Julius Caesar Lesson Plans and Ideas
Prereading options
 Shakespeare Scavenger Hunt
 Why we should or should not learn about Shakespeare (Three Minute Persuasion)
 Distribute Julius Caesar / Shakespeare vocabulary as a reference sheet
 Slang Dictionary
 Sonnet maker
 Julius Caesar background
 Julius Caesar Opinionnaire
During Reading
 Journals
 Study Guides (see Penguin Guide)
 Reading log for any Shakesperean play
 http://www.folger.edu/edulesplandtl.cfm?lpid=770 This lesson from the Folger Library examines
figurative language as persuasion in Julius Caesar
 Literary terms chart for each act
 Watch various scenes from film
 Group Projects
After Reading
 Perform a “memorization” of monologues or scenes in groups – Students act it out in order as a review
of the play.
 Write reflective essay about experience with Julius Caesar.
 Test of the play
Additional Resources
http://www.pbs.org/shakespeare/educators Lots of great lessons on this site with interactive features to
assist.
http://shakespeare.palomar.edu This site offers just about EVERYTHING Shakespeare
http://literature.pppst.com/STU/shakespeare.html -- This site has some great powerpoints on the life and
times of Shakespeare
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Julius Caesar
Background: For centuries, Romans debated and even fought civil wars while trying to decide whether a
monarchy, a republic or a dictatorship was the best form of government. Until 509 B.C., Rome was a
monarchy, but, in that year, the Brutus family evicted Trarquinius Superbus from the throne and Rome was
established as a republic.
By 100 B.C., Rome was a moderate democracy in form; in actual practice, the Senate was ruling Rome. In 60
B.C., a triumvirate (a 3-man rule) of Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey was formed to govern Rome.
In 58 B.C., Caesar was made governor of part of Gaul, and at the age of 44 began his military career. During
the next ten years, he proceeded to conquer all of Gaul.
After Crassus was killed in battle, trouble began to develop between Pompey and Caesar. Pompey, jealous of
Caesar’s popularity, persuaded the Senate to order Caesar to disband his army and return to Rome. But
Caesar invaded Rome and made himself absolute ruled of Rome. Meanwhile, Pompey fled to Greece. Caesar
defeated Pompey’s army and Pompey fled to Egypt where he was later murdered.
Three years after Caesar defeated Pompey’s army, Caesar defeated Pompey’s two sons. By now, Caesar had
been made dictator for life. Thus, as Shakespeare begins his play with Caesar returning in victory from Spain,
Caesar was the undisputed leader of master of the entire Roman world. (see map)
Hero: Just as Romeo and Juliet was a tragedy, so is Julius Caesar. Unlike Romeo and Juliet where the title
characters were the heroes of the play, Julius Caesar is not the hero. The hero in this play is Brutus, a noble
man who truly believes his actions are for the good of his country. Brutus dominated much of the play.
Perhaps the title should be The Tragedy of Marcus Brutus.
Setting: The setting is Rome, Italy, part of the continent of Europe, and it is situated along the Tiber River.
Life in Rome: There were two classes of people in Rome. The people were either rich or poor. The rich were
called Patricians and the poor were called Plebeians.
Politics: Julius Caesar is a political play, and political issues are the root of the tragic conflict in the play. It is a
play about a general who would be king, but who, because of his own pride and ambition, meets an untimely
death. Shakespeare seems to be saying that good government must be based on morality. In this respect the
play has relevance to the politics of the modern world.
The focus of the play: This play focuses on those men who were responsible for the assassination of Caesar
and their ill-fated attempt to control Rome.
Timeline: Shakespeare compresses the actual historical time of 3 years into a period of 6 days.
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Julius Caesar Opinionaire
Use the following numbers to rate the statements below.
0 = I have no idea or no opinion regarding the matter.
1 = I strongly disagree
2 = I somewhat disagree.
3 = I somewhat agree.
4 = I strongly agree.
______It is never right to kill another person.
______Political leaders usually act in the best interest of their countries.
______ If a political leader has done something wrong, it is all right to get rid of him or her by whatever means
necessary.
______ "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
______ In certain situations it may be justified for a political leader to bend or break the law for the good of
the country.
______People should never compromise their ideals or beliefs.
______"My country right or wrong" is not just a slogan; it is every citizen's patriotic duty.
______No cause, political or otherwise, is worth dying for.
______"Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant taste of death but once."
______"The evil that men do lives after them; the good is [often buried] with their bones."
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Julius Caesar Quotes
Quotes
Who said it
Why? What is the significance of the quote.
“O you hard-hearted people, you cruel men of
Rome,didn’t you know Pompey the Great?”
“O you hard-hearted people, you cruel men of
Rome, didn’t you know Pompey the Great?”
