Name: ______________________________________ Date: ________________ Pd: ___________

T h e T r a g e d y o f J u l i u s C a e s a r G u i d e d Q u e s t i o n s A C T 2 (II)
As your classmates act the play, answer these questions to monitor your comprehension.

Blank Verse: unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter. Iambic Pentameter: 5 sets of unaccented
syllables followed by accented syllables.
Shakespeare sometime breaks with rhythmic pattern of the lines/ iambic pentameter to emphasize ideas.
Shakespeare uses blank verse to establish character rank in the play. Blank verse is used for important
characters of high rank.
When reading blank verse, pause over a comma at the end of a line, but do not stop until you come to a
period.
(M) means to use the modern text translation in your books.
(O) means use the original text to answer your question.
15 SUMMARIES AND REACTIONS REQUIRED
A C T II S C E N E I
1. (O) LA: In the exchange between Lucius and Brutus, which character speaks in blank verse? Why? (Lines 1-9)
2. (M) RC: Whom is Brutus addressing in the long speech in lines 10-39?
3. (M) RC: What is troubling Brutus from lines 10-39?
4. (O) LA: Which interjection does Shakespeare use to maintain the iambic pentameter of lines 77 and 79?
5. (O) RS: Where should you pause in reading the dialogue between Brutus and Cassius at lines 151-153?
6. (M) RC: Why do the men want Cicero to join the conspiracy? (lines 142-150)
7. (O) LA: In the last line of Brutus speech, what is Shakespeare trying to achieve with such a short line? (line
185)
8. (O) RS: How does the accent on flatterd affect the way you should read line 211?
9. (M) RC: Why does Brutus say that Antony should not be killed? (Lines 164-185)
10. (O) LA: How many syllables are in line 226? Why might Shakespeare have broken away from pure iambic
pentameter in this line?
11. (O) RS: How many complete stops should the actor make in Portias speech (lines 240-259)?
12. (M) RC: How does Portia know that Brutus is not physically sick? (lines 264-281)
13. (O) RS: Where should you pause and stop in reading Brutus speech (lines 304-305)?
14. (M) RC: Why does Portia think that Brutus should confide in her in act 2 scene 1? (Go to pages 69-73)
A C T II S c e n e II (776)
15. (O) LA: How can a speaker make the word Calpurnia work with the iambic rhythm? (Lines 1-3)
16. (O) LA: How does Shakespeare demonstrate that Decius is a noble character and not a servant (lines 58-70)?
17. (M) RC: Why does Calpurnia ask Caesar to stay home in scene 2? (pages 79-83)
18. (M) RC: How does Decius convince Caesar to go to the senate house (lines 57-107)?
A C T II S c e n e IV (781)
19. (O) RS: Where should you pause when reading Portias speech in lines 13-16? Why?
20. (O) LA: How does Shakespeare reveal whether the soothsayer is an aristocrat or a common man?

A c t II R e v I e w a n d A s s e s s
1. If you were a Roman citizen, would you have sided with the conspirators? Why or Why not? (3+ sentences)
2. a) What reasons does Brutus give for killing Caesar? b) How do Brutus comments about the serpents egg in
Act II scene i, lines 32-35, help explain his thoughts about killing Caesar?
3. a) Compare the ways Calpurnia and Decius interpret dreams to try to influence Caesars decision about going
to the capitol. b) What do you learn about Caesars character based on his reactions to Calpurnia and Decius?