Unit Three: Exploring the Dramatic Play - (1.11, 1.2) After this unit is completed, click here to take the mid-term exam. Students Will: Identify and apply a variety of appropriate reading strategies to make sense of a variety of print texts, to understand the human experience, and to develop ideas in written/oral responses. They will also write transactive pieces that demonstrate independent thinking about content and structure observed in practical/workplace and persuasive reading. Task: You should read the play "Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare. You will find the play at the following website http://www.litrix.com/caesar/caesa001.htm Once you reach this site, please choose the "Works of Shakespeare" section on the left-hand side of the page. Then scroll down to the "Tragedy" section and choose "Julius Caesar". The play is divided into five acts and with several scenes in each act. Because this is a somewhat difficult play to read and understand, you should read each scene and then complete the assignments for Scene 1, Act 1. Read Scene 2, Act 1 and complete the assignments for that scene before moving on to the next. The reading of the entire play should be done in this manner; read one scene and complete the assignments for that scene before moving on to the next. Answer the following questions in complete sentence and paragraph form where necessary. Act I, Scene I - Assignment Do you sympathize with Flavius and Marullus or with the commoners who are celebrating Caesar's victory? Explain your answer. What attitudes do the two tribunes and the commoners seem to have toward each other? Support your opinion with evidence from the text. Do you think this scene is as funny today as it might have been in Shakespeare's time? Explain. Do you think it might be dangerous for Flavius and Marullus to take the decorations from the statues? Why or why not? Act I, Scene II - Assignment What is Cassius' purpose in talking to Brutus about Caesar? Give examples to support your opinion. Briefly describe the personalities of Brutus and Cassius. Find lines in the scene to support each of your descriptions. What is your impression of Caesar? Explain. Think about his actions and what he says about himself and others what others say about him So far in this play, which character seems the most hungry for power? Explain and give examples to support your position. Act I, Scene III - Assignment What meaning does Casca give to the thunder and lightning? What does this tell you about him? How does Cassius interpret the meaning of the violent storm and the other unusual events? Do you think Cassius believes what he says? Explain. What more can you infer about Cassius' opinion of Caesar and about what Cassius plans to do? Can Cassius' plans be successful without Brutus? Why or why not? Act I concluding Assignments Write one or two adjectives that describe each of these men: Cassius, Brutus, Casca, Antony, and Caesar. What is your opinion of Julius Caesar in this act? Think about the exchange between the tribunes and the commoners Caesar's appearances and what he says what others say about him Do you think Cassius will be successful in winning over Brutus to his secret plan? Explain. Who do you think is the most important character in this play up to now? Explain your answer. Does any character in Act One remind you of any other character from another book/play/story you have read? Explain and give examples. The term characterization refers to the techniques a writer uses to create and develop characters. In drama, important characterization techniques include the following showing a character's actions revealing dialogues spoken by the character showing reactions of other characters Choose one important character from Act One. List what you learn about the character from his or her actions and dialogue and from the reactions of others. A soliloquy is a speech given by a character who is alone on the stage or among other characters who are ignored temporarily. The character giving the soliloquy may speak to himself or herself or address the audience directly. The soliloquy reveals thoughts and intentions of the character that cannot be shared with other characters at that point. Which character gives a soliloquy at the end of Scene II. What does the soliloquy reveal? What events and actions might this soliloquy lead you to expect later in the play? Choose two of the following questions to answer in complete sentence and paragraph form where necessary. Suppose you were one of the workers that Flavius and Marullus scolded in Scene 1. Write the words you might say to your fellow workers after leaving the two tribunes. In Scene II, Casca describes Caesar refusing the crown three times. Re-read these lines and then write an account of what might have been going through Caesar's mind as he made this gesture. In Scene II, Cassius describes Caesar's fever and a time Caesar almost drowned. He does so to show that Caesar is a mere mortal, with weaknesses like everyone else. List other facts from Act One that would add support to Cassius' argument. Write an explanation of why Shakespeare might have put the soothsayer and the violent storm into the play. Act II, Scene I - Assignment At the beginning of this scene, Brutus sorts out his ideas about why Caesar must die. Does he make a convincing argument? Explain. Think of the letter Brutus receives and the effect it has on him. What does this tell you about Brutus? Friendship is an important theme in this play. Do you think Brutus and Cassius are truly friends? Explain. Act II, Scene II - Assignment Do Caesar's words and actions in this scene cause you to change the opinion you have of him? Why or why not? Think about his response to the predictions of evil his conversation with Calpurnia the fact that he is persuaded to go to the Capitol his conversations with the conspirators at the end of this scene Contrast the relationship between Caesar and Calpurnia with the relationship between Brutus and Portia. Act II, Scene III - Assignment Imagine you are watching a performance of this play. What might be the effect on the audience of two such brief scenes? Consider what you already know about