Historical Figures and Literary Works of Shakespeare
William Shakespeare, the renowned English poet, playwright, and actor, is celebrated for his contributions to literature. Alongside his famous works like "Julius Caesar," he is considered the greatest writer in the English language. The play, set in ancient Rome, delves into themes of honor, patriotism, and friendship through characters like Julius Caesar, Marcus Brutus, and more. Additionally, Hadrian's Wall, a remarkable Roman fortification, stands as a historical testament to Roman engineering in Britannia.
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William Shakespeare English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English Language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet. 1564 - 1616 - Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire. - He married Anne Hathaway, and had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. - Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began his career as an actor, writer, and part-owner of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain s Men, later known as the King s men. - He retired to Stratford around 1613, at age 49, where he died three years later.
Julius Caesar Roman statesman, general and notable author of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the events that led to the downfall of the Roman Republic and the rise of 100 BCE 44 BCE the Roman Empire. - In 78 he became a legal prosecutor. - He became governor of Spain in 61. - In 60, he returns to Rome to form the first Triumvirate. (three important Roman rulers). - He had a love affair with Queen Cleopatra of Egypt. - He was stabbed 23 times by his own Friends on March 44.
Julius Caesar. A play by W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar is a tragedy, believed to have been written in 1599. It is one of several plays written by Shakespeare based on true events from Roman History. 100 BCE 44 BCE Although the title is Julius Caesar, Julius Caesar is not the most visible character in its action; he appears alive in only three scenes. Marcus Brutus speaks more than four times as many lines and the central psychological drama is his struggle between the conflicting demands of honor, patriotism and friendship.
Julius Caesar. A play by W. Shakespeare Characters: - Julius Caesar - Calpurnia (Caesar s wife) - Marcus Antonius (Triumvir after death of Caesar) - Marcus Brutus (Conspirator) - Portia (Brutus s wife) - Cassius (Conspirator)
Julius Caesar. A play by W. Shakespeare - Independent Reading (Homework/Classwork) - Answer questions - Complete exercises from book - Listen to Audio CD - Independent study/review (Homework) - Unannounced quizzes - It will be read in two weeks
Hadrian's Wall also called the Roman Wall, Picts' Wall, or Vallum Hadriani in Latin, was a defensive fortification in the Roman province of Britannia, begun in 122 CE during the reign of the emperor Hadrian. It ran from the banks of the River Tyne near the North Sea and the Irish Sea. It had a stone base and a stone wall. There were milecastles with two turrets in between.
There was a fort about every five miles. It is thought that the milecastles were staffed with static garrisons, whereas the forts had fighting garrisons of infantry and cavalry.
In addition to the wall's defensive military role, its gates may have been used as customs posts.
A significant portion of the wall still stands and can be followed on foot along the adjoining Hadrian s Wall Path. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern When in use it was effectively the northern limit of the Roman Empire.
Motifs in Drama A motif is an element or concept that appears throughout a play and helps develop the plot and theme. In this play, one motif is the appearance of omens foreshadowing doom for Caesar and confusion for Rome. Omen It is something believed to be a sign of future, good or evil.
Example of omen A soothsayer warns Caesar to beware the Ides of March. This omen adds tension to the play (at that point) for both Caesar and the audience.
Blank Verse It is a category of poetry based on unrhymed lines and a definite meter, usually of iambic pentameter, examples of which can be found in Shakespeare, William Cullen Bryant, and Robert Frost. You're still not sure what blank verse is? Well, to really understand blank verse, we need to look at meter, or the number of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. This pattern usually takes a 'DA-DUM' effect when we read them. Take this example from John Berryman's 'The Ball Poem': What is the boy now, who has lost his ball, Can you hear the pattern of the unstressed and stressed syllables?
With blank verse, we typically find iambic pentameter, which is five sets of unstressed/stressed iambs, for a total of ten syllables. So, if we look again at 'What is the boy now, who has lost his ball', We can see that we have a set of five iambs for a total of ten syllables. But what makes something blank verse is both the use of meter and unrhymed lines in the verse. Sometimes we see the iambic pentameter used to rhyme, like in Shakespeare's 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day.'
A soliloquy is a popular literary device often used in drama to reveal the innermost thoughts of a character. It is a great technique used to convey the progress of action of the play by means of expressing a character s thoughts about a certain character or past, present or upcoming event while talking to himself without acknowledging the presence of any other person.
Why would Cassius not want Brutus to hear the thoughts he expresses? Cassius explains that he is going to leave forged letters at Brutus s house. Letters that compliment Brutus and subtly critique Caesar s ambition. If Brutus knew that Cassius was trying to manipulate him, Brutus would be more cautious about listening to him.
