Julius Caesar Sophomore English

Transcription

1 Julius Caesar Sophomore English I. History/Background A. William Shakespeare 1. Personal Life a. Born April 1564 in Stratford-on Avon near, England b. Died April 23, 1616 c. Married in 1582 and had 3 children 2. Career a. Became an actor in Lord s Men in 1594 b. Wrote plays, including histories, tragedies and comedies c. Tragic masterpieces: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth d. Wrote Julius Caesar in B. The Elizabethan Stage 1. The first theaters were very simple stages incorporating the audience 2. James built the first permanent theater in In 1599, they took the theater apart piece by piece after the rent was raised and built a theater across the river, would become The C. The Globe ( The O ) 1. Sixty-five foot open space surrounded by circular building 2. Contained an upper level, known as the and a door for special effects 3. Sets were minimal, relied on imagination of 4. All actors were ; female roles played by 5. Theater was an event where people ate, drank, and talked during the D. Rome in Caesar s Day 1. Almost always at 2. Powerful, like Caesar, were in charge of their own armies and would go on their own and conquer weak countries 3. Sometimes, the generals would turn on one another, which happened when Caesar and clashed in 49 B.C., causing a war E. Caesar and Pompey: Jealousy and Murder 1. They were good friends: Pompey married Caesar s 2. In 60 B.C., they created the First (three-man government) 3. Caesar and his armies amassed huge sums of by roaming through Europe, gaining favor with the Roman 4. Caesar considered himself a of the people, but opponents felt he did so with bribes 5. Pompey went to the Senate with jealousy of Caesar and the ordered Caesar to give up command 6. Instead, he marched his army and took control of Rome and chased Pompey to where he was murdered F. The unconquerable God 1. Caesar was, declared for 10 years 2. Helped his supporters, including, become Senators 3. The people loved him 4. Many were upset by the fact the free Romans were being ruled 5. Plans were made to him on March 15, 44 B.C. 6. The play opens one before the murder

2 II. Act I A. Scene i 1. Flavius and (military men) stop a and other laborers in the streets of Rome 2. They ask for their reason for rejoicing, Caesar s return line Marullus says they should pray forgiveness that they celebrate over s blood 4. Flavius says they need to make Caesar at an pitch, or bring him back down to their level 1. Caesar hopes the feast of (fertility festival) will help his wife get pregnant 2. warns Beware the of March) 3. tells Brutus that he senses something wrong with him 4. Brutus tells him that his mood is directed only upon 5. Cassius says everyone thinks highly of Brutus except immortal trying to start conflict/conspiracy 6. Brutus says, I do fear the people choose Caesar for their line Cassius says, I was born as Caesar and tells Brutus they are as good as Caesar and they should not be ruled by him 8. Cassius says they are of their and control what they can do and Brutus says he ll think about it 9. Caesar says that Cassius too much and that such men are 10. Casca describes how Caesar turned down the offered by Marc Antony times, but he refused it and fainted from his epilepsy 11. Soliloquy: a long speech by one person alone; Cassius explains that he will make it appear others feel the same by putting fake in Brutus house C. Scene iii 1. Casca and Cicero discuss that Rome is in : a slave throws from his hand, he ran into a near the capital, and others saw people walk in fire and storms are raging heavens are angry 2. Cassius says he walked around bare-chested and afraid, but Casca says men should and tremble at angry Heavens 3. Cassius, Casca and Cicero plan a meeting on Pompey s porch III. Act II A. Scene i 1. Brutus delivers a in which he tries to convince himself that there is reason to kill Caesar, even though he has nothing against him.

3 2. He decides that if Caesar were to climb the of power that he would look down on the people beneath him who used to be his equals. 3. Luciuis brings him the letter that his been thrown into his study that reads speak,, redress, which means he needs correct the wrong that will be created if Caesar is crowned. 4. The arrive at Brutus house hiding themselves. 5. Cassius says they should swear an of loyalty, but Brutus says no oath is needed and that they should trust each other by word and a handshake. Brutus is taking charge of the group 6. Cassius says they should kill as well, but Brutus disagrees and says they should be sacrificers, but not and says that Antony will have no power when Caesar is killed. He uses the METAPHOR of the head (Caesar) being cut off from the rest of the body (Antony). 7. Not killing Antony is Brutus FLAW, which will lead to his. 8. Cassius is worried that Caesar will not go to the, but Decius assures him that he will get him there. 9. Brutus reminds the men to be true and go around like actors to make it seem that nothing is wrong. 10. Brutus wife,, tries to find out what is going on with him. 1. Caesar says that Calphurnia has dreamed three times and cried out Help, ho! They Caesar! a bad sign or omen 2. Calphurnia pleads with Caesar to stay home, but Caesar argues that die many times before their death because they live in fear, but that the never taste of death but once. 3. Calphurnia convinces him to tell the that she has made him stay home. 4. When Decius enters, Caesar tells him that he will not go to the Senate and tells him of the dreams that Calphurnia has had where the Romans bathe in Caesar s. 5. tells him that he has misinterpreted the dream and that is actually a good sign. He warns him that the people will think that Caesar is afraid and they will change their minds about the crown. 6. Caesar decides to go and tells that he is ashamed that he had ever though of not going. 7. In the last line of the scene, Brutus reveals that his heart breaks for what he is about to do. C. Scene iii: reads from a letter that warns Caesar not to go to the Senate, and says that if he can get Caesar to read this letter that he will live, but if not he will die. D. Scene iv

