Julius Caesar Test Review 2017
Background information:
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Shakespeare – know basic information - study your video background notes
o What time period and where did he live and work?
o View of actors at this time?
o Important aspects of a Shakespearean drama (i.e. what was used to create the production?
What techniques are used to develop characters, etc.?)
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Julius Caesar (historical figure) – study your video background notes
o How was he characterized personally? As a military leader?
o Be familiar with his rise to power. How did he get there? Who did he align with and why?
The Play
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The questions will be broken down by Acts. Be familiar with the major events in each Act and
where they fall within the 5-act structure of the play – before or after Caesar’s murder (the climax)
Know the major characters and how they’re characterized throughout the play. Be familiar with
their words and actions (that contribute to their characterization). Be familiar with the internal &
external conflicts surrounding these characters.
Know who the tragic hero is and how he fulfills that role. What is his flaw?
Be familiar with themes discussed with poster project & how these themes are portrayed in the
text
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Evil acts will always be punished
The downfall of honorable men
Bloodshed leads to further bloodshed
Consequences of pride
Omens/prophecies
Things/people are not always as they seem (deception)
It will be helpful to study the Acts I-III questions from the group activity (see website for
questions) as well as the handout for Acts IV & V (also on my website).
Cold Read passage
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this will be an excerpt from another Shakespeare play. The purpose is to demonstrate your ability
to read closely. You can expect questions regarding tone, mood, characterization, etc.
SAT Vocabulary
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You will need to know the words from VPP lists 7 & 8. This section will be similar to your last
quiz. Words will be used in the context of Julius Caesar.