What’s in a Name?
Although Julius Caesar dies in Act 3, Shakespeare titled his play Julius Caesar. Why do you think Shakespeare chose Caesar’s name for his drama? Do you agree with the playwright’s choice? If you had to pick another title for this play, what would you choose? Be able to defend your title with evidence and examples from the text.
CONSIDER COMMON CORE ANCHOR STANDARDS SL4, W9
Character Quarantine
To the teacher: Cut up and distribute, one per student, the lines below including the character’s name. Once you receive a quote, arrange yourselves in groups based on the character who said your quote. As you read the lines aloud and notice the plot clues in them, work with one another to determine the order of your quotes through the arc of the story. Once you have arranged yourselves, come up with a still-frame position you think your character would assume onstage at the moment he/she says that line. When the teacher says “Go!” everyone assumes their position and reads each line in order. Repeat once more, so your classmates have a good idea of the plot points, as well. Then ask them if they think any of the quotes are out of order. Once everyone agrees they are in order, go down the line and explain your still-frame statues to the class.
CONSIDER COMMON CORE ANCHOR STANDARDS R1, R3, SL1
Caesar:
Let me have men about me that are fat,
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep a-nights. 1.2.192-193
Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once. 2.2.32-34
The Ides of March are come. 3.1.1
What is now remiss that Caesar and his Senate must redress? 3.1.32
Et tu, Brute? 3.1.77
Brutus:
Vexèd I am
Of late with passions of some difference,
Conceptions only proper to myself,
Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviors. 1.2.39-42
What means this shouting? I do fear the people
Choose Caesar for their king. 1.2.79-80
O Rome, I make thee a promise,
If the redress will follow, thou receives
Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus. 2.1.56-58
All my engagements I will construe to thee,
All the character of my sad brows. 2.1.307
If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar,
This is my answer: not that I love Caesar less,
But that I loved Rome more. 3.2.18-20
Words before blows; is it so, countrymen? 5.1.27
Antony:
Friends am I with you all, and love you all,
Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons
Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous. 3.1.220-23
But Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man. 3.2.78-79
And let us presently go sit in counsel,
How covert matters may be best disclosed
And open perils surest answered. 4.2.45-47
Villains! You did not so when your vile daggers
Hacked one another in the sides of Caesar! 5.1.39-40
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might stand up
And say toall the world, ’This was a man!’ 5.5.73-75
Cassius:
I was born free as Caesar, so were you. 1.2.97
I fear our purpose is discovered. 3.1.17
Do not consent
That Antony speak in his funeral.
Know you how much the people may be moved
By that which he will utter? 3.1.232-235
O my dear brother!
This was an ill beginning of the night.
Never come such division ’tween our souls! 4.3.233-235
This is my birthday, as this very day,
Was Cassius born. 5.1.71-72
O, coward that I am to live so long
To see my best friend ta’en before my face. 5.3.34-35