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Julius Caesar SHAKESPEARE MADE EASY Jjuliusulius Caesarcaesar SHAKESPEARE MADE EASY Complements Saddleback’s Classics, Saddleback’s Illustrated Classics™ or any Shakespeare playscript Caesar Julius SHAKESPEARE MADE EASY JJuliusulius CaesarCaesar For information on other Saddleback titles, visit our website: www.sdlback.com 3 Watson • Irvine, CA 92618 • 1-888-735-2225 • sdlback.com Contents To the Teacher . v Introduction to the Play . vi Introduction to Shakespeare . xii Activity 1: Pleasing the Plebeians (Act one, Scene 1) . 1 Activity 2: Cassius, the Conspirator (Act one, Scene 2) . 2 Activity 3: Caesar’s Spies (Act one, Scene 2) . 3 Activity 4: Prodigies and Portent (Act one, Scene 3) . 4 Activity 5: Review . 5 Activity 6: Figures of Speech (Act two, Scene 1) . 6 Activity 7: Conspirator and Secretary (Act two, Scene 1) . 7 Activity 8: Passionate Portia (Act two, Scene 1) . 8 Activity 9: Dreams, Nightmares, and Superstitions . 9 Activity 10: Review . 10 Activity 11: The Death of Caesar (Act three, Scene 1) . 11 Activity 12: Antony’s Exchange with the Conspirators (Act three, Scene 1) . 12 Activity 13: Revenge (Act three, Scene 1) . 13 Activity 14: What the Servant Said (Act three, Scene 1) . 14 Activity 15: Review . 15 Activity 16: Cassius’ Speech (Act three, Scene 2) . 16 Activity 17: Comparing Speeches (Act three, Scene 2) . 17 Activity 18: Writing Caesar’s Obituary (Act three, Scene 2) . 18 Activity 19: Great Orators and the Mob Mentality (Act three, Scene 2) . 19 Activity 20: Review . 20 Activity 21: Power and Corruption (Act four, Scene 1) . 21 Activity 22: The Commanders Squabble (Act four, Scene 3) . 22 Activity 23: A Wife’s Suicide Letter (Act four, Scene 3) . 23 Activity 24: What Brutus Says, Goes . 24 iii iv Shakespeare Made Easy: Julius Caesar Activity 25: Review . 25 Activity 26: Cassius’ Diary (Act five, Scene 1) . 26 Activity 27: The Mistake (Act five, Scene 3) . 27 Activity 28: The Second Visitation (Act five, Scene 5) . 28 Activity 29: A Report from the Battlefield (Act five) . 29 Activity 30: Review . 30 Julius Caesar Final Test . 31 Culminating Activity 1: Punning for Fun . 33 Culminating Activity 2: Caesar and Current Events . 34 Culminating Activity 3: Political Unrest in Caesar’s Day and Ours . 37 Culminating Activity 4: Caesar in Space? . 38 Culminating Activity 5: Cast the Play . 39 Answer Key . 41 Introduction to the Play Historical Background of Julius Caesar the liberty and freedom of Roman citizens if Julius Caesar or Pompey were to take total Shakespeare adapted Julius Caesar from control of Rome. To reduce the influence Plutarch’s classic Lives of the Noble Grecians of these two men, the Senate convinced and Romanes, which was translated and Pompey to fight Caesar in a civil war, and they published in English in the late 1500s. The demanded that Caesar return from his foreign time frame within the play is one month, conquests alone, without any troops. Caesar but the historical events portrayed actually returned, but he brought his armies with him happened over three years from 45 B.C.E. for protection. This rebellious act resulted to 42 B.C.E. The Feast of Lupercal was on in civil war. February 15, and Caesar was assassinated one month later on March 15. His death was Because of Caesar’s leadership and charisma, followed by civil war between the supporters the people of Rome sided with him against of Brutus and Cassius and the army controlled Pompey, who had to escape to Greece to by the new Triumvirate—Antony, Lepidus, and preserve his life. Caesar gave chase, and in Octavius. The aftermath of the assassination 48 B.C.E. defeated Pompey’s army. Pompey took three years. In fact, the death by suicide again retreated to Egypt, where he was killed by of Brutus and Cassius was two weeks apart. Ptolemy XII, King of Egypt. Caesar continued his conquests in and near Egypt. He returned In 61 B.C.E., Pompey was a strong and to Rome a hero, triumphant over many other successful leader and general in Rome. To nations. In response, the Senate elected Caesar solidify his power, he formed an alliance with dictator for a ten-year term. two other men: Marcus Crassus, the wealthiest Roman of his time, and young Julius Caesar. In 45 B.C.E., some of Pompey’s sons in Spain The three men, elected consuls, ruled as the threatened Caesar’s leadership, so Caesar took First Triumvirate because of their combined his armies to Spain and defeated the Roman wealth and leadership skills. However, Crassus armies loyal to Pompey’s sons. He returned took his army to fight a war with the Parthians to Rome the victor. This time, however, his and was defeated and killed. Caesar was more victory was not over foreign countries