The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare: Act 5.3-5.5
Question 7 • CREDIT RECOVERY - ELA 9 - Summer
Read the excerpt below from act 5.1 of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and answer the question that follows. ANTONY:Villains, . . . You showed your teeth like apes, and fawned like hounds,And bowed like bondmen1, kissing Caesar’s feet,Whilst damnèd Casca, like a cur, behindStruck Caesar on the neck. 1. Slaves. How does the bolded figurative language add meaning to the scene that Mark Antony is describing?
Answer
A
The figurative language creates a visual image of the betrayal of the conspirators: they feigned respect for Caesar only to stab him to death.
B
The figurative language uses a fact-based definition of the relationship between Caesar and the conspirators: they were his slaves and servants in his household.
C
The figurative language shows the audience the conflict between Brutus and Cassius.
D
The figurative language explains the conflict between Mark Antony and Caesar.
Explanation
Antony compares the conspirators to apes, hounds, and slaves who bowed and kissed Caesar’s feet. These images suggest they pretended to be submissive and loyal, while Casca attacked Caesar from behind. The figurative language emphasizes the conspirators’ betrayal; it does not describe a literal master-servant relationship or a conflict between Antony and Caesar.
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