William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar Historical and Literary Context.

Slides:

Advertisements

Similar presentations

Julius Caesar Characters.

Advertisements

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.

II. Roman Empire. A. Republic Collapses As Rome grew its Republican form of government became unstable As Rome grew the gap between rich and poor grew.

The Hero, The Tragic Hero, and The Anti-Hero. The Hero Traditionally in literature a hero is a character who possesses a strong moral fiber. This is a.

Shakespearean Tragedy and the Tragic Hero. Shakespearean tragedy follows a pattern Establishes the hero (sometimes his heroism is thrust upon him) Illustrates.

The Tragic Hero Julius Caesar. Tragic Hero Background A tragic hero is often used in Shakespearean literature. This model of a hero may not always be.

What Defines Tragedy?. Where does tragedy come from? The Greek philosopher Aristotle first defined tragedy in his book Poetics written in about 330 BCE.

2 pt3 pt4 pt5pt1 pt2 pt3 pt4 pt5 pt1 pt2pt3 pt4pt5 pt1pt2pt3 pt4 pt5 pt1 pt2 pt3 pt4pt5 pt1pt TragedyCharactersMiscellany Shakespear e And More Plot.

The Tragic Hero.

The Hero, The Tragic Hero, and The Anti-Hero

What Defines Tragedy? 3.1 Articulate the relationship between the expressed purposes and the characteristics of different forms of dramatic literature.

What Defines Tragedy? By d.j da. Where does tragedy come from? The Greek philosopher Aristotle first defined tragedy in his book Poetics written in about.

Tragedy & The Tragic Hero. Tragedy Aristotle first defined tragedy in his book Poetics written in about 330 BC: “an imitation of an action that is serious,

Mrs. French English II.   Written in 1599  Setting: Rome’s transition from a Republic to an Empire  From 509 BC for four and a half centuries, Rome.

Julius Caesar Why was Caesar murdered?. Who was Julius Caesar? Roman army general Had led his army to conquer the whole of Gaul Had sent an expedition.

What Defines Tragedy?. Where does tragedy come from? The Greek philosopher Aristotle first defined “tragedy” in his book Poetics written in about 330.

JULIUS CAESAR INTRODUCTION Historical Overview and Characters.

By William Shakespeare

Julius Caesar Rise to Power

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar By William Shakespeare “Beware the Ides of March”

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar William Shakespeare.

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.

What Defines Tragedy?.

Anticipation Guide It is never right to kill another person It is never right to kill another person AgreeDisagree.

Introduction to Julius Caesar. What Do You Know About Shakespeare So Far? Make a list of ANYTHING you know about Shakespeare on the whiteboard.

The Real Man The Play The Characters.  A historic figure who lived from 100 to 44 BC  Military Leader and Ruler of Rome  Statues currently exist in.

Julius Caesar A short Biography. The Roman Empire Around 500 B.C. Romans decided to begin enacting democracy…they were being ruled by a king. The new.

Julius Caesar By William Shakespeare. Mrs. Groters’s Pet Peeves Julius Caesar and William Shakespeare were NOT contemporaries –Julius Caesar became Dictator.

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar By: William Shakespeare.

HOW COULD SHAKESPEARE’S AUDIENCE UNDERSTAND? Shakespeare NEVER created an original story. Shakespeare NEVER created an original story. Instead he retold.

Julius Caesar Characters. Julius Caesar Roman Emperor Unable to separate public and private life Believed he was as eternal as the North Star.

DRAMA SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY. TRAGEDY  Series of events which ends unhappily  Suffering possibly followed by redemption  Provides audience with a catharsis.

Introduction to the play Julius Caesar Ms. Met Honors English.

Julius Caesar. Background o Until 509 B.C., Rome was a monarchy o In that same year, the Brutus family evicted Tarquinius Superbus from the throne and.

Why was Julius Caesar murdered?. Today’s Objective: Understanding reasons (causation) Skills Selection of information The story so far………

Julius Caesar An Introduction. Julius Caesar, the play Shakespeare wrote the play in 1599 It is a historical tragedy.

Shakespeare and Elizabethan Drama. The Globe Shakespeare’s main theater was named The Globe. Shakespeare’s main theater was named The Globe. It was shaped.

What is Tragedy?.

Aristotelian Tragedy in Shakespeare Structure and Conflict

What Defines Tragedy?.

Chapter 8 Section 3.  In the 100’s B.C. farmers were sinking into poverty and debt, because many of them had been unable to farm. This was due to Rome’s.

Dramatic Structure of Shakespeare’s Plays. The Basic Plot Structure Diagram for FICTION.

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

Aristotle’s Definition of a Tragic Hero. Essential Questions To what extent does Okonkwo fit Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero? What flaw leads.

Elements of a Tragedy English II-H. O “A man cannot become a hero until he sees the root of his own downfall.” - Aristotle O “You either die a hero or.

What Defines Tragedy? : a medieval narrative poem or tale typically describing the downfall of a great man.

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar Notes. The Real Caesar  Julius Caesar really existed, and Shakespeare took his story from Plutarch’s biography of Caesar.

by: William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare Born April 23, 1564 Started as a performer in “Lord Chamberlain’s Men” His theater was called The Globe.

Historical and Literary Context Julius Caesar

William Shakespeare Born April 23, 1564

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar Notes

Why was Caesar murdered?

Drama where the central character(s) suffer disaster/great misfortune

Where does tragedy come from?

Introduction to Julius Caesar

What Defines Tragedy? A SERIES OF ACTIONS LEADS TO THE DOWNFALL OF THE MAIN CHARACTER OR TRAGIC HERO What are some of your.