Caesar, how might he react to Artemidorus' letter? Support your view with examples from the play. From her words and behavior, what emotions do you think Portia is feeling in Scene 4? Act II Concluding  Assignments Whom do you side with at this point, Caesar or the conspirators? Why? How would you describe the relationship between Brutus and Portia? Do Brutus and Cassius have different motives for wanting to kill Caesar? Explain. What is your opinion of the plot against Caesar? Do the plotters have enough evidence to back up their claims? Do their plans seems justified? Explain. Who is the true leader of the conspirators? Support your opinion with facts from the play. Who do you think would make a better replacement for Caesar as a leader of Rome - Brutus or Cassius? Explain. Do you think Caesar has any suspicion that there is a plot to kill him? Explain your answer and what it says about Caesar as a ruler. The term suspense is the tension or excitement readers (or audiences) feel as they become drawn into the story and eager to learn the outcome. One method Shakespeare uses to create suspense is foreshadowing. As you read Scene 2, how did you respond to Calpurnia's dream of Caesar's murder? How did Caesar's response make you feel? What other ways does Shakespeare build suspense in Act Two? The plot is the sequence of actions in a literary work. Most plots center on a conflict or problem the characters struggle to resolve. A plot in a classical piece of literature usually follows a specific pattern consisting of five stages:  exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. In a five-act play, the first act usually presents the exposition - the background information - and introduces the characters, the setting, and the conflict. The second act then presents the rising action-the part of the story where the conflict becomes obvious, suspense builds, and characters struggle to resolve their problems. Do Acts One and Two of "Julius Caesar" conform to this pattern? Explain and give examples. Choose TWO of the following questions to answer in complete sentence and paragraph form where necessary. Imagine that you are a prominent citizen of Rome and Cassius asks you to join the conspiracy to kill Caesar. Write a response with an explanation of your decision. Pretend you are Cassius. Write an entry in your journal describing your feelings about the plan to kill Caesar. When the plotters approach Caesar to kill him, they expect Mark Antony to be at this side. What do you predict Antony will do?  Explain What if Caesar had not gone to the Senate that day? What would the plotters have done? Would they have killed him at home, put off the plot, lost their nerve? Write an explanation of your opinion. Caesar says, "Cowards die many times before their death / The valiant never taste of death but once." What does this quote mean to you? Do you agree with it? Explain Act III, Scene I - Assignment What effects, if any, do the appearances of Artemidorus, and Popilius Lena have as this scene opens? Explain Do you get any new impressions of Caesar's personality from his words before the assassination attempt? Explain and give examples As he is being killed, Caesar says, "Et tu, Brute?--Then fall Caesar!"  What do you think is going through his mind as he says these words? What might be going through Brutus' mind at the same time? Explain. Evaluate Antony's methods for striking back at the assassins. What does his strategy tell you about him? Support your view with examples from the play. What do you think Shakespeare might be trying to tell us about the theme of friendship in this scene? Think about the friendship of Brutus and Caesar the friendship of Antony and Caesar Act III, Scene II - Assignment Contrast the speeches given by Brutus and Antony in this scene. Think about the purpose of each speech tone and methods (e.g. sarcasm) effectiveness what each speech shows about its speaker A tragic hero is a basically good and noble central character who makes fatal errors in judgment that contribute to the hero's downfall. Who, if anyone, is the tragic hero of this story? Explain. What image does Shakespeare present of the "citizens" or common people, or Rome in this scene? Explain and provide examples from the text. Act III, Scene III - Assignment What does this scene show about the citizens of Rome? Did their actions in Scene 2 prepare you for such behavior? Explain. What does the city of Rome need at this point? Do you think it will get what it needs? Why or why not? Act III Concluding Assignment Did you find this act exciting and suspenseful? Why or why not? What do the conspirators believe they have accomplished by killing Caesar? Do you agree? Explain Why does Brutus trust Antony? What does his trust tell you about him? Think about what Brutus expects of Antony Antony's relationship with Caesar clues that Brutus might not be seeing Why do you think the citizens are so easily swayed from one side to the other? Think about their responses after the killing their reaction to Brutus' speech their reaction to Antony's speech their killing of Cinna the poet Choose TWO of the following questions to answer in complete sentence and paragraph form where necessary. Is Brutus truly an "honorable man" or not? Write a brief explanation of your opinion. Write a newspaper account of the killing of Caesar and the events that followed. Make up some eyewitness quotes. Give your article a headline with a total of thirty-two letters and spaces. Most readers' image of Mark Antony changes a number of times during Act Three. List, in order, the changes in your own impression of Antony as you read the act. Explain whether any of the changes surprised you. Create a "wanted poster" that Antony and  Octavius might pass out to help find the fleeing conspirators. The poster should tell who is "wanted" and provide a brief description. It should also tell of their crimes and perhaps where they were last seen. In addition, you may want to offer a reward (in drachmas). Act IV, Scene I - Assignment Has this scene changed your opinion of Antony? Explain and give examples. Octavius speaks only a few lines in this scene. What impression do you get of him from these lines? You