Julius Caesar – Act 1 Scene 1 Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasion

Let’s Begin With a Personality Quiz… Are you a Marullus Or a Flavius?

Q1: You are trying to convince a group of your classmates, who are breaking a school rule by playing soccer in the classroom, to stop. What do you do? A: Yell at them B: Speak calmly

Q2: Your classmates refuse to stop. What do you do next? A: Insult them B: Remind them of the consequences if they are caught, or if they break something

Q3: Your classmates fall silent and seem to be considering what you’ve said. You end by saying… A: “You better pray you’re not caught – because you’re going to be rekt if you are!” B: “Seriously, stop – because no amount of tears can save you if you are!”

Quiz Results If you answered mostly As, you are a MARULLUS Your tone ranges from the scornful to the angry You insult people You tend to use rhetorical questions – a lot When you command someone you’re abrupt and quite rude You use hyperbole You tend to appeal to pathos If you answered mostly Bs, you are a FLAVIUS Your tone is calmer, and gentler You use more conciliatory terms of address You also use hyperbole You tend to appeal to pathos too actually Intended or likely to placate or pacify, i.e. create peace

Wait. What’s “pathos”?

Rhetoric The art of speaking or writing effectively/persuasively (Merriam-Webster) Sometimes has negative connotations in our time! Meaning insincere or grandiloquent language Grandiloquent = very exaggerated, pompous or bombastic way of speaking or writing But has been a subject studied by aristocracy and leaders since Ancient Greek and Roman times

Ethos, Logos, Pathos

Literary Analysis Term 1 Practice 1 Information before you begin: In this scene the plebeians (common folk) of Rome are celebrating Caesar’s triumph over Pompey Pompey, Caesar, and another leader called Crassus were once allies who (unofficially) ruled Rome When referring to them as a group, you can call them the First Triumvirate But after Crassus died, Caesar and Pompey went to war

Stop and Recall… Test your understanding of the context before you read the passage: The tribunes do not approve of the plebeians celebrating Caesar’s triumph. Why? Because Caesar is ambitious and wants to be king – and the plebeians’ mindless support might cause this to come true

Analysing the Passage We know the tribunes are supporters of Pompey, and do not want the plebeians to support Caesar. In this passage the tribunes use various means to stop the celebrations and make the crowd disperse. HOMEWORK On your own, analyse how the tribunes use their words to chase the plebeians away. HINT Many of the words highlighted in red on the “Quiz” and “Rhetoric” slides are terms you can use! Don’t forget the literary devices you learned last year – they combine with the rhetorical devices to create certain effects!