Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

Julius Caesarby William Shakespeare Test Review for Acts I-III

Julius Caesar Jeopardy

200 Julius Caesar the play was written during this time in this place. 1599, London, England, during the Elizabethan Period • Back

200 What is the setting of the play? Ancient Rome, 44 B.C.E. • Back

200 At the beginning of the play, what two main things are the Romans celebrating? The Feast of the Lupercal and Caesar’s defeat over Pompey. • Back

200 The line, “It was Greek to me” from the play is an example of this type of figurative language. This is an idiom. An idiom is a well-known phrase. “It was Greek to me” means I don’t understand. • Back

200 The line, “Beware the ides of March,” is spoken by which character and is an example of this literary element. It is spoken by the Soothsayer and it’s an example of foreshadowing because it hints at en event in the future. • Back

400 What is the play’s genre? Tragedy • Back

400 Which physical weaknesses that Caesar has make him more human, and less God-like? He is deaf in one ear and has the “falling sickness,” epilepsy. • Back

400 How does Cassius use persuasion to convince Brutus to join the conspiracy? He tells Brutus that Caesar is not worthy of being king, Caesar is weak, and he uses flattery with Brutus.

400 The clock and the doublet mentioned in the play were not yet invented in 44 B.C.; this is an example of which literary element? anachronism • Back

400 When Brutus says, “And therefore think him a serpent’s egg, which hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous, and kill him in the shell,” to what is he referring and which type of figurative language does he use? He means that they must kill Julius Caesar before he becomes king and becomes evil. He uses a metaphor—a comparison without using like or as. Back

600 Explain three of the play’s themes. Power, fate vs. free will, betrayal, and public vs. private self • Back

600 When Cassius says to Brutus, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings,” to which theme does this best relate? Fate • Back

600 Both Brutus and Marc Antony speak at Julius Caesar’s funeral. What does Antony try to convince the plebeians? What does Brutus try to convince them? Antony tries to convince the plebeians that Julius Caesar was not ambitious and that his murder was done for the wrong reasons. Brutus tries to convince the plebeians that it had to be done to preserve their freedom • Back

600 When Ligarius says, “Thou like an exorcist, hast conjured up my mortified spirit,” to Brutus, what does he mean? This is an example of what type of literary device? He means that Brutus has inspired him to join the conspiracy and he uses a simile (a comparison using like or as) • Back

600 Calpurnia’s dream of Caesar’s statue spouting blood is an example of which literary device? Foreshadowing of Caesar’s death. • Back

800 The three members of the first triumvirate formed in 60 B.C.E. include Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus • Back

800 Why does Cassius not trust Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral? He knows Antony is skilled at persuasion, he knows the plebeians are fickle, and he worries Antony will make the conspirators look bad. • Back

800 Cassius and the other conspirators worry about Caesar’s? AMBITION (desires for the future) • Back

800 What Aristotle’s Three Appeals, and what does each one mean? Ethos= credible speakers Pathos= emotion Logos= reasons/logic • Back

800 Which characters were involved in the conspiracy against Julius Caesar? (list all eight) Brutus, Cassius, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Ligarius, Cinna, and Casca • Back

1000 What is a soliloquy? Provide an example of one from the play. A soliloquy is a speech that a character says while alone. One example is when Brutus discusses his true feelings about Caesar and how he would change. • Back

1000 Explain three signs that Caesar ignores or misinterprets which lead to his assassination. Artemidorus’ letter Calpurnia’s dream The Soothsayer’s, “Beware the ides of March” • Back

1000 When Casca says,“I have seen the tempests (storms) when the scolding winds/Have rived the knotty oaks, and I have seen/The ambitious ocean swell, and rage, and foam…” (I.iii) to what is he referring? He refers to the storm and, being ambitious, it’s a metaphor for Caesar swelling and raging like the ocean. • Back

1000 Caesar’s response to the Soothsayer’s warning is an example of which literary device? Misinterpretation of signs motif • Back

1000 The Roman Republic’s three branches of government include The Senate, the Assembly, and Two Consuls • Back

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare