1. Background to Julius Caesar and William Shakespeare
Mr. Hershey

2. What do you know about Shakespeare?

3. About William Shakespeare…
born in Stratford-upon-Avon on or about April 23, 1564
the third of eight children, three of whom died in childhood, born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden.
never went on to university.

4. About William Shakespeare…
married Anne Hathaway on November 28, 1582.
three children: a daughter, Susanna, and twins, Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet died at age 11.
Globe theater was built in 1599
Shakespeare wrote 37 plays (History, Tragedy, Comedy)
Also wrote sonnets and poems

5. About William Shakespeare…
Works offered something for everyone; rich and poor; educated and uneducated
Shakespeare wanted to explore human behavior
To understand how different people deal with life’s universal problems

6. Elizabethan Age… Queen Elizabeth I ruled England from 1558-1603
Elizabeth I strongly supports the arts
Artists of all types were held in high esteem
Elizabethan Age produced some of the greatest works that England has ever seen.

7. Blank Verse
Shakespeare wrote in blank verse – poetry with lines that do not rhyme
Lines written in a pattern called iambic pentameter
iamb: pair of syllables; unstressed, stressed
Pentameter: five measures
Ten syllables in each line
Sometimes changed the words to fit the pattern

8. “I do fear the people choose Caesar for their king.”
William Shakespeare

9. History of Government in Rome
Monarchy until 509 BC
Brutus family drives king from power and Rome becomes a republic
Moderate democracy by 100 BC ruled by Senate
Triumvirate was formed in 60 BC
Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey

10. Historical Context: Julius Caesar
Roman general and politician
Lived from 100 to 44 BC
Greatest military leader in Roman history
Gained much support from the people
Spent money on entertainment
Freed farmers from heavy taxes

11. Historical Context: Julius Caesar
Senate ordered Caesar to disband his army around 50 BC
Caesar refused
Led his forces in a civil war against the forces of Pompey.
Caesar defeats Pompey in 45 BC and returns to Rome