Transcript Julius Caesar Background Notes

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by
William Shakespeare
Background Notes
Setting
44 B.C.
Rome
Julius Caesar
•
Ruler of Rome
• Married to Calpurnia
•
Deaf in one ear and has
epilepsy
• Makes some senators nervous
because of his defeat of Pompey, a
fellow Roman
Caesar’s
growing
power
Caesar con’d
• Assassinated on the
Ides of March, 3/15
• Stabbed 33 times by
8 conspirators
• Caesar’s downfall is
caused, in part, by his
arrogance
Arrogance
Marcus Brutus (Brutus)
• Member of the senate; respected by
the people of Rome
• Reluctantly joins the conspiracy
because he feels it is in Rome’s best
interests
• He may appear dishonorable, but
his actions are considered
HONORABLE
Marcus Brutus (Brutus)
• Has an internal conflict throughout the
play:
Brutus’ loyalty to Caesar
VS.
Brutus’ love for Rome
VS
Brutus cont’d
• Brutus’ downfall is caused, in part, by his
idealism—thinking that everyone is as
honorable as he is
•
Stoic—
doesn’t express his
feelings
No emotions
• Married to Portia
idealism
downfall
Caius Cassius
• Brutus’ brother-in-law
•
Mastermind of the conspiracy
• Jealous of Caesar’s power
Green eyed monster
•
Manipulates/deceives Brutus to get
him to join the conspiracy against
Caesar
Cassius cont’d
• Cassius is more
skilled and
knowledgeable about
strategy than Brutus;
however, he diverts to
Brutus’ ideas because
he needs Brutus to be
a part of the
conspiracy
Marc Antony
• Loyal to Caesar
• Seeks revenge against the conspirators
when he speaks at Caesar’s funeral
• After Caesar’s death, he is a member of a
triumvirate ruling Rome
• His decisions and actions support the
theme that power leads to corruption
POWER
CORRUPTION
Overview
• Julius Caesar is a
tragedy by William
Shakespeare. It has
a tragic hero (Brutus)
who is noble, yet
suffers from a tragic
flaw (idealism).
• In a tragedy, almost
all of the characters
die by the final act.
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
Literary Terms
Aside
• A comment made by
a character on stage
that is intended for
the audience only.
(not meant to be
heard by the other
characters on stage)
I talking but the
man on stage with
me can’t “hear” me;
only the audience
can hear me.
Soliloquy
• A speech made by a
character alone on
stage, revealing the
character’s inner
thoughts and feelings
I am on stage,
by myself,
revealing my
thoughts to the
audience.
Monologue
• A long speech made
by one character,
though the character
is not alone on stage
I am giving a long
speech on stage,
but, I am not
alone on stage.
Hyperbole
• An extreme exaggeration
– Example: “I was so mad, steam was
coming off my head.”
Irony
• Situational Irony - when the outcome is the
opposite of what one would expect
• Dramatic Irony - when the audience knows
something a character does not
– EX: The audience knows that there is a conspiracy
against Caesar, but Caesar does not.
• Verbal Irony - when a character says one thing
but means the opposite—
– Ex. During Caesar’s funeral, Antony keeps referring
to Brutus as “honorable,” but he implies that he is
dishonorable in the examples he gives of Brutus’
honor.
Simile
• Type of figurative
language where a
comparison is made
using like or as
She is as graceful as a
Metaphor
• Type of figurative
language where a
direct comparison is
made
Ex. He was a matador trying to
keep the oppressive bull of racism
from gouging him with its angry
horns.
Personification:
• Giving human qualities to nonliving
things.
Example: Cassius tells
Brutus that Caesar
commanded him to jump into
the “angry flood.”
Anachronism
• When an object is out of place in time
The commoners are criticized in
Act I for going to their chimney
tops to praise Caesar–
Shakespeare would have seen
chimney tops looking out of his
window in England, but in 44 B.C.,
Rome did not have chimney tops.
Allusion
• Reference to a literary or historical
person, place or event
– Example: His parents knew he wanted to be
an astronaut, but they had no idea he planned
on becoming the Christopher Columbus of
the universe.
Character List
See small handout
• Use as your
“bookmark”