The Tragedy of Julius Caesar By William Shakespeare
Act II, sc i
Why is Brutus talking to himself at the beginning of Act II?
Brutus is debating what should be done about Caesar s rise to power.
Since Brutus is talking to himself and no one else is on the stage, what is his dramatic speech called?
Brutus s dramatic speech is called a soliloquy.
Power in and of itself is not a problem. When does power become a problem?
Power becomes a problem when it is abused.
What object does Brutus use to compare to Julius Caesar?
Brutus compares Caesar to a serpent s egg. And therefore think him as a serpent s egg. (Act II, sc i, line 32) Which literary device has Shakespeare used?
What does Brutus say should be done to that egg?
The egg needs to be destroyed BEFORE the serpent hatches.
Explicate this line: Sir, March is wasted fifteen days (Act II, sc. I, line 59).
Today is March 15.
After Cassius asks the group to swear their resolution to kill Caesar, what does Brutus ask instead?
Brutus says NO to swearing. Do not stain the even virtue of our enterprise. (Act II, sc i, line 132-133)
Who else does Cassius want killed beside Caesar?
Cassius wants Mark Antony killed too.
Who does NOT want Antony killed?
Brutus does NOT want Antony killed with Caesar. Let s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; Let s carve him as a dish fit for the gods, (Act II, sc I, lines 172-173)
Which symbols does Brutus use to represent Caesar and Antony?
He uses a head to symbolize Caesar and a limb to symbolize Antony.
What does Cassius fear that Caesar will NOT do because of the stormy weather?
Cassius fears that Caesar will not go to the Capitol.
Who says that he will persuade Caesar to go to the Capitol? What device will he use?
Decius says that he will use flattery to convince Caesar to go to the Capitol.
Who is Portia?
Portia is Brutus s wife.
Why is Portia concerned?
Portia is worried about Brutus s lack of sleeping and eating.
What does Portia say Brutus would do if he were physically ill?
Portia says that Brutus is wise and would seek a doctor if he were physically ill.
Act II, sc i (cont.) Brutus s House
What does Portia physically do to herself? Why?
Portia stabs herself in the thigh to show that if she can bear the pain of stabbing herself, she can bear with patience her husband s secrets.
Does Brutus agree to tell Portia what is troubling him?
Yes.
Act II, sc ii Caesar s House
What does Calphurnia beg Caesar NOT to do? Why?
Calphurnia begs Caesar not to go to the Capitol because she has had a bad dream.
What does Calphurnia see in her nightmare that troubles her?
Calphurnia sees Caesar s statue like a fountain which spouts blood and people are bathing in it.
When Decius arrives, Caesar tells him of Calphurnia s dream. What does Decius do?
Decius reinterprets Calphurnia s dream to be positive.
Does Caesar decide to stay or go to the Capitol?
Caesar decides to go to the Capitol.
After Caesar tells Trebonius to stay near to him at the Capitol, what is Trebonius s response?
Trebonius tells Caesar, I will. Then Trebonius makes a comment to the audience. What is the term for that dramatic speech?
Trebonius s dramatic speech to the audience is called an aside.
What is said in that aside?
In his aside Trebonius says, Caesar, I will (aside) and so near will I be, That your best friends shall wish I had been further.
Why is this aside dramatic irony? Caesar, I will (aside) and so near will I be, That your best friends shall wish I had been further.
Trebonius will stand near Caesar, not in order to talk to him, but in order to be able to stab him better.
Act II, sc iii A street near the Capitol, close to Brutus s house
Why does Artemidorus write a letter to Caesar?
Artemidorus writes the letter to warn Caesar of the conspiracy.
Act II, sc iv Another part of the street
Up until this point Portia seems strong. What does she show now?
Portia begins to show weakness. I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing The heart of woman is! O Brutus,
The End of ACT II
Works Cited Ancient Roman Capital. 12 May 2008 <http://pro.corbis.com/images/bxp60282.jpg?size=572&uid=%7bf45 AC594-689B-4E38-9F01-BB34D1BD9AA5%7D>. Clip Art. Microsoft. Cracked Egg. Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons. 12 May 2008 <http://www.bllaw.co.uk/images/cracked%20egg-pi-web.jpg >. Julius Caesar. Barnes and Noble. 2008. 12 May 2008 <http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/19380000/19385895.jpg>. Shakespeare. Lompoc High Drama. 23 Apr 2008. 12 May 2008 <http://www.lhsdrama.com/pictures/2007-2008/notquite/shakespeare9.jpg>.