G10U5_ST_Shakespeare V_168-175.fm Page 168 Thursday, March 13, 2008 8:03 PM
Name
Date
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act V, by William Shakespeare
Literary Analysis: Shakespeare’s Tragic Heroes
Traditionally, a tragic hero is a person, usually of noble birth, who suffers a catastrophe.
The hero’s choices leading to the catastrophe may reflect a personal shortcoming, such as pride,
called a tragic flaw. While Shakespeare’s tragic heroes incorporate these traditional elements,
he develops them in new ways:
• He adds complexity to his heroes, who may have opposing desires and who may suffer hesitation and doubt before acting.
• He presents a character’s inner turmoil directly to the audience through devices such as
the soliloquy, a speech in which a character speaks thoughts aloud.
• He often focuses on the choices characters make rather than on fate.
• His characters’ problems often result from the difference between the reasons for an action
and its outcome.
DIRECTIONS: Answer the questions to analyze the ways in which Brutus is a tragic hero.
1. A. In Act I, Scene ii, what opposing feelings about Caesar caused inner turmoil for Brutus?
B. How did Cassius persuade Brutus to overcome his doubts and participate in the assassination plot? Why was Brutus wrong to have trusted Cassius?
2. A. In Act II, Scene i, what reasons did Brutus give for not killing Antony?
B. In Act III, Scene i, what decision did Brutus make about Antony?
C. How did both of these decisions about Antony help bring catastrophe for Brutus?
3. With his dying words, Brutus unknowingly reveals a tragic flaw. Read the following lines.
Then, explain why it is a shortcoming to believe that everyone is loyal and “true.”
My heart doth joy that yet in all my life
I found no man but he was true to me. (Act V, Scene v, ll. 34–35)
4. How do Brutus’ character traits and decisions in the play mark him as a tragic hero?
Unit 5 Resources: Drama
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
168