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1.1 How does Shakespeare use humor in the opening scene?
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His characters pun, or play with word meanings. They use words that sound alike but have different meanings.
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1.1 A pun is a play on words, two words that sound alike but have different meanings. Find two examples of puns in the opening lines of the scene.
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The word �cobbler� has two meanings, shoemaker and bungler. A �mender of bad soles� is a reference to shoemaker. This is a play on the word �souls.� An awl is a leather punch. It is used with the word �all.� Recover means to repair, as in repair shoes. Recover also means to get better as from an illness.
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1.1 How does Shakespeare show the political conflict in Rome?
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He does this by opening the play with a confrontation between the tribunes and the citizens, two opposing forces in Rome.
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1.1 What is the reason the cobbler tells Flavius and Marullus he is leading the people through the street?
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The cobbler wants them to wear out their shoes so he will get more work.
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1.1 What is the real reason the people are out in the street?
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They are out to see Caesar and rejoice in his triumph.
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What about Pompey is revealed in this scene?
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Pompey was once loved and respected by the people of Rome.
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What information is given about Caesar?
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Caesar was responsible for Pompey�s death.
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How does the scene show the fickleness of the crowd?
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Flavius and Marullus are able to change the mind of the crowd with their words and convince them to disperse.
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Shakespeare often uses comparisons (metaphor and simile) and figurative language. What is the comparison Flavius makes in the final lines of the scene?
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He compares Caesar to a bird. Driving the crowd from the street will be like plucking feathers from a bird�s wing so it can not fly high.
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What are the intentions of Flavius and Marullus as the scene ends?
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They plan to go through the streets and pull down any banners that honor Caesar.
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