Act 1 of Julius Caesar serves as the exposition of the play



Act 1 of Julius Caesar serves as the exposition of the play. Use the following Qs to review what you learn about the exposition. Conflict is established (Vyvyan uses the metaphor of war) and the audience is "asked" to take sides. In Vyvyan's words "the first act gives the rational and emotional background of the coming action" (12).

Questions: Answer the following Qs using your inference skills. Find at least one line (and mark the line number) to support your opinion.

Scene 1:

What is Flavius’ attitude toward the workers?

What do Flavius and Marullus think of Caesar?

What do Flavius and Marullus plan to do with the statues? Would this be dangerous or not?

Do you think the puns in this scene would be as funny today as they were in Shakespeare’s time?

Write an examle of a pun here. [Bonus: Find one ‘original’ example of a pun – not mentioned in class - print it out on a full A4-sized sheet of paper and bring it to class (remember appropriate content only!!)]

Scene 2:

What do lines 9-10 tell you about Anthony’s attitude toward Caesar?

The motif of omens foreshadowing doom appears in lines 17-19. How does Caesar respond to the soothsayer’s advice about the ides of March? Will this be dangerous or not?

What is Cassius’ purpose in talking to Brutus about Caesar?

Does Caesar trust Cassius or not? What lines give clues to this?

In lines 164-167 Brutus makes a request. What is the request? What does this suggest about Brutus’ character?

Define Blank Verse: Which of Shakespeare’s characters speaks in blank verse?

Define Prose: Which of Shakespeare’s characters unexpectedly speaks in prose? What characterization by Shakespeare might have made him write this character’s lines in prose?

What has happened to Marullus and Flavius? What does this detail suggest about Caesar’s rule?

Define Soliloquy: Why would Cassius not want Brutus to hear the thoughts he expresses in lines 301-315?

Scene 3:

What interpretation does Casca make about the violent thunderstorm?

How does Casca’s speech in lines 15-32 build suspense?

How does Cassius use this interpretation for his own benefit? Why might he brag that he offered himself to the dangerous night?

What impression does Cassius convey of himself in this speech?

Why does Cassius suggest that he may have spoken too freely to Casca?

Can Cassius’ plans be successful without Brutus? Why or why not?

What do these lines mean?

And now you strew flowers in his way that comes in triumph over Pompey’s blood?

Meaning??

He has the falling sickness

Meaning??

Let me have men about me that are fat…Cassius has a lean and hungry look…

Meaning??

Implies??

It’s all Greek to me.

Meaning??

Play on words??

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