Shakespeare PowerPoint

1
The Historical Julius Caesar
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Early Rome

• Rome was established in 753 B.C.
• A democratic republic was then established which
  lasted until the death of Julius Caesar.
• The Romans were proud of their democratic system
  and were repulsed by the thought of being ruled
  by an emperor.

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Gaius Julius Caesar

• Born 12th or 13th July, 100 BC.Died 15th
  March, 44 BC.
• A lawyer, politician, and military leader.
  Before the people wanted to crown him emperor,
  Julius Caesar conquered and talked his way to
  gain power. He was was part of a Triumvirate
  with general Pompey and wealthy colonel Crassus.
• Captured by pirates twice!
• Pompey once had more favor with the people than
  Caesar, but after a civil war, Pompey was dead
  and Julius was in charge and loved by all (or
  most..).

4
The Scene

• Pretty historically accurate,
• Shakespeares play takes
• place in Ancient Rome,
• where Julius Caesar
• has just returned in
• triumph from war.
• The crowd greatly respects Caesar for all the
  good he has done and hails him as their new
  leader, but there are some Roman officials who
  fear he will become too powerful of a ruler, more
  like an emperor, and they will lose the liberties
  they have enjoyed as citizens of a free state.

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• A small group of men conspire to assassinate
  Caesar, believing they are acting to preserve the
  freedoms of the Roman Republic.

6
Shakespeare His Life and Times
7
Early Life

• Born 1564
• Died 1616
• Stratford-upon-Avon,
• England

8
Stratford-on-Avon in Shakespeares Time
As reproduced in William Rolfe, Shakespeare the
Boy (1896).
9
Shakespeares Birthplace
10
Family and Theatre

• Married to Anne Hathaway
• Had twins - Hamnet Judith, and daughter
  Susanna
• Sometime between 1583-1592, he moved to London
  and began working in theatre.
• Member and later part-owner of the Lord
  Chamberlains Men, later called the Kings Men
• Globe Theater built in 1599
• Burned down in 1613 during one of Shakespeares
  plays

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Elizabethan Theatrical Conventions
12
The Rebuilt Globe Theater, London
13
The Globe Theater
14
The Stage In Shakespeares Time

• Shakespeare created at least 38 plays, made up of
  tragedies, histories, comedies, and
  tragicomedies.
• A show lasted about 2 ½ hours, usually in open
  air theatres during the afternoon.
• There was no scenery, but elaborate props and
  costumes to give reality.
• Devices such as trap doors and scaffolds were
  used to make gods, witches, etc. disappear.

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The Stage In Shakespeares Time (continued)

• There were no actresses. All parts were played by
  men or boys.
• In front of stage was a big open area where the
  "penny-public" stood to watch as they could not
  afford seats. The wealthy had seats on upper
  levels.

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Tragedy and the Tragic Hero

• Shakespeares tragedies are often called his
  greatest plays.
• Every tragedy contains a tragic hero
• Tragic hero a main character who goes through a
  series of events that lead to his/her downfall

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Qualities of a Tragic Hero

• Possesses importance or a high rank
• Exhibits extraordinary talents
• Displays a tragic flawan error in judgment or
  defect in characterthat leads to downfall
• There are attempts to mislead him
• Faces downfall with courage and dignity

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Soliloquy and Aside

• Shakespeare uses soliloquies and asides even
  though these are not things that are used in real
  life.
• Soliloquy a long speech given by a character
  while alone on stage to reveal his or her private
  thoughts or intentions. (monologue)
• Aside a characters quiet remark to the audience
  or another character that no one else on stage is
  supposed to hear. A stage direction (often in
  brackets) indicates an aside