“Cinna the Poet” Gina Voskov United Nations International School

How to use Act 3, scene 3…  Intro to Julius Caesar  Intro to Shakespeare  While reading Julius Caesar  As a summary performance piece of the play  In isolation from any other Shakespeare as a community builder.  Introduction to research/unit of study. (“Who was the real Cinna the Poet?”)

Scene 3. A street. Enter CINNA the poet  CINNA THE POET I dreamt to-night that I did feast with Caesar, And things unlucky charge my fantasy: I have no will to wander forth of doors, Yet something leads me forth. Enter Citizens  First Citizen What is your name?  Second Citizen Whither are you going?

 Third Citizen Where do you dwell?  Fourth Citizen Are you a married man or a bachelor?  Second Citizen Answer every man directly.  First Citizen Ay, and briefly.  Fourth Citizen Ay, and wisely.  Third Citizen Ay, and truly, you were best.  CINNA THE POET What is my name? Whither am I going? Where do I dwell? Am I a married man or a bachelor? Then, to answer every man directly and briefly, wisely and truly: wisely I say, I am a bachelor.

 Second Citizen That’s as much as to say, they are fools that marry: you’ll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed; directly.  CINNA THE POET Directly, I am going to Caesar’s funeral.  First Citizen As a friend or an enemy?  CINNA THE POET As a friend.  Second Citizen That matter is answered directly.  Fourth Citizen For your dwelling, --briefly.  CINNA THE POET Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.  Third Citizen Your name, sir, truly.  CINNA THE POET Truly, my name is Cinna.

 First Citizen Tear him to pieces; he’s a conspirator.  CINNA THE POET I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet.  Fourth Citizen Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses.  CINNA THE POET I am not Cinna the conspirator.  Fourth Citizen It is no matter, his name’s Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.  Third Citizen Tear him, tear him! Come, brands ho! Fire-brands: to Brutus’, to Cassius’; burn all: some to Decius’ house, and some to Casca’s; some to Ligarius’: away, go!

Director’s questions  Where do you want to set the scene?  Who should enter first? Last?  What do the characters do when they get there?  What tone should certain lines be read?  Who should exit the stage? When? How?

Performance add-ons  a moment of crying  a whisper  a line addressed directly to the audience  an unexpected entrance  an unexpected exit  a tableaux  10 seconds of silence  a moment of laughter  a modern prop  a line(s) spoken chorally

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