Read the excerpt from julius caesar, act 2, scene 1. portia. brutus, my lord. brutus. portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now? it is not for your health thus to commit your weak condition to the raw cold morning. portia. nor for yours neither. you’ve ungently, brutus, stole from my bed; and yesternight at supper you suddenly arose, and walked about musing and sighing, with your arms across, and when i asked you what the matter was, you stared upon me with ungentle looks. i urged you further; then you scratched your head, and too impatiently stamped with your foot. yet i insisted, yet you answered not, but with an angry wafture of your hand gave sign for me to leave you. so i did, fearing to strengthen that impatience which seemed too much enkindled, and withal hoping it was but an effect of humour, which sometime hath his hour with every man. it will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep, and could it work so much upon your shape as it hath much prevailed on your condition, i should not know you, brutus. dear my lord, make me acquainted with your cause of grief. brutus. i am not well in health, and that is all. which statement best summarizes the conflict in this passage? portia is upset because brutus is behaving as if something is wrong, and he will not talk to her. brutus is concerned that portia is awake so early in her weakened state. portia is offended that brutus waved her away with an angry hand. brutus is very sick, and portia is worried that he will die if he does not eat or sleep.

1. in creon’s first words to the chorus, what are the “storms” that threatened to destroy the ship of state?   polynices’ invation of the city with foreign armies was the “storms” eteocles and polynices decided to switch the crown every year, but after eteocles’ first year decided not to share it with polynices. polynices joined forces with foreign armies to invade the city and tried to take the crown from his brother, where he and eteocles killed each other   2. examine creon’s opening speech. what are his concerns? how does he feel about the city and its citizens? what are his motivations for banning the burial of polyneices? what would drive creon to place the concerns of the collective citizens over those of his family?   in creon’s opening speech, his concerns are to count on his citizens to rule. in addition, he wanted to give a clear message by not giving a proper burial to polyneices, if creon gave a proper burial to polyneices his people would think that he was an allied to the foreign forces that invaded the city and threatened the peace of his people.   creon placed the concerns of the collective citizens because he has no use for those who put individual concerns over the needs of his people 3. pay attention to creon’s speech at the beginning of the scene. what does creon think someone’s first loyalty should be and what comes second? do you think he is correct under some conditions? do you think he is wrong in some conditions? explain those conditions. creon thinks someone’s first loyalty should be with the concerns of the collective citizens and second comes our individual wants. i think he is correct because true loyalty takes place in the benefits of many not of a few.   4. what news is the sentry reluctant to deliver?   the sentry is reluctant to say that polyneices had a burial. 5. who does the chorus suggest might have done this?   the chorus suggests that the gods have done that 6. what is creon’s reaction and who does creon think is responsible? creon reacted abruptly and thinks it was a man who bribed his guard to bury polyneices