| Read the excerpt below from act 5.1 of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and answer the question that follows.CASSIUS:A peevish1 schoolboy, worthless of such honor,Joined with a masquer and a reveller2!ANTONY:Old Cassius still!OCTAVIUS:Come, Antony, away!Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth.If you dare fight today, come to the field.If not, when you have stomachs3.1. Silly.2. Party goers.3. The guts; the nerve.How does this exchange contribute to Shakespeare’s overall purpose in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar? | Powerful men are reduced to petty insults and violence. |
| Read the excerpt below from act 5.1 of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and answer the question that follows.CASSIUS:Messala,This is my birthday . . . .Now I change my mind,And partly credit things that do presage. . . .Two mighty eagles fell . . . .And in their steads do ravens, crows, and kitesFly o’er our heads and downward look on us,As we are sickly prey. Their shadows seemA canopy most fatal under whichOur army lies, ready to give up the ghost.How does Cassius’ use of figurative language in the bolded lines foreshadow the possible fate of his and Brutus’ army? | Using figurative language, Shakespeare creates an image. |
| Read the excerpt below from act 5.1 of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and answer the question that follows.BRUTUS:Think not, thou noble Roman,That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome.He bears too great a mind. But this same dayMust end that work the ides of March begun . . . .The excerpt above is from Brutus’ farewell speech to Cassius. How do Brutus’ words highlight the theme of honor in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar? | Brutus’ honor will not allow him to return to Rome “bound,” or as a prisoner of Octavius’ army. He assassinated Caesar to end such tyranny. |
| Read the excerpt below from act 5.1 of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and answer the question that follows.BRUTUS:Words before blows: is it so, countrymen?OCTAVIUS:Not that we love words better, as you doBRUTUS:Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius.ANTONY:In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words.Witness the hole you made in Caesar’s heart,Crying “Long live, hail Caesar!”How does Shakespeare use language in this excerpt to create tension in the plot? | Shakespeare has these strong and powerful men throwing insults at each other. |
| Read the excerpt below from act 5.1 of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and answer the question that follows.ANTONY:Villains, . . . You showed your teeth like apes, and fawned like hounds,And bowed like bondmen, kissing Caesar’s feet,Whilst damnèd Casca, like a cur1, behindStruck Caesar on the neck.1. A wild dog.How does the bolded figurative language add meaning to the scene that Mark Antony is describing? | The use of the words “like a cur” creates a visual image of Casca attacking Caesar like a wild dog. |
| Which armies fight the Battle of Philippi? | Mark Antony and Octavius vs. Brutus and Cassius |
| Explain the differences among denotative meaning, connotative meaning, and figurative language. | Denotative meaning is the literal meaning of a word. Connotative meaning is the feeling evoked by a word. Figurative language is a creative way to express an idea rather than stating the exact definition. |
| Read the excerpt below from act 5.1 of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and answer the question that follows.BRUTUS:No, Cassius, no.Think not, thou noble Roman,That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome.He bears too great a mind. But this same dayMust end that work the ides of March begun;And whether we shall meet again I know not.Therefore our everlasting farewell take.For ever and for ever farewell, Cassius.If we do meet again, why, we shall smile.If not, why then, this parting was well made.CASSIUS:For ever and for ever farewell, Brutus.If we do meet again, we’ll smile indeed.If not, ’tis true this parting was well made.What is the tone of this exchange between Brutus and Cassius? Give specific examples of words that support your answer. | The tone of this exchange is soft. They are both saying their goodbyes to each other. |
| Read the excerpt below from act 5.1 of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and answer the question that follows.ANTONY:Octavius, lead your battle softly onUpon the left hand of the even field.OCTAVIUS:Upon the right hand, I; keep thou the left.ANTONY:Why do you cross me in this exigent?OCTAVIUS:I do not cross you, but I will do so.How does this exchange show the tension between Mark Antony and Octavius? | They are disagreeing over their strategy for the military. |
| Which theme exemplifies the dispute between Mark Antony and Octavius at the opening of act 5? | Betrayal accompanies the quest for power. |
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare: Act 5.1-5.2 Practice and Quiz
April 13, 2020