Julius Caesar

1. Julius Caesar Act 1 Penny Wood Buckhorn High School

2. Procedures • Have students preview and predict the story by identifying symbols on slide 3 and answering the question. Call on them to share their predictions. • Review the symbols and then print copies of the fill in the blank summary and quickwrite for students to fill in as they listen to the play. • Quickwrite responses can be collected and read as a summation for the day or to open class the next day. • The answers to the fill in the blank summaries are provided at the end.

3. Preview and Predict Match each of these symbols with their meanings. Answer the question below. 1. Fire 2. Lion 3. Owl 4. Storm • A. King • B. Foreshadows death • C. Foreshadows trouble • D. Assassin • Based upon these symbols, what do you think this story will be about?

4. Symbols and Signs • This play is full of signs and symbols. • The lion is a symbol of the King, Caesar, • A storm foretells troubling times • The owl is a symbol of the assassin who wants to take Caesar out of power • Fire predicts war • Listen for these signs and symbols and notice whether Caesar heeds them

5. Julius Caesar Fill in the Blank Summary and Questions

6. Act 1 Scene 1 • 1.___________ and 2.___________ ask the local workers why they aren’t working. • The 3.___________ jokingly answers that “he is a mender of soles.” • 4.___________ is not amused. He and Flavius make the workers go home. • They scold the workers for being fickle, celebrating Caesar when just a few weeks ago, everybody celebrated 5.___________, who Caesar just killed.

7. Act 1 Scene 1 • All the people seem to want is a party. • Murellus and Flavius warn of a 6.___________ because the people are celebrating a tragedy. • Murellus and Flavius take down the 7.___________ and fake crowns.

8. Act 1 Scene 2 • Caesar is enjoying the celebration. • He asks 8.___________ to touch Calpurnia before his celebration run. This will cure her inability to have children. • Cassius and 9.___________ talk alone about their fears about Caesar. • Cassius says that 10.___________ is a poor swimmer an prone to fevers. In other words, he is weak. • Cassius says they should be the “masters of their own 11.___________” and take power.

9. Act 1 Scene 2 • Caesar shows up saying 12.___________ is dangerous because he reads too much, is skinny, and doesn’t smile a lot. • 13.___________ and Cassius notice everyone is upset about something. • 14.___________ tells Brutus and Cassius that Caesar put on a show of refusing the crown three times and offered to let the crowd cut his throat. • The crowd, full of smelly commoners, went wild with cheering. Their breath stank so bad that 15.___________ passed out. In truth, he had a seizure.

10. Act 1 Scene 2 • No one noticed but those close by. • The 16.___________ were especially wild about Caesar’s antics, thinking it was a great show. • Cassius asks 17.___________ to dinner. • 18.___________ plans to get Brutus to join the assassination attempt on Caesar. • A 19.___________ warns Caesar of March 15, the Ides of March. • Caesar ignores him.

11. Quickwrite • Why didn’t Caesar listen to the Soothsayer? • What does this suggest about his personality. • Do you think his inability to listen to others will haunt him in the future? Explain. • Identify at least two pieces of literature we read this year that touches on this idea of importance of listening to others. Then, write a thesis statement explaining your understanding. In ____ and _____, the authors _____ and ______ convey the importance of ______ emphasizing _______ .

12. Act 1 Scene 1 • Flavius and Murellus ask the local workers why they aren’t working. • The cobbler jokingly answers that “he is a mender of soles.” • Murellus is not amused. He and Flavius make the workers go home. • They scold the workers for being fickle, celebrating Caesar when just a few weeks ago, everybody celebrated Pompey, who Caesar just killed.

14. Act 1 Scene 1 • All the people seem to want is a party. • Murellus and Flavius warn of a plague because the people are celebrating a tragedy. • Murellus and Flavius take down the decorations and fake crowns.

16. Act 1 Scene 2 • Caesar is enjoying the celebration. • He asks Antony to touch Calpurnia before his celebration run. This will cure her inability to have children. • Cassius and Brutus talk alone about their fears about Caesar. • Cassius says that Caesar is a poor swimmer an prone to fevers. In other words, he is weak. • Cassius says they should be the “masters of their own fates” and take power.

18. Act 1 Scene 2 • Caesar shows up saying Cassius is dangerous because he reads too much, is skinny, and doesn’t smile a lot. • Brutus and Cassius notice everyone is upset about something. • Casca tells Brutus and Cassius that Caesar put on a show of refusing the crown three times and offered to let the crowd cut his throat. • The crowd, full of smelly commoners, went wild with cheering. Their breath stank so bad that Caesar passed out. • In truth, he had a seizure.

20. Act 1 Scene 2 • No one noticed but those close by. • The women were especially wild about Caesar’s antics, thinking it was a great show. • Cassius asks Casca to dinner. • Cassius plans to get Brutus to join the assassination attempt on Caesar. • A soothsayer warns Caesar of March 15, the Ides of March. • Caesar ignores him.

22. Act 1 Scene 3 • Casca and Cicero meet, talking of the night’s strange events. • A lion was seen at the Capitol, an owl was out during the day, a storm blew up, a slave’s left hand was on fire, and men on fire walked the streets. • Cassius persuades Casca to join the conspiracy. • Cassius plans to forge letters from the common people to Brutus asking Brutus to take Caesar out of power.

24. Summation • Caesar pays little attention to the signs and symbols around him. This is partially because he is too vain to believe anyone would possibly challenge him. This will lead to his downfall.