Julius Caesar Background Notes

Julius Caesar Background Notes

I.  The Play

a.  The play is about the ______of a Roman general and ______who lived and died more than ______.

b.  ______drew his material from the ancient ______text The Lives of Noble Grecians and Romans written by ______.

II.  War and Individual Power

a.  The Roman Empire was constantly at ______during Caesar’s time.

b.  Generals like ______had enormous ______.

c.  These generals moved with their armies over the entire ______.

III.  Private Armies and Betrayal

a.  These powerful armies would rule the ______with Roman ______who heavily ______citizens to make money.

b.  Sometimes the ______turned on ______, battling for ______

IV.  Caesar and Pompey: Jealousy and Murder

a.  First Triumvirate: made up of the three ______generals: Caesar, ______, and ______

b.  Caesar and Pompey were ______

c.  In ______B.C. the two generals ______to bring order to a weakened ______

V.  Jealousy!

a.  When Crassus was killed in ______, Caesar left Rome in search of ______

b.  He conquered the ______in Europe, sending back ______to the people, who gave him their devotion

c.  ______of Caesar’s military triumphs in the Gallic wars, ______looked towards success in the ______

d.  The Senate was wary of Caesar’s ______and feared that with the love of the people, Caesar might declare himself ______

VI.  Views of Caesar

a.  Caesar saw himself as a ______of the ______

b.  Critics said he ______support with ______and handouts

c.  Enemies said he ______Romans of their ______

VII.  Unconquerable God

a.  Caesar declared ______for ______years and saw to it that his supporters, including ______, became senators

b.  Built a statue to himself with the inscription “______”

VIII.  Caesar’s Arrogance

a.  Common people ______him

b.  The month of Quintilis is renamed ______in his honor

c.  Later he was declared ______(Feb. 15, 44 B.C.)

d.  Offered the crown ______times but ______

e.  Why? Looked down upon to be a ______– not ______, the Roman’s had killed their previous king for being a ______

f.  He became increasingly ______and hungry for power, which ______the senate

g.  Members of the Roman Senate created plans to assassinate him on ______because of his ______to the traditions of the Republic (too much ______)

h.  They ______.

IX.  Shakespeare’s Play

a.  Shakespeare’s play starts with events that happened a ______before the ______.

b.  The play condenses ______years of history into one play in which ______days are acted out.

Major Characters

Character / Main Details
Julius Caesar
Mark Antony
Brutus
Cassius
Octavius and Lepidus
Casca, Trebonious, Decius, Cinna and Metallus Cimber

Literary and Drama Terms

Anachronism:

Apostrophe:

Aside:

Pun:

Comic Relief:

Foreshadowing:

Soliloquy:

Hyperbole:

Blank Verse: