ENGLISH 10
NAME__________
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Notes
DATE____________
BUNTING
PERIOD__________
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Iamb: a paring of an unstressed and a stressed syllable. (ex: pre / pare)
Iambic pentameter: A line of poetry consisting of 5 iambs; therefore, there are 10 syllables per
line.
An example of iambic pentameter: The first line of the play.
Hence! Home, you idle creatures, get you home!
[Hence!/ Home,] [you/ id] [le /crea] [tures,/get]
[you/home]!
Why is it important to know iambic pentameter? Most of Shakespeare’s plays are written in
iambic pentameter; however, some characters speak in prose (normal speech, ie. not poetry).
Iambic pentameter is associated with nobility (Roman senators) and prose is associated with
commoners.
Iambic Pentameter/poetry/verse
= Nobility OR someone whose
character/personality is noble
Prose
= Commoner/low class OR someone whose
personality is low class, ie. Casca in Act I speaks in prose even though he is a Senator.
Five Act Dramatic Structure: All of Shakespeare’s plays are written in 5 acts. Each act
corresponds to certain developments in the plot.
Act 1: The Exposition – the Exposition establishes 3 things: characters and their conflicts, the
setting (time and place), and the background.
Act 2: The rising action or complication—The audience and the Tragic Hero learns that they
will have to make a life-altering decision.
Act 3: Crisis or turning point—The Tragic Hero makes a decision which guarantees their tragic
fate. (Climax # 1)
Act 4: Falling Action
Act 5: Climax # 2 and Resolution—The death of the Tragic Hero
Thou vs. You
Thee/Thy/Thou/Thine = You informal
You/Your
= You formal (or plural)
-A character will use Thee/Thy/Thou/Thine when speaking to someone who is below them in
social classes or when speaking to someone with whom they are personally close.
-A character will use You/Your when speaking to someone who is above them in social class or
when speaking to someone of the same class that they don’t know well (or when speaking to any
group of people).
- Knowing this helps us understand the relationships between characters. For example, if a
character switches from addressing someone as Thee/Thy/Thou/Thine to addressing them
using You/Your we know that either their social statuses have changed or that something has
broken their friendship. And vice versa, if a character goes from using You/Your to using
Thou/Thee/Thy/Thine we know that their relationship has grown closer. For example, Brutus
switches from the formal You to the informal Thou when speaking to his wife, Portia.
Monologue – A long speech made by a character in a play directed to other characters on the
stage.
Soliloquy – A long speech made by a character in a play not directed to anyone (character is
“talking to themselves”). The purpose of a soliloquy is to reveal a character’s thoughts or
feeling to the audience.
Tragic Flaw – The personality trait, good or bad, which leads the tragic hero to make a -- >
Tragic Error – The decision and action that the tragic hero makes which guarantees their -- >
Tragic Downfall – The death of the tragic hero.
Characters to know:
Brutus
Caesar
Cassius
Casca
Cinna (the conspirator)
Portia
Calphurnia
Lucius
Antony
Octavius
Soothsayer
Artemidorus
Cicero
Decius
Metellus
Caesar –
Page. 895, ln. 190-195: Demanding and cautious; easily intimidated; paranoid; a good judge of
intent; insecure; intelligent; Smart.
Page. 896, ln. 198-214: Good at interpreting signs; logical; skeptical.
Page 888, ln. 6-9: Controlling of his people; superstitious; needy of attention and the liking of
his people.
Page 890, ln. 23 – Overly Arrogance; confident;
Antony –
Page 888, ln. 5, 10: very loyal; obedient; wants to be on Caesar’s good side; a kiss-up.
Brutus –
Page 890-91, ln. 37-47: Troubled decision-maker;
Page 892, ln. 82-89: Selflessness;
Page 890, ln. 28-31: Not as loyal.
Page 894, ln. 162-174: Modest.
Hard-headed; Conflicted; Honorable; Rather die than have his honor stained; Honor of his
family; Feels underappreciated;
Cassius –
Page 903, ln. 89-99: Passionate (about Caesar not being king); Hateful; Stubborn; He wants
things to be the way he wants them to be; He doesn’t like change; Loyal to Pompey.
Page 891, ln. 66-78: Desperate; Harsh;
Page 890, ln. 32-36: Manipulative.
Please reread each of the following excerpts from the play, and, for each, summarize what
is being said and indicate what these lines reveal about Brutus’s personality.
Act II, scene 1, lines 129-140, page 915,
- Trusting, virtuous, he is a leader, honor and honesty are extremely important to him,
Prideful.
Act II, scene 1, lines 162-168, page 916
- Prideful, Wise—thinks a lot, High-minded, Idealistic, Pragmatic, Does not over
exaggerate, compassionate.
Act III, scene 1, lines 226-231 (exchange between Antony, Brutus, and Cassius), page 943.
- Naïve, optimistic, to-the-point, trusting.