Teaching

Companion

Julius Caesar
Teaching Guide

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Lesson Plans

Table of Contents
Lesson #1 ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Introduction Secret Messages .................................................................................................. 4
Discussion ................................................................................................................................... 4
Caesar vs. Pompey ...................................................................................................................... 4
Lesson #2 ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Reading Act 1, Scene 1 ............................................................................................................ 5
Dramatic Terms and Devices Pun............................................................................................ 5
Anticipation Questions Prophecies .......................................................................................... 5
Reading Act 1, Scene 2 ............................................................................................................ 5
Homework................................................................................................................................... 5
Lesson #3 ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Discussion Honor ..................................................................................................................... 6
Questions Act 1, Scene 2 ......................................................................................................... 6
Dramatic Terms and Devices Aside and Soliloquy ................................................................. 6
Dramatic Terms and Devices Dramatic Irony ......................................................................... 6
Reading Act 1, Scene 3 ............................................................................................................ 6
Lesson #4 ........................................................................................................................................ 7
Headlines Act 1 ........................................................................................................................ 7
Film Version Act 1................................................................................................................... 7
Character Chart ........................................................................................................................... 7
Lesson #5 ........................................................................................................................................ 8
Character Scrapbook Act 1 ...................................................................................................... 8
Paraphrasing Brutus Soliloquy in 2.1 ..................................................................................... 8
Homework................................................................................................................................... 8
Lesson #6 ........................................................................................................................................ 9
Questions Act 2, Scene 1 ......................................................................................................... 9
Reading Act 2, Scene 2 ............................................................................................................ 9
Discussion The Conspirators Morality ................................................................................... 9
Reading Act 2, Scenes 3 and 4................................................................................................. 9
Lesson #7 ........................................................................................................................................ 9
Film Version Act 2................................................................................................................... 9
Headlines Act 2 ........................................................................................................................ 9
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Lesson Plans

Lesson #1
Introduction Secret Messages

Secret Caesar Messages (students communicate without wordsno talking or writing)

Split class into two groups.

Number the students in each group so that they can find a partner with the same number in the
other group.
Then give each student a secret message to communicate to their partner.
They can use gestures, drawings, and sounds, but no written or spoken language.
The messages will relate to the play.
A class set of the messages can be found in the handouts package. Just cut them into strips with
one message each:

A. I feel like I am on top of the world today. I hope you and I stay best friends forever and that you
never stab me.
B. Its almost the first day of spring and I feel great. I think I will go and stab my best friend in the back.

Discussion
Discuss the communication process

What techniques did you rely on?

Which parts of the messages were most difficult to communicate?
How do you think this might relate to watching and/or studying a Shakespearean play?
If you are watching a play and you dont understand all of the language being used, how
do you decipher meaning? How do you read the emotions and thoughts of the
characters?

Caesar vs. Pompey

Shakespeares Julius Caesar begins when Caesar returns to Rome after defeating Pompey. To
help students understand the historical context of the play, it is essential to give them some
background.
The following web address links to a three-part series of clips dramatizing the conflict between
Caesar and Pompey. Each part is about 10 minutes long. Before showing it, tell your students
that Pompey was the consular of Rome (sort of like the President), and that Caesar was an
ambitious, powerful general.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_JhnUY2D74
If you do not have an LCD projector or other means of showing streaming video to your class,
you will have to provide historical context in a more traditional (read: boring) format such as
through notes.
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Lesson Plans

Lesson #2
Reading Act 1, Scene 1

Assign readers for the following parts: Flavius, Marullus, Citizen 1, Citizen 2.
Set the scene for your students citizens are crowding the streets to watch Caesars triumph
(like a parade celebrating his victory). Tribunes (elected officials) Flavius and Marullus are
disgusted by the fickle love of the people.
Begin reading 1.1 aloud. Stop often to clarify meaning and confirm understanding.

Dramatic Terms and Devices Pun

Distribute the Dramatic Terms and Devices Handout

Define pun a play on words in which a word or phrase has a double meaning.
Students are to fill in the chart with the definition and an example from the play.

Anticipation Questions Prophecies

Write the following statements on the board. Students are to agree or disagree with each
statement and provide explanations and reasons for their position.

1. Some people can predict the future.

2. There is no such thing as destiny.
3. Superstitions are silly.

Give your students a few minutes to write their responses to each statement (at least three
sentences for each statement).
Once students are finished writing their responses, invite them to share their thoughts and
facilitate a discussion about fate, destiny, prophesies, and superstition.

Reading Act 1, Scene 2

Assign readers for the following parts: Caesar, Casca, Calpurnia, Antony, Brutus, and the
soothsayer.
Read until Caesar and others exit (line 24). Stop often to clarify meaning and confirm
understanding.

Homework
Students are to read the rest of 1.2 for homework.

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Lesson Plans

Lesson #3
Discussion Honor

Ask your students to take two minutes to write down what they think it means to be
honourable.
Invite students to share their thoughts.
What is honor? How do we achieve it? Does the idea of honor sometimes lead to people doing
things they shouldnt? What is an honorable death? Has honor disappeared, or do we still
care about it?

Questions Act 1, Scene 2

Write the following questions on the board. Students are to answer them in full sentences and
paragraphs (where appropriate) to be handed in.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

What does Cassius want Brutus to realize about himself?

What two incidents does Cassius describe that suggest Caesar is physically weak?
How does Cassius feel about Caesars rise to power? Why?
According to Caesar, what makes Cassius dangerous?
What did Caesar refuse to accept from Antony three times?
What does Cassius plan to do to manipulate Brutus feelings?

Dramatic Terms and Devices Aside and Soliloquy

Students are to insert the following into their charts.

Define aside occurs when a character briefly speaks his/her thoughts to the audience while
on stage with other characters.
Explain that it is like in a soap opera or other cheesy show when you get to hear someones
thoughts.
Define soliloquy occurs when a character speaks his/her thoughts while alone on stage.
Cassius description of his plan at the end of 1.2 is a soliloquy.

Dramatic Terms and Devices Dramatic Irony

Students are to insert the following into their charts.

Define dramatic irony- occurs when the natural and/or supernatural world echoes or responds
to events in the human world.
Tell your students that in Shakespeares plays, dramatic irony usually comes in the form of a
tremendous storm with strange occurrences when humans conspire to commit murder.
Students can leave the example column blank for now they will see an example in just a
moment.

Reading Act 1, Scene 3

Assign readers for the following parts: Casca, Cicero, Cassius, and Cinna.
Read 1.3, stopping often to clarify meaning and confirm understanding.

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