A tragedy is kind of drama that presents a serious subject matter about human suffering and corresponding terrible events in a dignified manner. How does Casca s speech in lines 15-32 help build suspense? It helps build suspense because the details that he recounts establish a threatening mood and suggest that some violent event will occur soon.
What kind of support does Cassius use to defend his opinion of Caesar? How effective is his argument? Cassius appears to support his view with emotions, not facts. He uses dramatic and exaggerated language to insult both, the Romans and Caesar. His argument seems quite effective, however, Casca immediately promises to keep quiet about what Cassius has said and to help Cassius form a group to deal with these wrongs .
1.- How soon does Cassius plan to meet with Brutus? Why is he in a hurry? 2.- What does Cassius expect to be the result of this meeting? Why is he so optimistic? 3.- Why do the conspirators have great need of Brutus?
Vocabulary idle cobbler thou knave nay beseech awl meddle saucy trod wherefore thy oft stream servile Intermit strew cull attire
ACT 2 Scene 1 Who seems to be in charge of the conspiracy? Brutus seems to be in charge. He decides that they will not swear an oath (overruling Cassius this way). When Cassius asks if they should include Cicero in the conspiracy, as other conspitators believe, Brutus again says no, and these other conspirators immediately reverse their opinion to show that they will always agree with Brutus.
- physically ill? How does Portia know that Brutus is not - Brutus? What does Portia say is wrong with - What questions does Portia ask Brutus before he agrees to tell her the truth?
ACT 2 Scene 2 What is Caesar s attitude toward his fate? Caesar s attitude seems to be a mix of courage and resignation. He does not seem to fear death, because as he says, it is inevitable. He does not think he can avoid fate and he appears to consider himself a tragic hero. One of the valiant who never taste of death but once .
Dramatic Irony occurs when the audience knows something the characters do not. Because of this understanding, the words of the characters take on a different meaning. This can create intense suspense or humor. Why are Caesar s remarks, just before the end of the scene, an example of dramatic irony? The audience knows that the people whom Caesar invites to drink wine with him, are not really his friends. The audience knows that when Caesar trusts these people and goes with them, he is walking to death.
ACT 2 Scene 3 How does Artemidorus follow his conscience in this scene? He writes a letter to warn Caesar about the conspirators. He grieves to think that some people are jealous of virtuous Caesar. He thinks very seriously about the matters of right and wrong.
ACT 2 Scene 4 A tragedy is kind of drama that presents a serious subject matter about human suffering and corresponding terrible events in a dignified manner. Which details in the scene help build suspense? - Portia s nervousness (She hear s a bustling rumor like a fray). - The soothsayer s plan to warn Caesar before he arrives at the Capitol.
ACT 4 Scene 1 It presents the power struggle that follows Caesar s death. In Rome, Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus discuss their enemies. They consider who must die and how they will defeat the forces that Brutus and Cassius have gathered.
To what nonhuman things does Antony compare Lepidus? Antony compares Lepidus to an animal (donkey) who does not understand the value of the burden that others have him carry, to a horse who has to be trained and told what to do.
What does that kind of language suggest about what Antony is really like (or what he has become)? It suggests that Antony is, or has become, cruel and that he disregards the value of an individual. He seems to care only about using people to achieve his own purposes.
How does Antonys description of Lepidus add to what he has already revealed about himself in Scene 1? Antony has already spoken of reducing the people s inheritance from Caesar, the very people whom he once claimed that he cared for and wanted to help. His description of Lepidus does nothing but reinforce the idea that Antony now cares only about himself.
ACT 4 Scenes 2-3 In Sardis, Brutus and Cassius argue over Cassius s acceptance of bribes. They later reconcile, and Brutus tells Cassius of Portia s suicide. Cassius reluctantly consents to Brutus s decisi n to fight the forces of Rome at Philippi.
ACT 4 Scene 2 What tragic flaw is revealed in Brutus s suggestion that he has never even wronged his enemies? Brutus s tragic flaw is his belief in his own nobility, regardless of the facts. He does not consider that he has wronged his enemies because he believes that he participated in Caesar s murder for noble reasons, not out of envy or a desire for gain.
ACT 4 Scene 3 How does Brutus think that the condition of his conscience compares to that of Cassius? How can you tell? Brutus feels that his conscience is superior to that of Cassius. He speaks as if he disapproves Cassius s acceptance of bribes (9-10). He also asserts that they killed Caesar for the sake of justice (19) and that he would rather be a dog than contaminate his fingers with bribes (23-28).
ACT 4 Scene 3 What is ironic about Brutus s view? Ironically, Brutus s conscience is not nearly as superior as he claims it to be. He actually participated in a political assassination that some would call unjustified.
