The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare: Act 1

BRUTUS: And so it is. For this time I will leave you. Tomorrow, if you please to speak with me, I will come home to you; or, if you will, Come home to me, and I will wait for you. CASSIUS: I will do so. Till then, think of the world. Which statement summarizes this passage best? A. Brutus and Cassius plan to meet tomorrow at either of their homes. B. Cassius plans to buy Brutus' house. C. Brutus plans to buy Cassius' house. D. Brutus and Cassius will meet tomorrow at the Forum.

A. Brutus and Cassius plan to meet tomorrow at either of their homes

Cobbler: I am indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes: when they are in great danger I recover them. Which description fits best with what the cobbler means by the use of the word "recover" as a pun? A. He cures them and puts a new sole to "cover" them. B. He uses his work to help him "get over" what he is upset about. C. He has old shoes himself, so he cannot help anyone else. D. As a plebeian, he is not allowed to fix his own shoes.

A. He cures them and puts a new sole to "cover" them.

CASSIUS: Now know you, Casca, I have moved already Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans To undergo with me an enterprise Of honorable-dangerous consequence. . . . [F]or now, this fearful night There is no stir or walking in the streets, And the complexion of the element In favor's like the work we have in hand, Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible. Based on this excerpt, how does the weather reflect the play's mood by the end of act 1? A. The threatening, destructive weather reflects the dark and dangerous mood of the play. B. The bright sky reflects the upbeat celebration of the play. C. The gentle rain reflects the success and joy of the Roman Senate. D. The dark clouds suggest sadness that Caesar is a successful military general.

A. The threatening, destructive weather reflects the dark and dangerous mood of the play.

Select the symbol that indicates best that the conflict in Rome is a political one. A. the lion walking around the Capitol B. the bird of the night howling and shrieking C. the storm brewing D. the slave with the flaming hand

A. the lion walking around the Capital

How does the fact that Cassius has Cinna plant the letters for Brutus to read in act 1.3 show a conflict between ambition and friendship? A. Cassius is a well-respected man, and it is inappropriate for Brutus to disagree with him; the letters will ensure this does not happen. B. Brutus is a well-respected man, and as his brother-in-law, Cassius should not be manipulating Brutus in order to achieve his own ambition. C. Cinna is a close friend of Brutus and is using Cassius to help Brutus achieve his ambition. D. Brutus is a tyrant, and Cassius, as his brother-in-law, is trying to use his friendship to gain control over Brutus' ambition.

B. Brutus is a well-respected main, and as his brother-in -law, Cassius should not be manipulating Brutus in order to achieve his own ambition.

CASSIUS: Brutus, I do observe you now of late. I have not from your eyes that gentleness And show of love as I was wont to have. You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand Over your friend that loves you. Which statement summarizes this excerpt best? A. Cassius has recently become angrier with Brutus and is not willing to be the loving brother-in-law and friend he has always been. B. Cassius has noticed that lately Brutus seems to be angry with him instead of being the loving brother-in-law and friend he has always been. C. Brutus has noticed that Cassius seems to be angry with him, but Cassius denies that his feelings for Brutus have changed. D. Cassius is trying to convince Brutus that they are better friends than they really are in an effort to get closer to Caesar.

B. Cassius has noticed that lately Brutus seems to be angry with him instead of being the loving brother-in-law and friend he has always been.

Why does Cassius offer to be Brutus' mirror in act 1.2? A. Brutus is unable to see Caesar for what he really is because he once saved him in battle. B. Cassius wants to control what Brutus sees in order to manipulate him into thinking Caesar is worse than he really is. C. Cassius knows more because he is closer to Caesar than Brutus. D. Brutus has asked Cassius to help him comprehend what is happening in Rome.

B. Cassius wants to control what Brutus sees in order to manipulate him into thinking Caesar is worse than he really is.

By the end of act 1 of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, what do we know about the soothsayer's omen, "Beware the Ides of March"? A. It means there will be another storm on March 15. B. It means that Caesar and the Senate will vote on new senators on March 15. C. Caesar is in danger on the Ides of March, especially in light of Cassius' plot against him. It means Caesar's life is in danger on that day. D. Cassius is in danger on the Ides of March, especially in light of the soothsayer's plot to warn Caesar and motivate him to murder Cassius instead.

C. Caesar is in danger on the Ideas of March, especially in light of Cassius' plot against him. It means Caesar's life in in danger on that day.

By the end of act 1 of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, what do we know about the soothsayer's omen, "Beware the Ides of March"? A. It means there will be another storm on March 15. B. It means that Caesar and the Senate will vote on new senators on March 15. C. Caesar is in danger on the Ides of March, especially in light of Cassius' plot against him. It means Caesar's life is in danger on that day. D. Cassius is in danger on the Ides of March, especially in light of the soothsayer's plot to warn Caesar and motivate him to murder Cassius instead.

C. Caesar is in danger on the Ides of March, especially in light of Cassius' plot against him. It means Caesar's life is in danger on that day.

What is the date of the Ides of March? A. March 1 B. March 5 C. March 15 D. March 17

C. March 15

Flavius and Murellus insult the plebeians for celebrating rather than working. Which conflict does this scenario highlight? family gender class religion

Class

How are conflict and plot related? A. Conflict is the only component of the plot structure. B. Conflict is the part of the plot structure in which everything is brought to a peaceful resolution. C. Conflict is the part of the plot structure in which the setting and characters are first introduced. D. Conflict occurs within the plot structure and involves a struggle between two characters, forces, or situations.

D. Conflict occurs within the plot structure and involves a struggle between two characters, forces, or situations.

How is a paraphrase similar to a summary? A. They are both only one sentence in length. B. They are both used to foreshadow the future. C. They are both the same length as the original text. D. They both require other writers to restate the information in their own words.

D. They both require other writers to restate the information in their own words.

Patrician

Noun. A member of the wealthy class of Rome.

Plebian

Noun. A member of the working class of Rome.

Pun

Noun. A witty saying that often contains a double meaning.

Ides of March

Noun. The date of March 15

Symbolism

Noun. The use of objects to represent ideas

CASCA: A common slave—you know him well by sight— Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn Like twenty torches joined; and yet his hand, Not sensible of fire, remained unscorched. . . . And there were drawn Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women, Transformèd with their fear, who swore they saw Men all in fire walk up and down the streets. And yesterday the bird of night did sit Even at noonday upon the market-place, Hooting and shrieking. . . . For I believe they are portentous things Unto the climate that they point upon. portentous - adj. Predicting the future. What does this passage foreshadow? Rome will continue to prosper, and all citizens will be happy. Rome will suffer revenge at the hand of a slave. Rome will suffer danger and destruction. Rome will find a renewed peace once the bird of night leaves the market-place.

Rome will suffer danger and destruction.

Foreshadowing

noun. A technique used to build suspense by providing hints about future events.

Mood

noun. The overall feeling evoked by a play`s language, such as fearful, joyful, relaxed.

Summarize

verb. To restate concisely the details of a literary passage in your own words.

Paraphrase

verb. To use your own words to restate the events, information, or feeling in a literary passage.