Transcript Julius Caesar Background Info

Anticipation Guide

It is never right to kill another person
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Anticipation Guide

It is sometimes acceptable to betray your
friends
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Anticipation Guide

The more success and power you have,
the more people dislike you.
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Anticipation Guide

Political leaders usually act in the best
interest of their countries
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Anticipation Guide

No cause, political or otherwise, is worth
dying for.
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Anticipation Guide

If a political leader has done something
wrong, it is okay to get rid of him or her
by whatever means necessary
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Julius Caesar Background
Information
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

Most scholars agree that Shakespeare
wrote The Tragedy of Julius Caesar in
1599.

This play is based upon the
assassination of Julius Caesar by his
close friends and confidants.
Background Information

The Romans were
superstitious.

They believed that future events
could be seen in dreams, the
stars, and unnatural
occurrences.

Many Romans believed that
fate controlled one’s life.
Background Information


In 503 BC, Rome
ended the rule of the
Tarquins, a series of
harsh, cruel rulers.
Rome decided to
never again be under
the rule of such an
oppressive
government.
They refused ALL forms of
government that consisted of
kings or emperors, basically
any ruler who achieves
power based on inheritance
instead of an election.
Rome’s Government:
After the Tarquins

Rome set up a republic:


A government in which officials are elected.
The new government is made up of two
parts:
Two consuls (leaders) and a senate.
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
The Consuls were elected officials.

They appointed the Senate members
who could be from any walk of life—noble
or common.
Julius Caesar’s
Rise to Power

Julius Caesar got into politics during a time in
which the Consuls and the Senate were having
problems.

In this time of instability and arguing, he became
an outspoken leader.
Consuls
Senate

In 60 BC the first triumvirate (3person governing body) was formed.

It consisted of Caesar, a famous
general named Pompey, and a
wealthy man named Crassus.
Julius Caesar
Crassus
Pompey
After Crassus died, Pompey began to
fear that Caesar was growing too
powerful and popular.
Crassus
Caesar
At this time, Caesar and his army were
far away from Rome, conquering many
lands for the Roman Empire.
Pompey ordered Caesar back so that he
would not have to fear Caesar and his
powerful army.
Instead, Caesar attacked Pompey,
defeating his forces and killing him in
the midst.
Pompey
Caesar returned to
Rome and was
accepted by the
people for his
military abilities.
He was loved for all of
the goods he brought
back from his
conquests, and he
was elected Dictator
for Life.
This meant that he
would rule Rome until
his death, and the
next leader would
have to be elected.
We Love Ceasar!!!
Caesar = Dictator for Life
Many believed that Caesar wanted to be
emperor instead of just Dictator for
Life. If he was Emperor, Julius
Caesar’s son would inherit the throne
after his death.
Many feared that Caesar would bring
back a style of governing similar to
Tarquin’s. To prevent this, some
members of the senate carried out a
deceitful
plan . . .
Book
Of
Sonnets

SHAKESPEARE BACKGROUND
Shakespeare Biography
Born in 1546 in
Stratford-upon-Avon
 At 18: married Anne
Hathaway
 Had three children
 Left for London to
pursue career in
theatre

Shakespeare Background

Wrote in bars and
pubs because:
Free light from candles
 Cheap food
 Inspiration

Types of Writings

Shakespeare wrote
 Sonnets
 Three
types of plays
 Histories
 Tragedies
 Comedies
His plays remain popular today
 Have been made into films and other plays

Tragedies: Five Elements
1.
Very Important
People

2.
(kings, princes,
movers and shakers
in Renaissance
society)
Very Important
Things

3.
(wars, coronations,
marriages, battles as
the story begins)
Tragic Hero With a
Tragic Flaw

4.
Magic or Fantasy

5.
Tragic flaw- A
personality defect
that will cause the
protagonist’s downfall
(ghosts, magical
storms, witches)
Hero Dies
Shakespearean Conventions

Soliloquy: long speech given by a character
while alone on stage to reveal private thoughts
More Conventions

Monologue: Longer
speech made by one
person on stage to
others on stage

Aside: Character’s
quiet remark to
another
Ms. Polson’s #1 Pet Peeve:

Shakespeare did not write in “Old”
English; in fact, it is actually very similar
to the English that we speak today.
Old English
Middle English
Shakespeare—Modern English
The Globe Theater

Where many of
Shakespeare’s plays were
performed

Called the “Wooden O”
because of its shape
Totus mundus agit
histrionem
Ms. Polson’s Pictures from the
Globe Theater