Roman History, Shakespeare, and Julius Caesar: Key Concepts and Terms

When was The Tragedy of Julius Caesar written?

In 1599.

What is the main theme of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar?

The struggle for power and wealth, politics, corruption, and betrayal.

What did Julius Caesar desire that threatened the Roman Senate?

To rule Rome as a dictator.

What form of government did Rome establish after the Tarquins?

A republic.

What were the two main components of the Roman Republic's government?

Two consuls and a senate.

Who were the members of the first triumvirate?

Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus.

What led to the civil war between Caesar and Pompey?

Pompey feared Caesar's growing power and popularity.

What title was Julius Caesar given after returning to Rome?

Dictator for Life.

What did many senators fear about Caesar's rule?

That he wanted to become emperor and restore a monarchy.

What is a soliloquy in Shakespearean plays?

A long speech given by a character alone on stage to reveal private thoughts.

What is dramatic irony?

When the audience knows more than the characters in the play.

What is the significance of the Globe Theater?

It was where many of Shakespeare's plays were performed.

What was the seating arrangement for different classes in the Globe Theater?

Groundlings stood for one cent, gentry paid more for seats, and nobles sat in chairs on the side of the stage.

What is blank verse?

Unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter.

What are the five elements of Shakespearean tragedies?

Very important people, very important things, a tragic hero with a tragic flaw, magic or fantasy, and the hero dies.

What is a monologue?

A longer speech made by one person on stage to others.

What is an aside?

A character's quiet remark to another character or the audience.

What did Romans believe about fate?

That fate controlled one's life.

What was the role of superstitions in Roman society?

Romans believed future events could be seen in dreams, stars, and unnatural occurrences.

What was the outcome of Caesar's return to Rome after defeating Pompey?

He was accepted by the people for his military abilities and became Dictator for Life.

What did the senators plot against Julius Caesar?

To assassinate him to prevent him from becoming emperor.

What is the structure of a Shakespearean sonnet?

14 lines long, written in iambic pentameter, consisting of 3 quatrains and 1 couplet.

What types of writings did Shakespeare produce?

Sonnets, histories, tragedies, and comedies.

What is the typical ending of a Shakespearean comedy?

It usually ends well, often with at least one marriage.

What is a tragic flaw?

A personality defect that causes the protagonist's downfall.

What was the significance of the assassination of Julius Caesar?

It marked a turning point in Roman history and the end of the Republic.