Scene 1 Commoners are celebrating? Why are they celebrating? Why does their celebration anger the tribunes, Flavius and Marullus? What does scene 1 reveal about the commoners? “These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wing will make him fly an ordinary pitch, who else would soar above the view of men and keep us all in servile fearfulness” Literary device? Significance?

Festival of Lupercal February 15, 44 BC Festival of Fertility A touch from a swift runner cures the barren. “When Caesar says ‘Do this,’ it is performed” (I.ii.10) Marc Antony’s character

Caesar’s infirmities Deaf in one ear  “Speak; Caesar is turned to hear” (I.ii.17) Epilepsy  Falling Sickness Other- Arrogance  Refers to himself in third person  Dismisses soothsayer

Brutus and Cassius Cassius’s tactics to persuade Brutus Flattery  “Over your friend that loves you”  “Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations”  “I have heard…have wished that noble Brutus had his eyes” Pointing out Caesar’s weaknesses  Cassius’s speech I.ii Cassius is just as good as Caesar- he even saved Caesar from drowning  Fever in Spain Sarcasm about Caesar’s power  Cassius’s speech I.ii Cassius compares Caesar to a statue

Literary Devices “I, as Aeneas, our Great Ancestor, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber Did I the tired Caesar” “He doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men walk under his huge legs and peep about to find ourselves dishonorable graves.” “Yond Cassius has a mean and hungry look; he thinks too much: such men are dangerous”

Caesar and the crown The crown was offered ________ times. Caesar is immensely popular with the masses. Who offered him the crown? Why did the crowd disperse? “No, Caesar hath it not; but you, and I, And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness” Literary Device?

Cassius’s Soliloquy “Well Brutus, thou art noble;…” Cassius’s next move…

Act I Scene iii Date? How does the description of the weather add to the drama? Bad Omens Casca’s fear “When these prodigies do so conjointly meet, let not men say “These are the reasons, they are natural,” For I believe they are portentous things unto the climate they point upon” (I.iii.28-32) Literary Device?

Act I scene iii cont. Cassius’s explanation for the bad omens But if you would consider the true cause Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts, Why birds and beasts from quality and kind, Why old men fool and children calculate, Why all these things change from their ordinance Their natures and preformèd faculties To monstrous quality— why, you shall findThat heaven hath infused them with these spirits To make them instruments of fear and warning Unto some monstrous state. (I.iii 64-71)

I know where I will wear this dagger then. Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius. Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong.  What is Cassius saying? What is his explanation for the omens? “three parts of him is ours already…Oh he sits high in the people’s hearts; and that which would appear offense in us, his countenance, like richest alchemy, will change to virtue and worthiness” (I.iii )  Who are they talking about? Why is it so important to have him as part of the conspiracy?