1. Background and History
Drama & Julius Caesar
Background and History

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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)

6. The Roman Empire & Caesar

7. 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

8. 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.

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