English JULIUS CAESAR test SHORT ANSWERS plus LONG ANSWERS

Cassius asks Brutus what he plans to do if they should lose battle. What is Brutus' response?

Since he finds the act of suicide cowardly and vile, he will have little choice but to be patient and yield to whatever fate dictates. He adds that he will never return to Rome as a prisoner. That Brutus nevertheless dies by his own hand at the end of the play adds to his tragedy.

Brutus is cast as a very idealistic leader in the play while Cassius is cast as being highly pragmatic. Of the two, which do you think is the better leader?

Brutus is the better leader. He is selfless, true to his words and fights for the good of Rome and its people. Cassius is manipulative, like the notes to Brutus. Brutus also stays focused when he hears that his wife died.

At the end of the play, Antony refers to Brutus as "the noblest Roman of them all." Do you agree with his assessment? Was Brutus noble? Defend your answer?

Brutus was noble because he stayed true to his words and acted solely for the good of Rome. He was not manipulative when he wanted to take power. He died a true Roman rather than being captured by Antony.

How does Cassius trick Brutus into joining the conspirators?

Cassius forges letters signed from the people, telling him that they need him to defend them from Caesar and take away his power and overthrow him.

What is the significance of Caesar's dying words?

He's saying "Even you Brutus?", meaning Brutus and him were so close and that he was so surprised that his true friend, or so he thought, would go against him behind his back and kill him.

Describe the encounter between Brutus and Caesar's ghost. Purpose?

Shows how Brutus is honorable, in that he still goes to Phillipe to defend his people that believe in him, even though Caesar's ghost foreshadows his upcoming death. Brutus starts to read. With the candle Brutus's eyes are distracted upward, to see the ghost of Caesar standing beside him. The ghost tells Brutus that they will meet again at Philippi.

What is the purpose of the storm? What significance would it have to an Elizabethan audience?

The storm signifies an omen of bad things to come in the play. Elizabethans believed in supernatural occurrences so they understood that a storm meant bad things to come.

After an Ominous dream, Calpurnia begs Caesar to stay away from the senate and at first he agrees. What changes his mind?

Decius, part of the conspirators with Brutus, Comes to his house and tells him that it is a misinterpretation and that his blood is reviving the people and that they are not relishing in it. He tells him he will look like a coward and that if he doesn't accept it now, they may take it back and reject him.

How does Brutus die?

Has Strato hold a knife and close his eyes, while Brutus runs at him and runs into the knife. Dies very honorably and knowingly.

How does Cassius die?

Has his Pindarus stab him, while Cassius closes his eyes so he doesn't know when it happens. Very cowardly.

Explain the significance of Antony's final speech, beginning with the line, "This was the noblest Roman of them all."?

He is implying that only Brutus really believed that he was killing Caesar to uphold the Roman Republic. Despite his eagerness to achieve power, Brutus is the only conspirator to maintain his humanity and dignity throughout the play. He stands as a symbol of honor against the dishonorable Cassius who lies, manipulates, and wishes to take bribes, and Brutus implies that he would never have killed Caesar except to defend the Roman Republic. He was selfless and fought only for the good of Rome.

The play is entitled Julius Caesar even though Caesar is dead by Act III. Do you think this is an appropriate title? Defend your answer?

Yes- This whole story is because of Caesar assuming power and Cassius and Brutus not liking that. The whole conflict is because of Caesar. His spirit continues to live on even after his death.