Question

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. "They are sad about their bloody deed": Brutus says "Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful" and mentions pity for Rome's wrong, showing sadness about the deed.
2. "They had to kill Caesar to save Rome": Phrases like "pity to the general wrong of Rome" and "As fire drives out fire... Hath done this deed on Caesar" imply the assassination was to save Rome.
3. "They are joyful about their bloody deed" is wrong as Brutus shows sadness, not joy. "They threaten to harm Antony" is wrong as Brutus says "our swords have leaden points" (no threat). "Antony does not understand the reasons for the assassination" is not supported; Brutus is explaining, not implying Antony doesn't understand.

Answer:

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