Warm-Up What are facts that you remember about William Shakespeare and his plays?

Shakespeare Facts to Remember Born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford, England Died April 23, 1616 Married to Anne Hathaway (she was 8 years older than him... COUGAR!) and had 3 children Lived during the Renaissance Period under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I

Shakespeare’s Career He had his own theater troop called Lord Chamberlain’s Men. He is the most famous poet and playwright in the world. His plays were performed at The Globe Theater in London. He has three types of plays: Comedy, Tragedy, History He wrote a total of 37 plays. His most famous poem form is the sonnet (a 14 line poem with the rhyme scheme abab cdcd efef gg).

Julius Caesar Background Iacta alea est Iacta alea est “The die has already been cast” been cast”

The Play: The Results of Violence Assassination: Assassination: The murder of a public figure is an act that can take place in a split second yet change the course of history The murder of a public figure is an act that can take place in a split second yet change the course of history March 15, 44 BC Julius Caesar is assassinated on the floor of the Roman Senate March 15, 44 BC Julius Caesar is assassinated on the floor of the Roman Senate

The Play The play is about the assassination of a Roman general and dictator who lived and died more than 2000 years ago. The play is about the assassination of a Roman general and dictator who lived and died more than 2000 years ago. Shakespeare drew his material from the ancient biographical text The Lives of Noble Grecians and Romans written by Plutarch (Greek writer and biographer) Shakespeare drew his material from the ancient biographical text The Lives of Noble Grecians and Romans written by Plutarch (Greek writer and biographer)

War & Individual Power It seems that the Roman world in Caesar’s time was continually at war. It seems that the Roman world in Caesar’s time was continually at war. But in Rome, the general had enormous individual power. But in Rome, the general had enormous individual power. Powerful generals like Caesar moved with their plundering armies over the entire Mediterranean World. Powerful generals like Caesar moved with their plundering armies over the entire Mediterranean World. The Roman Empire during the life of Caesar

These powerful armies would rule the territory with Roman governors who exacted cruel taxes. These powerful armies would rule the territory with Roman governors who exacted cruel taxes. Sometimes the generals turned on one another Sometimes the generals turned on one another Strong men battling for power Strong men battling for power Private Armies & Betrayal

First Triumvirate: Gaius Julius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompey Magnus, and Marcus Licinius Crassus First Triumvirate: Gaius Julius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompey Magnus, and Marcus Licinius Crassus Caesar and Pompey were friends Caesar and Pompey were friends In 60 B.C. the two generals In 60 B.C. the two generals helped to bring order to a weakened government Caesar Pompey Crassus Caesar and Pompey: jealousy and murder

Jealousy! Crassus is killed in Syria; eager for more power, Caesar leaves Rome Crassus is killed in Syria; eager for more power, Caesar leaves Rome Caesar conquers the Gauls in Europe, sending back loads of money to the people, and the people give Caesar their favor Caesar conquers the Gauls in Europe, sending back loads of money to the people, and the people give Caesar their favor

Jealousy! Jealous of Caesar’s military triumphs in the Gallic wars, Pompey looks towards success in the Senate Jealous of Caesar’s military triumphs in the Gallic wars, Pompey looks towards success in the Senate The Senate is wary of Caesar’s ambition and fear that with the love of the people Caesar might declare himself king The Senate is wary of Caesar’s ambition and fear that with the love of the people Caesar might declare himself king Caesar’s standard (i.e. his symbol)

Views of Caesar… Caesar saw himself as a defender of the people Caesar saw himself as a defender of the people Critics said he bought support with bribes and handouts Critics said he bought support with bribes and handouts Enemies said he deprived Romans of their liberty Enemies said he deprived Romans of their liberty Caesar saw himself as a defender of the people Caesar saw himself as a defender of the people Critics said he bought support with bribes and handouts Critics said he bought support with bribes and handouts Enemies said he deprived Romans of their liberty Enemies said he deprived Romans of their liberty

Unconquerable God Caesar the invincible; the son of Zeus Caesar the invincible; the son of Zeus Declared dictator for 10 years and saw to it that his supporters, including Brutus, became senators Declared dictator for 10 years and saw to it that his supporters, including Brutus, became senators Built a statue to himself with the inscription “To the Unconquerable God” Built a statue to himself with the inscription “To the Unconquerable God”

Caesar’s arrogance Common people loved him Common people loved him The month of Quintilis is renamed to the month of July in his honor The month of Quintilis is renamed to the month of July in his honor Later he was declared dictator for life (Feb. 15, 44 B.C.) Later he was declared dictator for life (Feb. 15, 44 B.C.) Offered the crown 3 times but refused Offered the crown 3 times but refused Why? Looked down upon to be a king – not democratic, the Roman’s had killed their previous king for being a tyrant Why? Looked down upon to be a king – not democratic, the Roman’s had killed their previous king for being a tyrant Caesar was the first to print his own bust on a Roman minted coin (Denarius)

Caesar’s arrogance His arrogance and thirst for power became unbearable to some senators His arrogance and thirst for power became unbearable to some senators Members of the Roman senate create plans to assassinate him on March 15, 44 B.C. because of his threat to the Republican traditions Members of the Roman senate create plans to assassinate him on March 15, 44 B.C. because of his threat to the Republican traditions They succeed. They succeed. “Sic semper tyrannis” -thus always to tyrants-

Shakespeare’s Play Shakespeare’s play starts with events that happened a month before the murder. Shakespeare’s play starts with events that happened a month before the murder. The play condenses 3 years of history into one play in which 6 days are acted out. The play condenses 3 years of history into one play in which 6 days are acted out.

