Welcome to Project on Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

This site demonstrates the great advantage in using technology in today's English classroom.In completing the project, each class is divided into four groups, and each group should have at least four students. Each group is assigned to one of the four parts of the project, and members of the same group decide who should be responsible for each sub-component of the mini-project. They need to use the internet as the resource to get information, and in the meantime, the are connected to the students from another school who are also studying Julius Caesar. Through e-mail, they will be able to share ideas or discuss the subject-related topics. This page will be the final result of this process.

Historical Caesar and his Time

• Ancient Rome: the constitution of Roman Republic : How  the major elements of the govenment of the Roman Republic  impacted the formation of the United States government?
• Discuss Roman Empire and its importance to western culture; describe the life and the political system of the ancient Rome.
• The triumvirate of Antony, Octavius, and Lipids and its lasting effect on Rome : what is the 2nd triumvirate?

• About Julius as a historical figure
  -The throne of Julius Caesar ,Imperator and Dictator,  61 - 44 B. C.
  
  -The rise of Julius Caesar
  
  Based on your reseach, discuss the importance of Julius Caesar to the Romans through his career,his importance at the end of the Republic, and the founding of the Empire after his death.

• Literary Analysis-- the Study of Themes
• Write two essays discussing the themes of the play.
  In each essay, discuss the theme by discribing at least two main characters,such as Caesar, Brutus, Cassius or Antony, and explain how these characters' action and behavior relate to the theme.
• Write two comparative essays
  In each essay, discuss how the theme is illustrated through characterization , imagery, or any other literary elements by using references from Julius Caesar and another related literary work you have read.

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Literary Concepts- This site offers the definitions of many useful literary concepts.

• Follow the lesson on Character Analysis
  Write an essay based on one of the major characters in the play. Use the information on this site for your guidelines.
• Tragic Hero
  Write an essay arguing who is the real tragic hero in the play (use the Notes on Tragedy).
• Persuasion
  Imitate Brutus and Atony's speech at Caesar's funeral and write a speech to justify what you believe is right--the righteousness of the assassin of Caesar or revenge on the conspirators(use presentation strategy,--logic, emotion).

 

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Follow the lesson on Debate and choose one of the following topics to write an argument paper.

Leadership Skills

• After the assassination of Caesar and the defeat of Cassius and Brutus' army, Antony was in control. If you are among Roman citizens to select a person to be the leader of the country, is Antony the best candidate? Write an essay to support your argument.
• Is there any alternative to violence in government leadership changeover?
• You are one of the people who are concerned about the system, is the assassin of Caesar the only method of changing the leader? Write an essay to support your argument.
• Linking today
  Relate to a similar situation in today's world. Is there still power struggle which involves the use of violence? Write an essay arguing if violence is the only way to lead to improvement or , on the contrary, lead to further violence.
• "Is it acceptable, even morally right, to break the law to end what you perceive to be a greater evil?"

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  Related Links:

  • http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/JC/: This site provides rich sources for the study of Julius Caesar: its historical background, its criticism, its link to  Plutarch's Life of Brutus .
  • http://www.penguinputnam.com/academic/resources/guides/shakes1/frame.htm : This site provides an overview of the plan and offer detailed study questions and criticism.