Download a PDF to print or study offline.
Study Guide
Bibliography
Course Hero. "Coriolanus Study Guide." Course Hero. 16 Mar. 2018. Web. 29 May 2023. <https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Coriolanus/>.
In text
(Course Hero)
Bibliography
Course Hero. (2018, March 16). Coriolanus Study Guide. In Course Hero. Retrieved May 29, 2023, from https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Coriolanus/
In text
(Course Hero, 2018)
Bibliography
Course Hero. "Coriolanus Study Guide." March 16, 2018. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Coriolanus/.
Footnote
Course Hero, "Coriolanus Study Guide," March 16, 2018, accessed May 29, 2023, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Coriolanus/.
| Act | Summary |
|---|---|
| Act 1, Scene 1 | Armed plebeians (commoners) are protesting in the streets of Rome about the lack of food: the senators have set the pric... Read More |
| Act 1, Scene 2 | The action shifts to the Volscian city of Corioles. The Volsci were an Italic (pre-Roman Italian) tribe who, during the ... Read More |
| Act 1, Scene 3 | The action returns to Rome. Martius's mother, Volumnia, and wife, Virgilia, discuss Martius's heroism. Volumnia expresse... Read More |
| Act 1, Scene 4 | Outside the walls of Corioles, the Romans prepare for battle with the Volscians. Martius places a bet with fellow warrio... Read More |
| Act 1, Scene 5 | Soldiers return with the spoils of victory such as precious metal, coins, and clothing. Lartius notices Martius's bloodi... Read More |
| Act 1, Scene 6 | In the rear lines of the battle, Cominius praises the valiant soldiers and their sacrifice. A messenger comes to relay t... Read More |
| Act 1, Scene 7 | Lartius prepares for battle. He tells his lieutenant that the area around Corioles, including the port, must be secured ... Read More |
| Act 1, Scene 8 | Martius and Aufidius do battle face to face while declaring their mutual hatred. Other Volscians enter to aid Aufidius. ... Read More |
| Act 1, Scene 9 | Cominius publicly praises Martius in front of the soldiers, saying he can have a 10th of all the spoils of battle for su... Read More |
| Act 1, Scene 10 | A Volscian soldier tells Aufidius, now "bloody" in the stage direction, that the city of Corioles has fallen. Aufidius e... Read More |
| Act 2, Scene 1 | The tribunes Brutus and Sicinius accuse the absent Coriolanus of being too proud and boastful. Menenius defends him and ... Read More |
| Act 2, Scene 2 | An officer comments that Coriolanus is "vengeance proud and loves not the common people." Another feels he is a worthy m... Read More |
| Act 2, Scene 3 | Before Coriolanus enters, citizens share their feelings of obligation to honor Coriolanus as the new consul. Coriolanus ... Read More |
| Act 3, Scene 1 | Lartius tells Coriolanus that the Volscians are reorganizing and could attempt another attack on Rome. Cominius doubts t... Read More |
| Act 3, Scene 2 | The scene begins with Coriolanus wondering if his mother, who was always contemptuous of the people, has cast him off no... Read More |
| Act 3, Scene 3 | Brutus begins the scene by telling Sicinius they need to remind Coriolanus that the spoils from the battle at Corioles w... Read More |
| Act 4, Scene 1 | Coriolanus says goodbye to his wife, mother, Cominius, and Menenius. Cominius offers to travel with Coriolanus for a mon... Read More |
| Act 4, Scene 2 | Brutus and Sicinius tell the aedile to tell the people their enemy is gone. Brutus says he and Sicinius should be humble... Read More |
| Act 4, Scene 3 | A Roman named Nicanor speaks with a Volscian named Adrian and tells him of the state of things in Rome. Nicanor appears ... Read More |
| Act 4, Scene 4 | Coriolanus enters Antium disguised, and briefly addresses the city, saying he has been responsible for killing its men i... Read More |
| Act 4, Scene 5 | Coriolanus enters Aufidius's residence while the Volscian is hosting a feast. He argues with the servants, who question ... Read More |
| Act 4, Scene 6 | Brutus and Sicinius begin the scene commenting on the peacefulness in Rome since Coriolanus's departure. Menenius enters... Read More |
| Act 4, Scene 7 | Aufidius and his lieutenant question allowing Coriolanus into their trust: Coriolanus is adored by Aufidius's army and o... Read More |
| Act 5, Scene 1 | Meeting with Brutus and Sicinius, Menenius and Cominius describe their unsuccessful attempt to convince Coriolanus to fo... Read More |
| Act 5, Scene 2 | Menenius visits the Volscian encampment and pleads with the obstinate guards to let him speak with Coriolanus. After the... Read More |
| Act 5, Scene 3 | After Coriolanus tells Aufidius he will not tolerate any more pleas from the Romans, Volumnia, Virgilia, Valeria, and yo... Read More |
| Act 5, Scene 4 | Menenius tells Sicinius there is likely no hope for Rome and the women will probably not be able to sway Coriolanus. A m... Read More |
| Act 5, Scene 5 | Volumnia, Virgilia, and Valeria, having returned from the Volscian encampment, are praised by senators and lords and tre... Read More |
| Act 5, Scene 6 | Aufidius shares with three conspirators how angry he is with Coriolanus's betrayal and that the will of the people deman... Read More |
Have study documents to share about Coriolanus? Upload them to earn free Course Hero access!