Julius Caesar Final

Academic English 10

• There are six essays to your final.

• Today, working with a partner, you will be required to brainstorm ideas for two of the six essays. – Brainstorming does not require complete

sentences…you can respond with bulleted ideas.

Tomorrow: we will be reviewing all six essay questions…as we review, make sure to take notes so that you will have a good understanding of all six questions.

Julius Caesar Final: Friday, April 24, 2015

• When you walk into the room on Tuesday, you will be given a paper with two of the six essay questions.

• You will be required to answer the two questions located on the sheet. You will not be able to pick the questions…they will be preselected.– Because of this fact, you will need to be

prepared for all six questions.

Essay Question #1

Does a single hero or villain exist in the play? If so, who, and why? or why not?

Possible Answers for Question #1

• Yes…then who do you think is the hero? Who do you think is the villain?

• No…then why?

• Is Brutus a hero? Is Mark Antony a hero?

• Is Cassius a villain? Explain.

Essay Question #2

Discuss the role of women in the play, comparing and contrasting Portia and

Calpurnia and/or comparing and contrasting their marriages to Brutus

and Caesar.

Possible Answers for Question #2

• Calpurnia – loving, caring, worried about her husband

• Portia – strong-willed, dedicated, rash, quick to take action, crazy

• These women both want the best for their husbands

Essay Question #3

Is Brutus a villain or a hero? Is he a dishonorable man, or a mistaken one?

Why/why not? If you think he is a villain, consider discussing his villainous aspects and how they

contribute to the play.

Possible Answers for Question #3

• Brutus is a hero…he thought he was doing what was best for Rome when he killed Caesar

• Brutus is a villain…he had no right taking the life of anyone, let alone Caesar

Essay Question #4

Discuss friendship in the play. Consider Caesar and Brutus, Caesar and Antony,

Brutus and Cassius (and how their friendship changes), Antony and Octavius, and/or any other pairings. Are these true friendships or merely political alliances forged for the sake of convenience and self-preservation? How

do they compare with the heterosexual relationships in the play—the relations

between husbands and wives? Are they more profound or less profound, more revealing or

less revealing of their participants’ characters?

Possible Answers for Question #4

• Caesar and Brutus: Caesar thought that Brutus was his friend…Brutus thought he was doing what was right for Rome

• Caesar and Antony: Antony seeks revenge for the death of his friend

Essay Question #5

Discuss inflexibility in this play, focusing on Caesar and Brutus. How is each

man inflexible? Is this rigidity an admirable trait or a flaw? Do the

rewards of this rigidity outweigh the consequences, or vice versa?

How/why? You may also consider discussing other human flaws that

Caesar and Brutus possess and whether or not they cause the play’s

tragic events.

Essay Question #6

How is loyalty portrayed in the play? Discuss Antony, Brutus, and/or Cassius in relation to Caesar.

Essay Question #6

• Antony is loyal to Caesar until the end: – he speaks highly of Caesar at Caesar’s

funeral – sticks up for Caesar even after death – Fights for Caesar and his rightful heir

• Brutus is loyal to the Romans • Felt Caesar would have made the Romans

slaves