Are you teaching Julius Caesar this upcoming school year and searching for the perfect plan to bring it to life in the classroom?

Look no further! Preparing your students to study Shakespeare’s timeless classic, Julius Caesar, should be manageable and engaging.

With our step-by-step overview of planning an intriguing study of this beloved tragedy, you will get your scholars excited about delving deep into some of literature’s most profound themes within one of its wealthiest works.

From how best to introduce dramatic elements during class analysis sessions to plotting out a thought-provoking formal group project at the conclusion: our experienced-based strategies have been tested repeatedly with success!

Related: For more, check out our planning overview on A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh here.

Julius Caesar: Act-by-Act Storyline

Act I

The Tribunes of Rome, Flavius and Marullus, grow angry at the celebration of the commoners for their hero Julius Caesar’s victory over Pompey.

The Tribunes remind the public that Pompey was a Roman, too. Brutus, from the influential and respected family of Bruti, is one of the few to join in the commoners’ gesture of gratitude toward Caesar.

Cassius plots his plan in his house to assassinate Caesar with fellow conspirators Casca and Cinna.

At a feast held by Lepidus for all the Roman officials, Mark Antoni predicts that some misfortunes shall befall Julius despite his current glory.

This prediction prompts Caesar to offer an ultimate challenge to anyone brave or stupid enough to attempt it.

Act II

Calpurnia tries to convince her husband not to go out on this stormy night, as she dreams of foreboding disasters if he leaves his home.

But nothing can prevent Caesar from attending the Senate meeting, where he is challenged by Flavius and Marullus, who still oppose him despite being persuaded by Antoni earlier.

Caesar then goes privately into a room where Artemidorus hands him a letter warning him about the assassination plot.

Meanwhile, the conspirators set up their plan near Capitol Hill under cover of darkness with help from Trebonius, who distracts Antoni from them during this critical time.

As planned by Cassius beforehand, Brutus agrees to support their cause against Julius after facing much inner struggle between loyalty and critical analysis.

Act III

The day for Julius’s assassination arrives, and so does he, with crowds cheering for him in every step he takes towards Capitol Hill entrance accompanied by Carnius and Antoni, unaware of what awaits him inside its walls!

While going through his memorial procession at Capitol Hill entrance, steps towards a crown bestowed upon him as a sign of greatness chosen by Gods themselves abruptly bring a halt when they reach close quarters!

A loud cry is heard, “STOP HIM! HE SHALL NOT PASS HERE!” And utter chaos breaks loose when all connections are made understandable to the poor bewildered soul who readily runs down death itself…until every last drop spilt lies lifelessly beside it!

Act IV

A funeral service is arranged for a once divine figure now gone mortal! Lead mourners include the main conspirators, Brutus and Cassius, along with legions of loyalist followers vouching that they had never seen such treachery.

At the same time, reticence permeates the atmosphere like fog settling in dark woods near river Tiber banks, shadowing sorrowful fate. Those two walking shadows seem doomed and begin bearing arms soon against each other.

Act V

War ensues between two former allies turned enemies! In the end, bitter rivals restore peace and harmony to favour the triumphant. Brutus learns the tragic lesson that price cost ambition and conquest conquer, no matter the moral justification. Even the victorious side finds doom within itself, nought success credited final victory gods only judge lead rest eternity.

Related: For more, check out our Planning Overview on Arthur and The Golden Rope here.

Critical Themes in Julius Caesar

Ambition

Ambition is a powerful theme that drives many of the characters forward in the play. Characters such as Cassius and Brutus involve themselves in the conspiracy to assassinate Julius Caesar because they want power and will stop at nothing to achieve it.

Rome’s citizens also participate in this theme as they are inspired by Caesar’s ambition, which leads them to celebrate him, despite his flaws.

Loyalty

Loyalty is a significant theme in Julius Caesar as well. This is seen with the loyalties of Brutus and Cassius towards each other and their loyalty towards Rome, which compels them to join the conspiracy against Caesar for fear of what his ambition will do to their beloved city.

Even when all hope seems lost, the conspirators remain loyal to each other throughout the entire play.

Fate vs Free Will

Various characters are constantly discussing the idea of fate versus free will throughout the play. This is mainly due to Calpurnia’s tragic dream that foreshadows Julius’ death, which raises questions regarding fate and destiny.

It becomes clear that certain characters are willing to defy fate while others seem resigned to accepting it, further highlighting this theme.

Honor & Reputation

Honour and reputation are two important themes at play within Julius Caesar as well. Characters like Brutus place immense importance on maintaining their honour and reputation, even if it means making difficult decisions or following through with drastic actions like joining a conspiracy against an ambitious leader he admires.

This complex exchange between personal honour and loyalty towards one’s country remains integral to today’s great tragedy.

Key Characters in Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar is the main character of the play. He is a powerful and ambitious Roman leader who, upon his return from a victorious military campaign, is feared and loved by the citizens of Rome.

Despite warnings of his impending death, he ignores them and attends the Senate meeting, where he faces his ultimate demise at the hands of conspirators.

Brutus

Brutus is one of the main characters in Julius Caesar and one of the conspirators responsible for assassinating Julius Caesar. He is portrayed as an honourable man who struggles between his loyalty to Caesar and his loyalty to Rome.

His ambition causes him to eventually side with the other conspirators against Julius, resulting in tragic consequences for himself and others.

Cassius

Cassius is one of Caesar’s opponents and another key conspirator in Julius Caesar. He is portrayed as a manipulative and ambitious man who manipulates Brutus into joining their cause against Julius by using his feelings of guilt over not being offered a position as Emperor by Julius himself.

