Transcript The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
By William Shakespeare
An Introduction
The play was first performed in 1599 during the period of
Queen Elizabeth I
The play is about Roman history, but uses the setting as a
safe way to also criticize Elizabethan society, or make a
social commentary. For this reason the play will not be
completely historically accurate
The major historical resource used by Shakespeare to craft
the play is Plutarch’s Lives of the Noble Grecians and
Romans which was translated into English in 1579
Shakespearean Tragedy
Tragedies have a tragic hero (who tends to
be the protagonist). Tragic heroes:
Are admirable but flawed; capable of both good
and evil. (A tragic hero is a round character.)
Have free will. A tragic hero is capable of
changing his fate but makes choices that
prevent it.
Shakespearean Tragedy
Continued
Tragic heroes have what is called a tragic flaw, a
characteristic that leads him to his downfall.
This tragic flaw is often hubris: the character is out of touch
with reality because he is overconfident and/or overestimates
his competence/capability to avoid disaster. Many tragic heroes
believe themselves to be invincible and above reproach.
NOTE: Throughout this unit one of the overarching questions
will be to determine who is the tragic hero of the play, is it
Brutus or Caesar? Revisit this definition as we read and
consider who you believe fits the description best.
Unit Essential Questions
(Answers to These questions can be made into theme statements. They
will also be the prompts for our final essay assignment.)
What qualities make a person a good
leader?
What are society’s expectations and how do
these expectations shape our perceptions
and experiences?
Which is more important, friendship or
being a good citizen?
More Essential Questions
How can we take personal responsibility for our
actions, or not take responsibility for our actions?
How do these actions influence both the way we
view others and the way others view us?
What is the effect of language (rhetorical style vs.
emotional propaganda) on our perceptions of
truth/justice/morality?
What should the role of fate and superstition be in
our decision-making?