What is the best definition of the literary term allusion?
Read the excerpt from act 1, scene 1, of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and the background information on the allusion it contains.Excerpt:[FLAVIUS.] See whether their basest mettle be not moved.They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness.Go you down that way towards the Capitol;This way will I. Disrobe the imagesIf you do find them decked with ceremonies.MARULLUS. May we do so?You know it is the feast of Lupercal.FLAVIUS. It is no matter; let no imagesBe hung with Caesar’s trophies. I’ll about,And drive away the vulgar from the streets:So do you too, where you perceive them thick.These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wingWill make him fly an ordinary pitch,Who else would soar above the view of men,And keep us all in servile fearfulness.Background information:In Rome, February 15 was Lupercalia, an annual festival celebrating the myth of the she-wolf that saved the lives of the infant twins Romulus and Remus. According to legend, the two boys became the founders of Rome. The festival is also said to have celebrated the god who protected flocks from hungry wolves.
Read the excerpt from act 4, scene 3, of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.[BRUTUS.] Messala, I have here receivèd letters,That young Octavius and Mark AntonyCome down upon us. . . .MESSALA. Myself have letters of the selfsame tenor.BRUTUS. With what addition?MESSALA. That by proscription and bills of outlawry,Octavius, Antony, and LepidusHave put to death an hundred senators.BRUTUS. Therein our letters do not well agree.Mine speak of seventy senators that diedBy their proscriptions, Cicero being one.CASSIUS. Cicero one!MESSALA. Ay, Cicero is dead,And by that order of proscription.
Read the excerpt from act 1, scene 1, of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and the background information on the allusion it contains.Excerpt:[FLAVIUS.] See whether their basest mettle be not moved.They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness.Go you down that way towards the Capitol;This way will I. Disrobe the imagesIf you do find them decked with ceremonies.MARULLUS. May we do so?You know it is the feast of Lupercal.FLAVIUS. It is no matter; let no imagesBe hung with Caesar’s trophies. I’ll about,And drive away the vulgar from the streets:So do you too, where you perceive them thick.These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wingWill make him fly an ordinary pitch,Who else would soar above the view of men,And keep us all in servile fearfulness.Background information:In Rome, February 15 was Lupercalia, an annual festival celebrating the myth of the she-wolf that saved the lives of the infant twins Romulus and Remus. According to legend, the two boys became the founders of Rome. The festival is also said to have celebrated the god who protected flocks from hungry wolves.
Which evidence from the text supports the conclusion that Brutus and Cassius are in conflict? Select two options.
Read the excerpt from act 2, scene 2, of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and the background information on the allusion it contains.Excerpt:[DECIUS.] It was a vision fair and fortunate.Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,In which so many smiling Romans bathed,Signifies that from you great Rome shall suckReviving blood, and that great men shall pressFor tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.This by Calpurnia's dream is signified.Background information:In medieval times, it was customary to dip handkerchiefs into the blood of martyrs and other great people. Doing so turned the handkerchiefs into relics for worship or inspiration.
Read the excerpt from act 4, scene 1, of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.[ANTONY.] And now, Octavius,Listen great things—Brutus and CassiusAre levying powers. We must straight make head.Therefore let our alliance be combined,Our best friends made, our means stretched,And let us presently go sit in council,How covert matters may be best disclosed,And open perils surest answerèd.OCTAVIUS. Let us do so: for we are at the stake,And bayed about with many enemies;And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,Millions of mischiefs.
Which quotation from Julius Caesar is an example of a historical allusion?
Read the excerpt from act 4, scene 1, of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.[Exit LEPIDUS]ANTONY. This is a slight, unmeritable man,Meet to be sent on errands. Is it fit,The three-fold world divided, he should standOne of the three to share it?OCTAVIUS. So you thought him,And took his voice who should be pricked to die,In our black sentence and proscription.ANTONY. Octavius, I have seen more days than you:And though we lay these honors on this man.To ease ourselves of divers sland’rous loads,He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold,To groan and sweat under the business,Either led or driven as we point the way;And having brought our treasure where we will,Then take we down his load, and turn him off,Like to the empty ass, to shake his earsAnd graze in commons.
Brutus could be considered a major character who acts as a(n)
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