Julius Caesar Act I
Explain why the commoners are celebrating in the
first scene. (Two reasons)
• The feast of Lupercal
• Caesar’s triumph over Pompey’s
sons: war victory
Why is Marullus upset with them?
• They will use any excuse for a
holiday
• They are fickle- they used to love
Pompey
What is the setting of scene II?
• A public place in Rome
What warning does the soothsayer give
Caesar, and what is Caisar’s response?
• Beware the ides of March (March
15)
• Dismisses him as a “dreamer”
• Doesn’t take him seriously
Journal Day 2
How is loyalty important in
friendship?
Summary Act 1, Scene i
• On February 15, the Feast of Lupercal, the
people take a holiday to celebrate Caesar's
victory over Pompey in a civil war.
• Marullus and Flavius, two government
officials who supported Pompey, attempt to
discourage celebrating workers.
Explain what Cassius wants to convince
Brutus of in Scene II
• That Caesar is dangerous and needs
to be stopped before it is too late.
• Wants Brutus to join the conspiracy
• They are just as capable leaders as
Ceasar
Why does Caesar think Cassius is
dangerous? What qualities about Cassius
disturb Caesar?
• Cassius has a “lean and hungry
look” and he “thinks too much”. 94
• Men like Cassius are never at ease
when they see someone with more
power. 208-210
What happens when Caesar is offered the
crown in Scene II?
• He denies the crown three times
Caesar is probably the most powerful man
in the world at the time of the play, yet he
suffers from personal weakness? Can you
name what these are?
•
•
•
•
•
Deaf in the left ear
Superstitious
Fearful in battle
Had to have help while swimming
Suffers from epilepsy
At the end of Scene II, how does Cassius
say he will pursue his plan to involve
Brutus in the conspiracy against Caesar?
• He has already tried to flatter himworked a little
• He will write letters and deliver
them to Brutus.
• He will visit Brutus again
Shakespeare beloved that nature mirrored
the disorders in human lives. How does he
demonstrate this in the play as the
conspirators gather to discuss their plans?
• There is a terrible storm- this is
when the conspirators meet to
discuss their plans
Journal day 3
At the beginning of Scene II, Brutus
pronounces his love for Caesar, but by
the end of Scene II, it appears that
Brutus may join the conspiracy to kill
Caesar.
What is more important, your loyalty
toward a friend or to do what you
believe is right even at the cost of your
friendship.
Objectives
• Complete note-taking guide over
Act I
• Analyze and interpret
characteristics of Caesar, Brutus,
Cassius, and Antony
Summary of Act I, Scene ii
• Cassius, who fears Caesar's ever
growing power, begins to recruit Brutus, a
close friend of Caesar's, towards his
conspiracy by implying that Caesar is
becoming too powerful...
• Brutus is suspicious of Cassius' motives
but tells Cassius that he will think it over...
• Casca, another conspirator, reveals
information to Brutus that suggests
Caesar may be getting more ambitious...
Summary Over Scene ii
• Cassius' conspiracy gains momentum when he
recruits a suspicious Casca to their cause
against Caesar by pointing out that several
recent strange occurrences are omens warning
them against Caesar... To ensure Brutus joins
his conspiracy, Cassius has Cinna place some
forged letters where Brutus will find them
convincing Brutus to join their cause. Cinna
reveals that Brutus' good name will be an
asset to their conspiracy...
What steps has Casca taken (as the
“moving force”) by the end of Act I to
achieve his goals?
•
•
•
•
Begun recruiting Brutus
Has already recruited Casca
Forged the letters to Brutus
Called a meeting of the
conspirators
What is the conflict in this act?
• Those who are for Caesar vs. those
against
• Citizens and Senators vs. the
conspirators
Shakespeare uses even minor characters in
this act to set up the basic situation of the
play and to foreshadow future conflicts
and events. Explain what you learned from
this act about the moods and loyalties of
the Roman mob?
• The commoners are easily swayed
and shift loyalties according to the
moment
• They love festivals and celebrations
and therefore are susceptible to
colorful, theatrical and “showy”
leaders
Character
• Individual in a story, poem or play
• Direct characterization: The writer tells
us exactly what the character is like.
• Indirect characterization: The reader
puts together clues to figure out what a
character is like
Static Character or Flat Character:
Does not change much in the course of
the story
Dynamic Character or Round Character:
Changes in important ways as a result of
a story’s actions
Journal Day 4
What are the characteristics of a
good leader.
Journal Day 5
• What makes President Bush a good
or bad leader and why?
• Chase and Sara went to the candy
store. Chase bought 5 pieces of
fudge and 3 pieces of bubble gum
for a total of $5.70. Sara bought 2
pieces of fudge and 10 pieces of
bubble gum for a total of $3.60.
Which system of equations could be
used to determine the cost of 1
piece of fudge, f, and 1 piece of
bubble gum, g.
Pretest notes
• Plebeians: common people as
represented by the cobbler and
carpenter in Scene i
• Patricians: wealthy, highborn
citizens as represented by Flavius
and Marullus in Scene i