Question

BRUTUS. It must be by his death: and for my part I know no personal cause to spurn at him But for the general. He would be crowned: How that might change his nature, there’s the question. It is the bright day that bring forth the adder, And that craves wary walking. Crown him that, And then I grant we put a sting in him That at his will he may do danger with. Th’abuse of greatness is when it disjoins Remorse from power. And to speak truth of Caesar, I have not known when his affections swayed More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder, Whereto the climber-upward turns his face; But when he once attains the upmost round, He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he did ascend. So Caesar may. Then lest he may, prevent. And since the quarrel Will bear no colour for the thing he is, Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented, Would run to these and these extremities; And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell. –The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare How does this scene contribute to the overall plot? Brutus’s decision contributes to a rising action. Brutus’s decision creates the climax. Brutus’s decision provides the resolution. Brutus’s decision strengthens the exposition.

Answer 1

Answer:

A) Brutus’s decision contributes to a rising action.

Explanation:

In the exposition of the play, Brutus is displayed as a good man and a close friend of Caesar. This scene tells us that he might not be after all or that this decision that he makes will result in catastrophe. Brutus's decision to kill Caesar will later contribute to the rising action: killing Caesar.

Here's why the other answers are incorrect:

B) Brutus's decision does not create the climax because we are not at the highest point of tension yet; at this point all we know is Brutus's reasons to later kill Caesar and so we know we are not yet at the highest point of tension, because that will happen either during or after Caesar's death. So B is incorrect.

C) This scene is early on in the play, so it doesn't provide the resolution; C is incorrect.

D) This scene contributes more to the rising action than the exposition because it is a plot event that leads to the climax and directly affects everything that happens subsequently in the play.