Julius Caesar, Rhetoric, and Relevance: Shakespeare Uncovered

Learn about how Shakespeare uses rhetoric in his play Julius Caesar in two videos from Shakespeare Uncovered. After the assassination of Julius Caesar, Antony and Brutus both do what they think is best to protect Rome. This resource works best after students have read Act III, sc. 2, to ensure they are already familiar with the speeches of Antony and Brutus before Caesar’s burial. How do the two characters frame their choices through language? How do they persuade or fail to persuade their audience? This resource also addresses how Shakespeare’s use of rhetoric can inform our understanding of how rhetoric is used today. During a time when our sources of information are increasingly fractured and curated, how do we make sense of opinions versus facts? How does rhetoric operate in the realm of social media? Support materials engage students with contemporary connections through discussion questions, teaching tips, and a background essay.

Be sure to read the Background Reading and Julius Caesar, Rhetoric, and Relevance | Shakespeare Uncovered - Activity, along with the other materials under the Support Materials for Use with Students section to fully teach the standard.