Transcript Julius Caesar

Intro to Shakespeare and
Julius Caesar
English 10
Shakespeare and his life…
• Born in 1564 in Stratford upon
Avon, England
• Died in 1616—on his birthday—
April 23??
• Married Anne Hathaway and
had three children—Susan,
Judith, and Hamnet
• Wrote plays for the theatrical
company The Lord
Chamberlain’s Men
Shakespeare: Fun Facts
• His son, Hamnet’s name likely inspired the name
of one of Shakepeare’s most famous characters,
Hamlet.
• Wrote approximately 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and
two epic poems.
• Is credited with adding 3,000 words to the English
language including his longest word,
honorificabilitudinitatibus, which means "the state
of being able to achieve honors."
Theatre in 16th century England
• All of society attended the theatre, even royalty
• Plays were meant to be performed—not “seen” as literature—only
rough copies of Shakespeare’s plays survive today
• Only men were actors—even for female roles
The Globe Theatre
• Shakespeare’s theatre group
constructed the globe, an openair round theatre
• The original burned in 1613—a
new one was reconstructed in
London in 1997
Julius Caesar
• Tragedy: a play dealing with tragic events; usually has an unhappy
ending, culminating in the main character’s downfall
• First play to be performed in The Globe Theater
• Setting: Ancient Rome 44 B.C.
• There was a struggle for power that divided the Roman Empire
• Julius Caesar: Ruler of Rome
• Conspirators assassinated Caesar fearing that he would become too
powerful, then a civil war erupts
Characteristics of a
Shakespearean Tragedy
Tragic Hero
1.) Tragedy is concerned primarily
with one person—the tragic
hero. This hero usually has a
high status, so high that his or
her fate can affect the welfare of
a whole nation or empire.
Tragic Virtue
2.) The fate of the hero is often
triggered by a tragic virtue in the hero’s
character. The tragic virtue is a
personality trait that the character
possesses that under other
circumstances would be a virtue but
under these circumstances, it leads to
the character’s downfall, usually
resulting in death.
Other Characteristics
3.) Shakespeare often introduces abnormal
conditions of the mind (such as insanity or
hallucinations).
4.) Supernatural elements are often
introduced as well (such as ghosts or
witches).
5.) There is usually a strong and strange
reaction from nature (such as bad weather
or unnatural behavior from animals).
What qualities should an effective leader
have?
Iambic Pentameter & Sonnets
• Shakespeare wrote in iambic pentameter
• A type of meter with 10 syllables per line (1 stressed syllable, 1 unstressed
syllable, 5 times in each line)
• iamb=foot pent=5 5 feet per line
• Originally used in dance and by actors to remember lines in theatre
• Sonnet—fourteen line rhyming poem in iambic pentameter
• Shakespeare's sonnets contain three four line stanzas and a couplet
Part II--Characters
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
• Head of the Roman state
• Great soldier and general
• Just returned from a series of
wars where he defeated the
sons of the previous Roman
ruler, Pompey
• Calpurnia is his wife
Mark Antony
• Loyal friend and supporter of
Caesar
• Believes Caesar will be a good
ruler of Rome
Brutus
• Respected man of intelligence
and honor
• Personal friend of Caesar’s
• Wonders if Caesar will make a
good leader; worries he may
become a tyrant
Cassius
• One of the leaders of the
conspiracy
• Suspicious of Caesar from the
beginning
• Convinces Brutus to join him
Octavious and Lepidus
•Join with Mark
Antony after Caesar’s
death to rule Rome
as a triumvirate
Characters, cont.
• Casca, Trebonious,
Decius, Cinna
and Metallus
Cimber are the
other members of
the conspiracy,
each of whom
participates
by stabbing Caesar.
Act by Act Notes
Julius Caesar
Act I
• Setting: the streets of Rome
• Caesar is having a victory parade called a triumph over defeating the
previous Roman ruler, Pompey
• The political party and supporters of Pompey want to stop the
celebration
• A soothsayer tells Caesar to “beware the ides of March”
• Brutus and Cassius have a conversation about Caesar—Cassius hints
to Brutus that Brutus could be leader of Rome
Act I, cont.
• Caesar is suspicious of Cassius
• Strange things happen on the eve of the ides of March (earthquakes,
storms)
• Cassius recruits others to join in on the overthrow (assassination of
Caesar)
• They decide to try to get Brutus to join them
• Important quotes:
“Beware the Ides of March”– Soothsayer
“ I love the name of honor more than I fear death.”—Brutus
“Would he were fatter! But I fear him not, Yet if my name were liable
to fear, I do not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare
Cassius.”– Caesar
Act II Notes
• Scene 1 takes place in Brutus’ orchard—he receives the letter
(written by Cassius) telling him to “Wake up!”
•
•
•
•
He is struggling internally with the issue of Caesar becoming king
Cassius, Casca, Decius, etc. come to “make an oath”
They decide to be sacrificers, not murderers
Portia doesn’t understand what Brutus is hiding from her
• Scene 2 takes place in Caesar’s house
• Calpurnia has had a nightmare that Caesar was killed
• The priests warn Caesar to stay at home
• Decius persuades Caesar to go to the Capitol
• Scene 3—Artemidorus will warn Caesar by giving him a letter
• Scene 4—Portia asks Lucius to check on Brutus; she also finds out
from the Soothsayer what her husband is plotting
Act II Important Quotes
• Brutus: “Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius….Let’s kill him
boldly, but not wrathfully…”
• Brutus: “...What other bond/ Than secret Romans that have spoke the
word,/…And what other oath/ Than honesty to honesty engaged/
That this shall be, or we will fall for it?”
• Cassius: “Let Antony and Caesar fall together.”
• Portia: “Ay me, how weak a thing/The heart of woman is!”
**Know the quotes on your reading guides as well—and be prepared
to explain them in the form of a short essay question (paragraph)!
Define the following terms, and create an example
sentence using the term correctly:
Julius Caesar Vocab Act III
1. constant
2. enterprise
3. petition
4. redress
5. censure
6. entreat
7. extenuate
8. grievous
9. legacy
10.testament
Journal Entry: Julius Caesar Acts I and II
• Read each of the statements from your anticipation guide below.
Look back in the text to find examples of each statement at work in
the play (Acts I and II). Explain what the statement means, as well as
how it relates to the characters and their actions:
• It is better to listen to advice of peers than to listen to advice of a spouse or
family member.
• It is not possible for people to do something they would not otherwise do
when tempted by peers.
• It is sometimes okay to betray your friend(s).
** Must be 1 page in length—but be sure to explain and give examples for all 3
statements.