Download I - Humble ISD

Julius Caesar Background Notes
I.
The Play
a. The play is about the _____________________ of a Roman general and __________________ who lived and
died more than _____________________________.
b. ________________________ drew his material from the ancient _____________________ text The Lives of
Noble Grecians and Romans written by ___________________________.
II.
War and Individual Power
a. The Roman Empire was constantly at _____________ during Caesar’s time.
b. Generals like _____________________ had enormous ______________________.
c. These generals moved with their armies over the entire ________________________________________.
III.
Private Armies and Betrayal
a. These powerful armies would rule the ____________________ with Roman _____________________ who
heavily ______________ citizens to make money.
b. Sometimes the _____________________ turned on __________________, battling for _________________
IV.
Caesar and Pompey: Jealousy and Murder
a. First Triumvirate: made up of the three __________________ generals: Caesar, _________________, and
____________________
b. Caesar and Pompey were _____________________
c. In ______ B.C. the two generals ______________ to bring order to a weakened _______________________
V.
Jealousy!
a. When Crassus was killed in _______________, Caesar left Rome in search of ________________________
b. He conquered the ____________________ in Europe, sending back ________________________ to the
people, who gave him their devotion
c. ___________________ of Caesar’s military triumphs in the Gallic wars, __________________ looked
towards success in the _____________________
d. The Senate was wary of Caesar’s _________________ and feared that with the love of the people, Caesar
might declare himself _________________
VI.
Views of Caesar
a. Caesar saw himself as a _______________________ of the ________________________
b. Critics said he _________________ support with ____________________ and handouts
c. Enemies said he ___________________ Romans of their _____________________
VII.
Unconquerable God
a. Caesar declared ______________ for ______ years and saw to it that his supporters, including
_______________, became senators
b. Built a statue to himself with the inscription “______________________________________________”
VIII.
Caesar’s Arrogance
a. Common people ___________________ him
b. The month of Quintilis is renamed ______________ in his honor
c. Later he was declared _______________________________ (Feb. 15, 44 B.C.)
d. Offered the crown ______ times but _________________________
e. Why? Looked down upon to be a ______________________ – not ______________, the Roman’s had killed
their previous king for being a ________________________________
f.
He became increasingly __________________ and hungry for power, which ______________________ the
senate
g. Members of the Roman Senate created plans to assassinate him on _______________________ because of
his _____________________ to the traditions of the Republic (too much ____________________)
h. They ________________________.
IX.
Shakespeare’s Play
a. Shakespeare’s play starts with events that happened a ____________ before the ___________________.
b. The play condenses ____________ years of history into one play in which __________ days are acted out.
Major Characters
Character
Julius Caesar
Mark Antony
Brutus
Cassius
Octavius and Lepidus
Casca, Trebonious, Decius, Cinna and Metallus Cimber
Main Details
Literary and Drama Terms
Anachronism:
Apostrophe:
Aside:
Pun:
Comic Relief:
Foreshadowing:
Soliloquy:
Hyperbole:
Blank Verse: