Julius Caesar

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Julius Caesar

• Literary Terms to Know

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Dramatic Structure
Act III Crisis or turning point
Act IV Falling Action
Act II Rising Acting (Complications)
Act I Exposition
Act V Climax and resolution
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• Exposition introduces conflicts and provides
  background information
• Rising Action series of complications caused
  when main characters try to resolve their
  conflicts
• Turning point main character makes a choice
  that determines the rest of the plays actions

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• Falling Action the results of the actions taken
  during the turning point
• Climax an action that determines how the
  conflict will be resolved, moment of greatest
  tension (near the end of the play, usually the
  death of the tragic hero in a tragedy)
• Resolution usually closely follows the climax
  and ties of loose ends in the plot (usually brief)

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Dialogue

• Conversations of the characters on stage

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Aside

• Spoken to the audience or to one character the
  other characters on stage do not hear an aside

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Monologue

• Spoken by one character to other characters
  onstage

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Soliloquy

• A long speech by a character who is alone on
  stage that reveals the characters innermost
  thoughts and feelings. This speech is not heard
  by other characters.
• Brutus in his orchard
• It must be by his death. And for my part
• I know no personal cause to spurn him
• But for the general. (II.i.10-12)

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Irony

• The contrast between appearance and reality,
  between expectation and fulfillment.
• What is ironic about Caesars confidence in his
  own unassailability?

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Dramatic Irony

• When the audience knows something that a
  character does not
• Anthony says this to Caesar
• Fear him Cassius not, Caesar, hes not
  dangerous.
• He is a noble Roman, and well given
• (I.ii.196-197)

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Verbal Irony

• When the words spoken are the opposite of what is
  meant
• Decius says to Caesar to get him to the Capitol
• Pardon me, Caesar, for my dear dear love
• To your proceeding bids me tell you this,
• And reason to my love is liable.
• II.iv.102-4.
• What is ironic about Anthonys statement when he
  says,
• Good friends, sweet friends, let me
• not stir you up/To such as sudden
• flow of mutiny?

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Foil

• A character who serves as a contrast to another
  character
• How is Cassius a foil to Brutus?
• (consider their motivations to kill
  Caesar)

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Tragedy

• A serious work of literature that narrates the
  events leading to the downfall of a tragic hero.
  It evokes fear and pity in the audience.
• Ends with the death of the tragic hero

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Tragic hero

• A character who displays noble qualities but has
  a serious flaw.
• Classical Definition When dying, he/she gains
  some awareness or self-knowledge usually
  accepting death and acknowledging that it is to
  some degree just.
• Who is the tragic hero in this play?

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Tragic flaw

• A defect in character or judgment in the tragic
  hero that directly causes the heros downfall
  (usually death)
• Examples pride, rebelliousness, jealousy
• What is Brutus tragic flaw?

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Iambic Pentameter The Art of the Poet

• 10-syllable lines of rhymed, unstressed/stress
  meter. The stressed syllables are red.
• Tis three oclock and, Romans, yet ere night
• We shall try fortune in a second fight
• FYI Shakespeares plays are about 90 verse
  and 6 prose

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Label the unstressed/stressed syllables

• And after this let Caesar seat him sure
• For we will shake him, or worse days endure.
• Cassius I.ii.321-322
• When iambic pentameter is read out loud it will
  follow a beat such as da DUM, da-DUM or
  toe-heel, toe-heel

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Blank Verse

• Unrhymed, 10-syllable lines of unstressed/stressed
  meter
• Are yet two Romans living such as these?
• The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!
• Do you notice a pattern as to when Shakespeare
  uses verse and when he uses prose? (look at pages
  768-769)