Essay topics. Got another idea? Tell me.
1.
Who do you think makes a better leader, a pragmatist (a practical, political person like Cassius) or an
idealist (a man of principle such as Brutus)? Can a leader ever be both? Support your conclusions with
specific references to the events of the play.
PRAGMATIST
PRO
IDEALIST
PRO
CON
CON
2. Techniques of Shakespeare – animal imagery, foreshadowing, irony. Choose two and explain how and
why Shakespeare uses these in Caesar.
Animal
Foreshadowing
Irony
3. Who are the villains in the play and why?
a. Antony
b. Caesar
c. Brutus
d. Cassius
4. “Men at some time are masters of their fate. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars but in ourselves.”
Cassius
“If the present world go astray, the cause is in you, in you it is to be sought.” Dante Alighieri
In other words, explain how what happened to/in Rome is the fault of Brutus and Cassius.
5. Some critics contend the play should have been titled Marcus Brutus instead of Julius Caesar because he is
the real tragic hero of the play. Discuss this idea in a four paragraph essay and give your reasons why you
agree or disagree.
Vocabulary: define and find an example
1.
tragedy:
2.
blank verse:
Which characters speak in verse?
3.
prose:
Which characters speak in prose?
4.
iambic meter:
example:
5.
iambic pentameter:
6. conflict:
a.
b.
external conflict:
example 1:
vs.
example 2:
vs.
example 3:
vs.
internal conflict:
example 1:
vs.
example 2:
vs.
7. simile:
example:
8. metaphor:
example:
9. soliloquy:
10. pun:
example:
Stoicism
example:
Euphemism
example:
Apostrophe
example:
Repetition
example:
Parallelism
example:
Rhetorical question
example:
Personification
example:
Plain Folks appeal
example:
Pun
example:
Testimony
example:
Dramatis Persona
Julius Caesar—Dictator of Rome who is…
Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony)—Friend of Caesar and one of the leaders of Rome after Caesar’s death
Marcus Brutus—Friend of Caesar who kills him “for the good of Rome”
Cassius—Leader of the conspiracy against Caesar and brother−in−law of Brutus
Casca—The first conspirator to stab Caesar
Trebonius—Member of the conspiracy against Caesar
Caius Ligarius—Final member of the conspiracy, a sick man who joins them when Brutus asks him to help make
Rome well
Decius Brutus—Conspirator who uses flattery to get Caesar to the Senate House
Metellus Cimber—Conspirator and brother of Publius Cimber who was banished from Rome
Cinna—Conspirator who urges Cassius to bring Brutus into the conspiracy to gain favorable public opinion
Flavius and Marullus—Tribunes who guard the rights of Roman citizens
Octavius Caesar—Nephew of Julius Caesar and first Roman Emperor
Lepidus—Ally of Antony and Octavius and one of the three rulers of Rome after Caesar’s assassination
Cicero—Roman senator and orator later killed by Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus
Publius—Elderly senator and witness to Caesar’s death
Popilius Lena—Senator who was opposed to Caesar
Calphurnia—Wife of Caesar who tried to …
Portia—Wife of Brutus, daughter of Cato and sister of Young Cato
Lucilius—Officer in Brutus’ army who is …
Titinius—Officer in Cassius’ army who …
Messala—Officer in Brutus’ army who gives Brutus …
Young Cato—Brother−in−law of Brutus who …
Varro and Claudius—Soldiers under Brutus’ command who wait in his tent in Sardis before the battle at
Philippi
Strato—Loyal friend of Brutus who assists him in…
Lucius—Servant of Brutus
Pindarus—Servant of Cassius who helps his master
Artemidorus—Friend of Caesar who writes …
Soothsayer—Seer into the future who tries to warn Caesar about …
Cinna the Poet—Poet on his way to Caesar’s funeral who is …
Labeo and Flavius—Soldiers in Brutus’ army
Act I main events in chronological order
Act II main events in chronological order
Act III main events in chronological order
Act IV main events in chronological order
Axt V main events in chronological order
NOTES