The Tragedy of Julius The Tragedy of Julius CaesarCaesar

Blank verseBlank verse

• Unrhymed iambic pentameterUnrhymed iambic pentameter• Iamb:Iamb:

– Two syllable footTwo syllable foot– Unstressed syllable followed by stressed syllableUnstressed syllable followed by stressed syllable

• Pent: fivePent: five

But soft, what light through yonder window breaks.But soft, what light through yonder window breaks.

• Which characters speak in blank verse? Which Which characters speak in blank verse? Which characters speak in prose?characters speak in prose?

PunsPuns• Play on words that sound the same Play on words that sound the same

but have two meanings.but have two meanings.• Used for humorous or rhetorical Used for humorous or rhetorical

effect.effect.• Puns in Act I, Scene 1:Puns in Act I, Scene 1:

– Cobbler: shoemaker; one who messes upCobbler: shoemaker; one who messes up– Soles: soles of shoes; souls: inner beingSoles: soles of shoes; souls: inner being– Awl: leather tool; All: everyoneAwl: leather tool; All: everyone

• What is the effect of the use of puns?What is the effect of the use of puns?

Act I, Scene 1Act I, Scene 1

• Blank verse: Blank verse: – Murellus and Flavius: Tribunes (ruling class)Murellus and Flavius: Tribunes (ruling class)– Oppose CaesarOppose Caesar

• Prose:Prose:– Cobbler and Carpenter: Tradesmen (working Cobbler and Carpenter: Tradesmen (working

class)class)– Support CaesarSupport Caesar

• Language forms illustrate conflict Language forms illustrate conflict between those who support Caesar and between those who support Caesar and those who oppose Caesar.those who oppose Caesar.

MotifMotif• Recurring element in literature:Recurring element in literature:

– ObjectObject– IdeaIdea– StructureStructure

• Repeats a theme: disorder.Repeats a theme: disorder.• In Julius Caesar: unnatural sightings, portents, In Julius Caesar: unnatural sightings, portents,

omens.omens.– Casca reports sightings.Casca reports sightings.– Calphurnia reports sightings.Calphurnia reports sightings.– Caesar’s augerers receive a bad omen.Caesar’s augerers receive a bad omen.– Caesar’s ghost appears to Brutus.Caesar’s ghost appears to Brutus.

Speech TypesSpeech Types

• MonologueMonologue: a long speech by one : a long speech by one character.character.

• SoliloquySoliloquy: : a speech delivered by a a speech delivered by a character alone on stage that reveals character alone on stage that reveals the speaker’s thoughts and feelings.the speaker’s thoughts and feelings.

• AsideAside: : dialogue spoken in an dialogue spoken in an undertone; intended to be heard by the undertone; intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters audience but not by other characters on the stage.on the stage.

AnachronismAnachronism

• A reference to something that did not A reference to something that did not exist at the time being described.exist at the time being described.

• Examples:Examples:– Brutus: Peace, count the clock.Brutus: Peace, count the clock.– Cassius: The clock hath stricken three.Cassius: The clock hath stricken three.

• Clocks did not exist in Ancient Rome.Clocks did not exist in Ancient Rome.

IronyIrony

• Dramatic irony: audience knows Dramatic irony: audience knows something character on stage does something character on stage does not.not.– ““Beware the Ides of March.”Beware the Ides of March.”

• Verbal irony: the opposite of what Verbal irony: the opposite of what is said is meant.is said is meant.– ““Ambitious”Ambitious”– ““Honorable”Honorable”

ApostropheApostrophe• A figure of speech in which an absent or A figure of speech in which an absent or

dead person, an inanimate object, or an dead person, an inanimate object, or an abstract idea is spoken to as if capable abstract idea is spoken to as if capable of understanding.of understanding.

• Purpose is not to get a response but to Purpose is not to get a response but to express emotions.express emotions.

• Examples:Examples:– ““O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts

and men have lost their reason.”and men have lost their reason.”– ““O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low?”O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low?”

Apostrophe ExamplesApostrophe Examples

• ““Hello, darkness, my old friend. I’ve Hello, darkness, my old friend. I’ve come to talk to you again.”come to talk to you again.”

• ““O Death, be not proud!” (Donne)O Death, be not proud!” (Donne)• ““Bright star, how I wish I were as Bright star, how I wish I were as

steadfast as thou art!” (Keats)steadfast as thou art!” (Keats)• ““Blue Moon, I saw you standing alone Blue Moon, I saw you standing alone

Without a song in my heart, Without a Without a song in my heart, Without a love of my own.” love of my own.”

TragedyTragedy

• Tragedy (Aristotle): a drama that Tragedy (Aristotle): a drama that includes the downfall of a includes the downfall of a character because of a flaw in that character because of a flaw in that character.character.

• Audience experiences Audience experiences catharsiscatharsis (purging of pity and fear) when (purging of pity and fear) when they see character suffer his/her they see character suffer his/her fate.fate.

Tragic CharacterTragic Character

• Character experiences a downfall (good Character experiences a downfall (good Fortune to bad); character’s punishment Fortune to bad); character’s punishment exceeds his/her crime.exceeds his/her crime.

• Character holds high status in society; is Character holds high status in society; is noble and virtuous but not perfect.noble and virtuous but not perfect.

• Character has a tragic flaw or Character has a tragic flaw or hamartia hamartia or makes an error in judgment.or makes an error in judgment.

• Character gains self-awareness or Character gains self-awareness or discovers something as a result of the discovers something as a result of the punishment.punishment.