Question

CAESAR. I could be well moved, if I were as you.

If I could pray to move, prayers would move me.

But I am constant as the Northern Star,

Of whose true fixed and resting quality

There is no fellow in the firmament.

The skies are painted with unnumbered sparks;

They are all fire, and every one doth shine;

But there’s but one in all doth hold his place.

–The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,

William Shakespeare

The central idea of this passage is that Caesar will not change his mind. Which details support this central idea? Check all that apply.

“I could be well moved, if I were as you”
“But I am constant as the Northern Star”
“The skies are painted”
“They are all fire, and every one doth shine”
“There’s but one in all doth hold his place.”

Answer 1

- “But I am constant as the Northern Star” — directly states his unchanging nature.
- “There’s but one in all doth hold his place.” — reinforces the idea of being fixed and immovable.

(The other lines describe stars shining or present a conditional possibility of being moved, so they do not support the central idea that he will not change his mind.)