Shakespeare's Julius Caesar Study Guide

Archaic Vocabulary

Because Shakespeare's plays were written over 400 years ago, many of the words he used are no longer in use today. See if you can figure our what the following words mean!

Directions: Use your best EDUCATED guess to complete the following “mini-quizzes.”

Archaic Words

1. ___ ague
2. ___ alarum
3. ___ an
4. ___ betimes
5. ___ fleering
6. ___ hence, whence, thence
7. ___ hie
8. ___ knave
9. ___ Marry!
10. ___ moe
11. ___ prithee”
12. ___ smatch

a. pray thee (beg thee)
b. a call to arms, such as a trumpet sound
c. hurry
d. here, where, there
e. if
f. servant, or person of humble birth
g. more; referred to number and amounts
h. flattering
i. a small amount
j.    fever
k. a mild oath, shortened from “By the Virgin Mary!”
l. from time to time

Words with Different Meanings

13. ___ closet
14. ___ exhalations
15. ___ gentle
16. ___ ghastly
17. ___ humor
18. ___ indifferently
19. ___ just
20. ___ merely
21. ___ repair
22. ___ sad
23. ___ saucy
24. ___ soft
25. ___ wit

a. ghostly
b. noble
c. slowly, or “wait a minute”
d. true
e. presumptuous
f. wholly, entirely
g. a small room, often a private study
h. serious
i. impartially
j. intelligence
k. meteors
l. go
m. temper or disposition

Enrichment & Homeschool Use

This assignment was originally desgined for use in a classroom setting consisting of approximately 27 to 29 students; however, the assignment can easily be adapted for smaller classrooms and for homeschool use.

Although the study guide questions are intended to create the basis for discussion in a small group setting, the same dynamic can be generated with one or two students and increased teacher involvement.

Other Assignment Components

Study Guide--Background
Study Guide--Questions
Study Guide--Homework Questions
Study Guide--Vocabulary
Study Guide--Archaic Vocabulary
Study Guide--Chronology of Events

Handouts

Study Guide