Download File - Bobcat English II Pre-AP

The
Tragedy
of
Julius
Caesar
by William Shakespeare
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
 For centuries, Romans debated and even fought civil wars while trying to decide whether a ____________________, a
____________________, or a ____________________was the best form of government.
 Until 509B.C., Rome was a monarchy, but in that year, the Brutus family evicted
________________________________________ from the throne and Rome was established as a republic.
 By 100 B.C., Rome was a ________________________________________in form; in actual practice, the
____________________was ruling Rome.
 In 60 B.C., a ____________________ (a three man rule) of Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey was formed to govern Rome.
 In 58 B.C., Caesar was made governor of part of ____________________, and at the age of 44 began his military career.
During the next ten years, he proceeded to conquer all of Gaul.
 After Crassus was killed in battle, trouble began between ____________________ and Caesar. Pompey, jealous of Caesar’s
popularity, persuaded the Senate to order Caesar to disband his army and return to Rome.
 But Caesar ____________________ Rome and made himself absolute ruler of Rome.
 Meanwhile, Pompey fled to Greece. Caesar defeated Pompey’s army and Pompey fled to Egypt where he was later
____________________.
 Three years after Caesar defeated Pompey’s army, Caesar defeated Pompey’s two sons.
 By now, Caesar had been made ________________________________________.
 Thus, as Shakespeare begins his play with Caesar returning in victory from ____________________, Caesar was the
undisputed leader of the entire ________________________________________.
The Life and Times of Julius Caear – Film Clip
1.
As a child, Caesar claimed he was a descendent of whom?
2.
What was Julius Caesar’s first official military post?
3.
How old was Julius Caesar when he saw the painting of Alexander the Great?
4.
In 63 BC, what did Caesar do at his first public games?
5.
What were the two secrets of gaining power, according to Julius Caesar?
6.
What could the public “never allow”?
7.
What does “veni, vidi, vici” translate to in English?
8.
How many Romans were at Caesar’s celebration?
9.
The Roman people voted for Caesar to receive what leadership role?
“Here was a man who was desperate to be king of the Roman people,
master of the whole world. A man who believed such an ambition to be
morally right must be insane.” – Cicero
10. Do you agree or disagree with the quote above, and why or why not?
11. When did Caesar ask the people to elect him emperor for life?
12. What happened on the ides of March in 44 B.C.
13. Where did Caesar fall?
14. How many times was Caesar stabbed?
15. What was the people’s reaction?
16. What was the omen?
SETTING
 The story takes place in _________________________________ ,part of the continent of Europe, situated along the
________________River.
 There were two classes of people in Rome; ________________ or ________________.
 The rich were called ________________.
 The poor were called ________________.
POLITICS
 Julius Caesar is a ________________play, and political issues are the root of the tragic conflict in the play. It is about a
general who would be king, but who, because of his own pride and ambition, meets an untimely ________________.
 Shakespeare seems to be saying that good government must be based on ________________. In this respect the play has
relevance to the politics of the ________________world.
 The play focuses on those men who were ________________ for the assassination of Caesar and their ill-fated attempt to
control ________________.
MARCUS BRUTUS
•
The hero in this play is ________________, a noble man who truly believes his actions are for the good of his
________________.
MARCUS ANTONIUS
 After the death of Caesar, one man in particular stood in the best position to ________________________________of
unstable Rome. Antony proved a vital supporter in Caesar’s rise to power and would establish himself as one of the leading
men of the later________________________________.
 The Tragedy of Julius Caesar was based on Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans by ________________.

It was translated from Latin by ________________.