Download INVESTIGATING SHAKESPEARE AND CAESAR A Webquest Right

INVESTIGATING SHAKESPEARE AND CAESAR
A Webquest
Right before your vacation, you have been asked, as a private investigator, to find out more
about William Shakespeare and his victim, Julius Caesar. Yes, work beckons and what needs to
be done has to be done before you start enjoying your well-deserved holiday!
The Task
A crime has been committed and you have been asked by your employer, the owner of Gotcha
Investigations, to find the link between Mr Shakespeare and Mr Caesar. As part of the Initial
investigations, you need to prepare a report or a power point presentation of your findings. Much
to your relief, you only need to submit this report to your boss upon your return from your
holiday.
Process
Luckily for you, there’s the internet to help you out. By following the internet links on the next
page, you will be able to find the answers to the questions below. In addition, this background
information will be a great deal of help after the your vacation when you have to investigate
Julius Caesar in detail, and discover the answer to the BIG QUESTION – Was Caesar’s
assassination justified?
Questions: William Shakespeare:
1. When was Shakespeare born?
2. Where was he born?
3. What is his family background?
4. Whom did Shakespeare marry? What details do we know about her and her father?
5. How many children did Shakespeare and his wife have?
6. When did he die? Where was he buried?
7. Who ruled England during Shakespeare’s lifetime? Give four important events that occurred
during this reign.
8. What types of plays did Shakespeare write?
9. List the title of one play from each category.
10. If you were to choose one play to read, which would it be, and why?
11. What type of play is Julius Caesar?
The Globe
1. Where was the Globe built?
2. Why is it so famous today?
3. How big was the Globe? How many people did it seat?
4. Describe the structure of the theatre.
5. Describe the audience in the theatre.
6. What did the flag atop the Globe signify?
7. What happened on June 26, 1613?
The Roman Empire
1. Describe the structure and functions of the Roman Senate.
2. Find the meanings and functions of the following:
 Praetor
 Consul
 Dictator
 Tribune
 Senator
 Triumvirate
Julius Caesar
1. What is the connection between Julius Caesar and Pompey?
2. How did Caesar affect the Roman Empire?
3. What were his major weaknesses? Did he have any physical infirmities?
4. Describe the Feast of Lupercal.
5. What were the Ides of March?
6. Who were the assassins of Julius Caesar? What were their motives?
7. How and on what date was Caesar killed?
Follow the trails below to help you in your investigation:
 Shakespeare -- His Life, Maps, The Plays
http://www.bardware.com/bardware/facts.html
 Shakespeare's Globe Theater http://www.bardware.com/bardware/facts.html#Plays
 Gaius Julius Caesar http://www.main-vision.com/richard/Caesar.html
 Julius Caesar: The Last Dictator http://www.main-vision.com/richard/Caesar.html
 Plutarch’s Caesar http://classics.mit.edu/Plutarch/caesar.html
 Feast of Lupercal
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Lupercalia.html
 The Roman Republic http://www.crystalinks.com/romelaw.html
You may refer to other websites if they are relevant to your task. The NPHS Data Bases i.e Facts
on File
Evaluation: You will be evaluated on the presentation of your research and the links between
details. Your report or presentation should be
 fluent and concise
 neat and organized
 thoughtfully done
More importantly, do not simply ‘copy and paste’ information. It is vital that you select
relevant information and adapt these to your task.
Conclusion: Finally the end is in sight. However before you go off on your vacation,
think about this: Have you learned enough about Shakespeare and Caesar before the real work
begins?