Assignment (1)
What is the effect of Cassius's speech that compares Caesar to a dangerous storm?
"[CASSIUS.] Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man
Most like this dreadful night
That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars
As doth the lion in the Capitol:
A man no mightier than thyself, or me,
In personal action, yet prodigious grown
And fearful, as these strange eruptions are.
-The
Tragedy of Julius Caesar,
William Shakespeare"
Lesson (2)
In this passage, it can be inferred that Cassius is motivated to use Brutus's status to convince him to join the conspiracy. Which line best supports this motivation?
" [CASSIUS.] Well, Brutus, thou art noble: yet I see
Thy honourable mettle may be wrought
From that it is disposed. Therefore it is meet
That noble minds keep ever with their likes;
For who so firm that cannot be
seduced?
Caesar doth bear me hard, but he loves Brutus.
If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius,
He should not humour me. I will this night,
In several hands in at his windows throw,
As if they came from several citizens,
Writings all tending to the great opinion
That Rome holds of his name, wherein obscurely
Caesar's ambition shall be glancèd at:
And after this, let Caesar seat him sure,
For we will shake him, or worse days endure.
-The Tragedy of Julius
Caesar, William Shakespeare"
What does Brutus reveal in this soliloquy? Check all that apply.
" BRUTUS. It must be by his death: and for my part
I know no personal cause to spurn at him
But for the general. He would be crowned:
How that might change his nature, there's the question.
It is the bright day that bring forth the adder,
And that craves wary walking. Crown him that,
And then I grant we put a sting in him
That at his will he
may do danger with.
Th'abuse of greatness is when it disjoins
Remorse from power. And to speak truth of Caesar,
I have not known when his affections swayed
More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof
That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;
But when he once attains the upmost round,
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend. So Caesar may.
Then lest
he may, prevent. And since the quarrel
Will bear no colour for the thing he is,
Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented,
Would run to these and these extremities;
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous,
And kill him in the shell.
-The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare"
How does this scene contribute to the overall plot?
"BRUTUS. It must be by his death: and for my
part
I know no personal cause to spurn at him
But for the general. He would be crowned:
How that might change his nature, there's the question.
It is the bright day that bring forth the adder,
And that craves wary walking. Crown him that,
And then I grant we put a sting in him
That at his will he may do danger with.
Th'abuse of greatness is when it disjoins
Remorse from power. And to speak truth of Caesar,
I have not known when his affections swayed
More than his
reason. But 'tis a common proof
That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;
But when he once attains the upmost round,
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend. So Caesar may.
Then lest he may, prevent. And since the quarrel
Will bear no colour for the thing he is,
Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented,
Would run to these and these extremities;
And
therefore think him as a serpent's egg
Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous,
And kill him in the shell.
-The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare"
What effect does the letter have on Brutus?
" Read the excerpt from act 2, scene 1, of Julius Caesar.
BRUTUS. The exhalations whizzing in the air Give so much light that I may read by them.
[Opens the letter and reads]
"Brutus, thou sleep'st. Awake, and see thyself. Shall
Rome, etc.? Speak, strike, redress."—"Brutus, thou sleep'st. Awake!" Such instigations have been often dropped Where I have took them up. "Shall Rome, etc.?" Thus must I piece it out: Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What, Rome? My ancestors did from the streets of Rome The Tarquin drive when he was called a king. "Speak, strike, redress!" Am I entreated To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise, If the redress will follow, thou receivest Thy full petition at the hand of
Brutus!
How does Cinna's request to get Brutus involved affect Cassius? Select two options.
" Read the excerpt from act 1, scene 3, of Julius Caesar.
CASSIUS. 'Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait;He is a friend.—Cinna, where haste you so?
CINNA. To find out you. Who's that? Metellus Cimber?
CASSIUS. No, it is Casca, one incorporateTo our attempts. Am I not stayed for, Cinna?
CINNA. I am glad on't. What a fearful night is this!There's two or
three of us have seen strange sights.
CASSIUS. Am I not stayed for? Tell me.
CINNA. Yes, you are.O Cassius, if you couldBut win the noble Brutus to our party—
CASSIUS. Be you content. Good Cinna, take this paperAnd look you lay it in the praetor's chair,Where Brutus may but find it. And throw thisIn at his window. Set this up with waxUpon old Brutus' statue. All this done,Repair to Pompey's Porch, where you shall find us.Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there?
CINNA. All but Metellus
Cimber, and he's goneTo seek you at your house. Well, I will hie,And so bestow these papers as you bade me.
CASSIUS. That done, repair to Pompey's Theatre.[Exit CINNA]"
How does Cassius's proclamation affect Casca?
" Read the excerpt from act 1, scene 3, of Julius Caesar.
[CASSIUS.] Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius. Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat. Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten
brass, Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit; But life, being weary of these worldly bars, Never lacks power to dismiss itself. If I know this, know all the world besides, That part of tyranny that I do bear I can shake off at pleasure.
[Thunder still]
CASCA. So can I. So every bondman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his captivity. "