forum I need help with translating and "analyzing" Shakespeare PLEASE!
Started by Deleted user
tune

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Deleted user

Here are some quotes I need translated and "analyzed."
Specific instructions on the assignment:
The following quotes that I have given you are crucial to your understanding of the play. For that reason, I would like you to take a closer look at them by completing a double-entry journal. The first thing that I would like you to do for each quote is to translate–put the quote in your own words. After you have translated the quote, pick one of the following strategies to help you analyze the quote further:

  1. Connect: Connect personally with what you’re reading. Think of similarities between the descriptions in the selection and what you have personally experienced, heard about, and read about.
  2. Question: Question what happens while you read. Searching for reasons behind events and characters’ feelings can help you feel closer to what you are reading.
  3. Evaluate: Form opinions about what you’ve read, both while you’re reading and after you’ve finished. Develop your own ideas about characters and events.
    Your response must completely fill up the box. This shows me that can have an analytical conversation about the text without my help.

Now for the quotes:
“Et tu, Bruté?—Then fall, Caesar.”
-Caesar (Act III, Scene i)

“Be patient till the last.
Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my
cause, and be silent, that you may hear: believe me
for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that
you may believe: censure me in your wisdom, and
awake your senses, that you may the better judge.
If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of
Caesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Caesar
was no less than his. If then that friend demand
why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer:
–Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved
Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and
die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live
all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him;
as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was
valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I
slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his
fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his
ambition. Who is here so base that would be a
bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended.
Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If
any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so
vile that will not love his country? If any, speak;
for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.”
-Brutus (Act III, Scene ii)

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest–
For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men–
Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.”
-Mark Antony (Act III, Scene ii)

ANY help is appreciated! Tysm!

@Mercury Beta Tester

SparkNote's No Fear Shakespeare blog translates Shakespeare plays to Modern English. I have linked the blog for Julius Caesar.
SparkNotes has other helpful resources like character and plot summaries, it will really help you in general.

@Mercury Beta Tester

If you are doing an essay/exam on Julius Caesar here's some other information for later:

  • Freytag's Pyramid
    Almost every Shakespearean play is divided into this 5 act structure and Julius Caesar is no exception. It is divided into:
    1. Exposition (Act I - Backstories and meetings)
    2. Rising Action (Act II)
    3. Climax (Act III - I haven't read or studied Julius Caesar, so I'm guessing this would be when he is assassinated)
    4. Falling Action (Act IV)
    5. Denouement (Act V - Everything is resolved, though that doesn't mean it's necessarily a happy ending)

This would definitely show to your teacher that you are analysing the play in an advanced way.


Overarching themes to consider:

  • Betrayal
  • Evolution of Caesar's and/or Brutus' characters

There may also be sub plots where characters are in different places. For instance, in The Tempest (which I have studied), there are 3 sub plots involving 3 separated groups of people on an island. The plots are 'Love', 'Revenge' and 'Comedy' and it is important to note how they tie into each other and into Freytag's Pyramid.


This may be interesting to consider and analyse in an exam: Why did Shakespeare deviate from what actually happened? Why did he change historical facts for the play? For dramatic and story telling reasons?

@Mercury Beta Tester

No problem! Shakespeare can be quite hard to understand at first, but I think his works can be seen as really meaningful and beautiful when you get past the 'study' part of it.

@HighPockets group

"E tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar."
Translation:
"You too, Brutus? Then I die."
Things to Think About:
How does this quote show the relationship between Caesar and Brutus?
Do you think that Brutus regrets what he did?
Should Caesar forgive Brutus?
Why do you think that Shakespeare had Caesar announce his death?

Deleted user

Sorry if this is too much, but do you think you could help me out with the longer quotes? I'm honestly so confused…