The Violent Rhetoric of Julius Caesar
In this one-time course, students will analyze the rhetoric and persuasive power in two speeches from Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar"
Paul H. The Shakespearean Student
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(52)
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hoursHomework
Students will complete a short worksheet where they analyze both the Julius Caesar speech, and 2-3 modern political speeches such as The Gettysburg Address. They will annotate the use of Ethos (appeal to authority), Pathos (appeal to feelings), and Logos (use of facts and figures). They will then write 2-3 sentences about what the speaker is attempting to make them feel/ do.Assessment
Students will receive credit for asking questions, completing the worksheet, and delivering a line of the speech to the best of their ability.Class Experience
US Grade 8 - 11
This course will be a close reading of a speech from Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar." We will look at the famous "Friends Romans, Countrymen," speech by Marc Antony. I will give a dramatic reading of the speech, then discuss its verse, its use of rhetoric, and the historical al political context of the speech. The students will learn to annotate the speech using Ethos, Pathos, and Logos, the building blocks of persuasive speech. They will then apply these skills to modern-day speeches and examine how they apply persuasive speaking techniques. Finally, I will ask the class to deliver the speech, (line by line if I have a large class), to test their knowledge of oratory. The class will award a best orator, and I will give them a virtual laurel crown. The course will therefore be a combination of acting, analysis, lecture, and a voice and articulation exercise.
Learning Goals
Students will learn the basics of persuasive speaking, rhetorical analysis, oratory, and gain an appreciation for Shakespeare's writing. Topics covered:
-Persuasive Speech
-Ethos, Pathos, Logos,
-Rhetoric
-Roman History
-Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
-Oratory
-Public Speaking
Other Details
Parental Guidance
This play deals with violent revolutions and political assassination. Though Shakespeare doesn't advocate violence, there is a bloody murder in the play which I will reference and may show clips from past production. I will not take any political stance, but I may draw parallels between the Julius Caesar assassination on the steps of the Capital, and the attempted murder of US senators on January 6th.
Supply List
All you need is a working webcam.
1 file available upon enrollment
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined April, 2021
4.8
52reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Mary Baldwin College
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Ashland University
Again, though this play is politically charged, it doesn't advocate violence. I have studied the play, acted in it, and written about it as an educator and an MFA. I have studied the arts of rhetoric, oratory, and persuasive speaking at Mary Baldwin College, and received a Master of Fine Arts in 2011. I have a Bachelors's degree in Theater from Ashland University, where I studied acting, voice and articulation, political theory, and rhetoric.Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$10
per classMeets once
55 min
Completed by 14 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
3-6 learners per class
