Act 1 Quiz "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar"

What characteristics make up a tragic hero in a play?

• A) A minor character who provides comic relief

• B) The central character, often of noble birth or high status, who is destined for downfall

• C) A character who is always victorious and never faces defeat

What is a soliloquy?

• A brief comment made by a character directly to the audience

• A long speech delivered by a character alone on stage, revealing inner thoughts

• A dialogue between two or more characters

Which of the following best describes a monologue?

• A) A lengthy speech by one character, not necessarily alone on stage

• B) A short comment directed to the audience, unheard by others

• C) A series of speeches exchanged between characters

What is an aside in a play?

• A long speech delivered by a character alone on stage

• A brief remark made by a character directly to the audience, unheard by other characters

• A speech given by two characters simultaneously

In Scene i, the Cobbler gains an upper hand with Flavius and Murellus by using puns and jokes. Which of the following best describes two of the puns he uses?

• He calls himself a "mender of bad soles," implying he fixes shoes and also people's spirits, and says he’s out "to recover those who go on the wrong foot," suggesting he fixes both shoes and behavior.

• He claims to be the best shoemaker in all of Rome and brags about his skill with leather, and then jokes about how his shoes will outlast any man.

• He refers to himself as a "faithful servant" who only serves the noblemen, and jokes about how he can "walk a mile" in their shoes to understand them better.

What is the real reason the Cobbler and the Carpenter are in the street in Scene i?

• They are looking for work because they have no customers that day.

• They are celebrating Caesar’s recent victory and return to Rome.

• They are delivering goods to noblemen in the city.

How do Flavius and Murellus feel about Caesar’s victory over Pompey?

• They are thrilled and join the celebrations with the commoners.

• They are indifferent and do not show any strong feelings about the victory.

• They are resentful and disapprove of the celebration, believing people have forgotten their loyalty to Pompey.

Based on the actions of the commoners in Scene i, what does Caesar’s following seem to be like, and how stable is this support?

• Caesar’s following seems very strong and stable, as the people show unwavering loyalty and deep admiration to only him.

• Caesar’s following appears enthusiastic but unstable, as the commoners quickly shift their loyalty from Pompey to Caesar.

• Caesar’s following is small and hesitant, with most people remaining loyal to Pompey and refusing to celebrate Caesar’s victory.

Why does Caesar want Antony to touch Calpurnia during the race, and what might this suggest about Caesar’s potential kingship?

• Caesar wants Antony to touch Calpurnia because he believes it will cure her barrenness, implying that Caesar desires an heir if he is to become king.

• Caesar wants Antony to touch Calpurnia for luck in battle, implying that he expects a war to secure his kingship.

• Caesar wants Antony to touch Calpurnia as a symbol of loyalty, suggesting that he values Antony’s support if he is to become king.

What warning does Caesar receive, and how does he respond to it?

• He is warned by Antony to avoid his enemies, but he considers it carefully and decides to take extra precautions.

• He is warned by Calpurnia about a bad omen, and he immediately decides to stay home.

• He is warned by the soothsayer to "beware the Ides of March," but he dismisses it as nonsense and ignores the warning.