copyright 1999, Sirpa Grierson
Novel Information and Resources:
"Julius Caesar" is perhaps the most universally taught Shakespearian play in American public schools. Consequently the play has a large pool of resources. Some of those resources are wonderful; some aren't' so good. This project provides the researcher with many of the good resources that can be found on the Internet and in scholarly journals. There are links to other web pages that present the researcher with background on Shakespeare's play and on Gaius Julius Caesar the man. Some focus their intent on presenting the play on the stage. Others deal solely with the reading and understanding of the play. The authors of each source are educators and experts in their field, veteran teachers, historians, and directors. Their hard work will provide your work with wonderful insight and fascinating information.
Julius Caesar paraphrase
Livingston, Kathy. "Julius Caesar Paraphrase." Livingston. 2000. http://members.tripod.com/~lklivingston/caesar/ (17 Feb. 2001)
This website contains an easy to read synopsis of each scene and act of the play. The authors also include a Modern English abridgement for every scene. This can be very useful as a supplement for student understanding or just "brushing up" for the teacher. This site has an exhaustive list of other wonderful links to other sites about Julius Caesar.Globenext: The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
Ferguson, Steve, et al. "Globenext: The Tragedy of Julius Caesar." Globenext. 1999. http://library.thinkquest.org/50033/
Globenext created this fabulous site! To use this resource effectively, your computer will need a soundcard, and you may need earphones. Nonetheless, this is the best site for understanding the play as it is portrayed on stage. The editors argue that students too often experience the play only as it is written on a page. Instead, the play was written to be enjoyed in the theatre. On every page, there are audio feeds from several directors, performers and historians with amazing information including producing the play from the text, acting Shakespearian roles and the impact the play has had on subsequent literature and stage. It even includes a teaching the play resources page and discussion forum for teaching Shakespeare and Julius Caesar.The Julius Caesar Site
Crane, Gregory ed. "The Julius Caesar Site." Tufts University. 2001. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/JC/
This website is a very scholarly dissection of the play, its characters and history. The authors relate in great detail the classical sources of the play, the different folio versions, character analysis, historical criticism, and much more. It also includes links to several student projects about the play at Tufts University. This will help any reader dig deeper into the text of the play.Julius Caesar
Hession, Sarah, et al. "Romans: Julius Caesar." Coolmine Community School. http://www.iol.ie/~coolmine/typ/romans/romans6.html
I chose this website because it contains the most extensive research on the actual history of Gaius Julius Caesar, his contemporaries, and his surroundings. It explores the Roman culture from politics to clothing styles. This will be a great resource to understanding the social background of the famous Roman leader.Web English Teacher
"Web English Teacher." 2001. http://www.webenglishteacher.com/
This website is not limited to teaching Shakespeare. There are many resources in nearly every category from poetry to punctuation. Specific information about Julius Caesar is found under the links to Shakespeare. Clicking on Julius Caesar will provide a list of possible lesson plans for teachers to implement into their curriculum. Some simply provide background information ton the Roman leader. Others delve deeper in to the themes of the play. Excellent resource for the teacher.Teacher's Guide to Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Geiger, Georgia W. and Aretha J.S. Reed, eds. "Teacher's Guide to Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare." Learning Network. 2001. http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-3599.html
This website contains an actual lesson unit on Julius Caesar, complete with background, introduction, theme discussions, a synopsis of the play, and quiz questions. The editors took great lengths to compile an extensive bibliography on the play and also teaching the play.Tragic action in Julius Caesar.
Bono, Barbara J. "Tragic Action in Julius Caesar." English Literary Renaissance 24. (1994):449-470.
The renaissance age has defined itself as rebirths of classical cultural forms. Bono's article shows several instances throughout the play where Shakespeare returns to the conventions of Greek tragedy. Bono also argues that Shakespeare's play is among the first to effectively use these conventions by comparing it to other tragedies of the renaissance era.How Roman are Shakespeare's 'Romans'?
Miles, Gary B. "How Roman are Shakespeare's Romans?" Shakespeare Quarterly 40. (1989):257-283.
Studies have shown that Shakespeare used a much wider range of resources than was originally thought. However as many of these sources are uncovered, it becomes apparent Shakespeare filled in the blanks where the sources lack ed social and cultural context. Therefore, modern audiences are left to question, "is this what Romans were really like?" Miles' article explores the "romanness" of the characters in Julius Caesar and other Roman Plays.Brutus: 'Noblest Roman of them All
Levin, Richard A. "Brutus: 'Noblest Roman of them All.'" Ball State University Forum. Spring 1982:15-25.
At the end of the play, Marc Antony hales Brutus as the noblest roman of them all because he is the only conspirator in the murder of Caesar who did it for the good of Rome and not for personal reasons. Levin's article compares the motives of each of Caesar's murderers, and also of the murderers in other roman plays, to those of Brutus, showing the virtue behind his actions.The Crisis of Aristocrat in Julius Caesar
Rebhorn, Wayne A. "The Crisis of Aristocrat in Julius Caesar." Renaissance Quarterly. Spring 1990: 74-111.
In nearly every tragedy, the protagonist is thrust from a high social status to low-and usually to death. However, Rebhorn argues that the tragedy is not found in the death of Caesar, but in the social struggles of the senators who killed him. The aristocracy was threatened by the rise of Caesar into power becoming the main motivation in his murder. Rebhorn focuses his article on the social behavior and political motivation in Caesar's Rome.
February 2001.
Reading Resources and Unit Guide for this Novel