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Julius Caesar | Why does Shakespeare insert the death of the poet Cinna into Julius Caesar?
In Act III, scene iii, we briefly encounter the minor character of a poet who unfortunately has the same name as one of Caesar's assassins, Cinna. Having dreamt of dining with the slain Caesar, Cinna is intent upon staying out of the mayhem that Mark Antony has stirred up, but despite his misgivings, "something" leads him forth. The frenzied plebian mob interrogates him mercilessly and it is evident that they are predisposed to harm him. When he insists that he is not Cinna the politician but Cinna the poet, one of the plebians exclaims, "tear him for his bad verses" (III, iii. l.30),...
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- Julius Caesar: Introduction
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- Julius Caesar: William Shakespeare Biography
- Julius Caesar: Reading Shakespeare
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Julius Caesar: Summary and Analysis
- Act 1, Scene 1: Summary and Analysis
- Act I, Scene 2: Summary and Analysis
- Act I, Scene 3: Summary and Analysis
- Act II, Scene 1: Summary and Analysis
- Act II, Scene 2: Summary and Analysis
- Act II, Scenes 3 and 4: Summary and Analysis
- Act III, Scene 1: Summary and Analysis
- Act III, Scenes 2 and 3: Summary and Analysis
- Act IV, Scene 1: Summary and Analysis
- Act IV, Scenes 2 and 3: Summary and Analysis
- Act V, Scene 1: Summary and Analysis
- Act V, Scenes 2 and 3: Summary and Analysis
- Act V, Scenes 4 and 5: Summary and Analysis
- Julius Caesar: Critical Commentary
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Julius Caesar: Quizzes
- Act I, Scene 1: Questions and Answers
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- Act II, Scenes 3 and 4: Questions and Answers
- Act III, Scene 1: Questions and Answers
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- Act IV, Scene 1: Questions and Answers
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- Act V, Scene 1: Questions and Answers
- Act V, Scenes 2 and 3: Questions and Answers
- Act V, Scenes 4 and 5: Questions and Answers
- Julius Caesar: Essential Passages
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