1. Julius Caesar Background on William Shakespeare Globe Theatre Literary Devices Tragedy Background on Julius Caesar

2. Background on William Shakespeare Born April 23, 1564 Stratford-upon-Avon Actor Writer (comedies, tragedies, histories) Owner- Lord Chamberlain’s Men Poet- Mostly sonnets Stylistic Tools Died April 23, 1616

3. Globe Theatre In 1599, Shakespeare and associates built this outdoor theatre in London 2,500 seating capacity Groundlings- audience members of theatre Octagonal in shape and 3 stories high Flag flew on days of plays Other characteristics of the theatre- apron stage, trap doors, “the pit”, and the heavens

5. Literary Devices Blank Verse unrhymed lines all in the same meter usually in iambic pentameter Iambic Pentameter An iamb is comprised of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable da DUM Each line has five iamb = pentameter Anachronisms Events that are out of place in the time period of the piece Ex: If a play is set in Ancient Rome and a character uses a computer Free Verse Puns Deliberate confusion of similar words or phrases for rhetorical effect

6. Literary Devices Allusion- an indirect reference by casually mentioning something that’s familiar (In literature we find many allusions to the Bible, mythology, and other traditional forms of literature. Aside- Lines mentioned to the audience or another character on stage (not meant to be heard by all characters on stage). Comic Relief- A bit of humor injected into a serious play to relieve the heavy tension of tragic events Foreshadow- Lines that give a hint or clue to future events (It doesn't tell the future but hints at it.) Metonymy - a figure of speech whereby the name of a thing is substituted for the attribute which it suggests. Example: The pen (power of literature or the written word) is mightier than the sword (force). Soliloquy - A single character on stage thinking out loud (a way of letting the audience know what is in the character's mind)

7. Tragedy and the Tragic Hero Definition of tragedy protagonist suffers a serious misfortune Characteristics of the tragic hero will evoke both our pity and terror he/she is usually higher than the reader in moral worth

8. Tragedy and the Tragic Hero Characteristics of the tragic hero born of noble birth responsible for own fate has a tragic flaw doomed to make a serious error in judgment meets a tragic death realizes he/she has made an irreversible mistake faces and accepts death with honor falls from great heights or from high esteem