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Julius Caesar: A Tragedy
A tragedy is when the hero and protagonist suffers disaster and downfall due to a tragic flaw in their character: Hubris.
There are two kinds of pride: a good kind and a bad kind. Hubris is the bad kind.
There are two kinds of pride: a good kind and a bad kind. Hubris is the bad kind.
Is Caesar a Tragic Hero?
Aristotle: "A man cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall."
So what or who is a tragic hero?
In drama, the tragic hero is a man of noble stature or maintains a high place in society. He is not an ordinary man, but a man with outstanding quality and greatness about him. His own destruction is for a greater cause or principle.
So what or who is a tragic hero?
In drama, the tragic hero is a man of noble stature or maintains a high place in society. He is not an ordinary man, but a man with outstanding quality and greatness about him. His own destruction is for a greater cause or principle.
- His downfall is usually due to excessive pride (hubris)
- He is doomed from the start, he bears no responsibility for possessing his flaw, but bears responsibility for his actions.
- He has discovered fate by his own actions, and not by things happening to him
- He is usually a king, a leader of men - his fate affects the welfare of a whole nation or number of people. Peasants do not inspire pity and fear as great men do. The sudden fall from greatness to nothing provides a sense of contrast.
- The suffering of the hero must not be senseless: it must have meaning!
- (Optional) The hero of classical tragedies is almost all male: one rare exception is Cleopatra, from Antony and Cleopatra
Julius Caesar Pre-Reading Questions
- What qualities should good leaders have? Make a list of legitimate Leadership qualities.
- What could affect a person’s ability to lead?
- What affect does the following have on a person’s ability to lead?
- Domestic Relationships
- Physical Condition
- Athletic Ability
- Gender
- What is a Tyrant?
- What are the characteristics of a Tyrant?
- Make a list:
- What are the qualities of a true friend?
- Make a list:
- What is Loyalty?
- What are things that a person should be loyal to?
- How far would you go to stop a friend from harming your country?
- How far would you got to get revenge on someone for destroying your friend?
- Is there anything for which you would betray your friend?
- To what extent can we control the future?
- How superstitious are you? Do you have luck rituals that you perform before certain occasions?
Project: I Julius Caesar just another High School Plot?
Julius Caesar Adaptation Short Story
After watching the three examples, come up with a plot that loosely follows the plot of Julius Caesar.
Your short story will need the following:
-Tragic Hero:
-Ends in Physical or Social suicide
-Your own setting:
After watching the three examples, come up with a plot that loosely follows the plot of Julius Caesar.
Your short story will need the following:
-Tragic Hero:
- The protagonist must have one flaw that brings about his/her own downfall.
- They must be somebody important
-Ends in Physical or Social suicide
-Your own setting:
- Time period:
- Location:
- Should you give them modern names?
- Should you change their gender or ages?
- 1-2 pages typed
- properly punctuated dialogue
- Short paragraph before the story explaining the concept of your adaptation.