The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
• All of Shakespeare’s plays are written in
Blank verse - this is unrhymed iambic
pentameter.
• iambic pentameter - each line of poetry in
the play contains this. An iamb contains an
unstressed syllable followed by a stressed
syllable.
Example - Prepare
Pentameter :
means that there are five of
these iambs in a line.
Example : The evil that men do lives after them
• Archaic - old-fashioned words no longer used
today. Many of these words are seen in
Shakespeare’s plays.
• Ex - Thy, thou, and thine These words were
used to mean “you”
Thou art old!
Thou shall
mind thy
own
manners,
granny!
• Greek and Roman history had a great appeal
for the English in the Elizabethan Age. Many
times Shakespeare would take plots from
historical events and create suspenseful plays
from them.
• The play, Julius Caesar, is about the assassination
of the Roman military commander and dictator
who lived from 102 to 44 BC. It contains murder,
political, psychological, and moral turmoil.
HOW CAESAR BECAME RULER OF
ROME
Caesar was a powerful Roman
general along with his friend,
Pompey and both brought order
to the weakening Roman
government.
Wanting more power, Caesar went to battle
in parts of Europe (Gallic Wars) and collected
money to give to the Roman government.
• Caesar gains favor with Roman people, and
Pompey becomes jealous.
• Pompey convinces the senate that Caesar is
trying to bribe the people.
• The senate orders
Caesar to give up
his command.
• Caesar’s army fights and eventually takes
control of Roman government .
• Caesar pursues Pompey to Egypt. Pompey is
murdered by other forces.
• Caesar meets Cleopatra
and makes her ruler
of Egypt.
• Caesar returns to Rome and is declared
dictator for life by the people.
• Aristocracy plots to assassinate Caesar.
• The play opens a month before the murder
Terms to know
• Soliloquy: A speech made by a character
when he/she is alone on stage
• Aside: Comments made to the audience by a
character in which others on stage cannot
hear (this reveals the character’s private
thoughts)
ACT I
• SCENE 1: Two tribunes (guards) scold
commoners for celebrating the return of Caesar
and disrespecting Pompey. “You blocks, you
stones, you worse than senseless things!”
• SCENE 2: In celebration of Caesar’s return a
soothsayer warns “C” to “Beware the Ides of
March (15th). “C” ignores the warning.
Meanwhile, Cassius tells Brutus to refuse to
kneel down to “C” because they are free men.
Cassius tells Brutus he is a better man and
potential leader than “C” will ever be.
Meanwhile “C” faints when he is presented with
a crown (to be king).
• SCENE 3: Cassius meets fellow conspirators to
finalize plans of “C’s” downfall. He gives Cinna
forged letters (of people begging for Brutus’
help)to be planted at Brutus’ home.
Vocabulary: Saucy, Mettle, Infirmity
Assignment: Cassius delivers a soliloquy that
reveals a plot to influence Brutus to participate
in the conspiracy to overthrow Caesar. In a well
developed paragraph, discuss what this plot
entails and include a citation or citations to back
up your discussion.
ACT II
• Before reading, think about Brutus and his
personality. What type of man is he? Based
on his loyalty to both Caesar and Rome, what
will he choose to do (based on Cassius’
proposal)? Should he join with the
conspirators or should he remain loyal to
Caesar?
ACT II Activities
• Vocabulary terms: Visage, Portent, Faction
• Complete Decision/Reason/Consequences
chart while reading
ACT II Scene 1
• Brutus worries that Caesar will be crowned king;
what he questions is whether or not Caesar will be
corrupted by his power. “It is the bright day that
brings forth the adder…”He then reads forged
letters from “citizens” to stop Caesar before he
becomes too powerful. Later the conspirators
meet and discuss killing Antony along with “C.”
Brutus says this will make their cause too bloody
and dissuades them. Later, Portia (B’s wife) begs
him to confide in her and tell her what is wrong. “I
have a man’s mind but woman’s might”
Act II Scenes 2-4
• Calpurnia enters and insists that Caesar not
leave the house after so many bad signs.
Decius enters to escort “C” to the Capitol. He
reinterprets Calpurnia’s dream that Caesar’s
statue was pouring out blood. “C” decides to
go to the capitol because he does not want to
look weak.
ACT III Scene 1
• Caesar approaches the capitol and he ignores
Artemidorous’ letter. The conspirators surround
Caesar while he is preoccupied with Metellus’
flattery and Brutus’ conversation. “C” claims “I
am as constant as the northern star…” which he
claims he never changes his mind once he’s
made a decision. Casca is the first to stab Caesar
and “C” falls in front of Brutus saying, “Et tu,
Brute? Then fall Caesar.”
• Conspirators bathe in “C’s” blood and proclaim
freedom! Antony asks Brutus if he may speak at
Caesar’s funeral.
Act III Vocabulary
• Bequeath, legacy, meet, redress
• Journal Entry (after reading scene 1): Predict
what the commoners will do after witnessing
Caesar’s assassination. Explain your
reasoning.
ACT III scenes I con’t
• Antony shakes hands with the conspirators;
leading Brutus to think he is an ally. Once
alone with “C’s” body, Antony is approached
by Octavius Caesar’s (nephew/adopted son)
servant. Antony tells “O” to come and listen
to his speech at the funeral and judge how
the crowd will react.
ACT III, Scenes 2-3
• Brutus and Antony give different speeches at
Caesar’s funeral and the crowd is swayed by
both. Who is more effective? Why?
• ACTIVITY: Read Brutus’ & M. Antony’s
speeches & complete a venn diagram
comparing/contrasting both. Lines 13-40 &
14-125 & 164-184.
ACTs 4-5
Discussion: Why is it that serious conflicts often
end violently? What are other methods are
there to end a conflict—other than violence?
Vocabulary:
• Apparition—ghostly vision
• Marry --mild exclamation
• Perilous—dangerous
• Servile—like that of a slave
• Misconstrue--misinterpret
ACT IV
• Antony meets Octavius and they review names,
deciding who must be killed. Antony suggests they
examine Caesar’s will to see if they can redirect
some of his funds.
• Brutus and Cassius gather an army, but their
partnership is weakening. Brutus finds out Portia
killed herself when Brutus fled Rome. The night
before a battle, Brutus sees the ghost of Caesar
who says “I will see thee at Philippi.”