Julius Caesar Roman Terms Forum: The public square of an ancient Roman city that was the assembly place for political activity and public business. Forum: The public square of an ancient Roman city that was the assembly place for political activity and public business. Ides: In the ancient Roman calendar, the fifteenth day of March, May, July, or October, and the thirteenth day of the other months. Ides: In the ancient Roman calendar, the fifteenth day of March, May, July, or October, and the thirteenth day of the other months. Feast of Lupercal: A Roman festival supervised by priests on February 15th celebrating the god of fertility. The festival included a race in which men dressed in sacrificial goat skins would run through spectators in the streets, and their touch was thought to cure sterility. Feast of Lupercal: A Roman festival supervised by priests on February 15th celebrating the god of fertility. The festival included a race in which men dressed in sacrificial goat skins would run through spectators in the streets, and their touch was thought to cure sterility.

Julius Caesar Roman Terms Plebeians: Of or relating to the common people of ancient Rome Plebeians: Of or relating to the common people of ancient Rome Patricians: A member of one of the noble families of the ancient Roman Republic, which before the 3rd century B.C. had exclusive rights to the Senate Patricians: A member of one of the noble families of the ancient Roman Republic, which before the 3rd century B.C. had exclusive rights to the Senate Triumvirate: A government of three officers or magistrates functioning jointly Triumvirate: A government of three officers or magistrates functioning jointly

Julius Caesar Roman Terms Tribune: Tribune: (A) an officer of ancient Rome elected by the plebeians to protect their rights from arbitrary acts of the patrician magistrates. (B) a protector or champion of the people. Senate: The supreme council of state of the ancient Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire Senate: The supreme council of state of the ancient Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire

Julius Caesar Roman Terms Stoicism: A philosophy that focuses on Stoicism: A philosophy that focuses on Duty, self-discipline, and subjection to the natural order of things Duty, self-discipline, and subjection to the natural order of things Civic obligations; duty BEFORE self! Civic obligations; duty BEFORE self! Repressing all emotions—do not outwardly show happiness, sadness, etc. Repressing all emotions—do not outwardly show happiness, sadness, etc. Speaking in a calm and emotionless manner Speaking in a calm and emotionless manner Epicurean: A philosophy that focuses on Epicurean: A philosophy that focuses on Human freedom; “I am the center of my universe” attitude Human freedom; “I am the center of my universe” attitude being good only to increase one’s own happiness; self BEFORE duty! being good only to increase one’s own happiness; self BEFORE duty! Eliminating fear from life, especially fear of death and the fear of the supernatural (the gods live in their own world and are too busy to bother with us on earth). Eliminating fear from life, especially fear of death and the fear of the supernatural (the gods live in their own world and are too busy to bother with us on earth). Speaking in a vibrant and emotional manner Speaking in a vibrant and emotional manner

Julius Caesar Literary & Drama Terms Anachronism: person, place, or thing placed in the wrong time period. Anachronism: person, place, or thing placed in the wrong time period. Apostrophe: An address to the absent or dead are spoken to as if present or the inanimate, as if alive. Apostrophe: An address to the absent or dead are spoken to as if present or the inanimate, as if alive. Aside: remarks unheard by other actors on stage when an actor turns his head toward the audience to speak. Aside: remarks unheard by other actors on stage when an actor turns his head toward the audience to speak.

Julius Caesar Literary & Drama Terms Pun: a humorous play on words indicating different meanings Pun: a humorous play on words indicating different meanings Comic Relief: humor inserted into the play to break a serious mood Comic Relief: humor inserted into the play to break a serious mood Foreshadowing: the dropping of important hints by the author to prepare the reader for what is to come Foreshadowing: the dropping of important hints by the author to prepare the reader for what is to come Soliloquy: speech delivered while the actor is alone on stage. It informs the audience of what is happening in the character’s mind or gives needed information about other characters. Soliloquy: speech delivered while the actor is alone on stage. It informs the audience of what is happening in the character’s mind or gives needed information about other characters.

Julius Caesar Literary & Drama Terms Hyperbole: the conscious use of overstatement or exaggeration by a writer for effect Hyperbole: the conscious use of overstatement or exaggeration by a writer for effect Oxymoron: a figure of speech which combines two terms that in ordinary usage are contraries or opposites Oxymoron: a figure of speech which combines two terms that in ordinary usage are contraries or opposites Blank Verse: Unrhymed lines written in iambic pentameter, each line has 5 sets of unstressed syllables – 10 syllables total Blank Verse: Unrhymed lines written in iambic pentameter, each line has 5 sets of unstressed syllables – 10 syllables total