11/5/15
Bellwork: What can we take away from yesterday’s test?
Class - Connor is so smart, funny, witty, fun, and always
down for a good time. As a class, we agree dictatorship
very well could be the best option for us all. From this
point forward we elect him ruler of this class and if we
could, would elect him head of this school. Something
about his lethal cocktail of manly swag and fast-paced
banter makes him the best, unequivocally.
David – I agree with the formerly stated statement which
reflects our opinion as a class.
David – There is a certain level of bias that reflects only
the knowledge of the person that wrote the question.
Chavez – There is talent in lots of us that is unmeasurable
which I am very grateful for.
Emma – The test was terrible. When I was taking the test
there were usually two answers that were most likely the
answer. I would note these answers and then choose the
better of the two.
Julius Caesar Act I, Scene II
Roles:
Director – Sophia F.
Julius Caesar - Aaron
Brutus - Gina
Cassius - Cole
Casca - David
Antony – Katia
Calpurnia - Christina
Soothsayer – Clayton
Points of focus:
Caesar indicates that Calpurnia has been barren by
asking Antony to touch her during a foot race upon the
feast of Luprical. This shows us that Caesar is concerned
with not having an heir.
Historical note - Caesar was most likely the sterile one
because of a STD.
The Soothsayer says to beware of the ides of March.
In real life this date is March 15th.
Cassius and Brutus, both senators, walk off together
at Cassius’ instigation. Cassius asks Brutus something
along the lines of “What is wrong with you, you are not
as friendly with me as you usually are”. Brutus retorts by
stating it is only because he is worried himself. At this
point Cassius complements Brutus and tells him that he
wishes Brutus could see himself like he sees him. Brutus
acts unphased, but wants this to continue.
Cassius lays out a series of arguments and character
criticism against Caesar’s. In this he says that as Romans,
there is no reason that Caesar should be elevated about
Brutus or Cassius. The fear is that Caesar would declare
himself emperor. Caesar challenges Cassius to swim
across the Tiber River in a playful boyish sense. In the
middle of the river the current was strong and Caesar
called out for help. Cassius helps him. Cassius uses this,
from long ago, to attack Caesar’s manhood. Cassius then
brings up Caesar’s epileptic fit when Caesar was in Spain,
further targeting his manhood. No one vote can count
more than another because it undermines the integrity
of the entire government system.
We hear offstage the sounds of shouting and
trumpets. Brutus expresses his nervousness. Brutus has
an idea of what Cassius is doing but needs time to decide
what he will do.
Story note – Brutus is Caesar’s best friend.
Historical note – Brutus’ ancestor killed his own sons
before.
Real life note – There was a study that suggested C
students made more money than A students because
intelligence is not valued by middle management.
11/12/15 – Act II
Cole - Caesar came back from his big, epic war and the
senate is worried that the people love Caesar so much.
They love him because he brought home money and
slaves.
David - If Caesar becomes a king the senate loses all of
their power; this derives from their ability to negotiate
on the behalf of Rome
Points of focus:
 How does Brutus convince himself that Caesar
should be killed?
 What are his three reasons? Are they valid?
 Characterize the conspiracy. Who is the most
powerful?
 What is the characterization of the conspirators?
 Characterize Portia and Brutus.
Cole – So Brutus is questioning if Caesar’s attitude will
change after he is crowned. Evidence: L12-L14
 You look at the people you pass with contempt
David – You need to stop a problem at its base. Snip a
plant at the bud. In this case, kill a serpent’s egg in the
shell. Evidence: L33-L35
Garett - No government should stand under one man’s
rule. Evidence: L52 - L53
Sophia D. – You look at people you pass with contempt.
Chavez – Who has power in this conspiracy and why?
Sophia F. – Brutus has power because Caius Ligarius
trusts him and therefore can be manipulated. Evidence:
L19 – L24
Will – Brutus has the power because Brutus shoots down
other suggestions.
Cole - For example, Brutus says no to adding Cicero when
the others all want him because of what his wisdom and
age would add to the conspiracy. He says this because he
says that he won’t follow anything he doesn’t suggest.
Evidence:L141 – L L112 – 140
Aaron – Brutus shoots down the idea of killing Mark
Antony because it would add insult to injury. You don’t
need to chop off the arm when the head is severed.
Evidence. L162 – L165
Sophia F. – Brutus shoots this down using the logic that if
one has to swear something then one must not be truly
dedicated. Evidence: L 113
Are Brutus’ arguments valid?
