1. Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

2. Beware the Ides of March! Soothsayer • Julius Caesar was assassinated March 15th, 44 BC

3. Roman Calendar • The Roman calendar used to begin in March but was later changed to January 1st. • The month of March was named to honor Mars the god of war.

4. Setting: • Rome, Italy • 44 BC • Time of Julius Caesar

5. Conflict: • There were some who believed Caesar was a tyrant and would abuse his power.

6. Act I Expostion • Begins Feb 15th • Feast of Lupercal • Caesar’s triumphant march through Rome • Pompey is defeated

7. Act I Conflict • Marullus and Flavius(tribunes) are angry over Pompey’s defeat.

8. Quotation • “O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, knew you not Pompey? … Be gone!” Marullus, Act I , sc I The Roman commoners (Plebians) are fickle and changeable in their loyalty to their leaders.

9. Protagonists: • Cassius: leader of the conspiracy, hates Caesar, feels Caesar is weak • Brutus: sees himself as honorable but is troubled by the growing power of Caesar

10. Protagonists: cont… • Mark Antony: Loyal friend to Caesar, opposes the conspiracy, becomes a future leader of Rome

11. Act I, sc ii notes • Caesar has epilepsy and is deaf in one ear. • Caesar is suspicious of Cassius. • “Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look. Such men are dangerous…”

12. Caesar has a Seizure • Antony offers Caesar the Lupercal coronet 3 times. • Each time Caesar refuses. • On the 3rd time, Caesar falls and has a seizure. The crowd laughs and mocks him although they cheered for him to take the crown.

13. Soliloquy: • A speech made by a lone actor on stage who speaks his thoughts aloud.

14. Cassius’ Soliloquy: • False letters are sent to Brutus’ home asking him to defend the Roman people from Caesar’s rule.

15. Act I, sc iii notes March 14th, 44 BC • Stormy, ominous night Omens/Foreshadowing • pg 900 • Cicero is unwilling to participate in the conspiracy

16. Animal Symbols • Caesar is compared to a • Lion • Wolf • Serpent • Explain these symbols.

17. Quotation/Animal Imagery • “I know he [Caesar] would not be a wolf • But that he sees Romans but as sheep; He were no lion, were not Romans hinds.” • Act I, sc iii

18. Conspirators’ Plans • Meet at Pompey’s Porch • Go to Brutus’ house • Include Brutus in the conspiracy

19. Foil • Brutus vs Cassius • Identify 4 or more contrasting characteristics from Act I

20. Cassius Enemy to Caesar Mastermind Brutus Friend to Caesar Public Face Foil: Character Contrast

21. Act II Julius Caesar

22. Act II Rising Action • The conspirators meet at Brutus’ home early on the morning of the ides of March to discuss the assassination.

23. Act II notes • Brutus is disturbed by letters he has found at his home.

24. Brutus’s Soliloquy • Brutus has internal conflict about the conspiracy: • “I know no personal cause to spurn at him, • But for the general.”

25. Metaphor/Soliloquy • “And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg… and kill him in his shell.”

26. Brutus’ Decisions • Brutus will not let Cicero be included in the conspiracy. • Brutus will not let Mark Antony be killed with Caesar.

27. Definition • anachronism • (pg. 981) • and locate an example • on page 917.

28. Female Characters: • Portia: wife to Brutus • Calpurnia: wife to Caesar

29. Portia • How does Portia prove her loyalty to Brutus? • Who is Portia’s father? Read the side note. • Will Brutus tell Portia his secrets?

30. Act II, sc ii notes • Home of Caesar • Caesar is portrayed as vain and arrogant. • He ignores many warnings.

31. Calpurnia’s Dream • “She dreamt tonight she saw my statue, • Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,

32. Dream cont… • “…Did run pure blood, and many lusty Romans Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it.”

33. Decius’ Manipulation • Decius re-interprets Calpurnia’s dream. • Decius states the senate will offer the crown. • Decius implies Caesar is weak and cowardly and controlled by his wife.

34. Scene iii • Artemidorus is a teacher who plans to write a letter to warn Caesar.

35. Warnings/Foreshadowing • Soothsayer • Calphurnia’s dream • Reports of nature in chaos • Augurers/Priests • Artemidorus the teacher

36. Scene IV: Portia • Portia’s anxiety shows she knows Brutus’ plan • Lucius is concerned about what he is to report • The soothsayer plans to warn Caesar again. • Rising Action: Adds suspense!

37. Act III

38. Climax • Assassination of JC • Mark Antony’s • speech to the people (pg 950-951)

39. Assassination Plan • Metullus makes a request that Caesar will deny: the return of his banished brother • All the conspirators make this request while surrounding Caesar

40. Caesar’s Response • “Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?” • “…I am as constant as the Northern Star”

41. Caesar’s Response • Final dying words: • ”Et tu Brute? Then fall Caesar.”

42. Aftermath… • Antony swears vengeance on the conspirators. • He will make friends with them to speak at Caesar’s funeral.

43. Antony’s Soliloquy • “O pardon me thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!”

44. Antony’s Prophesy • “A curse shall light upon the limbs of men; Domestic fury and fierce civil strife Shall cumber all the parts of Italy.”

45. Caesar’s funeral • Brutus allows Antony to speak at the funeral. • Antony shall speak after Brutus and shall not speak against the conspirators.

46. New Character • Octavius-Caesar’s nephew and heir • The next emperor of Rome

47. Brutus’ Speech to the People • “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” • “…as he was ambitious, I slew him.”

48. Antony’s Speech: Rhetoric • Examples: repetition, verbal irony, sarcasm, emotional appeal, logical appeal, reverse psychology

49. Repetition/Irony • “For Brutus is an honorable man…so are they all, all honorable men.”

50. Persuasion • Emotional Appeal: • “…for Brutus, as you know, was Caesar’s angel.”