Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar

• Genre: Drama; Tragedy
• Originally Published: 1599
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile GN740L College/adult
• Structure/Length: 288 pages; approximately 2 hours and 53 minutes on audiobook
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Julius Caesar is a tragedy that explores the political intrigue and personal conflicts surrounding the assassination of Julius Caesar, a Roman general and statesman. The central conflict revolves around the power struggle between Caesar's supporters, led by Mark Antony, and the conspirators, including Brutus and Cassius, who assassinated Caesar. The play delves into themes of loyalty, betrayal, ambition, and the consequences of political actions.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of assassination, political violence, and betrayal

William Shakespeare, Author

• Bio: Born 1564, died 1616; English playwright and poet; regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language; known for exploring a wide range of human emotions and experiences in drama and poetry; his works are studied, performed, and celebrated worldwide
• Other Works: Romeo and Juliet (1597); Hamlet (1601); Macbeth (1606); Othello (1603); King Lear (1606); Antony and Cleopatra (1606); The Tempest (1611); Shakespeare's body of work includes numerous plays and poems, many of which are considered classics of English literature.

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• How Hubris Can Lead to One’s Downfall
• The Persuasive Power of Rhetoric
• How Shakespeare Uses the Greek Notion of Hamartia

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Attain an understanding of the cultural and historical contexts of Shakespeare’s play.
• Discuss paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of How Hubris Can Lead to One’s Downfall, The Persuasive Power of Rhetoric, and How Shakespeare Uses the Greek Notion of Hamartia.
• Analyze the characters of the play and craft a speech to explore rhetoric and its importance in the play.
• Evaluate the themes, symbols, and motifs of the play in structured essay responses regarding Shakespeare’s use of the tragic flaw, the role of women in the play, and other topics.