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Roman History and Shakespeare

Roman History and Shakespeare. Some context to help you with Julius Caesar. Shakespeare. April 23 (we think) 1564-April 23, 1616 Born in Stratford-Upon Avon Never traveled farther than 90 miles from Stratford Father was a glover Marriage to Anne Hathaway in November 1582 Escape to London.

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Roman History and Shakespeare

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  1. Roman History and Shakespeare Some context to help you with Julius Caesar

  2. Shakespeare April 23 (we think) 1564-April 23, 1616 Born in Stratford-Upon Avon Never traveled farther than 90 miles from Stratford Father was a glover Marriage to Anne Hathaway in November 1582 Escape to London

  3. Shakespeare Con’t 1585-1592: The Lost Years Wrote poetry to pay bills 1592-1594 Worked with Richard Burbage Formed troupe Lord Chamberlain’s Men which became the King’s Men

  4. Acting in Shakespeare’s Time No female actors Presentational acting Only one full script Actors each had one with cues Actors provided own costumes Stock scenery

  5. The Globe Theatre Most of Shakespeare’s plays opened and performed here.

  6. More Shakespeare • 1st and 2nd Folios • Published posthumously • 2nd folio contained Two Noble Kinsmen and Pericles, Prince of Tyre—both co-written with other men (John Fletcher and George Wilkins, respectively) • Prose vs. Poetry • Prose is non-rhyming, non-rhythmic, not poetry • Poetry is higher form of speech, Shakespeare writes in blank verse with iambic pentameter • Julius Caesar is 95% poetry and 5% prose Shakespeare wrote 3 types of plays: Comedies, Histories and Tragedies. Julius Caesar is a tragedy.

  7. Terms You Should Know • Tragic hero • Has to be of high social rank (very rich and respected, a king, or an emperor, etc…) • Has a tragic flaw that ultimately leads to downfall • Has to suffer complete ruin or death • Has to face own downfall with courage and dignity Dramatic Irony The audience knows something that the characters onstage do not

  8. More Terms to Know • Monologue • A speech given by one actor onstage in the presence of other actors—usually about a minute long or longer • Foil • A character that is opposite of another, usually for comparison purposes • Soliloquy • A speech given by an actor who is alone onstage, revealing his or her innermost thoughts and motivations • Aside • When the character makes a remark that some or none of the characters onstage hear, usually to the audience. Also reveals some inner thoughts.

  9. Some Words You’ll Read a Lot (and their meanings!) • Durst-dared • Ere-before • Hie-hurry • Hither-here • Prithee-pray thee, or please • Save-except • Soft-wait a minute • Thither-there • An-if • Aught-anything • Beseech-beg • But-only • Mark-notice • Marry-mild exclamation (short for “by the Virgin Mary) • Peace-shut up!

  10. More words you’ll read a lot Yikes! That’s a lot of words! Luckily you have your notes. Wherefore-why Whither-when Withal-also Also, here is OMG cat (he would go with “marry”).

  11. The Roman Empire and Republic at This Time Some context, if you will.

  12. How Gaius Julius Caesar Came to Power

  13. Julius Caesar as a General • 60 B.C. formed military alliance with Crassus and Pompey against Roman Senate • Active in Gallic Wars (with tribes in areas of Gaul, Britannia, and Germania) • Conquered Gaul in 51 B.C. • 1st Roman general to cross English Channel • Led 1st invasion of England • 1st Roman general to cross Rhine River • Built 1st bridge across the Rhine

  14. The Alliance Dissolves • Crassus dies in 53 B.C. • Pompey aligns himself with Senate • Caesar’s conquest over Gaul ends Gallic Wars • Senate becomes worried that Caesar has too much power • Senate and Pompey tell Caesar to come back to Rome and lay down military command and governorship of Gaul • Caesar says no, and this starts Roman Civil War

  15. The Great Roman Civil War (Some highlights) • Lasted from 49-45 B.C. • 48 B.C. Marcus Antonius (Marc Antony) joins Caesar’s army • 48 and 47 B.C. Caesar and Cleopatra become allies, Caesar helps install Cleopatra as Pharoah • One of these battles in Egypt led to the burning of the Library at Alexandria • 46 B.C. Caesar adopts great-nephew Octavius and makes him his heir • March 17, 45 B.C. Caesar decisively defeats Pompey’s forces • 44 B.C. Caesar named Dictator in Perpetuity

  16. The Roman Empire in 44 BC

  17. The Roman Republic At this time, Rome is a republic A republic is a form of government that has supreme power resting with a group of individuals who represent the citizens. In Rome’s case, this group was the Senate. Caesar was the Dictator, which in this case, is more like a president. Members of the Senate are afraid Caesar will try to make Rome a monarchy.

  18. The Play’s the Thing… Shakespeare based the play Julius Caesar off of Plutarch’sLives of the Most Noble Grecians and Romanes Shakespeare made events happen more quickly than they did in real life in order to heighten the drama

  19. Some Questions to Ask Yourself While We Read: What parallels do you find in this play with events today? What does it mean for one person to have too much power? Under what circumstances would it be possible? Who has the obligation to remove that person from power? What means are they morally obligated or allowed to use? If you were convinced by someone else that your best friend was going to cause a huge catastrophe, how would you deal with that information?

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