1. Julius Caesar
Shakespeare

2. William Shakespeare
Raised by a merchant family in Stratford-on-Avon
1582: married Anne Hathaway
1592: became an actor and playwright
Actors and playwrights were not reputable citizens at the time

3. William Shakespeare
Gained the patronage of Lord Chamberlain and then King James
Great plays include Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth
Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616
Buried at the Holy Trinity Church at Stratford

4. Elizabethan Theatre
Thrust stage, entrances from two sides of the stage, curtain in the back, “heavens” above the stage
Imagination was the most important prop
All actors were male, female roles were played by young boys

5. Elements of Drama
Foreshadowing: dreams and omens that allude to future events
Soliloquies: dramatic speech in which a character reveals his/her innermost thoughts by speaking alone on stage (Brutus- a. II, sc. I)
Asides: a brief remark made by a character that the other characters cannot hear (Trebonius & Brutus- a. II, sc. II)
Monologues: a long speech made by a character while alone or in the company of other characters (Antony & Brutus’s funeral orations- a. III, sc. II)

6. Julius Caesar Julius Caesar written 1598-1599
Based on Plutarch’s Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans
Emphasis on leadership, ambition, and honor in drama reflects questions in Elizabethan England

7. Julius Caesar Queen Elizabeth was in poor health with no heir
Elizabethans questioned what would happen to their peaceful country of 40 years after her death
The play taps into Elizabethan desire for a stable government and fear of continued civil wars

8. Rome and Caesar
During Caesar’s time (~60 B.C.) Roman empire was in continuous wars of conquest
Independent armies lead by powerful generals conquered land, governs then ruled and extracted taxes
Commonly generals would turn on one another and fight- power was short lived in the Roman Empire

9. Caesar and Pompey
Julius Caesar begins after Caesar has defeated Pompey and established himself as leader (~49 B.C.)
Caesar and Pompey were friends, formed the First Triumvirate (3-man gov’t)
Caesar leaves Rome to fight the Gallic Wars around Europe

10. Caesar and Pompey
As Caesar gains power, he gains favor with the Roman people and loses favor with Pompey and the Roman Senate
Caesar refuses the Senate’s order to give up his command and return to Rome as a private citizen
Instead he takes over Rome and runs Pompey out, eventually defeating the armies of Pompey’s 3 sons

11. Rome and Caesar
Around March 15, 44 B.C., Caesar had won the favor of the citizens and sought ultimate power
“Free Romans” such as the senators refused to have the Roman Republic ruled by a king
Julius Caesar examines the plot of certain senators to assassinate Caesar

12. Major Themes Leadership (qualities) Superstition/ Divine Fate Ambition
Honor
Politics

13. Class Activities Soliloquy buster
Bring in magazine/newspaper articles focused on current leaders.
Vote to decide if Caesar should be assassinated end of speech a. III, sc. I, ln
In groups rewrite scene/section of play as modern version