but over successful. He was expanding the Roman fellow Romans. That is why the tribunes at Empire in North Africa, Spain, France, the opening of the play are so upset with the and Egypt. plebeians on holiday. It is at this point in the history of Julius Caesar that the play begins. This centralization of power in the hands of Pompey and Caesar was a growing concern to The reader may wonder about the relationship the Senate. They feared what might happen to between the Roman tribunes Brutus and Cassius with Julius Caesar, and why they vi Shakespeare Made Easy: Julius Caesar Introduction to the Play take the role of conspiracy leaders. Brutus it reluctantly. They talk about Caesar’s descended from an important old Roman ambitions and weaknesses. family. One of his ancestors had even assisted in the founding of Rome. During Pompey’s rise Act one, Scene 3 to power, Brutus and Cassius were Pompey’s allies. Then, when Julius Caesar marshaled his It is a dark and stormy night in Rome. Cicero armies against Pompey, they turned against and Casca comment on the weather as an ill Caesar. The seeds of the conspiracy had been omen. Cassius talks to Casca and Cinna about sown. the conspiracy. They devise a plan to draw Brutus into the assassination plot. Synopsis of Julius Caesar Act two, Scene 1 Act one, Scene 1 Brutus cannot sleep. Convinced by Cassius’ In Rome, Julius Caesar arrives after defeating false letters, Brutus decides that killing Caesar his rival Pompey. The people of Rome are is the only honorable action. The conspirators celebrating the victory by taking a holiday come to Brutus’ home, and he joins their from work. Two Roman officials, Flavius and conspiracy to assassinate Caesar in the morning Marullus, are upset with Caesar’s popularity. at the Capitol. Now a leader, Brutus convinces the group to let Mark Antony live even though he is a friend of Caesar. Act one, Scene 2 After the nighttime visitors leave, Portia joins Surrounded by his friends, Caesar parades Brutus and asks him to let her in on his through Rome. He is celebrating his victory troubles. To prove she will keep his secrets, over Pompey’s sons and the Feast of Lupercal, a she shows him a wound she has given herself fertility rite. From the crowd, a soothsayer tells in the leg. Brutus promises to tell her what is Caesar to “Beware the ides of March,” which happening to him. is March 15. Caesar does not pay attention to the warning. Act two, Scene 2 Everyone leaves, but Brutus and Cassius stay on the street to talk about Caesar. Cassius tries Calpurnia, Caesar’s wife, has had a disturbing to convince Brutus to join the conspiracy to dream and begs Caesar not to leave the house. kill Caesar. Soon, Caesar returns and notices He listens to her until Decius reinterprets the Cassius and Brutus talking. He says to Mark dream in a positive light. The other conspirators Antony that he distrusts Cassius. Later, Casca arrive with Mark Antony, and all the men leave reports to Cassius and Brutus that Caesar was for the Capitol. offered a crown three times, but Caesar refused vii Shakespeare Made Easy: Julius Caesar Introduction to the Play Act two, Scenes 3 and 4 joins with Octavius and Lepidus to form the Second Triumvirate. Artemidorus waits near the Capitol to give Caesar a paper warning him of the conspiracy. Act three, Scene 3 Meanwhile, Portia is upset and tries to find out information about Caesar and Brutus. Cinna, the poet, is killed by the mob because they think he is Cinna, the conspirator. Act three, Scene 1 Act four, Scene 1 A soothsayer and Artemidorus try to warn Caesar on his way to the Capitol. However, Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus, the three Caesar does not pay attention to them. While leaders who make up the Second Triumvirate, giving a speech about his greatness, Caesar is meet and plan their revenge. They realize this stabbed to death. will end in a major battle. The conspirators claim to all that their deed was just because Caesar was ambitious and Act four, Scene 2 dangerous. Mark Antony comes to the At a military camp near Sardinia, Brutus notes conspirators and asks if he can speak at Caesar’s that his friendship with Cassius has become funeral. more distant. Then Cassius arrives, and they Cassius does not trust Antony, but agrees to begin to discuss their differences. allow him to address the people at the funeral. After the conspirators leave, Mark Antony Act four, Scene 3 promises Caesar’s dead body that he will pay back the conspirators for Caesar’s death. Cassius and Brutus talk through their differences and confirm their friendship. Brutus tells Cassius that Portia has killed Act three, Scene 2 herself.
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