Why was Caesar murdered?

What Defines Tragedy? Articulate the relationship between the expressed purposes and the characteristics of different forms of dramatic literature (e.g.,

Shakespearean Tragedy and the Tragic Hero

The Hero, The Tragic Hero, and The Anti-Hero

What Defines Tragedy?. Where does tragedy come from? The Greek philosopher Aristotle first defined “tragedy” in his book Poetics written in about 330.

What Defines Tragedy?. Where does tragedy come from? The Greek philosopher Aristotle first defined “tragedy” in his book Poetics written in about 330.

Five act structure.

Why was Caesar murdered?

Shakespearean Tragedy and the Tragic Hero

What Defines Tragedy?.

Shakespearean Tragedy Structure and Conflict

So… what is a Tragic Hero anyway?

Presentation transcript:

William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar Historical and Literary Context

PICTURE THIS… You are the leader of the free world. You are the most powerful human being on earth. You are the controller of the most powerful country in the world. You are untouchable. You can say or do anything you want.

YOU DIDN’T SEE IT COMING… Your best friends stab you in the back…

The Roman Empire

Rome ruled the world (Europe) at this time. They were constantly waging wars and taking over countries.

The Roman Empire Once they would take over a country, a Roman governor would rule that place. The Roman officials were often times very cruel. Many generals became power- hungry and turned on each other. From B.C. civil wars were common in Roman society.

The Real Caesar Julius Caesar really existed, and Shakespeare took his story from Plutarch’s biography of Caesar and made it into a play. Caesar lived from 102 B.C. to 44 B.C. He was one of Rome’s greatest military leaders.

Who was Julius Caesar? Had led his army to conquer the whole of Gaul Had sent an expedition over to Britain Was a popular hero with his troops and with the ordinary people of Rome

Caesar and Pompey One of Caesar’s biggest rivals was another general called Pompey The Senate disliked Caesar and supported Pompey – they ordered Caesar to get rid of his army Caesar ignored them and defeated Pompey in battle Caesar then took over Rome as ‘Dictator for Life’

The Real Caesar Pompey was murdered before Caesar could get him in Egypt. While in Egypt, Caesar fell in love with Cleopatra. He made her the ruler of Egypt. Caesar went back to Rome a hero and was made dictator. He made his friend, Brutus, a senator.

The Real Caesar Caesar felt he was invincible.Caesar felt he was invincible. –He wrote this on the Temple walls… –“To the Unconquerable God” –He was referring to himself.

The Real Caesar For many Romans, the idea of having another king sounded horrible. They had been run by a republican government for 450 years. Caesar became more pretentious and arrogant. Senators made plans to assassinate him on March 15, 44 B.C.

Julius Caesar How was he murdered?

Caesar’s murder – the build up A few weeks before his murder Caesar is told by a soothsayer ‘Beware the Ides of March!’ The night before his murder, his wife Calpurnia has a nightmare and begs him not to go to the Senate

Calpurnia, Caesar’s wife, begged him not to go to the Senate. She had had a nightmare that he would be murdered.

A violent storm occurred; this was believed to be an omen of bad luck for Caesar.

Caesar ignored a soothsayer outside the Senate. He told him to “beware the ides of March”.

Inside the Senate, a group of senators stabbed him to death, one by one. Casca stabbed him first. There were 23 blows.

The Murder 15 th March 44BC Caesar prepares to go to the senate More than 60 conspirators wait for Caesar in the Senate The conspirators, all senators, are led by Brutus and Cassius With daggers concealed under their togas they murder Caesar, stabbing him at least 23 times Caesar says to his friend Brutus ‘You, too, my child.’

What Defines Shakespearean Tragedy? A Tragic Hero The Tragic Flaw or Hamartia Reversal of Fortune Catharsis (emotion) Restoration of Social Order

The Tragic Hero The tragic hero is someone we, as an audience, look up to—someone superior. The tragic hero is a character that the audience can identify with The tragic hero features a fatal flaw that exposes his/her weakness.

The Tragic Flaw The hero is nearly perfect The hero has one flaw or weakness We call this the ‘tragic flaw’, ‘fatal flaw’, or hamartia, ie. pride in Oedipus

Reversal of Fortune The ‘fatal flaw’ brings the hero down from his/her elevated state. (Oedipus) Renaissance audiences were familiar with the ‘wheel of fortune’ or ‘fickle fate’. Belief that the supernatural world or destiny/fates involved in world of man. What goes up, must come down. Cycle of life

Catharsis We get the word ‘catharsis’ from Aristotle’s katharsis. ‘Catharsis’ is the audience’s purging of emotions through pity, fear, anger, etc. The spectator is purged as a result of watching the hero fall. This is why we cry during movies!

Restoration of Social Order Tragedies include: – a private element (within a family or small group) –a public element (society or governmental order) The play cannot end until society is, once again, at peace.

The Structure of Tragedy 1.Exposition 2.Rising Action 3.Climax 4.Falling Action 5.Catastrophe

Act I: Exposition Major characters are introduced; setting is established; introduction to conflict and pertinent background information provided

Act II: Complication/Rising Action Conflict is further developed; competing interests outline their positions; intrigue and suspense builds as plot becomes more focussed.

Act III: Climax of Action Development of major conflict reaches the high point; tragic hero must make a decision; protagonist is aware of the implications of his/her actions.

Act IV: Falling Action Consequences of actions in Act III begin to play out; protagonist struggles to redeem him/herself in face of opposition; tragic hero at a crossroads.

Act V: Catastrophe Conflict is resolved; tragic hero comes to realization of personal loss; often an attempt to rationalize actions; usually ends in death of heroic figure.