The Supernatural in Julius Caesar (Act 1, Scene 3)
In Act 1 Scene 3, Shakespeare uses supernatural signs and strange events to create an
atmosphere of fear and suggest that something unnatural is happening in Rome. These
omens foreshadow Caesar’s assassination and reflect the anxiety of the characters.
Supernatural Examples in Act 1 Scene 3
Quote Explanation
“Are not you moved, when all the sway of Casca describes a violent storm that makes
earth / Shakes like a thing unfirm?” (Casca) the earth seem unstable. This unnatural
weather is seen as a sign of disorder in
Rome.
“A common slave—you know him well by A slave’s hand is on fire but remains
sight— / Held up his left hand, which did unharmed. This miraculous and frightening
flame and burn / Like twenty torches sight suggests the gods are sending
join’d; and yet his hand, / Not sensible of warnings.
fire, remain’d unscorch’d.” (Casca)
“A lion in the Capitol, / A hundred ghastly Casca lists unnatural visions: a lion
women, transformed with their fear, / Who roaming in Rome, fearful women claiming
swore they saw men all in fire walk up and to see men on fire. These bizarre sights
down the streets.” (Casca) symbolize chaos and impending danger.
“The bird of night did sit / Even at noonday Owls are birds of night, but here one
upon the marketplace, / Hooting and appears at noon in the market, shrieking.
shrieking.” (Casca) This reversal of nature is a bad omen and
suggests death and misfortune.
“These are their reasons; they are Casca concludes that these supernatural
natural: / For I believe they are portentous events are not random but omens pointing
things / Unto the climate that they point to terrible events about to fall upon Rome.
upon.” (Casca)
Activity: Understanding the Supernatural
Part A: Multiple Choice
1. What do the supernatural events in this scene mostly foreshadow?
a) Caesar’s growing popularity
b) The bad weather to come
c) Caesar’s assassination and Rome’s disorder
d) Brutus’s loyalty to Caesar
2. Why does Casca describe so many unnatural sights?
a) To entertain Cinna
b) To show how afraid he is and to warn of danger
c) To exaggerate events for humor
d) To convince Caesar to become king
Part B: Short Answer
Choose one of the quotes from the table. Write 2–3 sentences explaining how the
supernatural event creates a sense of fear or foreshadows danger in Rome.
Part C: PEAL Practice (4–5 sentences)
Write a short paragraph using the PEAL structure (Point, Evidence, Analysis, Link).
Question: How does Shakespeare use the supernatural in Act 1 Scene 3 to reflect the mood
in Rome?
Tip: Always connect the supernatural event (Evidence) to the bigger idea of fear, disorder,
and foreshadowing Caesar’s fate.
Answer Key – The Supernatural in Julius Caesar (Act 1, Scene 3)
Part A: Multiple Choice
1. c) Caesar’s assassination and Rome’s disorder
2. b) To show how afraid he is and to warn of danger
Part B: Short Answer (Sample)
Example: The owl shrieking in the marketplace at noon is frightening because owls are
normally seen at night. Shakespeare uses this unnatural event to suggest that something
terrible will happen in Rome.
Part C: PEAL Practice (Sample)
Point: Shakespeare uses supernatural omens to show the fear and tension in Rome.
Evidence: Casca describes a slave whose hand is on fire but not burnt.
Analysis: This unnatural event creates a sense of dread and suggests the gods are warning
the people of Rome.
Link: By including such strange sights, Shakespeare reflects the uncertainty in the city and
foreshadows Caesar’s death.
