Julius CaesarUnit 3-B

Political and military terms

Political termsBondsman-slaveCommons-common peopleConsul-chief magistrate and highest official in

Roman republicDictator- one person who has total political

controlPlebian-common peoplePraetor-Roman judge or magistrate, next to

consul in rankRabblement/Rout-the rabble, mob

•Senators- mainly patricians (wealthy, high-born citizens) who make the laws

•Tribune-a magistrate who protects the rights of the lower classes

•Triumvirate-rule by three men

Military terms• Alarum-a trumpet or drum call to arms• Battle- unit or part of the army• Battles- armed forces drawn up for fighting• Charges- the troops• Cohort- an army division• Ensign- the flag (standard) or standard bearer• Horse in general- calvary• Legion- 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers of 10 cohorts• Parley- a conference between opposing forces• Tributaries- captives who had to pay a tribute, or

ransom, to Rome before they could obtain their freedom

Structure of the play•Copy diagram on page. 887 of textbook

Act 1-ExpositionScene i•Staging•Tribunes treatment of crowd•Conflict•Marullus- “Wherefore rejoice?”•Qualities of a mob•Metaphor-lines 74-78

Act I- ExpositionScene ii•Characters-Brutus and Cassius•Conflict-Would Caesar be king/emperor?

P. 889 “Background”; pg. 900; lines 79-82•Brutus as archetypal tragic hero: Hero

with a significant character flaw

Act I-Exposition•p. 903 lines 192-214 Summarize Caesar’s

judgment of Cassius• p. 904 lines 220-232

What is the common people’s reaction to Antony’s gestures and what does it mean? Why might the common people support Caesar?

904-905: Casca’s effect on the scene

A. speaks in prose instead of verse, though not a commoner. How can you tell he is not a commoner?

B. Why would Shakespeare have him speak in prose?

C. Casca reveals that Marullus and Flavius are “put to silence.” What does this mean and what does it reveal about Caesar?

D. According to Casca, Caesar seems to want to accept the crown even though he refused it when it was

offered. What is the problem in getting an eyewitness account of an event?

p. 906-907 End of scene 2.

•Why is the stage direction “Exit Brutus” important?

•Paraphrase Cassius’ soliloquy (lines 308-321)What is the subject of the soliloquy?

•Read the following statement: “Bad company corrupts good morals”. What

makes true, according to what Cassius states in his soliloquy?

Scene 3•Night of March 14, a terrible storm brings

different reactions.Casca -the storm and other omens mean that the future will bring evil.Cassius- same signs mean that Caesar must be stopped.

•The two agree that Caesar must not be allowed to continue to rule, and when Cinna joins them, they plot to convince Brutus to join their conspiracy.

Act 2-Rising ActionWhat events are leading the plot towards the crisis or turning point? What are some possible complications in this act would lead to the downfall of the protagonist?

Act 2•Agree or disagree?“friendship is only as important as one

wants it to be•What is the difference between duty and

inclination?

Act 2-Rising Action•How does Brutus associate ambition and

poison?•What evidence from your soliloquy would

support your claim?•How does the evidence support your

claim?

Adder or the Ladder?•What conclusion does Brutus come to

about Caesar?•What evidence (quote and lines) would

support your claim?•How does the evidence support your

claim?

Adder or the Ladder•How do you recognize a future threat?•What is the risk of making a decision to

eliminate a future threat before it becomes too dangerous?

•What hard evidence does Brutus have for killing Caesar?

Rhetorical Precis- Soliloquy p. 917•Prompt-Examine Brutus’ argument in

considering the murder of Caesar. •Follow the guidelines for structuring

precis.•Use the verb bank on the handout•Refer to your notes taken for the “Adder

or the Ladder”

Rhetorical device-Metonymy•How are “crown” and “Rome” used as a

metonymy in Julius Caesar?

“Conspiracy” Act 2, scene 1 A. Swearing an oath

1. What is Brutus’ perception of swearing an oath? 2. Who does Brutus’ say swears oaths? B. Feelings about Cicero 1. Brutus 2.Cassius C. What about Mark Antony? 1. What reasons does Cassius give to justify killing Antony?

C. What about Mark Antony? 2. What reasons does Brutus give to justify not killing Antony? 3. Which one would you agree with? Why?D. Thoughts about Caesar 1. According to Decius, what sort of man is Caesar?

“Brutus as Husband”, Act 2, scene 11. What is Portia’s place in society? List

words and phrases to support response2. What is Portia’s main argument for

encouraging Brutus to tell her what is troubling him?

3. How does Portia prove her loyalty and strength of character?

Response•What does Portia demand of her husband?•What evidence (line #’s and quote) would

support your claim?•How does the evidence support your

claim?

Act 2, scene 2 • Thunder is kind of an actor in

Shakespeare’s plays. What mood does it evoke? Should this thunder sound alone or serve as background noise for the speeches to follow?

• How does the thunder serve as part of the rising action for Act 2?

•“Caesar as a husband”

•Why does Calpurnia urge Caesar to stay home?

•Is Calpurnia overly emotional and hysterical or truly frightened for her husband?

•What does Calpurnia mean when she says that “the heavens blaze forth the death of princes”?

Paired response•Discuss one similiarity between Portia

and Calpurnia• Provide support for each character

(quotes and lines numbers)• Explain how the evidence demonstrates

the similiarity.

Act 2, scene 2• What 2 groups does Caesar contrast

here? How does Caesar feel about death?•What is an augurer? What is Caesar’s

mood when he hears of the augury?•How is Decius able to appeal to Caesar’s

vanity?

SummaryScene 3• Artemidorus, one of Caesar's supporters, has

learned about the plot against Caesar.He reads a letter of warning he has written, then waits in the street for Caesar to pass by.

Scene 4• Portia, uneasy about the plot, sends the servant

Lucius to go and see what is happening at the Capitol. She then meets the soothsayer, who increases her concern as he predicts danger for Caesar.

Scene 4•Portia, uneasy about the plot, sends the

servant Lucius to go and see what is happening at the Capitol.She then meets the soothsayer, who increases her concern as he predicts danger for Caesar.

Act 3 Crisis/Turning point•Assassination of Caesar- What effect will

the death of Caesar have on the next act to follow? Write your predictions.

•Review the details of Calpurnia’s dream on p. 931, lines 71-82. How do they correspond with the events of the assassination in Act III, scene 1, pg. 946 lines 110?

•When Brutus stabs Caesar, Caesar questions, “Et tu, Brute?” which means, “And you, too, Brutus?” How does the statement “friendship is only as important as one wants it to be” apply to this situation?