Literary Devices In Act 1 Of Julius Caesar
ACT 1
Period 4
October 8,2012
Setting and Plot Act 1
Scene 1 Setting – The opening of Julius Caesar is set in a street, in Rome, after the feast of Luprical. Analysis – The celebration is very important to the story and to the common people, because this is the 1st entrance of Caesar after conquering Pompey and winning what was the Civil War. Plot – The actual scene shows workmen dressed in formal attire and celebrating Caesar. The most important dialogue in the scene is the two tribunes expressing their anger and points in which they disagree with Caesar because they strongly supported Pompey.
Scene 2 Setting – Scene 2 continues at the festival with Caesar walking through the town. In the middle of the scene the setting …show more content…
switches. Analysis – This is important because in the first setting of the scene the soothsayer approaches Caesar telling him to “beware the Ides of March”. The second part of the scene Brutus and Cassius talk about Caesar’s power. Plot – The plot of the second scene is very intense. The soothsayer warns Caesar, which Caesar plays off nicely in front of Rome’s common people. Although Caesar does not react to the Soothsayer in front of the people, on the inside he takes what the man said seriously. The second part of scene’s plot could be argued that it is the most important to the story, where Cassius persuades Brutus to think he would be a better leader then Caesar. Cassius goes above and beyond by writing the two names next to each other and crossing Caesar’s name out.
Scene 3 Setting – In scene three, the scene begins with a thunderstorm in the streets of Rome. The Two characters Cassius and Casca are alone talking in a dark ally way. Analysis – This is a crucial setting to the story because that was where Caesars death was partially plotted. Also Cassius and Casca plot how to involve Brutus. The thunderstorm is also important to the analysis because it is a symbol in the story that the conspirators thought was a sign that Caesar will be dethroned. Plot – The plot of scene three is completely focused on Cassius and Casca’s conversation involving Brutus and Caesar.
Quotes Act 1
Act I. Scene ii. Line 21.
Soothsayer is speaking to Ceaser.
"Beware the Ides of March"
Analysis: Translation- "Beware of March 15"
This quote is when the soothsayer warns Ceaser to beware of March 15th, something bad is going to happen. Cassius, Brutus and the other men are going to kill Ceaser on March 15th. This is important because Ceaser is a little superstitious but pushes the soothsayer aside and ignores him.
Act I. Scene ii. Line 151-154.
Cassius is speaking to Brutus.
"'Brutus' and 'Ceaser.' What should be in that 'Ceaser?' Why should that name be sounded more than yours? Write them together: yours is as fair a name.'
Analysis: Translation- "'Brutus' and 'Ceaser.' What's so special about 'Ceaser'? Why should that name be proclaimed more than yours? Write them together- yours is just as good a name."
This quote means that Ceaser and Brutus are equal. Saying that Brutus is just as good if not greater man. This is important because it is when Cassius begins to convince Brutus to get rid of Ceaser.
Act I. Scene ii. Line 250-256.
Casca is speaking to Brutus and Cassius.
"I saw Marc Antony offer him a crown- yet t'was not a crown neither, t'was one of the cornets- and, as I told you, he put it by once. But for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again; then he put it by again; but to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it."
Analysis: Translation- "I saw Marc Antony off him a crown- though it wasn't a real crown, just a small circlet- and, as I told you, he refused it once- though in my opinon he would've liked to have it. Then Antony offered it to him again, and he refused it again (though, in my opinion, he was reluctant to take his hand off it.)"
This quote means that Ceaser refused the crown that would have made him king of Rome. He refuse the crown three times to not look greedy in front of the people. This is important because if Ceaser accepted the crown the senate's would fall and Rome would become a dictatorship.
Act I. Scene iii. Line 9-13.
Casca is speaking to Cierco.
"But never till tonight, never till now, did I through a tempest dropping fire. Either there is a civil strife in heaven, or else the world, too saucy with the gods, incenses them to send destruction."
Analysis: Translation- "But never before tonight, never until now, have I experienced a storm that drops fire.
Either there are wars in heaven, or else the world, too insolent toward the gods, provokes them to send destruction."
This quote means the gods are angry enough to cause destruction and that Cassius and the other men are taking it as a sign to kill Ceaser. This is important because this storm is provoking the men to kill Ceaser.
Act I. Scene iii. Line 95-98.
Cassius is speaking to Casca.
