts that there will be a time of great prosperity in Rome
(b) Antony sees a vision of Caesar's ghost haunting Rome
(c) Antony believes that Octavius Caesar will rise to power
(d) Antony foretells that a civil war will break out across Italy
11. What is ironic about the timing of Caesar's murder (in relation to the preceding events)?
(a) He is murdered just as he is reading the warning from Portia.
(b) He is destroyed just after proclaiming his magnificence and indestructibility.
(c) It occurs just after a great storm and earthquake.
(d) Brutus has changed his mind but is not able to stop the others.
12. In the moments following Caesar's death, what do the conspirators proclaim to justify their deed?
(a) "Life! Liberty! The pursuit of happiness!" (c) "Fates, we will know your pleasures."
(b) "Et tu, Brute!" (d) "Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!"
13. When Caesar and his group arrive at the senate, who is worried that the assassination plot has been
discovered?
(a) Casca. (b) Brutus. (c) Trebonius. (d) Cassius
14. How does Caesar respond when Metellus requests a pardon for his banished brother, Publius Cimber?
(a) No absolution. (b) A new trial. (c) Publius must be killed. (d) Total absolution
15. Who is the first to stab Caesar?
(a) Decius. (b) Ligarius. (c) Casca. (d) Cinna
16. Brutus tell Antony that their hearts are full of ___ after killing Caesar.
(a) Joy. (b) Pain. (c) Pity. (d) Empathy
17. Once he is alone with Caesar’s body, how does Antony say he treated Caesar’s murderers?
Grade 10 English Literature Name:________________
Date :_________________
(a) Ruthlessly. (b) Gently. (c) Sympathetically. (d) Jealously
Act III, Scene i: #1. What is Metellus Cimber's petition to Caesar? What is Caesar's response and why does
he give this response?
#2. What request does Antony's servant bring to Brutus? What is Brutus's response?
#3. Why does Cassius object to letting Antony speak at Caesar's funeral? What reassurance does Brutus
give him?
#4. What promise does Antony give Brutus about his funeral speech?
#5. After being left alone with Caesar's body, what does Antony promise to do?
us about his funeral speech?
6. What reasons does Brutus give for killing Caesar ? What is the crowd’s reaction ?
7.
