Julius Caesar • 2013 - Chicago Shakespeare Theater

58
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
24
25
Act 2
AS A CLASS
26
27
This Just In!
At the end of Act 1, review the action so far and, by using no more than ten quick “sound bites,” summarize what’s
happened. You can either use newspaper-type headlines to grab our attention, or better yet, use rap or rhyme to
encapsulate Act 1. CONSIDER COMMON CORE ANCHOR STANDARDS R2, R3, SL4
Love, Hate and Popularity
You have not met Julius Caesar. In the opening scene, it is obvious that the characters possess different views of
this leader. Marullus and Flavius consider him a threat. But many citizens think he is a great ruler. Think of reasons
why people hold different views about the same person. What factors might influence their opinions? Choose a
well-known person who has lived during the past 50 years—one who is admired by some people and hated by
others. You may choose a politician, musician, actor, business leader, sports star, etc. Give two differing opinions
of this person and tell why they vary so. CONSIDER COMMON CORE ANCHOR STANDARDS SL1, SL4
Interview Calphurnia
Calphurnia is one of the great roles in Julius Caesar, but she’s given very few words. Fully aware of the danger
to her husband, she is unable to make him listen to her fears. As a class, interview a classmate who agrees to
speak as Calphurnia (and it doesn’t have to be a girl). How does Calphurnia feel, for example, when her husband
announces in public that she’s barren? When he dismisses her dreams? Does she feel that Caesar respects
her? How much does she actually suspect about the assassination? Use the text as your evidence to support
your portrayal. CONSIDER COMMON CORE ANCHOR STANDARDS L1, R3, SL3
To Cut or Not to Cut?
Practically every Shakespeare film and staged production cuts the text—sometimes by a line here and there, and
sometimes by entire sections. If you had to cut one or two entire scenes from Act 2 to make your production of
Julius Caesar shorter than the three-or-so hours it takes to perform the play in its entirety, which scene would you
cut? Why? Would anything be lost by the cutting of it? Anything gained? CONSIDER COMMON CORE ANCHOR
STANDARDS R2, R5
Julius Caesar • 2013