Julius Caesar
Act I, II
Week’s Homework Assignments
Wednesday: Finish Act II
Thursday: Finish Act III
Friday: Finish Act IV
Monday: PORTFOLIOS DUE! Grammar
Quiz, Finish Act V, Prepare for Socratic
Seminar on Funeral Orations
Tuesday: Review for test
Let’s Recap…Iambic Pentameter
Shakespeare nearly always wrote in iambic
pentameter.
So when he didn’t…it means something.
Some reasons he broke iambic pentameter…
– To illustrate a lower-class dialect
– To illustrate a major change in the sanity of a
character (Hamlet)
– He liked to break conventions and rhythmic
variations of iambic pentameter were common.
Let’s Recap…Iambic Pentameter
Decide if each of the lines is in iambic pentameter or not.
And why should Caesar be a tyrant?
A. iambic pentameter B. NOT iambic pentameter
B. 9 syllables – “…tyrant, then?” (1:3:107)
It is the part of men to fear and tremble
A. iambic pentameter B. NOT iambic pentameter
A. 10 syllables (1:3:57)
Let’s Recap…Order of Words
Choose the BEST, most accurate rewording of the
Shakespearean lines into regular English (Subject-VerbObject Order; placement of modifiers)
“Comes Caesar to the Capitol tomorrow?”
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A. The Capitol comes to Caesar tomorrow?
B. Caesar, tomorrow comes the Capitol?
C. To the Capitol tomorrow comes Caesar?
D. Caesar comes to the Capitol tomorrow?
– D. Subject (Caesar) Verb (Comes) Object (Capitol)
– (1:3:36)
Let’s Recap…
Questions about…
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Monday’s worksheets
Enjambment
Iambic pentameter
Order of words (SVO vs. OSV, VSO…)
Omitted syllables
Outdated Language
Act 1, Scene 1
In Rome the people are taking a holiday to
celebrate the triumphant return of Julius
Caesar. The tribunes Marullus and Flavius
try to shame people into returning to their
places of work by reminding them how
much the loved Caesar’s rival, Pompey,
whom Caesar has destroyed and who sons
have just been defeated by Caesar.
Act 1, Scene 2
A soothsayer advises Caesar that the fifteenth of
March will be a dangerous day for him. When
Caesar and others exit, Cassius and Brutus remain
behind. Cassius urges Brutus to oppose Caesar for
fear that Caesar may become king. After Brutus
and Cassius talk with Casca about Mark Antony’s
public offer of the crown to Caesar, Brutus agrees
to continue his conversation with Cassius the next
day. Cassius, alone at the end of the scene,
expresses his surprise that Brutus, who is one of
Caesar’s favorites, is willing to conspire against
Caesar and decides to take immediate advantage
of this willingness.
Act 1, Scene 3
Casca, meeting Cicero, describes the
marvels visible in the streets that night and
suggests that the marvels foretell important
events to come. Cicero having left, Cassius
arrives to persuade Casca to join the
conspiracy to liberate Rome from the threat
of Caesar’s kingship. When Cinna joins
them, Cassius sends him to leave letters
where Brutus may find them and be
persuaded that his opposition to Caesar is
desired by many.
Cassius’ Speech to Brutus
Let’s talk for a bit about Cassius’ speech. These
questions need to be discussed, but they don’t limit the
discussion.
What are Cassius’ main arguments?
What logical and emotional appeal is there?
(Identify techniques and cite specific examples)
Why did Cassius use logical and emotional
appeal? Does he use any ethical appeal?
Why/Why not?
How does Brutus respond to Cassius’ speech? Do
you think it was appropriate or outrageous?
Cassius’ Speech to Brutus
Which line would you say best states
Cassius’ thesis? Why? Why not another line?
Where are Cassius’ concessions and
refutations? What are they? Why are they
placed where they are and not somewhere
else?
What allusions do you see?
What comparisons have you found?
Anything else before we move on to Act II?
Act 2, Scene 1
I’ll start off Act 2, Scene 1 (~1-60). Then, the
class will read…popcorn style. (Caveat: Cannot
stop mid speech – only between characters)
We’re going to look closer at Brutus’ speech
tomorrow. (“It must be by his death…”)
– “What two things does Brutus compare Caesar to
when consider his character?
– In your opinion, which one do Caesar’s actions so far
in the play most closely resemble? (Cite specific
actions/lines).
– Assess Brutus’ logic. Does he reach a rational
decision? If so, how/why? If not, what errors in
logic does he commit?
Need Some Reading Guidance?
Think about the main character’s “voice”. It’ll
help you identify quotes easier on the test.
If it sounds familiar, it’s probably a famous
line. Take note of who speaks it.
Think about all the arguments you read in
Julius Caesar. We don’t have time to discuss
them all, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t
important.
Homework
Finish Act II
Tomorrow: We will debrief Act II and
discuss Brutus’ speech.
We will also start Act III
– Act III has Caesar’s death and funeral orations
for Caesar from Brutus and Antony – if anyone
wants to act them out the next day (with the
book in hand!), go ahead and review those
speeches. We will discuss them further on
Friday when we review Act III.