4 1. Portia tells to run to the Capitol because it appears that Brutus has finally told her about the plot against Caesar.. 2. Portia reveals in her last speech that because she is a, she might not be able to keep the secret after she has spoken to the Soothsayer. IV. Act III A. scene i 1. Caesar s first line is The ides of March are, and the soothsayer replies Ay, Caesar, but not. 2. Artemidorus tries to get Caesar to read his first to warn him, but Caesar does not. Another chance to change his fate. 3. s TRAGIC FLAW is that he does not listen to those close to him and he is arrogant in the face of danger. 4. Metellus Cimber bows to Caesar to beg forgiveness for his brother, Publius, but Caesar says he does not make mistakes and will not change the fact he has been.--arrogance 5. Caesar is stabbed and says, Brute? as he dies, meaning You too, Brutus. He cannot believe Brutus would do this to him. 6. Cinna yells! Freedom! is dead! 7. Brutus tells the people to bathe our in Caesar s blood and cry Peace, freedom, liberty! blood is a SYMBOL of liberty 8. Antony sends a servant to ask for his word that he will be unharmed if he comes to him to find out why he killed Caesar. 9. Antony offers them his life as a sign that intends no harm. 10. Cassius tells Brutus not to let Antony speak at Caesar s, for he is fearful that the people will be moved by his speech to revenge. 11. Brutus tells Antony to speak only of the of Caesar and not to them for his death. 12. Antony pledges his loyalty to Caesar in his soliloquy and FORESHADOWS the revenge on his murderers. 13. Antony tells servant that it would be too dangerous for him right now, but to wait for his word. 1. Brutus addresses the crowd and tells them that Caesar was murdered because of his. He says that he loved Caesar, but that [he] loved more. 2. His final comment is that when they would like him dead that he has the same for himself. 3. Antony addresses the crowd and says he comes to Caesar, not to him. 4. Antony asks the crowd if Caesar refusing the crown three times was the sign of an man.

5 5. Antony calls the conspirators men and tells the Roman citizens all of the great things that Caesar did for them, including the items that Caesar left for them in his. 6. Antony says that Caesar loved Brutus and that Brutus turning into a traitor was the cut of all. 7. The crowd yells We ll after hearing Antony s passionate speech and they revenge Caesar s death, even though Antony never told them to do so. C. Scene iii 1. The conspirators hunt down and kill, the first of the Senators to be murdered. V. Act IV A. Scene i 1. Time has passed and, and have formed a TRIMUVIRATE. 2. Antony uses Lepidus like a servant, has his own put to death, and violates Caesar s will. These things show a negative side as a result of new power. 1. Brutus and Cassius argue. Cassius says, most noble brother, you have done me. 2. Brutus asks Cassius to continue their discussion in his. He does not want the others to hear. C. Scene iii 1. In the tent, Brutus tells Cassius how upset he is that Cassius did not send when he asked for it. He calls him greedy. 2. Cassius responds, I an palm? 3. Brutus tells Cassius that he is a (angry) madman. 4. Cassius asks Brutus to kill him if this is the way he really feels about him, saying When thou didst hate [Caesar] worst, thou lovedst him better. 5. Messala informs them that the triumvirate has put to death an senators. 6. Brutus decides they should march to, but Cassius feels that they should let and Octavius armies come to them. 7. They agree to meet in Phillipi and swear to never let anything come between them again. 8. Brutus sees Caesar s. going mad from guilt conscience VI. Act V A. scene i 1. On the battlefield, Octavius is surprised by the appearance of the armies of and. Antony says they are trying to show they have courage.

6 2. Cassius, Brutus, Antony and Lepidus meet before the battle. Each one voices his opinion about the other men, leading to heated words. Octavius says, If make us sweat, the proof of it will turn to redder drops. 3. Cassius tells Messala that he feels the disappearance of the eagles and the presence of the is a BAD OMEN. 4. Cassius and Brutus discuss the possibility of if they are captured. Brutus says suicide is and vile. i 1. Cassius discovers that some of his men have become. 2. He tells Titinius to ride to see if the other troops are friend or enemy. gives a false description to Cassius to make him think that Titinius has been slain. 3. commands Pindarus to kill him, but it is later discovered that Pindarus was actually a traitor. 4. takes his own life after discovering Cassius dead body. 5. Brutus says he will give Cassius a proper later, but they must now continue to fight. C. scene v 1. feels the end is near and asks his men to kill him. 2. finally agrees to kill Brutus. 3. Antony and meet the remaining soldiers for Brutus and Cassius and ask them to join them. Peace treaty 4. Antony says that Brutus was the most of all the conspirators because he thought he killed Caesar for the good of the people. 5. Octavius concludes the play by announcing that Brutus shall be buried like a and honorably.