know little of Lepidus besides what Antony says. Do you think Lepidus might be as unworthy as Antony insists? Think about how honest Antony is Antony's purposes Antony's persuasive abilities Act IV, Scene II - Assignment Has the relationship between Brutus and Cassius changed since the murder of Caesar? Support your opinion with evidence form this scene. Is there any evidence in this scene that Brutus himself has changed since the last time he appeared? Act IV, Scene III - Assignment Describe the manner in which Brutus speaks to Cassius as they argue. Do you think Cassius deserves such treatment from Brutus? Why or why not? In the disagreement about whether to attack the enemy army, Brutus gets his way. Does this show a change in his relationship with Cassius? Explain your answer. Has Brutus really seen a ghost? How would you explain the incident? Act IV - Concluding Assignments Think about the two groups preparing for war. Which side would you rather be on? Write several sentences explaining your reasons. Do the Romans seem better or worse off under the triumvirate than they were under Julius Caesar? Explain your answer. Has Antony changed since Act Three? Explain and give examples. Compare and contrast your opinion of Brutus in Act One with your view of him now. Has your opinion changed? Why or why not? Many people think that Cassius becomes a more likable character than Brutus by Scene 3. Do you agree or disagree? Support your answer with facts from the scene. Choose any TWO questions to answer in complete sentence and paragraph form where necessary. Pretend you are Brutus' young servant, Lucius. Write a letter to your parents telling them of the events of Scenes 2 and 3 from your own (Lucius') point of view. Figures of speech are important to Shakespeare's writing style. Choose three similes or metaphors in Act Four. Explain what each means and its relevance to development in the play. If you don't know the definitions of these terms, look them up at http://www.dictionary.com/. Imagine you are a journalist about to interview Antony or Octavius just before the battle against Brutus and Cassius. Write a list of questions you might ask. In literature, a symbol is a person, place or object that represents something else, often an idea. A warm, cozy house, for example, may symbolize security and family values. What does Caesar's ghost symbolize? Write an explanation of your opinion. Act V, Scene I - Assignment Which side do you hope will win the upcoming battle? Why? Which side seems more confident about winning the battle? Support your view with examples. Who do you think wins the battle of insults before the real battle? Explain Act V, Scene II - Assignment Scene 2 has only six lines of dialogue, all spoken by Brutus. How does this brief scene affect you? List your impressions. Do you agree with Cassius' behavior in Scene 3 or should he has acted differently? Think about how discouraged he becomes his suicide alternatives he might have Brutus mourns the dead Cassius as a man to whom he owes more tears than he can pay. Do you agree with Brutus' evaluation of Cassius? Why or why not? Is Cassius' death the end for the conspirators? Think about Brutus' reactions your own predictions about the battle Act V, Scene III - Assignment Describe your own image of the way this battle appears on the stage. Why do you think Lucilus poses as Brutus when he is captured in Scene 4? Does Brutus have any alternative besides killing himself? Explain Do you think Antony is sincere when he praises Brutus and calls him "the noblest Roman of them all"? Think about what you know about Antony's personality what Antony might hope to accomplish Act V Concluding Assignments Write several sentences describing how you feel about the way this play ends. Contrast Antony's insults toward Brutus in Scene 1 to his praise for Brutus in Scene 5. How would you explain the change? Are the leaders of the two armies concerned more for Rome's freedom or for their own power? Explain. You may have thought about whether or not Brutus was the tragic hero of this story. How would you answer that question now? Support your view with evidence from Act Five. Julius Caesar dies in Act Three but remains an important character in the play. How is he important to Act Five? Think about why the armies fought what Antony, Cassius, and Brutus say about him the reappearance of his ghost Who is the most heroic character in this play? Explain why and then compare that character to a hero from another story that you have read in the past. Who, if anyone, is the villain in this play? Explain. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle identified the main characteristics of tragedy. He explained that tragedy is a series of actions that have disastrous consequences for the main character of characters; usually the actions are presented in poetic dramatic form. All true tragedies arouse pity and fear in an audience; pity because the audience feels sorry for the tragic characters and hates to see them suffer; and fear because the viewers realize that, if circumstances were different, they too could be caught up in a web of tragic events. Do any scenes in "Julius Caesar" inspire pity and fear in you?  Do you feel depressed because of the waste of human life, or perhaps relieved that the tension has ended and order has been restored? Explain your answer Power, greed and ambition are some of the themes in "Julius Caesar". Is the type of political leader who is the most successful also the most admirable? Explain. What might be Shakespeare's message about political control and responsibility? Do you see any implications that would be appropriate for what's happening in the political world today? Explain with examples to support your statements. Choose ONE of the following questions to answer in complete sentence and paragraph form where necessary. What if Antony had been killed along with Julius Caesar, as Cassius wanted? Write an explanation of how this story might have been different. Write some ideas for a modern-day story based on "Julius Caesar". Write a speech for Octavius to deliver at Brutus' funeral. Include criticism of Brutus' actions and praise for his good qualities.