Download The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

The Tragedy of
Julius Caesar
By: William Shakespeare
An Introduction to Julius
Caesar
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Answer the following questions on a sheet
of paper. Turn in when you are finished.
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Define the term ambition. When can
ambition be a positive quality? When can
ambition be a negative quality?
In class writing / discussion
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Ambition = being exceptionally eager for
fame and power.
– Positive characteristic = an ambitious person
who works hard and sets goals.
– Negative characteristic = an ambitious person
acts only in his or her self interest, not caring
what is right or good for others.
Julius Caesar
Play Background
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Overview of the play / The Results of
Violence
– Assassination (murder of a public figure)
 Can change the course of history in a split second.
– Julius Caesar – Shakespeare play that deals with
the assassination of a Roman general and dictator
who lived and died (an extremely violent death)
more than two thousand years ago.
Shakespeare’s Motivation to
write Julius Caesar
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The Parallel Lives, ancient biographical text
– Written by Plutarch, a Greek writer and
biographer, who lived close to the time of Julius
Caesar.
– Shakespeare drew his material for the play Julius
Caesar from this text.
Who was Julius Caesar?
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Caesar was 1 of 3 men from the First Triumvirate, a
political alliance of three people (Caesar, Pompey, and
Crassus) *60 B.C.
– These three men were in charge of Rome together as one
government
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However, Crassus was killed in 53 B.C.
– The Senate decides Pompey should be in charge ordering
Caesar to give up his army and return to Rome as a private
citizen.
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Caesar refused, risking a civil war. He marched into Rome with his army
(“crossing the Rubicon”)
He defeated Pompey’s army, winning the war.
Declared himself a lifetime dictator of Rome, which
was the greatest empire of the time. *49 B.C.
Caesar Perspectives
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During his life, Caesar was greatly admired
by many people.
 However, he was also hated by many
others.
– Some believed he was too ambitious and
exceptionally eager for fame and power
– Some said his ambition would keep him from
acting in Rome’s best interest.
Caesar Perspectives
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Caesar was a… “Great Leader and Reformer”
– Military leader with good strategy
– Treated defeated enemies generously / appointed some of them to
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government positions (including Brutus)
Ended the rule of corrupt Roman nobles – made nobles give up
land to poor people (poor looked to him as a God)
Brought order and peace to Rome / strengthened and expanded the
state of Rome
Restored cities that had been destroyed
Started public jobs / programs to aid the poor
Granted Roman citizenship to people from foreign countries or
states
Had a statue of himself built
 Inscription: “To the Unconquerable God”
Caesar Perspectives
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Caesar was a … “Dangerous Dictator”
– Refused to follow the Senate’s order to return to Rome (became an
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enemy)
Started a civil war that led to the destruction of the republic
Increased the number of senator to add to his number of supporters
Treated his defeated enemies with cruelty
Punished those who wanted to uphold the traditions and laws of
the republic
Weakened the Senate to gain absolute power over Rome
Kept hidden any facts that did not make him look brave and/or
intelligent
Sought glory for himself at the expense of the republic (accepted
bribes and handouts) to gain support
Arrogance and power became unbearable to many
Growing Ego and Power
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Some became fed up with Caesar’s power and
arrogance.
– They made plans to assassinate him on March 15,
44 B.C.
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“Ides of March”
Shakespeare's play opens a month before
Caesar’s murder…
Literary Focus
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Tragedy
– Play, novel, or other narrative that depicts
serious and important events and ends
unhappily for the main character.
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Main character - often high ranking and dignified
(not ordinary).
– Tragic hero – admirable hero who has a personal failing
that leads to his/her downfall.
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Main character – has a tragic flaw
– a defect in character or judgment – that directly causes the
character’s downfall
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Work often ends unhappily – with the death of the
main character.
What can you expect for this
unit?
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Some reading aloud / some individual or group reading –
BRING TEXTBOOKS EVERYDAY!
Watching “some” of the play
Reading guide / Study questions
Vocabulary (focus will be on 16th century meanings)
Small individual writing activities
Potential quiz after each Act
Caesar Final Project – Group Activity
Caesar Unit Test