Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare Background and Character List

Think/Pair/Share What do YOU think makes a person a good leader? Take a moment to jot down 2-3 qualities you think are most important in a leader. Turn quickly and quietly to your shoulder partner and discuss. Be sure to listen to his/her responses and be prepared to share your thoughts with the class.

Instructions: As each slide comes up, you will take notes on the text in BLUE. Please title this section “Julius Caesar Background Info.” You will be responsible for this information on upcoming quizzes.

The Roman Empire stretched from Britain to North Africa and from Persia to Spain.

Rome was a republic This means that it was a government in which citizens elected representatives to rule on their behalf. In 509 B.C.E Romans overthrew their Etruscan conquerors and established a republic What do you think about this system of government?

Roman against Roman By 44 B.C.E, Rome suffered from constant fighting between military leaders and the senators whom they owed allegiance There also existed a sharp division between citizens including the wealthy, noble patricians, who were represented by the senate and the poorer masses, called the plebeians

Rich vs. Poor Patricians ran the show. They elected the two consuls, or, the two men who held the highest positions in the government. Senators were all patricians Plebeians had no say in the government for centuries

The Scene… Based on a true story, this play takes place in Ancient Rome in 44 B.C.E, where Julius Caesar has just returned in triumph from war.

Caesar The crowd hails him as their new leader, but there are some Romans who fear he will become too powerful of a ruler, more like an emperor, and they will lose the liberties they have enjoyed as citizens of a free state.

A small group of men conspire to assassinate Caesar, believing they are acting to preserve the freedoms of the Roman Republic.

Your Task… On the next slide, you will see the names of all the primary characters. Try and pick out the two primary leaders of the conspiracy, and the five other conspirators. Then…try to find the two female characters. You don’t need to write anything down…simply talk with a partner to choose characters.

Find: two lead conspirators, five additional conspirators, and two female characters… Artemidorus Brutus Soothsayer Casca Lepidus Julius Caesar Calpurnia Cassius Cinna Cicero Lucilius Portia Messala Cato Trebonius Decius Flavius Metellus Cimber Marullus Strato Octavius Titinius Cinna, a poet Volumnius Pindarus Clitus Lucius Mark Antony

Instructions: As the slides describing each character come up, continue taking notes on the information in BLUE in your notebook. Head this section “Characters.”

Julius Caesar He is the head of the Roman state. He is a great soldier, and has just returned from a series of wars during which he defeated the sons of the previous Roman ruler, Pompey. He is popular with the crowds that stand in the streets to greet his triumphal return, cheering and clapping. Calpurnia is Caesar’s wife.

Mark Antony He is a loyal friend and supporter of Caesar, who he believes will make a good ruler of Rome., He will be one of the three rulers of Rome, after Caesar’s death, and he gathers an army to fight the conspirators

Brutus He is a respected Roman, a patrician, a man of intelligence and honor, who is a personal friend of Caesar, yet wonders whether, as a ruler, he will overstep his powers and become a tyrant rather than a good head of state. He is the descendent of Brutus who helped establish the Roman republic He is finally convinced to join the conspirators as their leader. Portia is Brutus’ wife.

Cassius Cassius is one of the leaders of the conspiracy. He is suspicious of Caesar from the beginning, gathers others into the band, and convinces Brutus to join with them in their plans for assassination. He and Brutus flee Rome later, each gathers an army, and they try to conquer Mark Antony’s army.

Octavius and Lepidus are the other two who join with Mark Antony to rule Rome as a triumvirate.

Casca, Trebonious, Decius, Cinna and Metallus Cimber are the other members of the conspiracy, each of whom Participates in the murder