Question

which quotation from julius caesar is an example of a historical allusion?
\marullus. but what trade art thou? answer me directly. / cobbler. a trade, sir, that i hope i may use with a safe / conscience, which is indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.\ (act 1, scene 1)
\these growing feathers plucked from caesars wing / will make him fly an ordinary pitch,\ (act 1, scene 1)
\cassius. and why should caesar be a tyrant then? / poor man, i know he would not be a wolf / but that he sees the romans are but sheep.\ (act 1, scene 3)
\o, you hard hearts, you cruel men of rome, / knew you not pompey?\ (act 1, scene 1)

Explanation:

A historical allusion refers to referencing a historical person, event, or figure. In the options, "O, you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, / Knew you not Pompey?" references Pompey, a historical figure (a Roman general and political leader), making it a historical allusion. The other options involve wordplay (first), metaphor (second and third), not historical references.

Answer:

D. "O, you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, / Knew you not Pompey?" (act 1, scene 1)