DRAMA SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY

TRAGEDY  Series of events which ends unhappily  Suffering possibly followed by redemption  Provides audience with a catharsis (emotional purging)  Series of events which ends unhappily  Suffering possibly followed by redemption  Provides audience with a catharsis (emotional purging)

TRAGIC HERO  Falls from a high status  Usually dies  Commits a hamartia or possesses a fatal flaw  Often full of hubris (excessive pride)  Downfall is his/her own fault  Falls from a high status  Usually dies  Commits a hamartia or possesses a fatal flaw  Often full of hubris (excessive pride)  Downfall is his/her own fault

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar  Takes place in Rome, Italy (44 BC)  Written by William Shakespeare in 1599  Takes place in Rome, Italy (44 BC)  Written by William Shakespeare in 1599

Background of Caesar  Ruled Rome as part of a triumvirate (group of 3 sharing authority) Ruled Rome as part of a triumvirate (group of 3 sharing authority)  Military leader: left Rome for 9 years to conquer what is now Central Europe Military leader: left Rome for 9 years to conquer what is now Central Europe  Upon his return, there were mixed emotions about him. Upon his return, there were mixed emotions about him.  Fearing he would become a tyrant, conspirators plotted his assassination. Fearing he would become a tyrant, conspirators plotted his assassination.  Ruled Rome as part of a triumvirate (group of 3 sharing authority) Ruled Rome as part of a triumvirate (group of 3 sharing authority)  Military leader: left Rome for 9 years to conquer what is now Central Europe Military leader: left Rome for 9 years to conquer what is now Central Europe  Upon his return, there were mixed emotions about him. Upon his return, there were mixed emotions about him.  Fearing he would become a tyrant, conspirators plotted his assassination. Fearing he would become a tyrant, conspirators plotted his assassination.

PLAY OPENS  February 15, 44 BC  Lupercal: Roman Fertility Festival  Caesar has just returned to Rome.  Some want to celebrate his return; others remain loyal to Pompey who was the emperor who has recently died.  Caesar died on March 15, 44 BC.  February 15, 44 BC  Lupercal: Roman Fertility Festival  Caesar has just returned to Rome.  Some want to celebrate his return; others remain loyal to Pompey who was the emperor who has recently died.  Caesar died on March 15, 44 BC.

STAGING  Elaborate costuming  Props to indicate location/time, etc.  Simple sets  Male actors only  The Globe  Elaborate costuming  Props to indicate location/time, etc.  Simple sets  Male actors only  The Globe

MAJOR CHARACTERS  Julius Caesar: last remaining member of triumvirate  Marcus Brutus: senator and loyal friend to Caesar  Caius Cassius: plotting the conspiracy  Marcus Antonius (Marc Antony): loyal friend to Caesar  Julius Caesar: last remaining member of triumvirate  Marcus Brutus: senator and loyal friend to Caesar  Caius Cassius: plotting the conspiracy  Marcus Antonius (Marc Antony): loyal friend to Caesar

Shakespearean Plays  Major characters’ parts are written in BLANK VERSE (unrhymed iambic pentameter).

Common Literary Devices  Couplets: 2 adjacent lines that rhyme  Similes/Metaphors: unexpected comparisons  Personification: giving human qualities to non-human objects  Literary Allusion: references to other literary works  Couplets: 2 adjacent lines that rhyme  Similes/Metaphors: unexpected comparisons  Personification: giving human qualities to non-human objects  Literary Allusion: references to other literary works

ELEMENTS OF PERSUASION  Appeals: LOGICAL, ETHICAL, EMOTIONAL (logos, ethos, pathos)  Anticipation of Opposition and Refutation  Powerful diction (word choice) with heavy connotation  Imagery (appeal to senses) AAppeals: LOGICAL, ETHICAL, EMOTIONAL (logos, ethos, pathos) AAnticipation of Opposition and Refutation PPowerful diction (word choice) with heavy connotation IImagery (appeal to senses)