Shakespeare Today: Julius Caesar - Act 1 Summary

The video provides a summary of Act 1 of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. It begins with a festive Rome celebrating Caesar's victory, despite the disapproval of Roman tribunes. Caesar enters with his entourage, ignoring a soothsayer's warning about the Ides of March. Brutus and Cassius express concerns about Caesar's potential kingship, with Cassius plotting to sway Brutus to their cause. A storm and supernatural events heighten tensions, leading to a conspiracy against Caesar, with forged letters intended to recruit Brutus.

What event is the city of Rome celebrating at the beginning of the play?

• The end of a famine

• The birth of a new heir

• Julius Caesar's victory over Pompey's sons

• The founding of Rome

What does the soothsayer warn Caesar about during the Festival of Lupercalia?

• A natural disaster

• A betrayal by his closest friends

• A foreign invasion

• The Ides of March

Why is Brutus conflicted about Caesar's rise to power?

• He is worried about Caesar becoming a king

• He fears losing his wealth

• He wants to be king himself

• He is in love with Caesar's wife

How does Cassius plan to win Brutus over to his side?

• By offering him money

• By reminding him of his family's legacy

• By threatening him

• By promising him power

What does Casca report about Caesar's interaction with the crown?

• Caesar was unaware of the crown offer

• Caesar ignored the offer of the crown

• Caesar refused the crown three times

• Caesar accepted the crown eagerly

What does the storm symbolize for Cassius?

• A sign of Caesar's divine right to rule

• A warning of an impending war

• A natural occurrence with no significance

• Heaven's disapproval of Caesar's power

What role does Cinna play in the conspiracy against Caesar?

• He is the mastermind behind the conspiracy

• He tries to dissuade Cassius from the plot

• He warns Caesar about the conspiracy

• He is tasked with delivering forged letters to Brutus