Julius Caesar

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

by William Shakespeare

Daily Journals by Scene

© Read and Write with Mrs B

Expectations for Journals

-Be descriptive!

-The purpose of these journals is to get you thinking.

-Use examples when you can, as providing proof of why you’re right will help make your
responses more convincing.

-Provide context for your examples. Make sure your audience understands the situation
you’re describing or direct evidence you’re citing.

-Be clear!

-Your sentences should make sense. Use correct grammar, capitalization, and punctuation.

-Re-read your sentences out loud, exactly as you’ve written them. Do they make sense? Do
you trip over your words in certain places? Make corrections as needed.

-Make sure your ideas flow in a logical order. Does one sentence clearly lead into the next?
Rearrange and combine sentences as needed.

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Before We Read

Describe a time when you felt truly conflicted about making a decision.

-What reasons contributed to your choice?

-Who did you talk to before making this decision? Why that person?

-Was your choice based on moral, logical, and/or emotional reasons? Why?

-When it was all said and done, do you think you made the right choice? Why
or why not?

-What were the consequences of your choice? (Can be good or bad!)

Note: The decision you describe should be an important one, not a mundane, everyday decision.

© Read and Write with Mrs B

Act I, Scene 1

Consider the ways in which government leaders accept and relinquish
power. This can be at any level of government.
- Behaviorally, what do we expect of our elected leaders during

periods of transition?

- Why is it important to ensure a peaceful transition of power? Is it

ever appropriate to protest a transition of power? If so, when?

- What happens when a transition of power is not peaceful or smooth?

What long-term e�ects have we witnessed in history, either in the
United States or other parts of the world?

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Act I, Scene 1

Consider the following lines, spoken by Flavius at the end of the scene:

“These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wing
Will make him fly an ordinary pitch,
Who else would soar above the view of men
And keep us all in servile fearfulness.”

(Shakespeare 1.1.72-75)

1.What does Flavius want to convey about Caesar’s growing power? Break down (and
name!) the figurative language used in these lines.

2.

What does Shakespeare want to demonstrate to his audience? Consider why authors
use figurative language. What is he trying to emphasize?

© Read and Write with Mrs B

Act I, Scene 1

Consider the ways in which government leaders accept and relinquish power. This can be at
any level of government.

-Behaviorally, what do we expect of our elected leaders during periods of transition?

-Why is it important to ensure a peaceful transition of power? Is it ever appropriate to
protest a transition of power? If so, when?

-What happens when a transition of power is not peaceful or smooth? What long-term
e�ects have we witnessed in history, either in the United States or other parts of the
world?

-How do we see this play out in Act I, Scene 1 of Julius Caesar with Flavius and
Marullus? Do you agree with their choice?

© Read and Write with Mrs B

Act I, Scene 2

Consider a time when you’ve heard multiple versions of the same
story. (Think: gossip in the hallway.)
- How did you decide what to believe?
- Do you think that what you decided to believe was the truth?
- How sure are you that this truth was the actual truth?

© Read and Write with Mrs B