"I know where I will wear this dagger then; Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius. Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; Therein ye gods, you tyrants do defeat."
Analysis: Translation- "I know where I'll wear this dagger, then. I'll kill myself to save myself from slavery. In suicide, gods make the weak strong. In suicide, gods allow tyrants to be defeated."
This quote means that if Ceaser becomes king Cassiu will kill himself to prevent himself from becoming a slave. He doesn't want Ceaser to be king so bad he's willing to kill himself if it does happen.
Julius Caesar Characters
Act One
Scene One
Flavius and …show more content…
Marullus
• The two are Tribunes. Pompey and Caesar got into a civil war and Caesar killed Pompey. The senators were not pleased with this act because if Caesar became ruler, the senators would lose all their powers.
Scene Two
Brutus
• A supporter of the republic who believes strongly in a government guided by the votes of senators.
• While the other conspirators act out of envy and selfishness, only Brutus truly believes that Caesar’s death will benefit Rome.
• Brutus honoring and love for Rome, made it easy for the enemies to manipulate and use him for their own goods.
• Old friend of Caesar
• Betrays Caesar by joining the conspiracy against Caesar.
Caesar
• Caesar wanted to rule Rome but he didn’t want to be seen as ambitious, and so he turned down the crown.
• Caesar and Pompey used to share power over Rome. Then they got into a civil war and Caesar killed Pompey.
• Senators were against Caesar for his act of killing Pompey. If Caesar becomes ruler, then the senators will lose all their powers.
• Caesar was a very superstitious person. For example: The soothsayer told him, something bad is going to happen on March 15 and he was cautious.
Cassius
• Cassius dislikes the idea that Caesar has become powerful in Rome. His persuasion leads Brutus to believe that Caesar has become too powerful and must die for the benifits of ROme
• Cassius is selfish and only cares about himself.
• He is dark and evil
Antonius
• After the death of Caesar, Antonious persuades the people of Rome to join him and go against Brutus' side.
• Antonius is a very adventurous person.
• Antonius' love for Caesar is sincere and loyal.
Calpurnia
• Calpurnia is the wife of Caesar.
• Calpurnia cannot have a baby
• Loyal wife
• Always wants what’s best for her husband. For Ex: She saw a vision in a dream of Caesar’s death, and so she did not want him to go to the Senates on March 15. But as a leader, Caesar did not want to come off as a coward and weak, and so he went.
Symbols Act 1
The following symbols follow the following format:
1. Object
a. Context
b. Importance
1. Crown -
a. When someone is given the crown, they basically become in Control. But that wasn’t the case with Julius. He wanted to stage the whole scene of Mark giving him the crown so that he could show the people that he doesn’t want to be king. He didn’t want them to think of him as a king but Julius also had the power of a king already. But this trick didn’t work so well, especially with Brutus and Cassius; they saw right through it.
b. Having the crown meant that the wearer had all the power in the government. Staging the event of denying the crown is an important scene because it helped plan the eventually decline of the Roman Republic.
2. Ides of March -
a. This is the 15th of March. In Act II, Julius was warned by a soothsayer to beware the Ides of March basically because he was predicting the future and Julius had simply ignored him. Now, what would have happened if Julius actually listened to the soothsayer?
b. On that day, Julius was assassinated by the people of Rome who were plotting to kill him.
3. Thunder-
a.
Cassius believed that this thunder was a sign from the Gods that Julius needed to be eliminated because at the time they were planning the assonated of Julius. This was also part of the sequence of the bad things that were about to happen on the next day, the Ides of March; the day Julius was assassinated.
b. This is important because Cassius choose to plot the death of Caesar because he interpreted the thunder as a sign from the Gods.
4. Blocks and Stones-
a. This was said by a fan of Pompey. He was calling the people who were cheering on Julius Blocks and Stones because they weren’t mourning the death of Pompey. He was basically saying that their hearts were made out of stone because he though they were senseless.
b. This is important because it shows that the people really liked Caesar and were happy that he became ruler of Rome.
5. Mirror -
a. This was a persuasive tactic by Cassius on Brutus. Basically, Cassius was convincing Brutus that he cannot see what everyone else does. Cassius offers to become Brutus’s mirror to help him discover himself. This was one of many persuasive tactics that Cassius did on Brutus to convince him that Julius needed to be killed. And eventually, it happened.
b. This was important because Cassius was a deceitful man. He wanted Caesar to be killed and wanted someone else to do his dirty work who was
Brutus.
