Summary
This scene takes place after the famous event where Brutus and the
other conspirators assassinated the powerful Roman leader Julius
Caesar. After Caesar’s death, his close friend Mark Antony gave an
emotionally charged speech that turned the Roman citizens into an
angry, vengeful mob against the conspirators.
The scene opens with Cinna, who is a poet, wandering the streets of
Rome in a disturbed state after having bad dreams about Caesar.
Despite his misgivings, Cinna decides to go to Caesar’s funeral. However,
he is stopped by a group of aggressive plebeians (common citizens) who
aggressively question him.
The plebeians demand to know Cinna’s name, where he lives, if he is
married, and where he is going. Cinna tries to calmly and directly answer
their questions – he says he is an unmarried bachelor named Cinna who
lives near the Capitol, and he is going to Caesar’s funeral as a friend.
However, when Cinna reveals his first name is Cinna, the plebeians
immediately assume he is Cinna the Conspirator – one of the men who
killed Caesar. No matter how much Cinna protests that he is Cinna the
poet, not the conspirator, the furious mob refuses to listen to reason.
The plebeians decide that even if he’s not the conspirator, they will kill
Cinna anyway because they don’t like his poetry (“Tear him for his bad
verses!”). The mob surrounds the outnumbered Cinna and prepares to
viciously attack him, ignoring his pleas that he is innocent. Just before
they kill Cinna, the mob decides to leave and go burn down the homes of
Brutus, Cassius, and the other real conspirators.
and irrationality will lead to further innocent casualties and
destabilization.
perform a poem D. To gather news
Answer: A. As a friend
10. What is Cinna’s reaction to being called a conspirator?
A. He agrees B. He runs away C. He protests D. He joins the mob
Answer: C. He protests
11. Where does Cinna say he dwells?
A. Near the Forum B. By the Capitol C. In the suburbs D. Outside Rome
Answer: B. By the Capitol
12. How does the mob plan to use fire in their quest for revenge?
A. To burn Cinna at the stake B. To light their way C. To burn the
conspirators’ houses D. To signal others
Answer: C. To burn the conspirators’ houses
Extra/additional questions and answers
1. Why is Cinna outside despite not wanting to go out?
Answer: Cinna is led outside by an unspecified force, despite his lack of
desire to wander, indicating a sense of fate or destiny influencing his
actions.
2. What does Cinna say about marriage in response to the mob?
Answer: Cinna mentions he is a bachelor, which indirectly suggests he
believes marriage to be foolish, echoing the sentiment that those who
marry are fools.
3. How does Cinna identify himself to the mob?
Answer: Cinna identifies himself as Cinna the poet to the mob, in an
attempt to clarify that he is not involved in any conspiracies against
Caesar.
4. What action does the mob decide to take against Cinna despite his protest?
Answer: Despite Cinna’s protests of being a poet and not a conspirator,
the mob decides to kill him because of his name and as a misplaced act
of vengeance.
5. How does the mob’s reaction to Cinna reflect their state of mind?
Answer: The mob’s irrational and violent reaction to Cinna, based merely
on his name, reflects their illogical, frenzied state of mind, fueled by a
desire for revenge.
6. What does Cinna’s death foreshadow for Rome?
Answer: Cinna’s death foreshadows a period of violence and chaos in
Rome, indicating that the mob’s fury and irrationality will lead to further
innocent casualties and destabilization.
7. What does the encounter between Cinna and the mob reveal about the nature of mob mentality?
Answer: The encounter between Cinna and the mob serves as a chilling
illustration of mob mentality, showcasing how easily a group can be
swayed by emotion rather than logic. The mob’s decision to attack Cinna,
despite his protests and lack of evidence against him, highlights the
dangers of collective anger and the abandonment of individual
reasoning. This scene underscores the irrationality and cruelty that can
emerge from mob behavior, emphasizing the loss of humanity and the
susceptibility to manipulation when individuals become part of an
unthinking crowd.
