4.1 Word bank
| Word / phrase | Meaning in the scenes |
|---|---|
| satisfied | given a full explanation |
| rendered | given, presented |
| pulpit | raised platform for public speaking |
| lovers | dear friends |
| censure | judge |
| awake your senses | use your reason |
| bondman | slave |
| base | low, mean |
| rude | uncivilised, barbarous |
| vile | wicked, worthless |
| enrolled | recorded officially |
| extenuated | made smaller, understated |
| enforced | exaggerated, over-stressed |
| commonwealth | the free state, the Republic |
| beholding | indebted, obliged |
| interred | buried |
| grievous | serious, heavy |
| answer'd | paid the penalty for |
| under leave of | with the permission of |
| captives | prisoners of war |
| ransoms | money paid to free prisoners |
| general coffers | the public treasury |
| sterner stuff | harder material (a harder nature) |
| Lupercal | a Roman festival held on 15 February |
| thrice | three times |
| brutish | like animals, without reason |
| reverence | respect, honour |
| mutiny | revolt, riot |
| parchment | a document written on animal skin |
| closet | private room |
| testament | will |
| commons | the common people |
| napkins | handkerchiefs |
| issue | children, descendants |
| meet | proper, fitting |
| o'ershot myself | gone further than I meant |
| hearse | a bier or coffin-stand |
| mantle | cloak |
| Nervii | a fierce tribe of Gaul defeated by Caesar |
| rent | a tear (in cloth) |
| envious | spiteful, malicious |
| resolved | sure, satisfied |
| angel | dearest favourite |
| vanquish'd | defeated |
| statua | statue |
| dint | force, impression |
| vesture | clothing |
| marr'd | disfigured, mangled |
| private griefs | personal grudges |
| orator | a skilled public speaker |
| wit | intelligence |
| utterance | good delivery |
| ruffle up | stir up, rouse |
| drachmas | Greek silver coins |
| arbours | shady garden shelters |
| recreate | refresh, enjoy |
| brands | burning pieces of wood |
| forms | benches |
| afoot | in motion, under way |
| upon a wish | just as I wished |
| belike | probably |
| rid | ridden |
| fantasy | imagination |
| bear me a bang | get a blow from me |
| turn him going | send him off |
4.2 Phrases and expressions
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| "lend me your ears" | listen to me |
| "not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more" | my love for Rome was greater than my love for Caesar |
| "I pause for a reply" | I wait for anyone to answer |
| "made of sterner stuff" | harder, tougher by nature |
| "my heart is in the coffin there with Caesar" | I am overcome with grief |
| "the most unkindest cut of all" | the cruellest blow of all |
| "a plain blunt man" | a simple, outspoken man |
| "Mischief, thou art afoot" | trouble has started |
| "rid like madmen" | ridden away in panic |
4.3 Figures of speech in the scenes
| Line | Figure of speech |
|---|---|
| "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more" | antithesis |
| "Who is here so base that would be a bondman?" | rhetorical question |
| "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears" | metonymy (ears for attention) |
| "The evil that men do lives after them; / The good is oft interred with their bones" | antithesis; personification |
| "Brutus is an honourable man" | repetition; verbal irony |
| "Ambition should be made of sterner stuff" | metaphor |
| "O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts" | apostrophe; personification; pun (brutish/Brutus) |
| "My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar" | metaphor; hyperbole |
| "This was the most unkindest cut of all" | double superlative |
| "Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, / Quite vanquish'd him" | personification |
| "put a tongue / In every wound of Caesar" | metaphor |
| "move / The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny" | hyperbole; personification |
| "Mischief, thou art afoot" | apostrophe; personification |