Period 4
October 8,2012
Setting and Plot Act 1
Scene 1 Setting – The opening of Julius Caesar is set in a street, in Rome, after the feast of Luprical. Analysis – The celebration is very important to the story and to the common people, because this is the 1st entrance of Caesar after conquering Pompey and winning what was the Civil War. Plot – The actual scene shows workmen dressed in formal attire and celebrating Caesar. The most important dialogue in the scene is the two tribunes expressing their anger and points in which they disagree with Caesar because they strongly supported Pompey.
Scene 2 Setting – Scene 2 continues at the festival with Caesar walking through the town. In the middle of the scene the setting …show more content…
switches. Analysis – This is important because in the first setting of the scene the soothsayer approaches Caesar telling him to “beware the Ides of March”. The second part of the scene Brutus and Cassius talk about Caesar’s power. Plot – The plot of the second scene is very intense. The soothsayer warns Caesar, which Caesar plays off nicely in front of Rome’s common people. Although Caesar does not react to the Soothsayer in front of the people, on the inside he takes what the man said seriously. The second part of scene’s plot could be argued that it is the most important to the story, where Cassius persuades Brutus to think he would be a better leader then Caesar. Cassius goes above and beyond by writing the two names next to each other and crossing Caesar’s name out.
Scene 3 Setting – In scene three, the scene begins with a thunderstorm in the streets of Rome. The Two characters Cassius and Casca are alone talking in a dark ally way. Analysis – This is a crucial setting to the story because that was where Caesars death was partially plotted. Also Cassius and Casca plot how to involve Brutus. The thunderstorm is also important to the analysis because it is a symbol in the story that the conspirators thought was a sign that Caesar will be dethroned. Plot – The plot of scene three is completely focused on Cassius and Casca’s conversation involving Brutus and Caesar.
Quotes Act 1
Act I. Scene ii. Line 21.
Soothsayer is speaking to Ceaser.
"Beware the Ides of March"
Analysis: Translation- "Beware of March 15"
This quote is when the soothsayer warns Ceaser to beware of March 15th, something bad is going to happen. Cassius, Brutus and the other men are going to kill Ceaser on March 15th. This is important because Ceaser is a little superstitious but pushes the soothsayer aside and ignores him.
Act I. Scene ii. Line 151-154.
Cassius is speaking to Brutus.
"'Brutus' and 'Ceaser.' What should be in that 'Ceaser?' Why should that name be sounded more than yours? Write them together: yours is as fair a name.'
Analysis: Translation- "'Brutus' and 'Ceaser.' What's so special about 'Ceaser'? Why should that name be proclaimed more than yours? Write them together- yours is just as good a name."
This quote means that Ceaser and Brutus are equal. Saying that Brutus is just as good if not greater man. This is important because it is when Cassius begins to convince Brutus to get rid of Ceaser.
Act I. Scene ii. Line 250-256.
Casca is speaking to Brutus and Cassius.
"I saw Marc Antony offer him a crown- yet t'was not a crown neither, t'was one of the cornets- and, as I told you, he put it by once. But for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again; then he put it by again; but to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it."
Analysis: Translation- "I saw Marc Antony off him a crown- though it wasn't a real crown, just a small circlet- and, as I told you, he refused it once- though in my opinon he would've liked to have it. Then Antony offered it to him again, and he refused it again (though, in my opinion, he was reluctant to take his hand off it.)"
This quote means that Ceaser refused the crown that would have made him king of Rome. He refuse the crown three times to not look greedy in front of the people. This is important because if Ceaser accepted the crown the senate's would fall and Rome would become a dictatorship.
Act I. Scene iii. Line 9-13.
Casca is speaking to Cierco.
"But never till tonight, never till now, did I through a tempest dropping fire. Either there is a civil strife in heaven, or else the world, too saucy with the gods, incenses them to send destruction."
Analysis: Translation- "But never before tonight, never until now, have I experienced a storm that drops fire.
Either there are wars in heaven, or else the world, too insolent toward the gods, provokes them to send destruction."
This quote means the gods are angry enough to cause destruction and that Cassius and the other men are taking it as a sign to kill Ceaser. This is important because this storm is provoking the men to kill Ceaser.
Act I. Scene iii. Line 95-98.
Cassius is speaking to Casca.
"I know where I will wear this dagger then; Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius. Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; Therein ye gods, you tyrants do defeat."
