Resources
Bibliography for Teachers
Bloom, Harold. Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human. New York: Riverhead Books, 1998.
The chapter on Julius Caesar in this book explores the extent to which Caesar and Brutus’ relationship impacted Brutus’ choice to murder Caesar.
“Loyal,” Merriam Webster, 2015, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loyal.
MacDonald, Chris. “Moral Decision Making – An Analysis,” Ethicsweb.ca, June 6 2002, http://www.ethicsweb.ca/guide/moral-decision.html.
A webpage with a introductory explanation of how morals impact our decisions.
Parr, Susan Resneck. The Moral of the Story: Literature, Values and American Education. New York: Teachers College, Columbia University, 1982.
A book that considers how the change in students’ morals over time has led to a change in their interpretations of literary works. Parr includes observations from her own teaching about the effects of these changes in her students, then provides an analysis of several canonical pieces of literature through a moral/value framework. Though Julius Caesar is not considered specifically, reading about other texts through this lens may help you create questions for discussion of the play.
Schanzer, Ernest. The Problem Plays of Shakespeare. New York: Schocken Books, 1963.
The essay on Julius Caesar is mainly an analysis of Caesar – considering whether he was truly a tyrant or the victim of a horrible act of treason. This text will supplement the teacher’s understanding of how different interpretations of Caesar and the other main characters can be supported with evidence.
Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar, ed. By S.P. Cerasano. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2012.
This critical edition includes several essays of criticism about the play, including Shakespeare’s source material, Plutarch’s Life of Julius Caesar.
Westacott, Emyrs. “Moral Relativism,” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, http://www.iep.utm.edu/moral-re/.
A lengthy explanation of moral relativism.
Reading List for Students
Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar, ed. By S.P. Cerasano. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2012.
Materials
- Copies of Julius Caesar, including photocopies of key scenes for close-reading and annotating (specifically Antony’s funeral speech)
- Evidence collection sheet or notebook for character tracking
- Chart paper for tracking beliefs from opening discussion as well as evidence/discussion of those beliefs as they arise in the play
- Poster or chart paper for culminating projects
- Shared-inquiry discussion materials, including sentence starters, timer, and a tracking sheet for participation
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