| What question is Brutus pondering at the opening of the scene? | Whether the power of being king will corrupt Caesar or not. If he gains that much power, he might turn into an evil ruler, even though Brutus has never seen Caesar act like that before. |
| For what information does Brutus want Lucius to look at a calendar? | He wants to know if it’s the Ides of March, he must act before Caesar is crowned. |
| Why do the conspirators want Cicero to join them? | Cicero will lend honor to their cause and make it more acceptable with credibility because of his age. |
| Why does Brutus reject Cicero? | He is greek, a foreigner and because Cicero never follows anyone elses ideas. |
| What is Cassius’s reaction and what does this show about his and Brutus’s relationship? | Cicero never follows anyone else’s ideas. Cassius replies ” then leave him out” and this shows that Cassius listens to whatever Brutus says. |
| What do the conspirators plan to do the next day? | Kneel around Caesar, Stab him to death, Proclaim “Tyranny is dead!” |
| How does Decius say he will make sure that Caesar will come to the Capitol? | By flattering Caesar into going to the Capitol. He will persuade Caesar into goint. (He’ll talk Caesar into it because he knows Caesar likes him.) |
| What has Portia done to show Brutus that she is worthy of knowing his secrets? | She stabs herself in the leg, exhibiting her own bravery and strength as a woman. |
| What strange and horrible things does Calpurnia report to Caesar that have been seen that night? | She saw blood dripping all over Rome, showing that Caesar will die. |
| What is the significance of Julius Caesar saying “And we, like friends, will straightway go together”? | He is asking his friends to go have wine with him, as it will be their last time to do this befoer his death. This is an allusion to the Last Supper” with Jesus. |
| What does Calpurnia meanby the following statement? “When beggars die, there are no comets seen; the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.” | If a beggar dies, no one cares. When a prince die, they will care. |
| How does Decius convince Caesar to go to the Capitol? | The reason Caesar does not go is because his wife fears that he will die but Decius says that the dream is not real and the gods are saying that they aren’t happy he is dying. Basically, Decius flatters him. Also, he says that the senate might change their mind about making Caesar leader if he doesn’t go because of his wife’s nightmare. |
| What is Artemidorus’s plan? | To give Caesar a letter warning him of the conspirators. He attempts to warn Caesar of the attack planned on him by the conspirators. He tries to read the letter to him in streets while he walks to the Capitol. |
| Why is Portia so nervous and upset? On what errand does she send Lucius? | She has a feeling something bad is going on and Brutus is involved. She sends him to the Capitol to see what is going on. |
Julius Caesar Study Guide: Act II
April 13, 2020