Julius Caesar

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What do you know about Julius Caesar and the ancient Romans? Consider events from Caesar’s life, such as his Gallic Wars, the Roman Civil War, and Caesar’s assassination. What characteristics are typically associated with Caesar?

Teaching Suggestion: The life and accomplishments of Caesar were carefully documented by authors and historians, including Caesar himself. Caesar was usually represented as a highly capable and ambitious politician and general, and these qualities contributed to his success as well as his downfall. Knowing something about the historical Caesar and his world can help students engage with Shakespeare’s play on a deeper level. Some students may not be familiar with Julis Caesar, the ancient Romans, or wars during this time. If this is the case, consider allowing students to conduct brief, informal research to help them develop a stronger foundation prior to in-class discussions.

• This page includes a translation of Suetonius’s popular biography of Julius Caesar.
• This article from History Today discusses the assassination of Julius Caesar and the aftermath of the event.

2. Which of Shakespeare's works have you read or heard about? Why might his plays and sonnets be so widely studied? What is typically associated with Shakespeare?

Teaching Suggestion: Shakespeare remains one of the most popular authors who ever lived, and his works are taught around the world. While many students will be familiar with Shakespeare’s plays, they may not realize how much his work has influenced modern film and literature. In this instance, it may be helpful to prepare a list of his most famous plays and sonnets and to discuss modern adaptations, such as Disney's The Lion King as an adaptation of Hamlet. Students may also be aware of the themes and motifs commonly found in Shakespeare’s oeuvre, including power and politics, identity, fate and free will, and love. Many of these themes are central in Julius Caesar and may be worth discussing in advance.

• This article from the Folger Shakespeare Library offers a short and readable introduction to Shakespeare’s theater.
• This page provides a chronology of Shakespeare’s plays, including first performance and print dates.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Julius Caesar was a notably ambitious leader. How would you define ambition? In your experience, is ambition a positive or negative attribute? How might the violent and ambitious history of Caesar still be relevant today?

Teaching Suggestion: As students begin to develop their ideas, consider encouraging them to discuss the role that violence and ambition still play in modern domestic and global affairs. Some students may not be familiar with current events; in this situation, it may be helpful to create a list of teacher-selected current events or concrete topics for students to categorize and discuss.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who struggle with abstract thinking might benefit from answering a question about violence and ambition on a more concrete level: What are examples of violent or ambitious behavior, and why is such behavior potentially dangerous? Alternatively, graphic organizers, such as a Venn diagram or T-chart, might also be useful for a more visual approach.