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THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR

Vincenzo Camuccini, Mort de César, 1798

Objectives

1. Identify the author of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

2. Examine historical events

Bloom’s: knowledge, comprehension

Meet the author of

THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR

William Shakespeare

About the Author

About the Author

That is a lot of writing!

Shakespeare was born in Stratford, England in 1564, but no one knows the actual day of Shakespeare’s birth!

He wrote 37 plays as well as 154 sonnets, but Shakespeare never published any of his plays!

Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest writers in the English language.

Surprisingly, Shakespeare's family was illiterate!

Stratford

London

Illiterate means they could not read or write! Imagine that!

Look at the map. It gives a good idea where Stratfordis located.

Objectives

1. Examine the Globe Theater

2. Identify Elements of a Play

Bloom’s: knowledge, comprehension

In order to better understand Shakespeare’s plays, it is good to learn some of the terminology Shakespeare uses in the writing of them. The language is called Elizabethan English, named after Queen Elizabeth I.

ere ~ the old English word for before

hence ~ the old English word for here

swear’st ~ the old English word for swear

thee, thy, thou ~ old English words for you

thine ~ the old English word for your

wert ~ the old English word for were

wherefore ~ the old English word for why

Elizabethan English

Blank verse is poetry that doesn’t rhyme. It is written in iambic pentameter. For example:

“They are the faction O conspiracy

Sham’st thou to show thy dang’rous brow by night” (2.1.77-79).

Blank Verse

.

. . . ..

In Shakespeare’s plays, aristocratic and/or important people typically speak in blank verse.

. ...

Pentameter – the iambic pattern is repeated five times in the line.

Iambic – an unstressed syllable is followed by a stressed syllable.

The Characters

Caesar is a powerful Roman general and senator. Many Roman citizens worship him while others fear his power and ambition.

Brutus is a judicial magistrate – his job is to enforce laws. One of Caesar’s friends, he eventually joins the conspirators.

Antony, Caesar’s friend, is such a powerful speaker that he persuades the Roman citizens to revolt.

Octavius is Caesar’s adopted son. He is Caesar’s successor and fights with Antony against Brutus and Cassius.

The Characters

1. A protagonist is a main character who is a ________ person.a) good b) funny c) bada) good

2. Who warns Caesar to beware the Ides of March? a) Decius b) Calpurnia c) Soothsayer

c) Soothsayer

3. Portia is _________ wife.a) Caesar’s b) Brutus’s c) Soothsayer’s

b) Brutus’s

Comprehension Check

Directions: select the best answer to each question

Bloom’s: knowledge, comprehension

Act I, scene i

The Roman citizens celebrate the feast ofLupercal as well as Caesar’s return anddefeat of Pompey. To honor Caesar, thecitizens decorate his statues.

Saddened about Pompey and fearful ofCaesar’s ambition and rise to power, tribunes Marullus and Flavius scold andinsult the citizens and tell them to go towork.

Marullus reminds the commoners thatnot too long ago, they liked Pompey andshould not take pride in one Romanconquering another.

Flavius tells Marullus to remove thedecorations on Caesar’s statues. Theybelieve that doing this will help to stopthe commoners from publiclyworshipping Caesar.

Typical politicians!

Will Caesar be angry?

The feast of Lupercal was a Roman festival to avert evil Spirits that was celebrated on February 15.

That’s pretty sneaky how Shakespeare tells us the date.

Act II, scene iii

Cicero and Casca meet in the streets lateat night; Casca talks about the strangeweather.

Casca tells Cicero about the weird things he saw and heard such as: a lionat the capital, a man whose hand burnedlike twenty torches but wasn’t actuallyburned, and women who claimed to seea hundred men covered in fire whilewalking up and down the streets ofRome.

Cassius joins them and claims that thestrange occurrences are a sign thatsomething is wrong with the Romansociety.

Cinna joins them; Cassius gives himletters written against Caesar to leavewhere Brutus will find them.

Cassius believes these strange events are because the gods are displeased with Caesar.

What might the bad weather suggest?

Why does Cassius do this?

Journal This

Summarize the events fromAct I in list form.

I. Caesar’s defeat of Pompey.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

Predict

Make a list of three things thatyou think might happen in Act II. Write one sentence tosupport your prediction.

I. Brutus learns the letters are forged. I think this because

Brutus is Caesar’s friend and knows the Roman citizens love Caesar; they have no reason to want him dead.

Who, What, When, Where, Why

Remember, Act I finished with Casca, Cicero, Cinna, and Cassius meeting somewhere in the streets of Rome. The conspirators are hoping that Brutus, even though he is one of Caesar’s dearest friends, will join their “noble” cause.

In order to convince Brutus, Cassius forges anonymous messages to convince Brutus to join them.

Act II begins on March 14, the eveof the Ides of March. Remember, the Soothsayer warned Caesar to beware the Ides of March. It is late at night; the weather is unusual.

The conspirators brave the stormynight, moving unnoticed through the streets of Rome, to visit Brutus.

Act V, scenes iii and iv

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer!

Scene iii cont’d.Saddened that Cassius is dead, Titaniuskills himself.

Brutus learns that Cassius is dead and declares that Caesar is still mighty; it is Caesar’s spirit that caused their defeat.

He grieves for the death of two goodRomans before telling the generals toprepare for more battle.

Scene ivCato is killed and Lucilius is captured while pretending to be Brutus. Antony tells his soldiers that they have captured the wrong man; Lucilius informs Antonythat Brutus is safe.

Antony demands that his men treat Lucilius kindly as he prefers to haveLucilius as a friend, not an enemy.

If you were Brutus, what would you do?

Why is everybody dying? Things are spiraling out of control. This is why the play is considered a tragedy!

KWhat I KNOW

WWhat I WANT to

Know

LWhat I LEARNED

     

What do you know about The Tragedy of Julius Caesar? Find

the “K” on the chart below and write down everything you

know about the play. Next, in the column labeled “W,” write

down what you want to learn about Julius Caesar. Identify

what you learned by writing in the “L” column.

Julius Caesar was a Roman.

What happens to Julius Caesar--didn’t he rule the Roman Empire?

Bloom’s: knowledge

Julius Caesar waskilled by his friends.

Analyze This!

“Romans, countrymen, and lovers! Hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear…”

Brutus convinces the citizens that Caesar’s death was necessary. He is able to do this because he chooses his words very carefully, or does he? The citizens certainly forgot everything Brutus said once Antony spoke.

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!”

Even though Antony claims he is not a good speaker, he is able to turn the Roman citizens against the conspirators. In fact, the citizens want revenge for Caesar’s death.

Those fickle Romans!

Compare and Contrast the Speeches

In order for you to determine who the better speaker is, you will compare and contrast the speeches of Brutus and Antony.

When comparing something, you show its similarities. On the other hand, when contrasting something, you show the differences.

Using a Venn diagram, write two paragraphs to identify the similaritiesand differences between the speeches.

You Conspirator!

So, you’ve decided to turnagainst the great Caesar and join the conspirators. However, you’ve heard that they won’t accept just anyone. Well, what did you expect?

Perhaps when you send them your resume and cover letter that identifies your superior qualities, they will take you into their confidence. Good luck!

What qualities does a good conspirator need?

Make a list of the qualities or traits of a good conspirator.

I. Keep a secret

II.

III.

IV.

Fall Caesar, fall! Caesar Beware!

I. Cassius

II.

III.

IV.

V.

I. Calpurnia

II.

III.

IV.

V.

TRACE THISWhile reading the play, make a list of who is for and who is against

Caesar’s assassination.