Julius Caesar Act 2 Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. Why does Brutus decide that Caesar must die even though he admits Caesar has not yet abused his power?
He believes Caesar secretly ordered the conspirators’ arrests.
He reasons that becoming king could change Caesar, so Caesar must be stopped before that happens.
He wants to avenge Pompey without involving the other conspirators.
He has learned that Caesar plans to exile him from Rome.
2. Brutus compares Caesar to a “serpent’s egg.” What does this image reveal about his reasoning?
He considers Caesar harmless and hopes the Senate will restrain him.
He treats Caesar’s possible future danger as justification for destroying him before it develops.
He believes Caesar’s physical weakness makes him unfit to rule.
He thinks Caesar is already openly tyrannizing Rome.
3. Ligarius agrees to follow Brutus before learning the details of the plan. What does this most strongly show?
Ligarius already knows every part of the assassination plan.
Ligarius is motivated mainly by a promised political office.
Ligarius’s trust in Brutus outweighs his need to know the mission in advance.
Ligarius mistakes Brutus for a messenger from Caesar.
4. What does Calpurnia see in her dream?
Caesar’s statue pouring blood while smiling Romans bathe their hands in it
Brutus standing over a broken statue of Pompey
Caesar’s crown falling into the Tiber while senators cheer
A lion devouring Caesar’s robe in the Capitol
5. What does Artemidorus plan to do with the letter naming the conspirators?
Stand along Caesar’s route and hand it directly to him
Read it aloud to the Senate before Caesar arrives
Send it to Mark Antony through Lucius
Hide it in Brutus’s orchard for Portia to find
6. How does Decius reinterpret Calpurnia’s dream to make it sound favorable?
He says Rome will draw renewing strength from Caesar and preserve tokens connected with him.
He says the blood represents the defeat of Caesar’s foreign enemies.
He says the statue represents Pompey rather than Caesar.
He says the smiling Romans are gods who will protect Caesar.
7. What do the augurers report after examining the sacrificed animal?
The animal has no liver, so they order Caesar to consult the soothsayer.
The animal has two hearts, predicting a struggle for the crown.
The animal’s blood does not flow, proving Calpurnia’s dream false.
The animal has no heart, so they advise Caesar not to leave home.
8. Why do the attempted warnings from Artemidorus and the soothsayer create dramatic irony near the end of Act 2?
The audience knows the conspiracy is real while Caesar remains unaware of the specific threat approaching him.
The audience knows both men are secretly helping Cassius deceive Caesar.
Caesar has already read their warnings but pretends not to understand them.
Brutus believes the warnings concern Antony rather than Caesar.
9. What does the soothsayer tell Portia about Caesar’s danger?
He knows Caesar has already been attacked at the Capitol.
He does not know that Caesar will be harmed, but he fears that Caesar may be.
He has proof that Caesar will dismiss the Senate.
He believes the danger has passed because Caesar stayed home.
10. Caesar first agrees to stay home but changes his mind after Decius mentions the crown and possible mockery. What does this reversal emphasize?
Caesar trusts Calpurnia’s political judgment more than his own.
Caesar has discovered that Decius belongs to the conspiracy.
Caesar’s concern for public status and reputation can override his caution.
Caesar believes the Senate has already crowned Brutus.
11. When Cassius proposes killing Mark Antony along with Caesar, what is Brutus’s response?
Antony should be imprisoned until the Senate chooses a new leader.
Antony should be recruited because he privately opposes Caesar.
Antony should be spared because he will be powerless without Caesar, and extra bloodshed would make them look like butchers.
Antony should be allowed to decide Caesar’s fate himself.
12. Portia sends Lucius toward the Capitol but struggles to give him clear instructions. What does this behavior chiefly reveal?
She has forgotten where Brutus has gone.
Her anxiety is straining her effort to remain composed.
She intends Lucius to warn Caesar about every conspirator.
She no longer believes Brutus is involved in anything dangerous.
13. Why does Brutus argue that the conspirators should not swear an oath?
He thinks religious vows are forbidden during the storm.
He worries that an oath would give Cicero authority over the group.
He believes their cause and Roman honor should be enough to bind them.
He wants each conspirator to be free to withdraw at the Capitol.
14. Why does Portia reveal that she has voluntarily wounded her thigh?
To show that she has already been attacked by a conspirator
To prove that she has received a supernatural warning about Caesar
To persuade Brutus to remain home and care for her
To demonstrate her constancy and argue that she can be trusted with Brutus’s secret
15. How do Calpurnia and Caesar initially differ in their responses to the morning’s strange signs?
Calpurnia dismisses them as chance, while Caesar immediately consults Brutus.
Calpurnia sees them as political theater, while Caesar treats them as divine praise.
Calpurnia wants the Senate to interpret them, while Caesar wants the conspirators to decide.
Calpurnia treats them as warnings to avoid the Capitol, while Caesar presents himself as too brave to fear them.
16. What crucial task does Decius say he can perform on the morning of the assassination?
Keep Mark Antony away from Caesar’s house
Convince Cicero to join the conspiracy
Deliver Artemidorus’s letter to the Senate
Persuade Caesar to go to the Capitol despite any reluctance