Julius Caesar: A Play for Today

Subject: English Literature and Drama
Level: Secondary
Age Group: 14-16 and 16-18
Order Number: 5312

These materials consider the enduring relevance of Shakespeare’s great play to successive generations, not least of all our own. They can be profitably studied by pupils of secondary school age, as well as by adult students seeking to foster an appreciation of Shakespeare’s work. The materials combine information and exemplification as well as opportunities for reflection, discussion and research and may be circulated to pupils/students for discussion and/or further study.

The historical background to the play is covered: we take an extensive look at key characters and scenes, the theatre of Shakespeare’s day, and the constraints within which the author worked. There is also a section, with exemplification, on how best to address Writing Critical Essays in Drama, when formal assessment is required.

An extensive appendices section covers related issues designed to enhance deeper appreciation and understanding of this important play. There are details about Shakespeare himself, reinforcement of previous references to the rivalry between Caesar and Pompey (necessary for understanding the context of the play as a whole) and a look at Roman social conduct as seen in the notion of “Utramque Partem” (an invaluable tool in understanding the oratorical skills and motivations of the main characters). We also look at aspects of the Roman legacy in our modern everyday lives and culture, and there are key questions about the play as a whole to discuss and answer. At the end there is a scene by scene summary of the plot of the whole play.

By engaging with all these interrelated topics, from within the play and beyond it, pupils and students of all ages will come to a wider and deeper understanding of the inspirations and issues embraced by Shakespeare’s enduring play. “Julius Caesar” is a play of immense significance, indeed “a play for today”. These materials explore why.