Question

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 caesars feet, whilst damned casca, like a cur, behind, struck caesar on the neck. o you flatterers! cur and dog mean the same thing denotatively. which statement best explains why antony uses the word cur rather than dog to describe casca? antony wants to praise cascas noble standing. antony has contempt for casca and is insulting him. antony blames the entire assassination plot on casca. antony wants to describe casca as a kind and dedicated dog.

Explanation:

While "cur" and "dog" refer to the same animal denotatively, "cur" has a strong negative, contemptuous connotation, referring to a mean, mongrel dog. Antony is furious at the assassins of Caesar; he uses "cur" to express his disdain and insult Casca for his role in the murder. The other options are incorrect: he does not praise Casca, does not single Casca out as the sole plotter, and does not portray him as kind.

Answer:

Antony has contempt for Casca and is insulting him.