Question

determining central ideas
read the passage. then answer the question that follows.
brutus. o antony, beg not your death of us!
though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
as by our hands and this our present act
you see we do, yet see you but our hands,
and this the bleeding business they have done.
our hearts you see not; they are pitiful;
and pity to the general wrong of rome—
as fire drives out fire, so pity pity—
hath done this deed on caesar. for your part,
to you our swords have leaden points, mark
antony.
-the tragedy of julius caesar,
william shakespeare
what are the central ideas about the conspirators in this speech by brutus? check all that apply.
☐ they are sad about their bloody deed.
☐ they are joyful about their bloody deed.
☐ they threaten to harm antony.
☐ they had to kill caesar to save rome.
☐ antony does not understand the reasons for the assassination.

Explanation:

1. Analyze "They are sad about their bloody deed": Brutus says "Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful", showing remorse/sadness about the deed. So this applies.
2. Analyze "They are joyful about their bloody deed": The text shows pity/sadness, not joy. Eliminate.
3. Analyze "They threaten to harm Antony": Brutus says "To your swords have leaden points, Mark Antony" (leaden points mean non - lethal, not a threat to harm). Eliminate.
4. Analyze "They had to kill Caesar to save Rome": Brutus says "pity to the general wrong of Rome—As fire drives out fire, so pity pity—Hath done this deed on Caesar", implying killing Caesar was to save Rome. So this applies.
5. Analyze "Antony does not understand the reasons for the assassination": The passage doesn't suggest Antony's lack of understanding. Eliminate.

Answer:

• They are sad about their bloody deed.
• They had to kill Caesar to save Rome.