ACT 4 Scene 3 What character trait does Brutus imply is necessary in a good leader? Brutus implies that a trait necessary in order to be a good leader is control over one s emotions. He criticizes Cassius for annoying him, and goes as far as to call Cassius Testy (irritably impatient), waspish (snappish, petulant) and a madman.
ACT 4 Scene 3 What conclusion would you draw about Brutus s honesty in light of his request of money from Cassius? Explain Brutus is definitely not as honest as he says he is. It is hypocritical for Brutus to blame Cassius for taking bribes and then to ask him for money. He is being dishonest.
ACT 4 Scene 3 An allusion is a reference in a work of literature to a famous person, event, or idea in literature, history, or mythology. Allusions help define the setting, add depth to characters and even hint at themes.
ACT 4 Scene 3 What function does the allusion on line 102 and Shakespeare s other references to Roman mythology serve? These allusions serve to make Skakespeare s characters believable people of their time and place, and to create an atmosphere of ancient Rome .
ACT 4 Scene 3 1.- What does Cassius say and do on lines 93-107? 2.- How does Brutus s response make reconciliation posible? 3.- How does Cassius then take the next step toward reconciliation? 4.- In your opinion, have Brutus and Cassius just made a permanent reconciliation? Defend your view.
ACT 4 Scene 3 1.- What does Cassius say and do on lines 93-107? Cassius says that Brutus has turned against him and is accusing him unfairly. He is so unhappy over this situation that he offers Brutus his dagger and urges Brutus to kill him.
ACT 4 Scene 3 2.- How does Brutus s response make reconciliation possible? Seeing Cassius s extreme behavior, Brutus backs down and describes himself as a lamb that cannot stay angry. His backing down makes it possible for Cassius to do so, as well.
ACT 4 Scene 3 3.- How does Cassius then take the next step toward reconciliation? Cassius then admits that he acted out of ill temper, leading Brutus to admit the same. Once they have both confessed that they were wrong, they let themselves be friends again.
ACT 4 Scene 3 4.- In your opinion, have Brutus and Cassius just made a permanent reconciliation? Defend your view. The reconciliation is probably not permanent Cassius predicts that he will get angry in the future. When he does, it remains to be seen if Brutus will overlook them, as he says he will. In addition, the accusations that both of them have made during the argument remain unresolved.
ACT 4 Scene 3 Does Brutus seem to have a guilty conscience about Portia s death? Should he? Explain. No, Brutus does not seem to feel guilty, but maybe he should. He mentions Portia s death in a calmed manner (147). Then, he placidly explains to Cassius that Portia killed herself because she was worried about his absence and the power of Octavius and Antony. (152- 156).
ACT 4 Scene 3 In fact, Cassius seems to be more upset about Portia s death tan Brutus is, for he cries out when he hears the news only to be told by Brutus to be quiet (157-158, 166).
ACT 4 Scene 3 1.- Why does Cassius want to wait for the enemy s arrival at Sardis? 2.- What reasons does Brutus give for having their armies march to Philippi right away? 3.- How can you tell that Brutus believes that his ideas are superior to those of Cassius, the more experienced soldier?
ACT 4 Scene 3 What tragic flaw does Brutus reveal in his response to Cassius s concerns about marching their armies to Philippi? The tragic flaw that Brutus reveals is his inability or refusal to consider the ideas of other people. He assumes that his plan for battle with the enemy is superior to Cassius s plan. Even when Cassius, an experienced soldier, asks Brutus to listen, Brutus interrupts with another reason and turns philosophical about the importance of seizing moments of destiny. V10stpat232
ACT 4 Scene 3 What character traits are revealed in Brutus s dialog with Lucius ? Brutus s dialog reveals his concerns and caring for others. He seems to show this side of himself only in private. V10stpat615
ACT 4 Scene 3 1.- What is Brutus doing when the Ghost of Caesar arrives? 2.- At first, how does Brutus explain the vision? 3.- How does Brutus admit to feeling as he continues to look at it? 4.- What does Brutus ask the Ghost? Does the Ghost respond clearly? Explain.
ACT 4 Scene 3 Does Brutus s conscience seem to have been bothered by the appearance of the Ghost of Caesar? Cite evidence Brutus s conscience seems to have been bothered temporarily. He does say that he wanted to talk more with the Ghost (290), and he asks whether Lucius saw anything (299). However, Brutus then orders the men to tell Cassius to get his armies moving (308-309).
ACT 4 Scene 3 In short, seeing the Ghost of Caesar, does not make Brutus rethink his actions enough to repent and take a different action other than war.
