Act 1 Scene 2 – Cassius’s speech

1. Act 1 Scene 2 – Cassius’s speech

2. Writing Practice • Your Benchmark 3 involves reading a Shakespearean speech, and analyzing the tone • In order to practice this, we will be doing close reading practices

3. First focus - Brutus • Brutus’ Main subject • Brutus’ tone toward subject • What devices/elements (DIDLS) does Brutus use to convey his tone towards his subject?

4. Second focus – Cassius • Cassius’ main subject • Cassius’ tone toward subject • What devices/elements does Cassius use to convey his tone towards his subject?

5. So what does it all mean? THEME • What theme about fairness or bitterness is portrayed through this interaction (humanity as a whole; ie, what motivates people to behave in a certain way)? Explain. • Are these characters typical or atypical? • Are these good things, or bad things?

6. Time to write!

7. Writing prompt for B3 • Prompt: In a well-developed paragraph, identify the purpose of _____’s speech and analyze the devices/elements used to create _______’s tone toward his subject. Then, explain what theme this interaction conveys about humanity. Include a thesis statement and cite at least two pieces of evidence for support of your analysis. To get ready, we will practice this together

8. Prompt: Identify the purpose of Cassius’ speech to Brutus (Act 1, Scene 2) and analyze the devices/elements used to create Cassius’ tone toward his subject. Then, explain what theme this interaction conveys about humanity. • Step 1 – Figure out his purpose (what does he want? What is he trying to do?) • Step 2 – Identify tone • Step 3 – Determine DIDLS (devices/elements) • Step 4 – Determine theme

9. First step: what is it that Cassius wants? What is it he’s trying to accomplish? • Persuade/convince someone? • Understand something? • Explain something? • Something else?

10. Second step: what is the tone? • Cassisus’s speech is about Caesar, but how does he feel about it? • Positive? • Negative? • Neutral?

11. Now, find evidence to support it • So Cassius is pretty bitter/angry in regards to Caesar, what are 2 pieces of evidence that displays this? • Remember, just cite Cassius • Pick strong evidence that shows he’s bitter/angry • Then, determine the DIDLS

12. DIDLS – remember the connotation! • Diction – what’s the connotation of the word? How does this reveal his feelings? • Imagery – what image is being created? How does that reveal feelings? • Details – what types of things is he focusing on? How does that reveal feelings?

13. Sample evidence • “And this man/ Is now become a god, and Cassius is/ A wretched creature and must bend his body/ If Caesar carelessly but nod on him” (38-42). Diction – negative and complaining • Wretched – Cassius hates himself • Must bend – he has to bow, it’s not his choice • Carelessly – Caesar can easily do whatever he wants, whether or not it is just

14. What’s the theme? What’s the message? • So Cassius is bitter; is this typical? • Does it make sense that he behaves this way? • Is it a warning? If so, of what?

15. Outline: • 1.) Thesis statement: In the play Julius Caesar, Cassius uses ______________ to create a _____________ tone towards ______________ proving ________________________________________________________. • 2.) Provide context for speech • 3.) Lead-in and quotation 1 using transition + context + speaker, “…,” (Citation). • 4.) Analyze evidence (2-3 sentences) – Explain how the device is used at this moment in the piece? How does this device convey the tone? HOW does this TONE help the reader understand the author’s theme/message? Explain. • 5.) Lead-in and quotation 2 using transition + context + speaker, “…,” (Citation). • 6.) Analyze evidence (2-3 sentences) – Explain how the device is used at this moment in the piece? How does this device convey the tone? HOW does this TONE help the reader understand the author’s theme/message? Explain. • 7.) Concluding statement – Wrap up, restate main idea

16. Start Outline 1.) Thesis statement: In the play Julius Caesar, Cassius uses ____[DIDLS]____ to create a _____________ tone towards __[subject]___ proving___________________. • Put together everything you guys have talked about! • In the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Cassius uses complaining diction and contrasting details to create a bitter tone towards Caesar proving that jealousy, when it festers, leads to negative outcomes.

17. 2.) Provide context for speech Since there’s no mention here of Cassius wanting to kill Caesar, that shouldn’t be in your context! Stick with just what is written here • What is happening in this excerpt • Focus just on what you know from here • Who is talking to who? • Is there a problem? If so, what is it? • What’s the topic he discusses? • Ex: Cassius is talking with Brutus and is describing his problems with how high Caesar has been elevated recently. While the crowds cheer in the distance, Cassius describes all the ways he is just as good as Caesar, yet Caesar still gets more recognition.

