Julius

Caesar Persuasive Essay

! Assignment:
Write a persuasive essay about one of the following topics.
o Persuasive Essays attempt to convince the reader of a certain viewpoint.
They will use more emotional language and do more than just explain.
Use textual evidence from The Tragedy of Julius Caesar to support your claims.
o See resources on class website for additional help.

! Requirements:
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2-3 pages (no more, no less)

typed (Google Docs)
double-spaced
1 inch margins

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Times New Roman font (size 12)

5-paragraph format (introduction, 3 paragraph body, & conclusion)
MLA format with Works Cited page
use of at least five (5) Rock the SAT vocabulary words

! Due Date: June 4th (at the latest)

! Topics:
1. In terms of Romes well-being, do you think that Caesars assassination was acceptable/reasonable?
Was his death good for the country or not?
2. We will never know if Caesar would have been a successful leader for Rome or if he would have been a
hated dictator. Given his words and actions from before the assassination (and those of others), would
he have been good or bad for Rome? How might Rome have been different had Caesar not been killed?
3. Was Antony a better person than Brutus? Was Brutus a better person than Cassius? Are there any real
heroes in Julius Caesar? If so, who?
4. Compare and contrast two of the main characters of the playeither Brutus and Antony or Brutus and
Cassius. Demonstrate how Brutus and Cassius are foils before the assassination and how Brutus and
Antony are foils afterward.
5. Examine Shakespeares presentation of Antony. How does he appear at first? How does he grow in
importance? How and why does he change? Is he likeable? Are his actions understandable/reasonable?
6. Analyze the role of women in Julius Caesar. Are women given a positive or negative portrayal? Some
readers believe that the females in Julius Caesar are intelligent and strong while others see them as
illogical and weak. How do you believe Shakespeare portrayed women based on this play? What do
Calpurnia and Portia contribute to the play?
7. Discuss instances in which the action of the play depends on the successful use of flattery. Cassius and
Antony both prove to be master manipulators. Who do you believe shows better use of persuasion when
trying to get what he wants?
8. Describe the ways in which Shakespeare uses the weather, dreams, and other omens to create dramatic
tension and/or to develop character.
9. Analyze the character of Brutus and his internal conflicts. Some scholars think the play should be titled
"Marcus Brutus." Explain why they say this.
10. One of the last lines of the play claims that Brutus was the noblest Roman of them all, yet it is hard to
ignore the fact that he murdered his friend. Do you believe that Brutus words and actions make him the
most noble or not?
# Other must be approved by me! Do not write a paper on something additional without having it
approved by me first. I will not grade it.