Background and History Drama & Julius Caesar Background and History

William Shakespeare Well-versed in language, rhetoric British author; known for drama and poetry The Tragedies, The Comedies, The Sonnets Well-versed in language, rhetoric Puns, Iambic Pentameter Writes to his audience Kinds of Speech Dialogue: 2+ speaking Monologue: 1 speaking to at least 1 other character Soliloquy: 1 speaking alone (“solo”) *emotions/thoughts* Aside: intended only for audience, other specific character

Tragedy Serious subject matter (fate, life); often results in death(s) Tragic Hero: main character with a character flaw which leads to a downfall Tragic Flaw – imperfection leading the hero to make choices that doom him/her to tragic end (hubris) Caesar vs. Brutus Character Foil: used to contrast with another character; often displays opposing virtue of tragic hero Dramatic Irony

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Based on true historical events; written in 1599 Plutarch biography Centers around Caesar’s role in the demise of the Roman Republic, rise of the Roman Empire, and the political turmoil within the Senate; Caesar must be stopped Setting: Rome; immediately after Caesar’s defeat of Pompey Themes: Ambition & Conflict, Political Corruption, Friendship Shakespeare’s historical context Anxiety over Queen Elizabeth I successor Play addresses worry many had over the potential for a civil war, weakened monarchy/leadership

Julius Caesar Military general turned politician (great orator) “one of the greatest military commanders in history,” admired throughout history (Napoleon, Mussolini); posthumously deified (The Devine Julius) “Veni, Vidi, Vici” Assassination lead to civil war (stabbed 23 times); ambitious yet very popular with lower/middle classes Marc Antony passed over as successor for Caesar’s grandnephew, Octavius Antony & Cleopatra Credited with helping develop modern-day calendar (365 days; leap years)

The Roman Empire & Caesar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPf27gAup9U

Quotes & Facts Famous Shakespearean Lines Fun Facts “Beware the Ides of March.” – Soothsayer, I.II “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars but in ourselves” – Cassius I.II (John Green allusion) “Et tu, Brutè?” – Caesar, III.I “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears…” – Marc Antony, III.II Fun Facts Caesarean section: origin often attributed to origins of “Caesar” name (debatable); perhaps an ancestor “Backstabbing” term 1864 production starred John Wilkes Booth as Marc Antony Caesar salad: not Julius Caesar; another Italian named who emigrated to Mexico

Main Characters The Conspirators The Senators & Tribunes The Rulers Brutus (Wife: Portia) Cassius Casca Cinna Decius Brutus Ligarius Metellus Trebonius The Senators & Tribunes Cicero Publius Popilius Flavius Marullus The Rulers Julius Caesar (Wife: Calphurnia) Marc Antony Lepidus Octavius A Soothsayer *Additional soldiers and officers with a variety of -us names.

Vocabulary Soothsayer Pun Tragic Hero Tragic Flaw Character Foil Posthumously Deity/Deified Orator Iambic Pentameter