Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
If you're ever gone, you can find the full text at "No Fear Shakespeare" below. This version has line numbers as well as a "plain English" version right next to it, so you should be able to understand even if you miss a day.
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Daily Notes
It is really important to stay caught up with your notes. Here, I will list the notes we take by Act and Scene, so you can stay caught up and organize your notes. Remember, I only give you the beginning of what belongs in your notes. You have to complete the sentence. Also, whenever there is a vocabulary word, it should be underlined in your notes so you can find it.
Act One
Learning TargetsI can summarize the plot of Julius Caesar.
I can analyze and criticize Shakespeare’s writing style. I can analyze how an author uses characters within a play to convey theme. I can explain literary devices authors use to convey their story. I can analyze persuasive (rhetorical) strategies. |
Act One, Scene OneMurellus and Flavius see the celebration and...
Alone, M&F agree to... Blank Verse-unrhymed iambic pentameter. example: "You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!" Act One, Scene TwoAntony agrees to...to help keep Caesar happy.
The soothsayer says that Caesar should... Caesar says that soothsayers are... Foreshadowing-when the author gives hints about what is to come later in the story. example: "Beware the Ides of March" Cassius and Brutus are left alone on the stage to discuss a few things: Cassius asks Brutus if he is okay. Brutus says that something is wrong, but it is that he is...(lines 28-31) Cassius presses Brutus and says that Brutus is...(lines 31-36) Brutus says that he simply...(lines 36-47) Cassius and Brutus continue talking. Cassius is trying to get Brutus to see... During the conversation, Brutus shows that he is worried that...(lines 79-80) Cassius does not like/respect Caesar because... 1. Tiber (lines 11-115) 2. Illness (lines 119-131) Brutus agrees to think about it, but makes no commitment to Cassius. Caesar and his entourage return from the race, looking worried. Caesar reveals to Antony that he doesn't like Cassius because... 1. (line 198) 2. (line 201) 3. (lines 203-204) 4. (lines 205-207) 5. (lines 202-203 and 208-209) Caesar and Antony leave, but Brutus and Cassius grab Casca and ask him what was going on at the race. Casca reports back that... After Casca's retelling of the events of the race, we learn that Casca thinks the plebeians are... One of the ways we know that Casca isn't as educated as the other senators is that he doesn't... Brutus and Cassius part ways, and when Brutus is gone, Cassius reveals his plan to... Soliloquy-a character is alone onstage delivering a speech. This speech reveals a character's feelings, plans,motivations, etc. example: Cassius' lines 303-317 Act One, Scene 3Cicero and Casca meet on the street. Casca is panicking because of the bad omens he has seen at the capitol, which are:
1. (line 10) 2. (lines 15-18) 3. (lines 20-22) 4. (line 25) 5. (lines 26-28) Cicero brushes them off, because he believes that...(lines 34-35) Cassius comes across Casca, and interprets the omens to mean...(lines 57-84) Cassius vows to...(89-90) if Caesar is crowned king tomorrow, as Casca suggests. Cassius and Casca agree to...(lines 103-130) Cinna, who is already in cahoots with Cassius, helps Cassius to...(lines 140-146) They leave to go meet with the other conspirators thus far, Decius Brutus and Trebonius. |
Summarize and reflect on Act 1. Some things to consider might be:
What do you think about Brutus? Cassius? Caesar?
Who do you most identify with?
Is Shakespeare telling a good story? What about it is working or is not working?
What literary devices have really stuck out for you so far?
Why do you think that Shakespeare decided to tell the story this way?
What do you think about Brutus? Cassius? Caesar?
Who do you most identify with?
Is Shakespeare telling a good story? What about it is working or is not working?
What literary devices have really stuck out for you so far?
Why do you think that Shakespeare decided to tell the story this way?
Act Two
Learning TargetsI can summarize the plot of Julius Caesar.
I can analyze and criticize Shakespeare’s writing style. I can analyze how an author uses characters within a play to convey theme. I can explain literary devices authors use to convey their story. I can analyze persuasive (rhetorical) strategies. |
Act Two, Scene OneThe scene opens with Brutus, at his house, on the Ides of March.
In Brutus' soliloquy, he reveals that he (lines 10-34) Brutus' servant, Lucius, brings Brutus more letters from Cassius, and they convince Brutus to (lines 46-58) Brutus admits he feels...about killing Caesar (lines 63-69) Cassius shows up with the conspirators, which includes...(stage directions on pg 803) Cassius wants to swear an oath, but Brutus does not because...(lines 116-117) Monologue-A speech delivered by one character, with several other characters are on stage as well. Cassius, Casca, Cinna and Metellus all want to get Cicero to join them, but Brutus points out...(lines 150-152) Decius wonders...(line 154) Cassius thinks that ...(lines 155-161) Brutus disagrees, however, and urges Cassius to reconsider, because...(lines 162-183) From Brutus' monologue (lines 162-183), write down one really great piece of imagery, even though it is pretty gory. What is the purpose of the example you chose? Cassius continues to disagree with Brutus (line 184), but Brutus insists...(lines 186-189) Anachronism-A chronological error made by the author. ex: clocks were not invented until the late 1200's. They need to devise a plan to get Caesar to the capitol because...(lines 195-201) Decius suggests the best way to get Caesar to the capitol is to...(lines 202-211) By eight o'clock, the conspirators will meet at Caesar's house. Brutus warns them all...(lines 225-227) Portia, Brutus' wife, enters because...(lines 237-240) We discover that Portia is worried about Brutus because...(lines 241-252) She begs him to tell her what is wrong, but his response is...(line 257) Describe Brutus' tone with Portia in lines 257-260. Portia will not let it go, and begs Brutus to tell her what's going on because...(lines 280-286) If Brutus won't tell her, it must be because...(lines 286-287) Portia tries to prove her strength and worthiness of knowing his secret by...(lines 299-302) Brutus finally...(lines 305-308) Caius Ligarius shows up, and agrees to join the conspiracy. Explain the metaphor Brutus and Caius use in lines 310-335. Act 2, Scene 2Caesar and Calphurnia are up, and begin discussing whether or not he will go to the Capitol.
Calphurnia doesn't want Caesar to go because...(lines 13-26) 1. 2. 3. Caesar tells her...(lines 26-27) "Cowards die many times before their deaths, / The valiant never taste of death but once." (lines 32-33) Ultimately, Caesar changes his mind because...(lines 55-56) Caeasar tells Decius that...(lines 68-82) Decius tells convinces Caesar to go to the Capitol because...(lines 83-101) 1. (lines 85-90) 2. (lines 93-96) 3. (lines 96-101) The other conspirators enter (check stage directions for who) to help Decius bring Caesar to the Capitol. Aside-When a character speaks to the audience, even though the other characters are on stage. The characters cannot hear him/her, but the audience can. This helps contribute to the dramatic irony and foreshadowing in the play. Ex.: Trebonius in lines 124-125. Act 2, Scene 3Artemidorus is a scholar, who is seeking Caesar because...(lines 1-5)
His plan is to give Caesar this letter...(lines 9-10) Act 2, Scene 4Portia needs to send Lucius to the capitol building, because she cannot...she is a woman and not allowed inside.
Portia is stressed out because... (lines 6-9) Portia is confusing Lucius, because...(lines 11-13) Portia learns that the soothsayer intends to...(lines 37-38) Unfortunately, Portia still does not tell Lucius what she means, and merely sends him to...(lines 44-46) |
Act Three
Learning TargetsI can summarize the plot of Julius Caesar.
I can analyze and criticize Shakespeare’s writing style. I can analyze how an author uses characters within a play to convey theme. I can explain literary devices authors use to convey their story. I can analyze persuasive (rhetorical) strategies. |
Act 3, Scene 1The exchange between Caesar and the Soothsayer (lines 1-2) tell you that Caesar is...because...
