Pre-Reading Activities

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Pre-Reading Activities

• The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

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ELEMENTS OF A SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY

• five act play
• ends with the death of most of the major
  characters, including the tragic hero
• the death of the tragic hero has a big impact on
  the people around them, and the larger community
• other people die as a result of the tragic chain
  of events
• the tragic hero is somewhat responsible for the
  events
• elements of fate, defeat, shattered hopes
• evoke pity and fear in readers

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TRAGIC HERO

• noble stature/high rank
• heroic figure
• makes an error in judgment or has a tragic flaw

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TRAGIC FLAW

• a personality trait of a main character that
  leads to his or her downfall
• poor judgment
• pride
• weakness
• too trusting

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• Setting The setting is Rome, Italy, part of the
  continent of Europe, and it is situated along the
  Tiber River.
• Life in Rome There were two classes of people in
  Rome. The people were either rich or poor. The
  rich were called Patricians and the poor were
  called Plebeians.
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• Politics Julius Caesar is a political play, and
  political issues are the root of the tragic
  conflict in the play. It is a play about a
  general who would be king, but who, because of
  his own pride and ambition, meets an untimely
  death. Shakespeare seems to be saying that good
  government must be based on morality. In this
  respect the play has relevance to the politics of
  the modern world.
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• The focus of the play This play focuses on those
  men who were responsible for the assassination of
  Caesar and their ill-fated attempt to control
  Rome.
•  
• Timeline Shakespeare compresses the actual
  historical time of 3 years into a period of 6
  days.
• The play begins on February 15th, the Feast of
  Lupercal
• The play ends on March 15th, the Ides of March

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PRE-READING QUESTIONNAIRETHEMES OF JULIUS CAESAR

• Leadership
• What are the qualities of a great leader?
• Who are some people that you think are great
  leaders (history, present day, movies, books,
  etc.)?
• Does a persons physical condition/athletic
  ability affect their leadership abilities?
• Friendship
• How far would you go to stop a friend from
  harming your country?
• How far would you go to obtain revenge on someone
  or some group who destroyed your best friend?
• Is there anything for which you would betray a
  friend?
• Which is more important to you, friendship or
  personal principles? Why?
• Fate/Superstition
• To what extent can we control the future?
• How superstitious are you? Do you have any good
  luck rituals that you perform before important
  occasions?
• Do you watch for omens before important events?
• Do you read your horoscope every day, and do you
  follow its advice?
• Conscience
• What is a conscience?
• In what circumstances might your conscience lead
  you to action?
• Can your conscience ever mislead you?
• Is it possible to make a wrong decision even
  though your intention was good?