A STEP BEYOND

TESTS AND ANSWERS

TEST 1

_____ 1. Tribunes disperse the crowd as the play begins
A. in fear that the mob will riot
B. fearing that Caesar's popularity may lead to the destruction of democracy in Rome
C. upon the orders of the Senate

_____ 2. Caesar asks Antony to touch Calpurnia as he runs the race
A. to bring him luck
B. as a signal to Caesar to refuse the crown
C. to shake off her "sterile curse"

_____ 3. "Beware the Ides of March" was spoken by
A. a soothsayer to Caesar
B. Cassius to Caesar
C. Caesar to Brutus

_____ 4. "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our _____, But in _____, that we are underlings.
A. fate... leaders
B. hands... our minds
C. stars... ourselves

_____ 5. Cassius appeals to Brutus by
I. pointing out Caesar's weaknesses
II. offering Brutus the crown
III. alluding to Brutus' noble ancestors

A. I and II only
B. II and III only
C. I and III only

_____ 6. Caesar tells Anthony that Cassius is dangerous because
A. he does not forget a grudge
B. he is fat
C. he seldom smiles

_____ 7. Immediately after Caesar refused the crown three times,

I. there is a "tempest dropping fire as if there is strife in heaven"
II. he suffered an epileptic fit
III. he offered his throat to be cut

A. I and II only
B. II and III only
C. I and III only

_____ 8. The conspirators want Brutus to join them because
A. Brutus' strength and courage would insure their success
B. Brutus is highly regarded by the people
C. they could more easily escape punishment if their plot failed

_____ 9. The message left in Brutus' window reads

A. "Peace, freedom and liberty!"
B. "Speak, strike, redress!"
C. "Think them as a serpent's egg and kill them in the shell!"

_____ 10. "Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers" was an argument
A. to prevent mutilating Caesar's body
B. against killing Caesar
C. against killing Antony

11. Was the assassination justified?

12. Who delivers the best funeral oration, Brutus or Antony?

13. What is Shakespeare's view of the common people of Rome? How do
they help shape events?

14. What is Shakespeare's view of women?

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