AN INTRODUCTION

TO SHAKESPEARE’S

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Born April 23, 1564– died April 23, 1616Baptismal name: Johanna Shakespeare

Eldest son and third child of John Shakespeare and Mary Arden.Came from Stratford upon Avon-agricultural area.

William Shakespeare marries Anne Hathaway in 1582- he was 18 and she was 26

They had 3 children; Susanna(1583), and twins Hamnet(1585-96) and Judith (1585- 1662)

WILL CON’T He began acting in London in

1592(he acted and served as a writer and reviser of plays). Family remained in Stratford while Will

started new life in London It took 4 days by foot and 2 days by horse.

At 28yrs, he began to impress his contemporaries with the quality and popularity of his work.

He publishes his first narrative poem, Venus and Adonis in 1593, and The Rape of Lucrece the following year(1594).

WORKS OF WILL SHAKESPEARE-ABRIDGED

Tragedies: King Lear, Othello, Anthony and Cleopatra, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar

Comedies: Alls well that ends well, Measure for Measure, As you like it, The taming of the Shrew, Tempest, Twelfth Night

Histories- Henry the IV, Henry the VI, Henry the V, Henry the VIII,Richard the II, Richard the III.

Poetry: Sonnets- most famous sonnet 18,Passionate Pilgrim, A Lover’s Complaint, Rape of Lucrece.

THE GLOBE THEATER Early in 1599 Shakespeare, who had been acting

with the Lord Chamberlain's Men since 1594, paid into the company a sum of money amounting to 12.5 percent of the cost of building the Globe. Lord Chamberlain’s Men were one of the two

acting groups permitted to perform with in London’s city limits.

He did so as a chief shareholder in the company, and by doing so he helped to establish a uniquely successful form of commercial operation for the actors of the time.

This investment gave Shakespeare and the other leading actors both a share in the company's profits and a share in their playhouse.

THE GLOBE

• First performance was June 25, 1599

• Held 1000 people• Original Globe theater

performances took place in the day light- no lighting at the time.

• Stage had little scenery and no curtain.

• June of 1613- the Globe Theater burned down

• The New Globe theater had a spotlight for evening performances

SHAKESPEARE’S LANGUAGE Most of Shakespeare’s lines are written

in poetryAlthough these lines do not usually rhyme ,

they do have a set rhythm- called METER.

The pattern of one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one, dah DUM, is called IAMB.

Each pattern is referred to as a FOOT. Because Shakespeare uses 5 iambic

feet to a line, this pattern is know as iambic pentameter.

SHAKESPEARE’S LANGUAGE

In order to keep lines in “rhythm” Will often changes the order of words or shortens words.

For example, the following line has no set rhythm:My MAS’ter did BID me KNEEL THUS, BRU’tus

Will changes the order so that it has the iamb rhythm:Thus BRU’tus, DID my MAS’ter BID me KNEEL

Will shortens words by omitting letters so that a 2 syllable word is one syllableEX: over becomes o’er; and it is becomes ‘tis

THEATER IN ROME- BKGD TO CAESAR Rome copied theater from Greece

(remember Sophocles- Antigone) Began as religious festivals– later gained

popularity when wealthy citizens contributed. Comedies were preferred-has happy

ending Mimes and pantomime- created by the

Romans Used Masks All theaters were open to the elements.

THE KINGDOM AND REPUBLIC OF ROME Founded by 2 brothers– Romulus and

Remus Near the river TIBER Rome adopted Greek culture as they

conquered neighboring Greek towns. Rome wasn’t always ruled by

emperors– had a republic for 100 years- coins advertised the image of the emperors

509BC- a republic was established; ruled by a senate and by elected officials (consuls and tribunes)

CON’T The color PURPLE= POWER- purple dye was very expensive Gladiators= slaves- trained to fight; mortal combat forum= market- watch street plays, out door farmer’s

market citizens= into fashion/ rings. Battle and Defense- Rome

Legionary- Emperor’s army; most successful Used catapault ropes,sheilds, calvary, Javelins, spearheads, swords. Soldiers- good standard of living;25 years of service= citizenship

Death and Burials Life was very short 1 in every 3 children died. Buried in catacombs; cremation was preferred

Education Fathers taught children- men Women- took care of the house= enslaved to men. Language- Latin (west) Greek (East)- most people were illiterate.

Dinner- Main meal; 2-3 hours; began at 2pm; olives main appetizer Most homes did not have baths- went to large bathing areas in the

center of the town.

JULIUS CAESAR- MOST FAMOUS EMPEROR People feared Caesar because he commanded a large

army made up of fiercely loyal troops and was LOVED by the common people (or plebeians)

The play captures 3 years of action into 5 acts Born on July 13, 100 BC Children: Julia(only legitimate child with Cornelia),

Caesarion(illegitamate son), and Octavian (adopted sister’s daughter’s son)

Wives: Cornealia(daughter of leader of popular faction),Pompea(grand daughter of Sulla-former dictator),Calpurnia(daughter of popular faction)

Had an affair with best friend’s mother- Brutus Held several positions: Governor of Asia, General

Statesman, served the Senate, Council, Dictator, High Priest (Pontinus Maximus), Author, Pro- Council.

Love affair with Cleopatra(leader of Egypt)- his only son

CAESAR CON’T Beni Vedi Vici: I came, I saw, I

conquered(over came)- in reference to conquering Asia Minor.

Was kidnapped by Cicillan pirates- had a joking relationship with them- but warned them that once he was released he would kill them– he did.

Caesar- had many goals to unite the new Roman Empire, however, he led as a dictator which upset the senators– they were proud of the democracy they established and were not willing to concede to a dictator.

March 15th murdered by 60 people in 44 BC- The IDES of MARCH (15th day of the month- military festival in honor of the God Mars)

LITERARY ELEMENTS/ TERMS Drama-literature enacted in front of an audience

by people who play the parts of the characters Tragedy- a drama that tells the story of the

downfall of a central character, or protagonist, who wins the audience’s sypathines in some way.

Monologue- long speech given by actor- monopolizing conversation- directed to other characters.

Soliloquy- a speech where a character speaks to himself or herself- revealing inner thoughts.

Aside- a statement intended to be heard by the audience or by a single other character by not by other characters on the stage.