18. 3.) Lead-in and quotation 1 using transition + context + speaker, “…,” (Citation). • Use TCS– transition, context, speaker • Paraphrase what immediately precedes your evidence • After describing how he saved Caesar from drowning, Cassius complains, “And this man/ Is now become a god, and Cassius is/ A wretched creature and must bend his body/ If Caesar carelessly but nod on him” (38-42).

19. 4.) Analyze evidence (2-3 sentences) – Explain how the device is used at this moment in the piece? How does this device convey the tone? HOW does this TONE help the reader understand the author’s theme/message? Explain. First, explain the DIDLS (use it by name) • Ex: Cassius uses complaining diction when he describes himself as “wretched” because the negative connation of wretched conveys that Cassius views himself as bad and lower than Caesar, which he does not like. Then, explain the tone • Ex: As a result, Cassius is bitter because he focuses on complaining about his status, and uses negative words like “must bend” to show that he cannot fight back against this lower status, which further enrages him and brings out his bitterness. THEN explain the theme • Ex: As a result, Cassius’s bitterness reveal what jealousy does to a person, and how it festers inside of them until they do something to deal with it.

20. 5.) Lead-in and quotation 2 using transition + context + speaker, “…,” (Citation). Make sure you transition to this next piece of evidence!!! • Use TCS– transition, context, speaker • Paraphrase what immediately precedes your evidence • Furthermore, Cassius describes how Caesar is now as big as a Colossus, but he doesn’t have to be: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars/ But in ourselves, that we are underlings./ Brutus and Caesar—what should be in that “Caesar”?/ Why should that name be sounded more than yours?” (63-66).

21. 6.) Analyze evidence (2-3 sentences) – Explain how the device is used at this moment in the piece? How does this device convey the tone? HOW does this TONE help the reader understand the author’s theme/message? Explain. First, explain the DIDLS (use it by name) • Ex: Cassius uses contrasting details to emphasize that Cassius and Brutus are just as worthy as Caesar. By stating “The fault… is not in our stars/But in our selves, that we are underlings” emphasizes that nothing is stopping them from being equal to Caesar except that they allow it. By illustrating that their names should be sounded the same, Cassius focuses on these contrasting details to show their circumstances are related. Then, explain the tone • Ex: Through these juxtaposed details, Cassius’s bitterness is displayed due to his perceived equality with Caesar, but his reality that he is lower than him THEN explain the theme • Ex: As a result, Cassius’s bitterness reveals that perceived inequality breeds resentment and jealousy, and causes a relationship to turn toxic.

22. 7.) Concluding statement – Wrap up, restate main idea • Restate your thesis • Use a concluding transition • As a result/ in conclusion/ therefore • Therefore, Cassius’s use of Cassius uses complaining diction and contrasting details reveals his bitter tone towards Caesar proving that jealousy, when it festers, leads to negative outcomes.

23. All together! In the play Julius Caesar, Cassius uses complaining diction and contrasting details to create a bitter tone towards Caesar proving that jealousy, when it festers, leads to negative outcomes. Cassius is talking with Brutus and is describing his problems with how high Caesar has been elevated recently. While the crowds cheer in the distance, Cassius describes all the ways he is just as good as Caesar, yet Caesar still gets more recognition. After describing how he saved Caesar from drowning, Cassius complains, “And this man/ Is now become a god, and Cassius is/ A wretched creature and must bend his body/ If Caesar carelessly but nod on him” (38-42). Cassius uses complaining diction when he describes himself as “wretched” because the negative connation of wretched conveys that Cassius views himself as bad and lower than Caesar, which he does not like. As a result, Cassius is bitter because he focuses on complaining about his status, and uses negative words like “must bend” to show that he cannot fight back against this lower status, which further enrages him and brings out his bitterness. As a result, Cassius’s bitterness reveal what jealousy does to a person, and how it festers inside of them until they do something to deal with it. Furthermore, Cassius describes how Caesar is now as big as a Colossus, but he doesn’t have to be: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars/ But in ourselves, that we are underlings./ Brutus and Caesar—what should be in that “Caesar”?/ Why should that name be sounded more than yours?” (63-66). Cassius uses contrasting details to emphasize that Cassius and Brutus are just as worthy as Caesar. By stating “The fault… is not in our stars/But in our selves, that we are underlings” emphasizes that nothing is stopping them from being equal to Caesar except that they allow it. By illustrating that their names should be sounded the same, Cassius focuses on these contrasting details to show their circumstances are related. Through these juxtaposed details, Cassius’s bitterness is displayed due to his perceived equality with Caesar, but his reality that he is lower than him. As a result, Cassius’s bitterness reveals that perceived inequality breeds resentment and jealousy, and causes a relationship to turn toxic. Therefore, Cassius’s use of Cassius uses complaining diction and contrasting details reveals his bitter tone towards Caesar proving that jealousy, when it festers, leads to negative outcomes.