The Roman Republic: 509 – 27 BC

• Centered in the Italian city of Rome

• Began with an overthrow of Dynastic Kingdoms

• Grew through conquest to include most of the Mediterranean World

• Ended with the establishment of the Roman Empire

Politics of the Roman Republic

• Government was headed by two consuls, who shared executive power and were elected to a one year term

• In times of crisis one of the consuls would temporarily be appointed dictator

• Consuls were elected by the Senate

• Roman society was very hierarchal with two distinct social classes.• Wealthy landowners Patricians• Citizens/commoners Plebeians

• Only Patrician men could serve in the senate

• To gain more influence, the Plebeians were allowed to elect Tribunesto represent their interests and keep the Senate in check.

Historical Background

• The consuls and senate became weaker in authority and power was seized by a triumvirate

• The 1st Triumvirate was Julius Caesar, Crassus and Pompey

• Crassus was killed in battle and a power struggle emerged between Caesar and Pompey

• Caesar marched across the Rubicon river and into Rome with his armies provoking a civil war

• Caesar defeated Pompey and later his two sons seizing total control for himself

• The play begins after this last battle

Characters in Julius Caesar• Brutus - Senator

• Julius Caesar - Roman military general and senator, former consul

• Mark Antony - Military General and politician (former co-consul with Caesar)

• Cassius - Military General

• Octavius - Caesar’s adopted son

• Casca - Tribune

• Calpurnia - Caesar’s wife.

• Portia - Brutus’s wife

• Flavius - Tribune

• Cicero - A senator

• Lepidus - Military general

• Murellus - Tribune

• Decius - A member of the conspiracy.•

Act I, Scene i

1. Who are Marullus and Flavius?

2. Why were Marullus and Flavius angry with the commoners?

3. What puns or plays on words did Shakespeare make with the cobbler’s lines?

4. What can you infer about the crowd from the way they are acting in this scene?

5. Who was Pompey?

Act I, Scene ii

1. Who is Calpurnia (Calphurnia in some texts)?

2. What does the soothsayer say to Caesar?

3. What activity takes place as part of the Lupercal?

4. What does Caesar want Calpurnia to do and why?

5. Who was Cicero?

6. How did the crowd react to Caesar refusing the crown?

7. What did Caesar do after refusing the crown the third time?

8. What will Cassius do to further convince Brutus to join the conspiracy?

10. Caesar is superstitious on one hand, but chooses to ignore the warning of the soothsayer. What do you think this implies about his character?

11. How does Cassius try to turn Brutus against Caesar?

12. Why does Caesar want “fat men” around him?

13. What further information do we learn about Caesar’s character from this scene?

Study Guide

A collection of materials to review for upcoming tests about the play

Should include:

1. Questions/Answers

2. Character notes

3. Scene summaries

Act I : Who’s Who

1. Briefly describe each of the following

2. Find a quote from them, from anywhere in Act I and explain how it reveals something about their personality.

• Brutus

• Caesar

• Antony

• Cassius

• Casca

• Cicero

Act I: Scene summaries

• Write 3 short paragraphs

• One to describe what happens in each scene in Act I

Act II, Scene i1. Who is Lucius?2. What reasons does Brutus have for thinking it might be necessary to get

rid of Caesar?3. Who came to visit Brutus in his orchard?4. Name all of the conspirators. (8 people)5. Cassius wants the conspirators to swear they will go through with the

plan to kill Caesar. Why does Brutus respond the way he does?6. Why do the conspirators fear Caesar may decide not to go to the

Capitol? 7. Explain the discussion about Cicero.8. Who is Portia? What does she ask Brutus? What does he say?9. Who is Ligarius?10. Which lines tell how Brutus thinks the Roman citizens would regard

them if they killed Antony as well as Caesar?11. Of what proof of her devotion does Portia remind Brutus?

Julius Caesar Act III

Act III, scene i

1. What does Metellus Cimber ask Caesar?2. Who stabs Caesar first? Last?3. Why do Cassius and Brutus say that they did Caesar a favour by killing

him?4. From his dying statement, what can you infer about Caesar’s reaction to

his assassination?5. After the assassination, Marc Antony sends his servant to talk to Brutus.

Why? 6. What does Marc Antony ask of the conspirators? Who disagrees and

but goes along?7. What does Marc Antony predict will happen because of Caesar’s death?8. Who is Octavius Caesar? What does Antony tell his servant?

Act III, Scene ii

1. In Brutus’ funeral speech, what reasons does he give for the death of Caesar?

2. What does Brutus say would have happened to the people if Caesar had remained alive and in power?

3. Who does Brutus say are the only ones that they have offended?

4. How do the people react to Brutus’ speech?

5. What does Brutus volunteer to do if the people desire it? What is the favour that Brutus asks of the people?

6. How do the people react to Antony’s speech?

Act III, Scene ii continued…

7. What does Antony say happens to the good that men do after they die? What happens to the evil? Do you agree?

8. What things does Antony point out to show the Caesar was notambitious? Does he actually come out and say that Caesar was not ambitious? How does he get the crowd to see things his way?

9. How does Antony appeal to the people’s greed? What is in the will as the “clincher”?

10. How do lines 171-199 affect the crowd? (Analyze this section line by line.)

11. What does Antony keep saying about the conspirators?

12. Who arrives in Rome at the end of this scene, after Antony’s speech?

13. What did Brutus and Cassius do while Antony was speaking?

Act III, Scene iii

1. Who was Cinna in this scene?

2. What happens to him?

3. Why do you think Shakespeare included this scene in the play?

4. Give an example of “mob rule” from modern life.