WELCOME BACK!January 7, 2014

Vocabulary 9, due 1/8Reviewing Action vs. Linking verbsIntroducing Julius Caesar

But first... Let's talk.

http://www.quia.com/quiz/653873.html

A linking verb is a state of _______. Nothing is happening. The same function as an ______ sign.An action verb implies _________ is taking place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYEvyCqo8jU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYYS70eZSmE

Part II

Part I

Julius Caesar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPf27gAup9U

Crash course.

First 250 years after founding, Rome was ruled by oppressive kings – Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin the Proud) was the last Romans revolted: Led by Lucius Junius Brutus (in play, Brutus descended from him)

Historical Events

Lucius Junius Brutus pledged to kill anyone who aided the oppressive ruler Tarquinius Superbus. That included his own sons. Painting is by Jacques-Louis David (18th century)

Roman Republic

Made up of Senators (from the noble class)Praetors (administered civil justice) – like policeTribunes (represented the plebeians, or common people)Two consuls (powerful)One served in RomeOne commanded the army

60 BCE: Caesar-Pompey-Crassus59 BCE: Caesar-Pompey became consuls(Caesar army-Gallic campaigns; Pompey Rome)Caesar/Pompey struggled for powerPompey killed outside ItalyCaesar defeated Pompey’s sons in Spain in 45 BCE

The First Triumvirate

Roman territories under Caesar's rule.

Opening of Play

Caesar’s return from defeating Pompey’s sonsSome [senators] fear Caesar may take absolute power (like kings Lucius Junius Brutus deposed)Caesar very popular with commoners

Pompey...

Plutarch

Source for historical backgroundWrote 56 AD (100 yrs after Caesar’s death)Elizabethans familiar w/Caesar storyShakespeare followed Plutarch’s basic account of historical events.

Emphasizes how the actions of the leaders of Roman society, rather than class conflicts or larger political movements, determined history.

William Shakespeare vs. Plutarch

To save time Shakespeare condensed some of the historical events.- Caesar’s murder, funeral, and reading of the will all happened on the same day in the play. ~He combined the two Battles of Phillipi

Julius Caesar: the play

Written by William ShakespeareFirst performed approx. 1599Concerns:Historical eventsEvils of rebellion and civil warAmbition and its effect on leadership

Elizabethan England

Queen Elizabeth’s reign a good time in British historyLong reign endingConcern about successorViolence preceded her reign Henry VIII’s 6 wives, no certain

successor – lots of instability

Connection: From ancient Roman history to Elizabethan England

Attitude of Brits: better to accept power than to have civil warIn play, those who would fight against Caesar (even for noble cause) would cause suffering for the people

Julius Caesar is about power, ambition, and betrayal. The characters are constantly trying to

persuade themselves, each other, and the audience of the rightness of their cause. As a result, the play is full

of speeches that make masterful use of rhetorical devices, such as repetition, parallelism, and rhetorical

questions. Watch for them!

Rhetorical Devices

HW: Finish #1-3 pre reading questions in your Act I packet (DON’T LOSE IT)Vocabulary 9 will be due 1/8 with a quiz on 1/12