Katia – I do not think that the second argument about
killing something at the base is valid. If you kill an egg
before it hatches, how can you know what it will
become?
Taylor – The point about Caesar’s attitude changing after
he becomes king is not valid because you can not know
the outcome of something
Garett – I agree with the third argument relating to how
no government should stand under one man’s rule
because power can corrupt any one man.
Aaron – I agree with the point about needing to swear to
a cause because if you need to swear to something, you
are not committed enough to even begin it.
Sophia F. – Swearing serves as a reminder for the initial
Cole – By conspiring against Caesar they pledge
themselves to the cause.
Lindsey – Brutus is becoming power-hungry which is
destroying the conspiracy from within.
Joy – I would like to point out that they are trying to
justify, in a nice way, the murder of another. Regardless
of why you kill someone, you are still killing someone.
11/16
Points of focus:
 What do you think the source of Portia’s extreme
distress in Act II?
Katia – Portia knew what was going on, or at least
sensing that something bad was going to happen.
Evidence: In L281 she is saying that she is expected to not
know the troubles of Caesar because she is his wife.
Aaron - Just later she insults herself and says that if
Brutus does not share his troubles then she is merely his
whore.
Evidence: L287
L300 – L301 Portia cuts herself demonstrating her
delicate mental state and love for Brutus. It functions as
a cry for help.
 How does Brutus respond to Portia’s anxiety and
fear?
Gina: Brutus tells Portia that he is sick to get Portia off his
back regarding the entire situation.
Evidence: L257
David - Since Portia’s dad is a senator and Brutus is a
senator Portia understands how the system is run and
deserves his trust and faith.
Gina - She then states that Portia knows Brutus is not sick
because Brutus would be taking action to feel better.
Aaron - I think when he Brutus says that he is not well in
health it is accurate because he is mentally sick with
chronic insomnia.
Evidence: Brutus has not slept since the feast of Luprical
and in L268 someone acknowledges that he is mentally
sick.
 Reflect upon “Cowards die many times before their
death”.
Chavez - The valiant die but once.
 How would you characterize Calpurnia?
Clayton - Calpurnia is more paranoid than Portia.
Aaron: In contrast to Portia’s inability to persuade Brutus
to even share his troubles with him, Calpurnia is actually
able to convince Caesar to not go to the capital. Caesar
acknowledges that this is for her benefit upon her
request.
Evidence: L55 – L56
Kaitlin Evidence: L37
Sophia F. – “My lord your wisdom is consumed in
confidence”.
Evidence: L49
 How would you characterize Caesar’s response to
Calpunia?
 How does Decius manipulate Caesar?
What Decius does is twist Calpunia’s dream from Caesar
dying into Caesar being celebrated.
Decius says that if Caesar doesn’t go the senators will
think he is afraid. He then says that they are offering him
the crown and if he doesn’t take advantage then, he will
never get it.
 How does Artemidorus speak to the tension
between fate and self-determinism?
Sophia R. - Artemidorus says “If thou read this oh Caesar
thou may mayest live. If not the fates with traitors do
contrive”
Evidence: L13
 What is illustrated by Portia’s impotency in Act II
Scene II?
Shakespeare wants to portray Portia as weak, unable to
affect Brutus.
Body Paragraph 1
(A)Emma- Antony evokes pity for Caesar.
(B)Evidence- When the Romans see Caesar’s
mutilated Dead body
L199-205 “O piteous spectacle!” “O noble Caesar!” “O
Woeful day!”
(C)Explanation- When they saw his body they got
angry and sad and they saw the conspirators as traitors
to Rome.
(D)- redefining right and wrong for Rome. Establishes
Caesar’s assassination as a murder therefore eliminating
all source of law.
(E)- (Pathos) By displaying Caesar’s mutilated body
Antony shows that the conspirators took away Caesar,
which the commoners loved and respected so now the
romans are against the conspirators
Body Paragraph 2
(A)- Antony shows how Caesar wasn’t ambitious and in
fact the conspirators were in no way honorable in their
deeds.
(B)- L97-98 “I thrice presented him a kingly crown, which
he did thrice refuse. Was this ambitious?”
(C)- It shows they killed him because he was ambitious
but Antony proves that Caesar wasn’t really ambitious at
all
(D)-Then Antony never actually tells the Romans what
conclusion they should draw from his information
(E)- (Ethos/ Logos)