JULIUS CAESAR

William Shaespeare
Gist of the Lesson

Caesars growing popularity sparks fear among the tribunes and a conspiracy
takes shape with Cassius at its head.
A storm hits Rome. Cassius recruits Caesars friend Brutus. Caesar ignores
all warnings and goes to the Capitol, where the conspirators stab and kill him.
Mark Antony volunteers to speak at Caesars funeral and rouses an angry
mob. The new triumvirate and conspirators begin to argue and flee.
Caesars ghost visits Brutus. Brutus and Cassius go to war against Mark
Antony and Octavius.
Cassius, thinking his friend Titinius has been captured, kills himself. Brutus
wins the day but loses the following battle and kills himself, leaving Antony and
Octavius triumphant.
Learning Objectives:
With the help of the fiction mentioned above my students will be able to

Develop their basic skills of language viz., listening, speaking, reading and
writing

Understand the plot and character of the drama

Learn words of Shakespearean English.

Enjoy and appreciate the drama and the use of language.

Puzzle out the meaning of some unfamiliar words in the drama

Perception:
1. To appreciate drama
Questions asked in the class/ activities:
Discussion on
1.
2.
3.
4.

Love/ loyalty/ betrayal

The Indian Democracy and role of PM Modi
Rome and Romans
Power of oratory

Assignments:
Analysis:
1. After an ominous dream, Calpurnia begs Caesar to stay away from the senate
and, at first, he agrees. What changes his mind?
2. What is the significance of Caesar's dying words, "Et tu, Brute? Then fall,
Caesar!"?
3. Who turns the people of Rome against Brutus?
4. Is Brutus a villain or hero?
Synthesis:
1. Discuss the attention paid (or not paid) to omens, nightmares, and other
supernatural events. What do the various responses to these phenomena
show about the struggle between fate and free will in Julius Caesar? Can the
plays tragedies be attributed to the characters failure to read the omens
properly, or do the omens merely presage the inevitable?
2. Think about Caesar the mortal man as opposed to Caesar the public figure.
How does he continue to wield power over events even after he is dead? Do
the conspirators succeed in their goals by killing him, or is Caesars influence
too powerful to be contained even by his death?
3. Who is the protagonist in this play? Is it Caesar, who dies well before the end
but whose power and name continue on? Or is it Brutus, the noble man who
falls because of his tragic flaws?
4. Calpurnia tells her husband, Caesar, When beggars die, there are no comets
seen; the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. Explain in
reference to Caesars rule of Rome. (II, 31-32)
5. Caesar says, Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant taste
of death but once. Explain. (II, 33-34)
6. Et tu (you, too?), Brute? Then fall, Caesar! says Caesar, dying. What do his
dying words say about Caesars regard for Brutuss opinion? Might he have
meant anything else by the question, do you think? (Act III, scene I, line 84)
7. Compare and contrast the speeches of Antony and Brutus.
Creativity:
Pick the speeches of Antony and write them in Modern English.