English End of Year Test | Brutus | 2023 Flashcards
Give a quote to show how Brutus is uncertain about Caesars potential
He would be crowned:
How that might change his nature, there’s the question.
Find an example of serpentine image to portray Caesar and know what this shows
‘And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg,
Which, hatched, would, as his kind, grow mischievous,
And kill him in the shell.’
This serpentine image conveys Caesar as a snake. This shows how caesar may be untrustworthy and may not be loyal. Ashows how Brutus feels the need to kill Caesar in his ‘egg - like’ (pre - emporor) state to prevent his birth (his crowning) before he becomes too powerful.
Snakes are often associated with evil and deception, for instance in the story of Adam and Eve
What does the quote ‘lets be sacrificers not butchers’ show about Brutus’ thoughts on the killing of Ceaser
Shakespeare creates a jarring contrast between the words sacrificers and butchers here. A sacrifice is something a Roman would make to a god, whereas butchery is senselessly violent. This shows how Brutus wants to kill Caesar for the good of Rome rather than in rage
Brutus uses an exclamation to convey his delusional hope that he could cleanse Caesars soul and help him rather than kill him in cold blood
He wants to spearate Caesar’s ambitious spirit with his physical body. What is it?
O, that we then could come by Caesar’s spirit
And not dismember Caesar!
What was the murder of Caesar actually like? Was it a sacrifice or a butchery
The murder of Ceasar through the other conspirators seems to be more of a butchering, each taking turns making it feel more personal. However, in Brutus’ case, it is hard for him, as he does love Caesar and it is shown in the play. It is more of a sacrifice, favouring the good of Rome rather than his best friend’s life, so in that case it is more a sacrifice.
In the DonmarWarehousr production, set in a womans prison, the conspirators seem to take pleasure in each stabbing of Ceasar, even using bleach to poison him which suggests more of a butchery than a sacrifice
Give a quote to show Cassius’ manipulation of Brutus
I, your glass,
Will modestly discover to yourself
That of yourself which you yet know not of.
Give a quote to show that Brutus trusts cassius
That you do love me I am nothing jealous’ shows how Brutus puts lots of trust in Cassius, and is secure in his relasionship, rendering him vulnerable to manipoulation
Give a quote to show how Brutus justifies his actions to the plebians during the funeral of Caesar
Who here is so vile that he will not love his country?
Here, the use of hyperoble and rhetorical question in the quote ‘Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all freemen?’ makes the plebieans question what they wanted and the use of hyperbole just accentuates that.
What is hamartia?
The fatal flaw of a character
What is Brutus’ hamartia?
In Brutus’ case it is his idealism, guilt and loyalty to Rome
