Julius Caesar

    AQA
    GCSE

    William Shakespeare's tragedy depicts the conspiracy against the Roman dictator Julius Caesar, orchestrated by the envious Cassius and the honorable Brutus, who fears Caesar's ambition threatens the Republic. Following Caesar's assassination on the Ides of March, Mark Antony turns public opinion against the conspirators through a masterful funeral oration, inciting a mob. The resulting civil war pits the conspirators against Antony and Octavius. The play culminates in the defeat and suicide of Brutus and Cassius at Philippi, exploring the complexity of political violence, the power of rhetoric, and the tragic consequences of idealism.

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    • Understand key concepts related to Julius Caesar
    • Apply knowledge of Julius Caesar to exam questions

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    • "You have made a good start in analysing [character/theme], but could develop this further by exploring Shakespeare's specific language choices."
    • "Your use of evidence is strong; now focus on explaining *how* this evidence supports your point about [concept]."
    • "Consider how the theme of [theme] is presented differently by various characters to deepen your analysis."
    • "Well done on identifying the irony in [situation]; explore the dramatic purpose of this further."

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