The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Part 6: Word Choice and Motif — Quiz
Question 3 • English Language Arts 10
Read the excerpt from act 5, scene 1, of Julius Caesar . ANTONY: Villains, you did not so, when your vile daggers Hacked one another in the sides of Caesar: You showed your teeth like apes, and fawned like hounds, And bowed like bondmen, kissing Caesar’s feet, Whilst damnèd Casca, like a cur, behind, Struck Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers! Shakespeare uses the word vile rather than sharp or bloody to describe the assassins’ daggers. This helps the audience understand
Answer
A
the power of the use of flattery and kindness to confuse the play’s characters.
B
that Antony viewed the men who killed Caesar as vicious and despicable.
C
the frailty of Caesar before he was attacked.
D
the weakness of the weapons used to kill Caesar.
Explanation
“Vile” means morally wicked or despicable, so Antony’s word choice shows how he judges Caesar’s attackers, not how sharp or effective their daggers were. He describes the men as vicious and treacherous, contrasting their fawning behavior with their attack on Caesar. Therefore, the choice is that Antony viewed the men who killed Caesar as vicious and despicable.
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