What is the central idea of this excerpt? Cinna the poet is attempting to flee Rome because of his role in Caesar’s assassinatio
n, but is caught by the plebeians. The plebeians mistake Cinna the poet for Cinna the conspirator and decide to tear him to pieces before going after Caesar’s killers. Cinna the conspirator wants to attend Caesar’s funeral, so he disguises himself as Cinna the poet, but is discovered by the plebeians. The plebeians are roaming the streets to round up friends of Caesar to bring to Brutus and Cassius.
The correct answer is the second one: in Act III, scene iii, the plebeians mistake Cinna the poet for Cinna the conspirator and decide to tear him to pieces before going after Caesar’s killers. After Caesar's funeral, when Antony turns the plebeians against Caesar's murderers, they become a frenzied mob bent on avenging Caesar. When they come across Cinna the poet they do not grant him any mercy, nor a chance to defend himself, and kill him without a second thought.