Though overly ambitious, Cassius remains loyal to Brutus throughout their journey until their eventual downfall at Philippi.

Mark Antony

Mark Antony is one of Caesar’s closest friends and supporters and one of the main characters in Julius Caesar.

Despite initially appearing friendly towards Brutus and Cassius after they murder Julius, he ultimately becomes their enemy after delivering a powerful speech at Julius’ funeral while calling out each conspirator by name – allowing him to turn public sentiment against them.

Key Questions About Julius Caesar

How does the play Julius Caesar explore the theme of ambition?

Answer: “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world / Like a Colossus, and we petty men / Walk under his huge legs and peep about” (Act 1 Scene 2). This quote from Act 1 Scene 2 reveals that Julius Caesar’s ambition is seen as a powerful force that even those who oppose him cannot ignore.

How does loyalty play an essential role in Julius Caesar?

Answer: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,/But in ourselves, that we are underlings” (Act 1 Scene 2). This quote from Act 1 Scene 2 highlights how loyalty influences many of the characters throughout the play and their devotion to the cause of protecting Rome from ambitious leaders like Caesar.

What is the conflict between fate and free will throughout Julius Caesar?

Answer: “Let me have men about me that are fat; / Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o’ nights: Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; / He overthinks: such men are dangerous” (Act 1 Scene 2). This quote underscores the conflict between fate and free will by demonstrating how local citizens see Cassius as a threat due to his thinking too much instead of just blindly accepting fate.

How does honour shape the decisions made by Brutus in Julius Caesar?

Answer: “It must be by his death: And for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him But for the general” (Act 2 Scene 1). This quote reveals how Brutus’ sense of honour ultimately leads him to join the conspiracy against Julius because he believes it is for the greater good of Rome rather than out of spite or personal gain.

Why is Mark Antony such an essential character in Julius Caesar?

Answer: “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; / I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him” (Act 3 Scene 2). This famous line from Act 3 Scene 2 demonstrates how influential Mark Antony is as a character through his ability to convince others with powerful rhetoric – ultimately turning public sentiment against Brutus and Cassius, which helps bring their downfall.

Mark Antony’s Importance in Julius Caesar

Mark Antony is one of the protagonists in Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar. He is an important figure as a friend and supporter of Julius Caesar. More importantly, he is a compelling orator who uses rhetoric to turn public opinion against the conspirators who assassinated Julius.

His most famous line, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; / I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him,” serves as a call for revenge on the conspirators and highlights his ability to sway public sentiment using words. This ultimately leads to the downfall of Brutus and Cassius as Mark Antony continues to spread hatred towards them with his speeches.

Lesson Plan: Introduction to Julius Caesar

Objective:

By the end of this lesson, students will have a basic understanding of the plot, characters, and key themes in William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar.

Materials Needed:

A copy of Julius Caesar for each student; whiteboard/chalkboard; markers/chalk.

Introduction

To begin the lesson, introduce students to who William Shakespeare is and why he is significant in literature. Then give an overview of the play by focusing on major plot points such as the assassination of Julius Caesar, his rise to power and death, and how Mark Antony plays an influential role after his death.

Exploration

Break students into small groups and assign one main character from the play to each group. Ask that each student research their given character using background resources such as articles and images.

Allow 15 minutes for exploration with their small groups before coming together to present their findings about their assigned nature (10 minutes for presentation/5 and minutes for Q&A). After all, the presentations have been completed, explain to students what key themes are explored in the play, such as ambition, loyalty, fate vs free will and honour.

Activity

Individually or in groups (depending on classroom size), ask each student to write down three critical quotes from scenes that address one particular theme from Julius Caesar (these can be chosen beforehand by a teacher or left up to student discretion).

Ask that they include context around why these quotes are important illustrations of that particular theme. This can take 20-30 minutes, depending on class size.

Afterwards, discuss selections as a class and ask everyone to explain why they find them meaningful/essential when looking at the main themes within the play.

Conclusion

By following our step-by-step planning overview, teaching Julius Caesar will be manageable and an engaging process for you and your students.

Our guide will help you navigate the complexities of Shakespeare’s language, explore the rich themes of this timeless tragedy, and foster an appreciation for literature in your students.

With careful planning and a passion for teaching, you can create a dynamic and thought-provoking study of Julius Caesar that your students will remember for years to come.

FAQ

Five Books to Help Explain Julius Caesar

1. Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare: Considered one of the greatest plays ever written, this is the original version of Julius Caesar. It provides a detailed depiction of the characters and events in the story.
2. Julius Caesar for Dummies by Stephanie Jenks: This book provides a comprehensive overview of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar play with context, key themes, and an analysis of all the characters involved.
3. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, edited by Nick Romano: This edition provides an in-depth look into the historical context surrounding Julius Caesar and insightful annotations explaining critical points throughout the play that often need further explanation.
4. Julius Caesar A Critical Guide by Philip Cummings: This guide helps students and scholars better understand one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated tragedies through introductions, evaluation, summaries and analyses of key moments within the play from a modern and classical perspective.
5. The Ides of March: The Story Behind Julius Caesar’s Assassination by John Pemble: This book provides an in-depth exploration into how Ancient Rome functioned by looking at who was responsible for plotting against Julius Caesar, why they chose to do so and how their actions changed history forever.

10 Most Popular Shakespeare Plays

1. Romeo and Juliet
2. Hamlet
3. Macbeth
4. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
5. The Taming of the Shrew
6. Othello
7. King Lear
8. Twelfth Night, or What You Will
9. The Merchant of Venice
10. Much Ado About Nothing*