Transcript File

Elements of a Shakespearean
Tragic Hero
Characteristics of a
Shakespearean Tragic Hero
 The
hero is a person of high rank
 The hero is an extraordinary and
admirable man
 The hero has a basic character flaw
(tragic flaw) which leads to his
downfall (usually death)
 Hubris- excessive pride that results in
the hero’s downfall.
 There
is a dual conflict –
internal and external
 The hero recognizes and
regrets his flaw before he
dies
 Good always triumphs in the
end
Structure of a Shakespearean
Tragedy
The Five Act Play

All Elizabethan plays, including Shakespeare’s
plays, consist of five acts.

These plays follow a similar structure.
Starting point or Exposition
 Describes
the mood and conditions
existing at the beginning of the play
 Also describes the setting and the
main characters
(Act I)
An Initial Exciting Force
The
complication
This is what “gets things going” by
beginning the main conflict of
the play
(Act I)
Rising Action
Series
of events leading up to the
climax of the play
Provides a progressive interest for
the audience
(Acts II & III)
Climax
The
turning point of the play
From this point on, the
Shakespearean hero moves to his
inevitable end
(Act III)
Falling Action
Events
occurring from the time of
the climax up to the hero’s death
(Acts III, IV, & V)
The Catastrophe
The
necessary consequences of
the hero’s previous actions which
must be the hero’s death
(Act V)
William Shakespeare
and Julius Caesar
Shakespeare Quick Facts
• Nicknamed “The Bard”
• Born in spring of 1564
• His wife was Anne Hathaway
• Together, they had three children
• Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets
The Globe
Theater
The Globe Theater

Built in 1594.

Consisted of a center
stage surrounded by levels
of seating and a standingroom-only opened “pit”
right in front.

The “groundlings” stood
on the ground. These
were usually poorer
people.

The actual covered seats
were reserved for upper
and middle class patrons.

There was no lighting, so
all plays were performed
at 2 P.M. and lasted about
two hours.
The Globe Theater

Even though the theatre
was wildly popular, it was
forced to compete for its
audience because of
other popular events, like
cock-fighting and bear
baiting.

In 1591, Elizabeth I banned
the theatres from
performing on Thursdays
so they would not interfere
with bear baiting.
More about The Globe

The “pit” was also referred to
as hell.

The covered seat section
was also known as heaven.

From the “pit” the
groundlings threw
vegetables and shouted
remarks at the actors.

There was always a
designated section set aside
of the monarch and his
entourage to sit.
The Globe Theater

You could get a seat with
the “groundlings” for
about a penny.

For another penny, you
could get a bench seat in
the lower galleries.

For a penny or so more,
you could get a
cushioned seat.

The most expensive seats
would have been in the
‘Lord’s Rooms’. Admission
to the indoor theatres
started at 6 pence (about
fifty cents).
Even More about The Globe

Although the plays lacked
scenes, the costumes and
props made up for the
difference.

The stage at The Globe also
had trap doors for ghosts or
witches to come through for
added effect.

At that time, only men were
allowed to act, so even the
roles of women were played
by men.
The Flags at the Globe Theatre
 White-
Comedy
 Black-
Tragedy
 Red-
History
Still Even More about The Globe

The Globe was burned down
when the roof caught on fire in
1613.

The Globe was then rebuilt and
opened in 1997 and plays are even to
this day being performed there.

It was rebuilt the same year
only to be torn down again in
1644 by the Puritan
Government who closed all of
the theaters.

The Globe can hold 2,000 to 3,000
spectators.
Tragedy
(Such as Macebth, Romeo and Juliet, and Julius
Caesar)


A work of literature,
often a play, about
some sort of lifealtering catastrophic
event or knowledge
that permanently
changes the main
character.
Main character is
often someone of
power like a king.

The main character is
called the tragic hero.

A tragic hero possesses
certain characteristics
that often causes him
fall.

Hubris - or excessive
pride

Go through an
emotional, spiritual,
cathartic cleansing.
History
Such as Henry VIII, Julius Caesar, and Richard III

About an actual
event or person in
history.

Often the people in
history were royalty.

Sometimes the plays
were making fun of
that person,
sometimes, showing
admiration.

Often Shakespeare
chose an interesting
character or event to
write about to make
that person or event
more identifiable to the
average person.
Comedy
Such as Much Ado About Nothing, All’s Well That
Ends Well, and A Midsummer’s Night Dream

Comedies were usually the
favorites of the groundlings
because they often consisted of
someone making a fool of himself.

Were lighthearted, consisted of a
magical theme of element, and no
one usually dies.

Consisted of a moral lesson and
usually ended with a “life-goes-on”
attitude.
What has Shakespeare given to
literature?

He contributed 3,000 words
to the Oxford English
Dictionary.

In his works, there are 7,000
words that he only used
once.

He did not create the 5-act
play, but he perfected it.

His great attention to detail
of character and scene are
still trying to be emulated or
copied today.
Julius Caesar and Julius Caesar


102/100 BCE: Gaius Julius
Caesar was born of
Aurelia and Gaius Julius
Caesar, a praetor
(commander of an army
or government official).
His family had noble,
patrician roots, although
they were neither rich nor
influential in this period.

As a young man, he married Cornelia, the
daughter of a noble.
Angered Sulla, dictator of Rome
 Was given a choice- divorce or lose
everything.
 Start of military career.



After Sulla died, he returned to Rome
Captured by pirates

Julius Caesar, upon his return to Rome, began working as a government
official under Pompey (68 or 69 BC)

His first wife, Cornelia passed away (69 BC)

Two years later he married Pompeia

He divorced Pompeia in 62 BCbecause of her involvement in a scandal with
another man, although the man had been acquitted in the law courts

Caesar is reported to have said, “The wife of Caesar must be above suspicion,”
suggesting that he was so exceptional that anyone associated with him had to
be free of any hint of scandal
He continued his close alliance with Pompey,
which enabled him to get elected as consul, a
powerful government position, in 59 BC.
 Married his third wife, Calpurnia
 Between 58 and 50 BC, Caesar conquered
the rest of Gaul, up to the river Rhine. As he
expanded his reach, he also showed his
ruthlessness with his enemies.
 Crassus, Caesar, and Pompey formed a
triumvirate (60 BC)



Crassus and Pompey did not get along well
Pompey was nervous about Caesar

Caesar eventually went to civil war with Pompey (49
BC).
 Pompey
is killed in Egypt by Ptolomy XIII
 Brutus spared

Caesar and Cleopatra
 Caesarion


Upon his return to Rome, Caesar was made dictator for
life and declared as Father of his Country (44 BC).
He only served one year, but made many changes.
 Relieved
debt
 Cancelled
 Stopped
 Free
interest
hoarding of coin
rent
 Appointed
allies to the senate
 Sought to make Rome a cultural haven


February, 44 B.C. Dictator Perpetuus

Wore purple robe for the first time to the Festival of Lupercal

Offered a crown by Antony, but refused. Possible reasons include that he knew
the crowd did not want him to take it, or because he was trying to end
speculation that he wanted to become king.
Senators were divided

Caesar’s popularity

Fear of another dictator
Julius Caesar, the play

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Key Facts
full title · The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
author · William Shakespeare
type of work · Play
genre · Tragic drama, historical drama
language · English
time and place written · 1599, in London
date of first publication · Published in the First Folio of 1623,
probably from the theater company’s official promptbook rather
than from Shakespeare’s manuscript
publisher · Edward Blount and William Jaggard headed the group
of five men who undertook the publication of Shakespeare’s First
Folio