“If we can pluck these growing feathers out of
Caesar’s wing, we can force him to fly lower.”
“barren women, when touched in this holy
race, are able to shake off the curse of
sterility.”
“I shall remember When Caesar says ‘Do this,’
It is done.”
“Beware the Ides of March.”
“I fear that the people choose Caesar
for their king.”
“I was born as free as Caesar and so were
you. We both have eaten as well, and we can
both Suffer the winter’s cold as well as
Caesar.”
“Cassius over there is too lean and hungry
looking; he things too much. Such men are
dangerous.”
“Such and such are reasons, they are natural
occurrences, because I believe that they are
completely strange events, full of meaning for
the place where they occur.”
“It’s a very pleasing night to honest men.”
“O, he has a high place in the hearts of the
Roman people, and what would appear
offensive if we did it, his approval, like
precious alchemy, will transform it to
something virtuous and worthy.”
Set honour in one eye and death i' the
other,And I will look on both indifferently.
Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
/ Like a Colossus; and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs, and peep about
To find ourselves dishonourable graves.
Men at some time are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But
in ourselves, that we are underlings.
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'Tis a common proof, That lowliness is young
ambition's ladder, Whereto the climberupward turns his face; But when he once
attains the upmost round,
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
by which he did ascend.
O conspiracy!
Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by
night, When evils are most free?
Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods,
Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds.
Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds,
In ranks and squadrons and right form of war,
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol.
But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fixed and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar!
O mighty Caesar! dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs,
spoils, Shrunk to this little measure?
O! pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these
butchers;
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever livèd in the tide of times.
Cry, 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war.
Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved
Rome more.
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your
ears;
I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones.
Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
Are much condemned to have an itching palm.
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,
Than such a Roman.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats;
For I am armed so strong in honesty
That they pass by me as the idle wind,
Which I respect not.
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A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
Forever, and forever, farewell, Cassius!
If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;
If not, why then this parting was well made.
I had rather have
Such men my friends than enemies.
Thou art a fellow of a good respect;
Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it.
Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face,
While I do run upon it.
This was the noblest Roman of them all;
All the conspirators save only he
Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
He, only, in a general honest thought
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world, 'This was a man!'
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Group Projects:

Make a timeline of the events. Tape pieces of paper together and make it legible and
artistic. Show the key events throughout the play with significant quotes relating to each.

Character sketches of the main characters. Each main character has their own paper.
Write 3 adjectives for each, 1 quote that defines their character, 1 actor/picture to play
them, other pictures to show who they are, their personality traits, etc.

Literary devices. Use one sheet of paper for each device: Simile, metaphor, hyperbole,
alliteration, allusion, personification, imagery, pun, and oxymoron. Title the paper clearly.
Write a definition of the device, and give an example from the book. Decorate in a way that
shows the connection to the quote.

50 question test. Include combination of T/F, Matching, short answer, multiple choice, and
short answer questions. Answer all. This must be typed with a separate answer key. All
group members are responsible for typing up a different section.

Design a comic book or an illustrated children’s book that tells the story of Julius Ceasar.
You may use the words of Shakespeare, or you may write and illustrate a more modern
version of the story.
Group Participation Critique
Write the names of your group members in the chart below and rate them on their level of
participation in your group. This averaged grade will determine the pts possible. This will
remain completely confidential. Rate yourself too.
Name of group
members
Score 0 – 5
0= did nothing
5 =did all that was
required on time and
cooperatively
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