ENGLISH II HONORS
Truth, Honor, Justice, and Betrayal in Drama:
Twelve Angry Men and The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
UNIT DESCRIPTION
One of our earliest literary forms, drama evolved from man’s tribal past. Early people would act out great triumphs, deep fears, or
heartfelt wishes in early religious rites. Still a religious ritual, drama became an art form in fifth century B.C. Greece, where ancient
myths were retold in dramatic form at religious festivals. During the medieval period, drama was reborn in the mystery and morality
plays of the Catholic Church. By the end of the sixteenth century, English drama entered a golden age with William Shakespeare.
Currently drama throughout the world has taken many and varied forms, from musicals to biting satires.
The word drama comes from the Greek word dran, meaning “to do” or “to act.” While plays share many elements with prose fiction and
poetry – plot, character, point of view, setting, tone, symbolism, and theme – the greatest difference is that drama is designed to be
presented by actors on a stage before an audience.
During this unit, we will be studying two plays that grapple with the ideas of truth, honor, justice, and betrayal. We will begin with
Reginald Rose’s modern drama, Twelve Angry Men, and we will conclude with William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.
The schedule for both plays is outlined below.
ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE:
Date
10/7
10/10
Assignments
Go over unit calendar, background notes
Read Twelve Angry Men
Date
10/27
10/28
HW: Be ready for a reading quiz on Twelve
Angry Men
10/11
10/12
10/13
10/14
10/17
10/18
10/19
10/20
10/21
10/24
10/25
10/26
Read/Discuss TAM
Go over TAM writing assignment
Take TAM reading quiz
HW: Two-page (max.) typed, double-spaced
TAM assignment due Oct. 17th / 18th.
Submit to turnitin.com and print receipt.
Watch TAM and take notes on ideas for the
writing assignment
HW: 1) Two-page (max.) typed and doublespaced TAM assignment due Oct.17th /18th.
Submit to turnitin.com and print receipt.
2) Buy and bring Vocabulary Work Book.
Turn in HW
Bring vocabulary workbook
Discuss etymology books and quizzes
Introduce JC Acting Companies
Begin JC Background Activity
HW: Study units 1-2 for etymology quiz
Take Etymology Quiz: Units 1-2
Finish JC Background Activity
Read Act I
HW: Study for Roman culture quiz
Take Roman culture quiz
Read Act I
HW: None 
Discuss Julius Caesar speech memorization
Read Act II
HW: Answer Act II study guide questions and
study for a quiz on Acts I and II.
10/31
11/2
11/3
11/4
11/7
11/8
11/9
11/10
11/14
11/15
Assignments
Finish Act II
Take quiz on Acts I and II
Go over JC writing assignment
Read Act III
HW: 1) Two-page (max.) typed and doublespaced JC writing assignment due next class.
2) Answer Act III study guide questions and study
for Act III quiz.
Turn in HW
Go over etymology units 3-4
Finish Act III and take Act III quiz
Read Act IV
HW: Answer Act IV study guide questions and
study for etymology units 3-4 quiz.
Take Etymology Quiz: Units 3-4
Review Act IV
Read Act V and discuss study guide questions
Group work on Acting Companies
HW: 1) Study for Acts IV and V quiz
2) Work on your Acting Co.’s script
Discuss JC test
Take Acts IV and V quiz
Group work on Acting Companies
HW: Study for JC test
Discuss presentations
Take Julius Caesar unit test
HW: Prepare for your Acting Co.’s presentation
JC Acting Company Presentations
Next up…Gulliver’s Travels & SATIRE
OAK PARK HIGH SCHOOL