Analysis: Translation- "I know where I'll wear this dagger, then. I'll kill myself to save myself from slavery. In suicide, gods make the weak strong. In suicide, gods allow tyrants to be defeated."
This quote means that if Ceaser becomes king Cassiu will kill himself to prevent himself from becoming a slave. He doesn't want Ceaser to be king so bad he's willing to kill himself if it does happen.
Julius Caesar Characters
Act One
Scene One
Flavius and …show more content…
Marullus
• The two are Tribunes. Pompey and Caesar got into a civil war and Caesar killed Pompey. The senators were not pleased with this act because if Caesar became ruler, the senators would lose all their powers.
Scene Two
Brutus
• A supporter of the republic who believes strongly in a government guided by the votes of senators.
• While the other conspirators act out of envy and selfishness, only Brutus truly believes that Caesar’s death will benefit Rome.
• Brutus honoring and love for Rome, made it easy for the enemies to manipulate and use him for their own goods.
• Old friend of Caesar
• Betrays Caesar by joining the conspiracy against Caesar.
Caesar
• Caesar wanted to rule Rome but he didn’t want to be seen as ambitious, and so he turned down the crown.
• Caesar and Pompey used to share power over Rome. Then they got into a civil war and Caesar killed Pompey.
• Senators were against Caesar for his act of killing Pompey. If Caesar becomes ruler, then the senators will lose all their powers.
• Caesar was a very superstitious person. For example: The soothsayer told him, something bad is going to happen on March 15 and he was cautious.
Cassius
• Cassius dislikes the idea that Caesar has become powerful in Rome. His persuasion leads Brutus to believe that Caesar has become too powerful and must die for the benifits of ROme
• Cassius is selfish and only cares about himself.
• He is dark and evil
Antonius
• After the death of Caesar, Antonious persuades the people of Rome to join him and go against Brutus' side.
• Antonius is a very adventurous person.
• Antonius' love for Caesar is sincere and loyal.
Calpurnia
• Calpurnia is the wife of Caesar.
• Calpurnia cannot have a baby
• Loyal wife
• Always wants what’s best for her husband. For Ex: She saw a vision in a dream of Caesar’s death, and so she did not want him to go to the Senates on March 15. But as a leader, Caesar did not want to come off as a coward and weak, and so he went.
Symbols Act 1
The following symbols follow the following format:
1. Object
a. Context
b. Importance
1. Crown -
a. When someone is given the crown, they basically become in Control. But that wasn’t the case with Julius. He wanted to stage the whole scene of Mark giving him the crown so that he could show the people that he doesn’t want to be king. He didn’t want them to think of him as a king but Julius also had the power of a king already. But this trick didn’t work so well, especially with Brutus and Cassius; they saw right through it.
b. Having the crown meant that the wearer had all the power in the government. Staging the event of denying the crown is an important scene because it helped plan the eventually decline of the Roman Republic.
2. Ides of March -
a. This is the 15th of March. In Act II, Julius was warned by a soothsayer to beware the Ides of March basically because he was predicting the future and Julius had simply ignored him. Now, what would have happened if Julius actually listened to the soothsayer?
b. On that day, Julius was assassinated by the people of Rome who were plotting to kill him.
3. Thunder-
a.
Cassius believed that this thunder was a sign from the Gods that Julius needed to be eliminated because at the time they were planning the assonated of Julius. This was also part of the sequence of the bad things that were about to happen on the next day, the Ides of March; the day Julius was assassinated.
b. This is important because Cassius choose to plot the death of Caesar because he interpreted the thunder as a sign from the Gods.
4. Blocks and Stones-
a. This was said by a fan of Pompey. He was calling the people who were cheering on Julius Blocks and Stones because they weren’t mourning the death of Pompey. He was basically saying that their hearts were made out of stone because he though they were senseless.
b. This is important because it shows that the people really liked Caesar and were happy that he became ruler of Rome.
5. Mirror -
a. This was a persuasive tactic by Cassius on Brutus. Basically, Cassius was convincing Brutus that he cannot see what everyone else does. Cassius offers to become Brutus’s mirror to help him discover himself. This was one of many persuasive tactics that Cassius did on Brutus to convince him that Julius needed to be killed. And eventually, it happened.
b. This was important because Cassius was a deceitful man. He wanted Caesar to be killed and wanted someone else to do his dirty work who was
Brutus.