Transcript Julius Caesar

Julius
Caesar
A short Biography
The Roman Empire
• Around 500 B.C. Romans decided to
begin enacting democracy…they
were being ruled by a king.
• The new democracy formed a
Roman Senate, much like our senate
today.
• During the rise of the government,
the Romans began taking over all of
the Italian Peninsula.
Political Tension
• The senate operated
within the empire for
years and years, but at
one point there was a
civil war.
• After the Civil War, it
was decided that the
senate was not
powerful enough.
• Three men joined up to
take over the empire.
• The senate was still
around but, these three
were in charge.
Pompey
Crassus
Julius Caesar
This is the area that
Caesar has just
conquered at the
beginning of the play
The Trio (1st Triumvirate)
• Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar control Rome for
about 10 years
Pompey
Pompey and Caesar
engage in a civil
Crassus
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Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar
a timeline
100 B.C. Caesar was born
85 B.C. Caesar’s father dies, he marries 1st wife
Cornelia (their daughter: Julia)
– He is later ordered to divorce her, he refuses and
is put on a list to be executed. Goes into hiding.
79 B.C. Caesar begins a career as a lawyer and
gains prominence around Rome
75 B.C. Caesar kidnapped by pirates and held for
ransom. Once he was released, he had the
pirates executed.
60 B.C. Joined the First Triumvirate
59 B.C. Married his 3rd wife Calpurnia
58 B.C. Caesar leaves to conquer Gaul and most
of central Europe.
49 B.C. Caesar begins the Civil War with Pompey
Oct, 2 48 B.C. Caesar is presented with the head
of the defeated Pompey in Alexandria, Egypt.
--In his time in Egypt he has a relationship with
Cleopatra and they produce a son: Caesarion
February 44 B.C. Appointed dictator perpetuus
Romans to Know
• Marc Antony: A trusted friend of and general
in Caesar’s army. Becomes a
ruler of Rome himself, and
marries Cleopatra after Caesar’s
death.
• Brutus: A Roman senator with
extreme moral integrity.
Always wanted what was
best for Rome
1. What day is Ides of March
March 15
• 2. Why are Marullus and Flavius angry with
the commoners?
• For celebrating Caesar’s victory when they
were just supporting Pompey
• 3. Why did Marullus and Flavius take down all
of the decorations on Caesar’s statues?
• They didn’t think Caesar was worthy of them.
• 4. How many times did Marc Antony offer
Caesar a crown?
• 3
• 5. What did Caesar do each time he was
offered the crown, according to Casca?
• Pushed it away, but his fingers lingered on it
each time. Shows that he secretly wanted the
crown.
• 6. What kind of men does Caesar want around
him and why?
• Fat, sleek-headed men who sleep at night
• 7. Cassius is said to have a ____ and ____
look.
• Lean and hungry
8. At the end of Act I, how did Cassius plan to
trick Brutus into thinking the Romans are
wanting his help?
• Throw letters “from the people of Rome”
through his window claiming Caesar is
ambitious and telling Brutus how much they
respect him.
• 9. Which two men did the conspirators discuss
killing?
• Caesar and Antony
• 10. What does Brutus mean when he
compares Caesar to a serpent’s egg?
• He only becomes dangerous when he
“hatches” or gets more power.
• 11. Explain Calpurnia’s nightmare.
• Caesar’s statue was spouting blood and the
people of Rome were washing their hands in
his blood.
• 12. Who stabs Caesar first?
• Casca
• 13. Who stabs Caesar last? Why is this ironic?
• Brutus; he was his good and trusted friend
• 14. What is a soliloquy?
• An act of speaking one’s thoughts out loud
when by oneself
• 15. What are the 3 conditions Brutus sets for
allowing Antony to speak at the funeral?
• Cannot say anything bad about the
conspirators
• Can say anything good about Caesar
• Must say he does it with Brutus’ permission
• 16. What were the 2 reasons that Brutus is
angry with Cassius in Act 4?
• He accused Cassius of taking bribes and says
that is not honorable.
• He asked Cassius for money to pay his troops
and was denied the money.
• 17. What 2 things did Antony and Octavius do
at the beginning of Act 4 that was less than
honorable?
• Plan to cut down Caesar’s will – less money
paid out to the people
• Use Lepidus only as a “tool”
• 18. Name the 3 men in charge of Rome at the
beginning of Act 4.
• Antony, Octavius, Lepidus
• 19. What is a motif?
• Something that is repeated throughout a book
or story
• 20. Name at least one motif that we have seen
in “Julius Caesar.”
• Bad omens, the number 3: crown, Calpurnia
crying out, washing hands in blood, Ides of
March
• 21. Dramatic irony is when the audience
knows something that the characters on stage
do not know. Be able to give an example of
dramatic irony from the play.
• 22. What were Caesar’s last words?
• “Et Tu, Brute! Then fall Caesar.”