When Artemidorus tries to give Caesar his warning letter, he fails because...(line 8) Caesar enters the Capitol to conduct business. Outside the Capitol, Popilius says to Cassius...(line 13) Cassius is now nervous, because...(line 17) Cassius tells Brutus that if they tell Caesar of the plot to kill him, then...(lines 20-22) Cinna tells Casca...(line 30) To distract Caesar, Metellus asks him to un-banish his brother. Caesar refuses because (lines 39-48) Caesar adds to his argument that...(lines 58-73), which only serves to anger the conspirators more. What Casca says, "Speak hands for me!" he means... Caesar's dying words, "Et tu, Brute" mean... Once he is dead, the conspirators celebrate, and agree to... 1. (lines 94-95) 2. (lines 105-110) Antony's servant enters, and says...(lines 126-137) Brutus sends word to Antony that...(lines 140-143) Cassius again expresses his concern that...(lines 144-146) Antony enters, and says that...(lines 157-163) Brutus, in an attempt to reassure him, says, ...(lines 164-168) and they agree to let Antony... (lines 177-178) Antony tells the conspirators and Caesar...(lines 191-199) Antony agrees to help them if: 1. (lines 221-222) 2. (lines 228-230) Cassius does not agree that this is a good idea (lines 232-235), so Brutus puts a few conditions on the agreement: 1. (line 245) 2. (line 246) 3. (line 247) 4. (lines 249-251) Once he is alone, Antony reveals...(lines 254-257) and he plans...(summarize lines 262-275) Octavius's servant enters to tell Antony that...(lines 285-286) This fits Antony's plan perfectly, because he is planning...(lines 292-296) Act 3, Scene 2It's been a few days, so this scene opens on the day of Caesar's funeral.
Cassius and Brutus divide the plebians in half to speak to them about Caesar's death. Prose-text written in sentences and paragraphs with no regular rhythm. Ex: Brutus speaks to the plebeians in prose so the audience realizes the difference between classes and educated vs. under-educated. Brutus speaks to the plebeians and is careful to point out: 1. (lines 21-23) 2. (lines 25-26) 3. (lines 28-30) 4. (lines 43-44) The plebeians agree with what Brutus has said (lines 45-50), and think that...(line 67). Antony steps up to the podium and says... (lines 72-73) Antony starts using some great rhetorical strategies such as...(line 75) and (lines 76-79, and lines 80-81). He then points out that Caesar: 1. (lines 86-87) 2. (lines 89-90) 3. (lines 93-95) How many times does Antony call Brutus honorable in his first monologue? The plebeians are starting to think...(lines 106-114). Antony begins again and says...(lines 126-135). Antony refuses the plebeians because...(lines 139-144) By now, the plebeians think...(lines 151-153) Antony joins the plebeians on the ground, and begins pointing out... (lines 171-176). He also points out to the plebeians that...(lines 177-178). After Antony shows the plebeians Caesar's body, the plebeians...(lines 195-205) The plebeians want to leave to...(line 227), but Antony calls them back so he can read Caesar's will, in which, Caesar left them... 1. (lines 237-238) 2. (lines 243-247) The plebeians then leave to...(lines 250-255) Act 3, Scene 3The Plebeians come across Cinna the poet (not to be confused with Cinna the Conspirator), and demand him to tell them where he is going.
When they discover his name, they...(lines 33-34) The plebeians then continue...(lines 35-38) |
Act Four
Learning TargetsI can summarize the plot of Julius Caesar.
I can analyze and criticize Shakespeare’s writing style. I can analyze how an author uses characters within a play to convey theme. I can explain literary devices authors use to convey their story. I can analyze persuasive (rhetorical) strategies. |
Act 4, Scene 1A year an a half has passed, and in that time, a civil war has been going on. Antony has recruited Octavius and Lepidus to help him defeat Brutus and Cassius.
As the scene opens, Antony, Octavius and Lepidus are deciding who should be put to death for conspiring against Caesar. Antony reveals to Octavius that...(lines 12-15) He then continues to tell Octavius...(lines 18-21) Octavius disagrees with Antony, and points out...(lines 27-28) Antony continues to say...(lines 29-30) Antony believes that Lepidus (lines 35-40) Antony and Octavius agree to...(lines 41-45) Act 4, Scene 2The scene opens several months after Antony and Octavius' conversation.
