2. Write a short note upon "The seriousness of errors in war,' ing your illustrations from this play. draw 3. Write brief accounts of Messala, Lucilius, Flavius and Marullus, Volumnius. 4. Describe the death of (1) Young Cato, (2) Brutus. (See Introduction.) 5. Enlarge upon this theme: All the conspirators, save only he, Did that they did in envy of great Cæsar. 6. By whom, to whom, and under what circumstances are the following lines spoken? Explain where necessary: 7. (a) In Parthia did I take thee prisoner. (b) The sun of Rome is set! (c) Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius. し Show how Shakespeare uses the following words, and explain them: lights, change, success, battles, entertain, elements. 8. By whom are the two concluding speeches of the play delivered? Write them out from memory. 9. Comment upon any peculiarities discernible in the grammar of the following: "then I swore thee," "but hold thee, take, etc.," "there is so much that thou wilt kill me straight," "that have but laboured to attain this hour.' ACT V.-GENERAL 1. Give a description of the two battles of Philippi, showing clearly the positions occupied by the several leaders. In what respects does Shakespeare's description differ from that of Plutarch? 2. Explain the allusions to Hybla bees, Epicurus, Marcus Cato. 3. How does Brutus express himself over the body of Cassius? To what extent are his words justifiable? 4. Scan the following lines: (a) He's ta'en. [Shout.] And, hark! they shout for joy. (b) Alas, thou hast misconstrued everything. (c) And see whether Brutus be alive, or dead. 5. What inconsistency do you observe between the death of Brutus by his own hand and his previously expressed opinions on the subject of suicide? How may this inconsistency be explained? 66 6. Explain the following phrases, and give their context: "kill'st the mother that engender'd thee," "this is a Roman's part," 'some smatch of honour, ''''the elements so mix'd in him." 7. Upon what occasions in the play does Shakespeare employ rhyme? Show that he always has a definite purpose in so doing. GENERAL QUESTIONS ON THE PLAY 1. Illustrate by references to the play the character of Brutus. 2. Give the context of "Let him be Cæsar." How does this help us to understand the issue of the drama? 3. Give the supposed date of the composition of Julius Cæsar, and the reasons which make this date probable. Mention other plays written by Shakespeare about the same time. 4. Point out supposed references to the play Julius Cæsar (1) In another of Shakespeare's plays; (2) In a contemporary author. What is the probable relation in order of time between the plays Julius Cæsar and Antony and Cleopatra? Give reasons for your answer. What is Shakespeare's authority for the historical statements in this play? 5. Describe briefly the events which immediately lead to the suicide of Brutus and of Cassius, and show the reasons which, in their eyes, justify that course. 6. Contrast the characters of Brutus and Cassius. Do you agree with Shakespeare's view of the former (as put into the mouth of Antony at the end of the play)? Do these men act in accordance with the teachings of the schools of philosophy they represent? 7. M. Guizot says: “If Brutus is the hero, Cæsar is the subject of the play." Develop this statement. 8. Mention any words which in Shakespeare's lines must have been pronounced or accented differently from the way they are at present. GLOSSARY Abide, pay for, to stand the consequences of, III. i. 94, III. ii. 125. Abuse, evil, II. i. 18. Accoutred, fully equipped, I. ii. 105. Against, opposite, I. iii. 20. Aim, the direction of a missile or of any- An, a shortened form of "and." "If" Answer, to be responsible for, I. iii. 114; Answered, met, safely combated, IV. i. 47. Apt, fit, ready, III. i. 160; receptive, V. Arts. (See Note IV. i. 37, page 170.) Augurer, a soothsayer in ancient Rome, Awl, a shoemaker's tool, I. i. 28. Bait, to harass in a manner like dogs- Bay, 1. Vb. intr., to bark as a dog, IV. i. Behaviours, outward conduct, I. ii. 42. Belike, probably, III. ii. 279. Bills, instructions, dispatches, V. ii. 1. III. Brand, a burning piece of wood, III. ii. Break with, disclose the matter to, II. Brook, to bear, to endure, I. ii. 159. Budge, to give way, to flinch, IV. iii. 44. By him, near him (i. e., by his house), Call in question, discuss, IV. iii. 165. Cause, affair, V. i. 48. Cautelous, false, deceitful, not to be Censure, to judge, estimate, III. ii. 16. Charm, conjure, cast a spell upon, II. Cheer, cheerfulness, courage, III. i. 89. ruminate, meditate, ponder, I. ii. 171. Clean from, quite away from, quite con- Climate, district, country, I. iii. 32. Cobbler, a clumsy mender, a botcher, I. Cognizance, that by which something is known, proved, or remembered; in Companion, you fellow, IV. iii. 138. ticularly when expressive of some nat- Conceit, to form an idea of, to judge of, Content, self-contained, calm, IV. ii. 41. Counter, a round piece of metal used for Covert, secret, disguised, IV. 1. 46. Dank, damp, moist, II. i. 263. Defiance, challenge to fight, V. 1. 64. and Dew, 1. moisture precipitated by the Doomsday, the day of the last and uni- Doublet, probably an undergarment, I. Drachma, an ancient Greek coin worth Drizzle, to shed in small, slow drops, II. Element, aspect of the sky, I. iii. 128. Enforce, magnified, exaggerated, III. Enlarge, to express fully, to speak freely Entertain, to take into one's service, V. Envious, malicious, II. i. 178, III. ii. 185. Even, unsullied, II. i. 133. Exigent, exigency, pressing necessity, Extenuate, to undervalue, detract from, Factious, active in organizing a party, Fain, gladly, willingly, I. ii. 241. Falling-sickness, epilepsy, I. ii. 260. Fantasy, imagination, III. iii. 2, II. i. Favour, appearance, I. ii. 91. Fear, cause of fear, II. i. 190. Fleer, to make a wry face, to grin, I. Fool, act like fools, I. iii. 65. Formal, well-regulated, II. 1. 227. Fret, mark with ornamental lines, inter- From, different from, II. i. 196; away General, general public, community, II. Genius, inborn faculty, reasonable part Gentle, noble, as in our "gentleman," II. Grace, honor, III. ii. 64. Growing, encroaching, II. i. 107. struction, III. i. 273. slaughter, de- Hearse, a coffin on a bier, III. ii. 175. Hedge, hamper, restrain, IV. iii. 30. Ides, the 15th day of March, May, July, Indirection, wrong, dishonest practice, Instances, familiar attentions, IV. ii. Insuppressive, insuppressible, not to be Interim, intervening time, interval, II. Intermit, to suspend, interrupt, I. i. 64. Jades, sorry nags, worthless, or mal- treated horses, IV. ii. 26. 162. Jigging, singing in the tune of a jig; Just, true, so, I. ii. 54. Keep, bide, live with, II. 1. 284. Kind, sort, race, class, II. i. 33. Laugher, buffoon, jester, I. ii. 72. Law of children, puerility, childishness, Let blood, slain, III. i. 152. Lief, lit. dear. "I had as lief-I should Limitations, restrictions, II. 1. 283. Mace, a club of metal used as an em- Mo, Moe, more in number, II. i. 72; V. Mortal, rational spirits, II. i. 66. Napkin, a handkerchief, III. ii. 144. Note, to set a mark on; in an ill sense- 126. Passion, real feelings, I. ii. 48. Path, walk abroad, II. i. 83. Peevish, silly, childish, V. i. 61. Phantasma, a vision, day-dream, II. Physical, wholesome, salutary, medic- Pitch, height; a term used in falconry, Pitiful, compassionate, III. i. 169. Prefer, present, lay before, III. i. 27. |