William Shakespeare & The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

English II Pre-AP

Unit 7

I. William Shakespeare

A. Birth and Early Life1. April 23, 1564

2. Stratford-upon-Avon

3. Parents: John Shakespeare and Mary Arden

B. Young Adulthood1. Age 18 – marries Anne Hathaway

2. 3 children

3. “Lost Years”

I. William Shakespeare

C. Career1. Lord Chamberlain’s

Men/King’s Men

2. Wrote 38 plays

i. Tragedy

ii. Comedy

iii. History

iv. Tragicomedy

3. Globe Theater (see handout)

The Globe Theater

I. William Shakespeare

1. Theatre Production1. Sets and Costuming

2. Gender Roles

3. Perception of Theatre

2. Shakespeare’s Later Life1. Retirement

2. Death and Will

II. Julius Caesar

1. Early Life

2. Rise to Power1. Military Campaign – Asia Minor

2. Concern for Image

II. Julius Caesar

1. Early Political Career1. Administrator of Spain

2. Senate

3. Campaigning

4. Supreme Priest of Rome

2. Political Alliance – First Triumvirate (60 BCE)1. Gnaeus Pompey Magnus

2. Marcus Licinius Crassus

II. Julius Caesar

1. Consul1. Actions

2. Perception

2. Governorship and Gallic Wars

3. Civil War

II. Julius Caesar

1. Dictatorship1. 46 BCE – elected Dictator for 10 years

2. Actions and Perception

3. 44 BCE – elected Dictator for Life

2. Assassination

3. Legacy

III. Some Philosophies to Consider

A. Stoic PhilosophyA. Emphasis on duty, self-discipline, and

subjection to the natural order of things

B. Focus on civic obligations

C. Supreme purpose in life is goodness

D. Repress emotions

E. Ultimate goal is inner serenity – happiness can be found in surrender to the benevolent order of the universe

III. Some Philosophies to Consider

A. Epicurean PhilosophyA. Strong belief in human freedom

B. Highest good is pleasure (of body and mind, but not flesh)

C. Function of being “good” is to increase own happiness

D. Eliminate fear from life, especially fear of death and fear of the supernatural

IV. Literary Terms to Review

Review Terms

• Monologue

• Soliloquy

• Aside

• Apostrophe

• Pun

• Iambic Pentameter

• Blank Verse

• Comic Relief

New Term

• Anachronism: something out of time or place in a literary text

V. Reading & Analytical Focus

• What to Watch Out For• The Story

• Organization and Development

• Literary Elements and How They Develop Meaning

• Elements of Tragedy (Remember Antigone?)

• Elements of Rhetoric!!!

• Motifs and Themes

• How You Will Be Assessed• AP-Style Multiple Choice Questions

• A Rhetorical Analysis Timed Writing

• Test over Play (with Cold Reads and all that good stuff!)