Brutus is talking to Pindarus (Cassius's servant) about...(lines 6-10) When Brutus hears how Cassius is treating Brutus, he explains that...(lines 18-21) Cassius arrives then, and tells Brutus....(line 37) Brutus then tells Cassius that...(lines 42-48) Act 4, Scene 3Cassius starts by telling Brutus he's upset with him because...(lines 2-5)
Brutus replies that...(line 6) and accuses Cassius of...(lines 9-12) Cassius is really upset now, and says if anyone other than Brutus said this about him...(lines 13-14) Now, Brutus feels it is fit to bring up the Ides of March because...(lines 19-24) Cassius replies by...(lines 28-32) There is a back and forth about...(lines 32-37) Brutus has had enough, and tells Cassius...(lines 42-50) They then begin to argue over...(lines 50-57) Once Cassius says...(line 58) Brutus responds with another back and forth about...(lines 59-64) This really only gets Brutus to tell Cassius... 1. (lines 66-68) 2. (lines 69-71) 3. (lines 72-75) 4. (lines 79-82) Cassius denies that he told Brutus "no" and blames his servant (lines 84-85) Cassius points out to Brutus that...(lines 86-87) and they fight about that for a few lines as well. Cassius then tells Brutus that...(lines 100-106) This seems to work with Brutus, because he...(lines 106-113) Brutus tells Cassius, after they apologize to one another, that he's been upset because (line 147) Describe what happened to Portia in lines 153-156. Finally, Brutus and Cassius begin talking about...(lines 167-170) and they discover that Cicero was among those Antony put to death. They begin planning their attack, and Cassius tells Brutus that he does not want to...(lines 197-202) Brutus disagrees and says that...(lines 203-212) So they agree to get a good night's sleep and head to Phillipi in the morning. They all get ready to go to sleep, and Brutus sees...(line 275-282) who tells him...(lines 284-287) Because of this, Brutus makes the rash decision to...(lines 307-309) |
Act Five
Learning TargetsI can summarize the plot of Julius Caesar.
I can analyze and criticize Shakespeare’s writing style. I can analyze how an author uses characters within a play to convey theme. I can explain literary devices authors use to convey their story. I can analyze persuasive (rhetorical) strategies. |
Act 5, Scene 1The scene opens a few weeks after, during a meeting for parley in Philippi.
Antony and Octavius have a small argument about...(lines 17-20) The purpose of the following argument/meeting is because Shakespeare could not create a battle scene on stage. Antony accuses Brutus of...(lines 30-35) Cassius accuses Antony of the same thing, because...(lines 32-35) Antony really doesn't like this, so he tells both Brutus and Cassius...(lines 39-44) Cassius tells Brutus...(lines 45-47) Octavius then steps in, and tells everyone that their time is better spent...(lines 49-55) They finish their argument, and Octavius and Antony leave. Brutus goes to talk to his servants, and Cassius tells Messala 1. (line 71) 2. (lines 76-77) 3. (lines 79-82) 4. (lines 83-85) Cassius tells Brutus that they should prepared for the worst (lines 97-99), and Brutus says...(lines 103-107) Brutus then tells Cassius, that despite this, his plan is to...(lines 110-111) Brutus and Cassius then say their farewells and head off into battle. Act 5, Scene 2Brutus sends a message through Messala to Cassius that says...(lines 3-5)
Act 5, Scene 3Right away, Cassius says that...(line 2)
Titinius tells him that it's because...(lines 5-8) As it turns out, Antony is close by, and they need to find out what is going on, so Cassius sends Titinius to...(lines 15-18) and he sends Pindarus to...(lines 20-22) Pindarus reports back to Cassius that...(lines 28-32) Cassius tells Pindarus that since he saved his life, he owes him one, so Cassius asks him to...(lines 41-45) Cassius dies with these words...(lines 45-46) Pindarus takes off, now a free man Titinius and Messala return, revealing that...(lines 51-53) They discover Cassius's body, and Titinius, feels...(lines 80-84) Titinius, in a show of his loyalty to Cassius...(line 90) Brutus then returns, finds both bodies, and blames...(lines 94-96) In a very brief eulogy, Brutus says that both Cassius and Titinius...(lines 98-101) Act 5, Scene 4Lucilius has...(lines 7-11)
When Antony discovers this, he says...(lines 27-29) Act 5, Scene 5Not long after, Brutus has a conversation with his servants and friends about...(lines 4-12)
Brutus then tells Volumnius that...(lines 17-20) Brutus's philosophy on life is...(lines 24-25) Finally, Brutus convinces Strato to...(lines 47-51) Octavius and Antony enter, and see Brutus's body. Antony's reaction is to say that Brutus...(lines 68-75) Octavius agrees, and promises that...(lines 76-79) |