WELCOME BACK! January 7, 2014 Vocabulary 9, due 1/8 Reviewing Action vs. Linking verbs Introducing Julius Caesar

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A linking verb is a state of _______. Nothing is happening. The same function as an ______ sign. An action verb implies _________ is taking place

Part II Part I

Julius Caesar Crash course.

First 250 years after founding, Rome was ruled by oppressive kings – Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin the Proud) was the last Romans revolted: Led by Lucius Junius Brutus (in play, Brutus descended from him) Historical Events

Lucius Junius Brutus pledged to kill anyone who aided the oppressive ruler Tarquinius Superbus. That included his own sons. Painting is by Jacques- Louis David (18th century)

Roman Republic Made up of Senators (from the noble class) Praetors (administered civil justice) – like police Tribunes (represented the plebeians, or common people) Two consuls (powerful) O ne served in Rome One commanded the army

60 BCE: Caesar-Pompey-Crassus 59 BCE: Caesar-Pompey became consuls (Caesar army-Gallic campaigns; Pompey Rome) Caesar/Pompey struggled for power Pompey killed outside Italy Caesar defeated Pompey’s sons in Spain in 45 BCE The First Triumvirate

Roman territories under Caesar's rule.

Opening of Play Caesar’s return from defeating Pompey’s sons Some [senators] fear Caesar may take absolute power (like kings Lucius Junius Brutus deposed) Caesar very popular with commoners Pompey...

Plutarch Source for historical background Wrote 56 AD (100 yrs after Caesar’s death) Elizabethans familiar w/Caesar story Shakespeare followed Plutarch’s basic account of historical events. Emphasizes how the actions of the leaders of Roman society, rather than class conflicts or larger political movements, determined history.

William Shakespeare vs. Plutarch To save time Shakespeare condensed some of the historical events. - Caesar’s murder, funeral, and reading of the will all happened on the same day in the play. ~He combined the two Battles of Phillipi

Julius Caesar: the play Written by William Shakespeare First performed approx Concerns: H istorical events Evils of rebellion and civil war Ambition and its effect on leadership

Elizabethan England Queen Elizabeth’s reign a good time in British history Long reign ending Concern about successor Violence preceded her reign H enry VIII’s 6 wives, no certain successor – lots of instability

Connection: From ancient Roman history to Elizabethan England Attitude of Brits: better to accept power than to have civil war In play, those who would fight against Caesar (even for noble cause) would cause suffering for the people

Julius Caesar is about power, ambition, and betrayal. The characters are constantly trying to persuade themselves, each other, and the audience of the rightness of their cause. As a result, the play is full of speeches that make masterful use of rhetorical devices, such as repetition, parallelism, and rhetorical questions. Watch for them! Rhetorical Devices

HW: Finish #1-3 pre reading questions in your Act I packet (DON’T LOSE IT) Vocabulary 9 will be due 1/8 with a quiz on 1/12