Julius Caesar By William Shakespeare

Tragedy – 1 st element Tragic Hero – great man of status, starts with everything, ends with nothing

Tragedy – 2 nd element Tragic Flaw – obsession with power, greed, pride, etc. Caesar’s tragic flaw: ________________

Tragedy – 3 rd element Tragic Story - death of tragic hero

Tragedy – 4 th element Elements of supernatural, fate/fortune

Conflict …the struggle between opposing forces Internal conflict examples: External conflict examples:

Blank Verse Writing with regular meter (rhythm) but no rhyme –Hence! home, you idle creatures get you home: Is this a holiday? what! know you not, Being mechanical, you ought not walk Upon a laboring day without the sign Of your profession? Speak, what trade art thou? Characters who speak in blank verse:

Prose Writing that follows regular speech patterns with no specific rhythm or structure –Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobbler. Characters who speak in prose:

Iambic Pentameter Iamb = footPent = 5 Ten syllable line with five “feet” One “foot” or “iamb” = (Stressed syllable + unstressed syllable)

Iambic Pentameter Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?

Soliloquy Long speech by a character who is typically alone Example: Act III, Scene 1, lines (pg 829)

Aside Comment made by a character to audience or another character, typically not heard by others on stage Example: Act II, Scene 2, lines 124-end (pg. 815)

Dramatic Irony Readers know something characters do not Example: Caesar’s death – we know it but he doesn’t

Situational Irony Difference between what is expected and what actually happens; oddness or unfairness of a situation Example: Antony trying to figure out how to reduce Caesar’s generous will

Verbal Irony Difference between what is said and what is meant –Antony: “I come to bury Caesar, not to honor him.” –Antony: “Brutus is an honorable man”

Climax Most exciting, emotional high point Point at which conflict begins to resolve –What is the major conflict in the play?

Climax Most exciting, emotional high point Point at which conflict begins to resolve –What is the major conflict in the play? Be able to argue why one or both is climax –Caesar’s assassination –Death of Brutus and Cassius

Foreshadowing Clues an author gives us for things that will happen later in the story Examples:

Resolution How the conflict is resolved Whose death is most noble? –Caesar? –Cassius? –Brutus?

Protagonist Central character Action revolves around him/her Undergoes main conflict Who is the protagonist?

Antagonist Character that opposes the protagonist Who is the antagonist?

Theme Lesson from story we can (realistically) apply to life Themes are more than just one word –justice is a topic –justice always prevails is a theme Possible themes?