QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW INTRODUCTION SHAKESPEARE'S LIFE 1. Write a brief biography of Shakespeare with particular reference to the dates of chief events. 2. Quote the lines from The Merry Wives of Windsor and from 2 Henry IV which are regarded as allusions to Shakespeare's experience with Sir Thomas Lucy. 3. Who were Shakespeare's associates in his first important appearance upon the stage in 1594? 4. Trace the direct line of Shakespeare's descendants to the extinction of the family. 5. What conclusions, if any, have you reached regarding Shakespeare's religion? 6. Give in substance the reference to Shakespeare found in Fuller's Worthies. 7. Complete the stanza by Dryden beginning So in this Cæsar which today we see. 8. Give the authors from whom Shakespeare took most of the material for his historical plays. 9. Group Shakespeare's plays under the headings, Comedies, Tragedies, and Chronicle Plays. 10. What other works besides Comedies, Tragedies, and Chronicle Plays did Shakespeare write? THE DRAMA 1. Define drama and state its scope. 2. Name those phases of the drama which do not come under the heading Comedy or Tragedy. 3. Sketch briefly the evolution of the Greek drama, and name its chief exponents. 4. Sketch briefly the development of the Roman drama. 5. Sketch the influence of Christianity upon the drama. 6. Tell what you know of the Modern Drama down to and including Shakespeare's time. 189 7. Compare the Elizabethan dramatic literature with that which has been produced since then. 8. Compare the staging of the drama in Shakespeare's time with its more modern staging. 9. How does the intelligence of theater-goers of the Elizabethan period compare with the intelligence of present day theater-goers? 10. Briefly sketch the Construction of the drama. THE TRAGEDY Julius Cæsar 1. Tell briefly what you know about the first publication of Julius Cæsar. 2. Give the External and Internal Evidence regarding the date of its publication. 3. In what essential respects do Hamlet and Julius Cæsar resemble each other? 4. Show briefly that in its composition Julius Cæsar conforms to the requirements of the perfect drama, 5. How may Julius Cæsar be viewed 1. As a Political Play, 2. As a Tragedy of Character? 6. As Tragedies, how do the Roman and the English plays compare? 7. Shakespeare obtained his data for this play from Plutarch. Mention some of his chief departures from his author's history. 8. What was the result of these departures? 9. Reply to the assertion that this play should have been named "Brutus" instead of Julius Cæsar. 10. Write a brief defense of Shakespeare's action in naming this play Julius Cæsar. (The form of answer must be different from that given to No. 9.) 2. What is usually the result of Shakespeare's divergence from history in portraying the characters of some of his dramatis personae? 3. Give in substance the advice of Coleridge, Carlyle, and Goethe to those who would form a correct estimate of the characters of the dramatis personae. 4. Of these three critics whose advice do you consider the best? 5. Can you find among Goldsmith's works that author's estimate of Shakespeare as a poet? CÆSAR AND BRUTUS 1. Sketch briefly Cæsar's character as portrayed by Shakespeare. 2. Show by quotations from the play that Shakespeare was aware of, and fully appreciated the greatness of Cæsar's character. 3. Give a brief sketch of the character of Brutus. 4. Tell what you know of the Stoic philosophy. 5. Compare the oratory of Brutus with that of Antony. CASSIUS 1. Sketch the character of Cassius as given by Shakespeare. 2. Show by a quotation from the play that Cæsar mistrusted Cassius. 3. Show by Cassius' own words that he thoroughly understood the weakness of human nature. 4. Show that Shakespeare has exhibited to us the better side of Cassius' character. 5. Write a brief contrast between the characters of Brutus and Cassius. ANTONY 1. Sketch the character of Antony as represented by Brutus and Cassius. 2. Give a quotation showing the high esteem in which Cæsar was held by Antony. 3. Quote the words of Cassius indicating that he dreaded the power of Antony. 4. Quote ten lines of Antony's speech at Cæsar's funeral. 5. Write a brief biography of Antony as given in history. OCTAVIUS 1. In what light does Shakespeare represent Octavius' character? 2. Quote lines showing that Octavius imposed his will on his associates, Antony and Lepidus. 3. How long did Octavius reign? 4. With what two great military victories is Octavius generally credited? 5. Write a brief contrast between the characters of Octavius and Antony. MINOR CHARACTERS 1. What important official position did Lepidus occupy? 2. How did Lepidus end his career? 3. Quote the words of Brutus describing the cause and manner of Portia's death. 4. Write a short contrast between the characters of Portia and Cal purnia. 5. Why was Cicero sacrificed in the proscription? 6. How do Shakespeare and history differ as to the character of Casca? 7. Who was Trebonius? 8. By whom and under what circumstances were the following lines spoken? I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand Any exploit worthy the name of honour. 9. Why is the treachery of Decius Brutus considered so heinous? 13. By whom and under what circumstances was the following spoken? that's not an office for a friend. 14. Give in substance Hudson's opinion of the Citizens. GENERAL 1. What is said to be the origin of the name Cæsar? 2. Give in substance what history says of Pompey's triumph in September 61 B. C. 3. What great historic event took place in Rome in 60 B. C.? 4. During Cæsar's absence in Gaul as Pro-Consul, how did he retain his political power in Rome? 5. What important historical event took place in January 49 B. C.? 6. To whom does the following line refer? the greatest philosopher Rome has yet produced. triumphs" of Cæsar and give the dates of their cele 8. Describe the festival of the Lupercalia. 9. Give the substance of Horton's description of Cæsar's assassination. 10. Why is the assassination of Cæsar said to have been a political blunder? 11. After the death of Cæsar among whom was the Roman Empire divided, and what part was assigned to each? 12. What was the "proscription" and name some of its most eminent victims? 13. Write a brief description of the battle of Philippi. 14. What were the effects of the battles of Philippi and of Actium respectively? ACT I.-SCENES I AND II 1. Quote from these scenes verbal quibbles or puns. 2. Explain the allusions in the following: "as Eneas did the old Anchises bear, 9966 3. Comment upon the grammar of the following: 4. 99 66 "will you go see,' did lose his "arrive the point proposed, Describe, according to these scenes, the personal appearance of Cassius 5. Explain the following, quoting one line of the play in connection with replication, ceremonies, pitch, ides, passions of some differ 6. each: By what arguments does Cassius persuade Brutus to join the conspiracy. 7. Describe the offering of the crown to Cæsar. How does Casca's account reveal his own character, and how is that account received by Brutus? ACT I.-SCENE III 1. By whom, and under what circumstances, are the following words spoken? Explain them where necessary: "they are portentous things unto the climate that they point upon," "the true cause why birds and beasts from quality and kind," "to such a man that is no fleering tell-tale," "look you lay it in the prætor's chair.'' 2. In what sense does Shakespeare use the following words: sensible, calculate, monstrous, trash, griefs, complexions, alchemy? 3. Scan (i.e. separate the feet by a vertical line and accent the syllables in) the following lines: And, thus unbracéd, Casca, as you see. Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish. |