Paired Texts > Excerpt from The Tragedy of Julius Caesar: Act I, Scene II

by William Shakespeare

1599

We've identified these texts as great options for text pairings based on similar themes, literary devices, topic, or writing style. Supplement your lesson with one or more of these options and challenge students to compare and contrast the texts. To assign a paired text, click on the text to go to its page and click the "Assign Text" button there.

9th Grade Informational Text 1130L
The Life of Julius Caesar
  • David White
  • 2014

The is article summarizes the biography of the Roman general Julius Caesar (100-44 BCE), including: his early life, his rise to power, his contribution to the Roman Empire, and his assassination by a group of his fellow politicians on the ides of March (March 15th), 44 B.C.

Pair “The Life of Julius Caesar” with “Excerpt from The Tragedy of Julius Caesar: Act I, Scene II” to provide students with additional information about the historical figure who inspired the play. Ask students to discuss how much of the excerpt from William Shakespeare’s play is historically accurate. After reading more about the leader that Caesar was, why do students think Cassius and Brutus thought he was an unfit ruler? Was he qualified to lead? Why or why not?

10th Grade Drama Non-Prose
Excerpt from The Tragedy of Julius Caesar: Act III, Scenes I & II
  • William Shakespeare
  • 1599

In this excerpt from Shakespeare’s historical play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, the titular Roman dictator faces death and betrayal on the Ides of March.

Pair “Excerpt from the Tragedy of Julius Caesar: Act III, Scenes I & II” with “Excerpt from The Tragedy of Julius Caesar: Act I, Scene II” to provide students with additional sections from the play. Ask them to discuss how Act II, Scenes I & II further develop Julius Caesar and Brutus’ characters. How does each excerpt present the theme of friendship? What kind of leader was Caesar? Why did Brutus help kill Caesar, despite the love he had for him?