Julius Caesar Exam Study Guide

A collection of vocabulary flashcards relevant to Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, covering literary elements, character traits, and thematic concepts.

Tragic Hero

A character, often of noble birth, who has a tragic flaw that leads to their downfall.

Brutus

A character in Julius Caesar, known as the tragic hero due to his nobility, tragic flaw, and recognition of mistakes.

Stoicism

An ancient philosophy that teaches self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions.

Epicureanism

An ancient philosophy that emphasizes the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain as the highest good.

Allusion

A reference to another work of literature, person, or event.

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows something that the characters do not.

Foreshadowing

A literary device used to give hints or clues about what will happen later in the story.

Symbolism

The use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings different from their literal sense.

Catharsis

The process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.

Rhetoric

The art of persuasive speaking or writing, often utilizing ethos, logos, and pathos.

Personification

Attributing human characteristics to non-human things.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that compares two unlike things directly.

Antithesis

A contrast or opposition between two things.

Aside

A remark made by a character that is heard by the audience but not by other characters.

Loaded Words

Words that evoke strong emotional responses.

Verbal Irony

When a speaker says one thing but means another.

Simile

A figure of speech comparing two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'.

Rhetorical Question

A question asked for effect, not expecting an answer.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear together.