Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

Transcription

1 Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare Big Ideas: Ambition, Loyalty, Leadership, and Integrity Essential Questions: How did the era in which Shakespeare lived influence and reflect his writing? When is ambition a positive vs. a negative trait? How do individual balance selfishness and selflessness? How does one handle conflicting loyalties? Is betrayal ever acceptable? What are the key factors in determining a leader s success or failure? How has Shakespeare s work influenced our contemporary society?

2 Shakespeare s Life and Times Life Schooling Family Literary Contributions Globe Theater Death

3 Shakespeare s Life & Schooling Born: April 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon Probably attended Stratford Grammar School thought to have left at age 15 Home of Shakespeare s birth

4 Shakespeare s Family Married Anne Hathaway (1582) Shakespeare was 18 and Anne was 26 Daughter Susanna born 1583 Twins Judith and Hamnet born 1585 Sketch of Anne Hathaway

5 Literary Contributions By 1592 experience success in London as actor and playwright 1592 London theaters closed due to plague and Shakespeare does much writing Poems Plays: wrote 37 plays Comedies As You Like It, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night s Dream Tragedies Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Othello Histories King John, Henry V, Richard II

6 Globe Theater Males played all roles, large outdoor theaters, and little scenery Acting company Lord Chamberlain s Men (later King s Men) The Globe Built in 1599 Burned down in 1613 and rebuilt Closed in 1642 and taken down

7 Globe Theater Hold 2,000-3,000 Groundlings Open thatch roof Stage roof heavens Scene change no curtains Different levels All male actors

8 Shakespeare s Death Died April 23, 1616 Buried at Holy Trinity Church where he had been baptized 52 years earlier Shakespeare Memorial at Southwark Cathedral

9 (The Tragedy of ) Julius Caesar Written in 1599, published in 1623 Shortest of Shakespeare s plays first play performed at the first Globe Theater Shakespeare arranged historical facts to suit his artistic needs. a Roman tragedy ~ presents the eventual downfall of a great and worthy figure. Power, ambition, honor, intrigue, deceit, and betrayal are explored in this drama.

10 Working with Shakespeare s Language Julius Caesar, II.ii.35 Act capital Roman Numerals Scene small Roman numerals line number normal Blank Verse measured lines that look like poetry, but do not rhyme Prose ordinary everyday language generally used for comic speeches, to show madness, and for characters of lower social rank. Puns jokes that play with words (sole/soul)

11 Roman Government Rome was considered a republic officials were elected by the general public in a political system that included checks and balances to prevent any one leader from becoming too powerful. governing body was the Senate ~ had some power but would have been subordinate to Caesar as dictator Senate represented nobility and landowners Brutus, Cassius, and Mark Antony were senators

12 Roman Government Tribunes ~ had limited power and represented the common people Triumvirs ~ three rulers who share power plebian ~ a commoner

13 Six (6) Characteristics of a Tragic Hero Also the protagonist, is a person of importance in society; he is admirable; his actions involve the well-being of others. The tragic hero works to achieve a goal that is important to him; he must make choices; he has a tragic flaw that will lead to his downfall.

14 Tragic Hero (cont d) His own inner forces are his downfall, but often an antagonist contributes to that downfall. Fatal errors in judgment and/or a weakness of character lead to an inevitable catastrophe that the hero cannot or will not foresee.

15 Tragic Hero (cont d) When it is too late to change the course of events, the tragic hero recognizes his tragic flaw and gains the sympathy of the audience. The tragic hero is bitter but meets death with courage. As you read, determine the tragic hero in Julius Caesar.