Julius Caesar Act 2 Test

In Act 2, Shakespeare draws parallels between Brutus and Caesar in all of the following ways except which?

• Both Brutus and Caesar have had sleepless nights.
• Both Brutus and Caesar are scheming to commit an evil or immoral act.
• Only Brutus and Caesar's private lives within their homes are seen. Their public lives are not seen at all.
• Both Brutus and Caesar are shown to temporarily agree with the advice of their wives.

The setting in Act 2, Scene 1 is a metaphor for all of the following except which?

• The storm is a metaphor for the danger that awaits Caesar.
• The storm is a metaphor for the disharmony in Rome.
• The storm is a metaphor for the internal conflict within Brutus.
• The storm is a metaphor for the love wives have for their husbands.

Why does Portia cut her thigh? What does she attempt to prove or show her husband, Brutus?

• Portia cuts her thigh to rid herself of the guilt she feels for knowing about Caesar’s planned death.
• Portia cuts her thigh to seek attention from her husband so he will love her more.
• Portia cuts her thigh to show how mentally strong she is and loyal to her husband.
• Portia cuts her thigh to show how easy it will be for Brutus to kill Caesar and tell him to man up.

All of the following omens are ones Calphurnia has heard that occurred that night in Rome except which?

• The clouds rained blood on the Capitol.
• Caesar will be stabbed in the back.
• Lions gave birth (whelped) in the streets.
• Graves cracked open.

How does Decius reinterpret Calpurnia’s dream of a statue of Caesar bleeding with Romans washing in it?

• Decius says that Caesar’s wife is jealous of the other Romans to whom Caesar provides life.
• Decius says that Caesar’s wife is just a woman to whom people shouldn’t listen.
• Decius flatters Caesar by saying that Caesar will die, but his blood will feed and sustain others.
• Decius flatters Caesar by saying that Caesar will provide sustaining life.

What does Trebonius imply in his aside when he says, “And so near will I be / That your best friends shallwish that I had been further” (2.2.125-126)?

• Trebonius implies that he’ll be close enough to become Caesar’s second in command.
• Trebonius implies that he’ll be close enough to strike and kill Caesar.
• Trebonius implies that he’ll be close enough to Caesar that other friends will become jealous.
• Trebonius implies that he’ll be close enough to encourage Caesar to spill his secrets.

How does Brutus see Caesar and Antony respectively through the metaphor of the human body? There may be more than one correct answer.

• Caesar = head; Antony = heart
• Caesar = head; Antony = limb
• Caesar = heart; Antony = head
• Caesar = heart; Antony = hand

Why does Brutus seek to make their planned act of murder something religious or noble?

• Brutus wants the murder to seem religious to grow in power both politically and religiously.
• Brutus wants the murder to seem religious to seek permission from the church to kill Caesar.
• Brutus wants the murder to seem religious to relieve his guilt and have the public condone it.
• Brutus wants the murder to seem religious to make a sacrifice to appease the gods.

All of the following events or situations in Act 2 are ironic except which?

• Caesar dismisses his wife, who loves him, for his noblemen, who are planning on killing him
• Caesar welcomes and prepares to drink wine with men (who plan to kill him) in his home.
• Caesar is given several warnings or omens not to go to the Capitol, yet he plans to go anyway.
• Caesar is arrogant and pompous in public, but in private, he’s humble, logical, and down to earth.

When Portia, in her long speech, begs Brutus to confide in her, this is an example of a _________?

• soliloquy
• aside
• monologue
• dialogue