In groups of 4: Answer the following questions:

  p. 223 #17, p. 226 #10, p. 230 #10

17. In his argument with Cassius in Act IV scene 3, Brutus refers to Caesar in terms of both praise and censure. Find the speech and decide whether:

a. the praise is consistent with earlier references to Caesar’s qualities and

That he is an elder and more able soldier, that Caesar durst not move.

b. whether the criticism is so major that Brutus should have mentioned it earlier.

I think he should have mentioned it earlier because now it is kind of after the fact, and it doesn’t mean as much to help things anymore.

10. The quarrel scene (Act IV Scene 2) has been belittled by the critic Thomas Rymer in the seventeenth century; praised by John Dryden, his contemporary, for its “masculinity” in the eighteenth century; admired as an example of dramatic genius in the nineteenth century (by Samuel Taylor Coleridge); and dismissed as irrelevant by twentieth century critic Henry Bradley. Read it carefully and decide for yourself

a. Whether Brutus is (i) unrealistic in expecting his allies always to act honorably or (ii) admirable in his inflexible attitude toward corruption.

He is admirable because there is obvious corruption in the government from the death of Caesar and Brutus is the only one with the courage to say it.

b. Whether Brutus is (i) arrogant and insensitive towards Cassius at the beginning of the quarrel or (ii) properly firm and uncompromising.

     He is properly firm and uncompromising because Caesar was murdered and he knows it.

c. Whether Brutus is (i) taunts Cassius or (ii) refuses to be browbeaten by him (Explain your answer)

He taunts him through the use of his explanation to the crowd at Caesar’s funeral.

d. Whether Brutus is (i) insultingly cold or (ii) admirable forthright

Brutus is admirablely forthright because

e. Whether Brutus is (i) sober form …”hides wrongs” or (ii) whether he is “armed so strong in honesty” that he cannot compromise.

Form an opinion of your own about the character of Brutus as it is revealed in the quarrel with Cassius from its beginning to its height. I think he is armed in honesty, because he is honorable and firm in his thoughts, and won’t be tempted by simpler faster ways.

10. The quarrel scene (Act IV Scene 3) shows Cassius in many moods.

 a. Choleric: what are the reasons for his anger, and are they justified?  The reasons for his anger are form some insults from Brutus, and they are justified.

b. Tormented: how does Brutus provoke him, and what does Cassius’s restraint reveal about his personality?

c. Passionate: does the passion throw a new light on his character?  He says the one he loves, who is Brutus, his friend, which makes us see a new side of him.

d. Affectionate: how does this show and is it surprising?

e. Jocular: which episode brings out a flash of humor, and what is its purpose?

f. Sympathetically emotional: would you have expected him to react to Portia’s death in the way he does? How does it compare with Brutus’s own response?

g. Dependent: what evidence is there to show that in his relationship with Brutus, there is another side to Cassius than the one presented before the assassination?

After finishing the questions, form groups of 3-4 and connect to the Internet. Identify the following parts of Julius Caesar and post it on your web sites: (Provide an explanation of each stage ands where it occurs in the play. If you have problems remembering the terms, go to the top of the page and follow the Greek Tragedy link for definitions.)

Hammertoe

Peritonea

Antagonisms

Catharsis

Character Essay 

Connor Brown

Mr. Krucli

Eng. 2 e-core

27, May 2008

                                                            Julius Caesar

            In our audio, my character is Julius Caesar, who is a strong willed, fiercely competitive, powerful man.  In our audio we do the scenes from where Julius Caesar and his “friends” walk him to the senate, and then the murder scene in which the conspirators end Caesar’s life.

            Caesar is competitive in Rome, because he had to be to gain power with the people and the senate.  He doesn’t trust skinny people because they aren’t content with their life, and they want more control. He doesn’t bother with fat people because they are content with their lifestyle, and aren’t trying noir do they want to change anything about their position.

            He is strong willed, and isn’t a man to give up easily, or at all, which he proves when he is murdered, because it seems as though her can pull through all the stabbing and blood right up to the point when his best, most trusted friend stabs him.  At that point, he seems to think that there is no other purpose to like his life.  With a last, famous line,”E tu, Brute?” he is dead, pulling his cap over his head so that no one will se his defeated face.

            He is a powerful man because of all the hard work he put into becoming that powerful man, making the connections, talking to the right people, saying the right things to the people.  He is a very witty and cunning man, who would stop at nothing to get the one more vote of the people, or the last talk.

            In conclusion, Julius Caesar is a great roman figure who has all the traits of a great hero, who gets stopped by his best friend, the only one who gets in his way of total power, and making a Rome even greater.