POLITICS, PATRIOTISM, AND PROTEST OPINIONNAIRE
“JULIUS CAESAR” Anticipation Guide
In the space provided mark whether you agree or disagree with each statement. Mark a “1” if you strongly agree, “2” if you somewhat agree, “3” if you are unsure or neither agree nor disagree, “4” if you somewhat disagree, and “5” if you strongly disagree. On a separate piece of paper, please explain your opinion with detail. Try to write at least a paragraph (5-7 complete sentences) for each. Due Monday, October 25, 2010. I will take this work early as well.
Agree or Disagree
______1. It is never right to kill another person.
______2. Political leaders usually act in the best interest of their countries.
______3. If a political leader has done something wrong, it is all right to get rid of him or her by whatever means necessary.
______4. "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
______5. In certain situations it may be justified for a political leader to bend or break the law for the good of the country.
______6. People should never compromise their ideals or beliefs.
______7. "My country right or wrong" is not just a slogan; it is every citizen's patriotic duty.
______8. No cause, political or otherwise, is worth dying for.
______9. "Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant taste of death but once."
______10. "The evil that men do lives after them; the good is [often buried] with their bones."
______11. Chaos results when lawful social order is broken.
______12. The best intentions of good, noble people can lead to tragedy.
______13. Language is a powerful weapon, and in the hands of a skilled person, it can be used to manipulate others.
______14. Violence and bloodshed can never have morally good results.
______15. Orderliness and stable rule, even though dictatorial, are preferable to chaos.
______16. Although over two thousand years have passed, people have not changed much since Caesar's time.
______17. Power can change a person.
______18. Some things in life just cannot be explained by humans.
______19. Ancient Romans contributed to our knowledge/use of medicine today.
______20. Ancient Romans contributed to our knowledge/use of architecture today.
Additional questions for the anticipation guide are listed below. Please answer these questions on a separate piece of paper as well.
21. Think about the qualities possessed by a good leader. Generate a list of these qualities and choose a leader (from the student body, history, or the contemporary world) who exhibits several of them. Write a couple of paragraphs on that leader based on the list of qualities generated. Your writing should include both qualities the leader possesses as well as those he or she lacks.
22. How far would you go to stop a friend from harming your country?
23. How far would you go to obtain revenge on someone or some group who destroyed your best friend?
24. Is there anything for which you would betray a friend?
25. Which is more important to you, friendship or personal principles? Why?
26. To what extent can we control the future?
27. How superstitious are you? Do you have any good luck rituals that you perform before important occasions?
28. Do you watch for omens before important events?
29. Do you read your horoscope every day, and do you follow its advice? Why or why not?
Themes in “Julius Caesar”
1. The qualities of a good leader is one of the play's important themes. To explore this theme, complete the following:
• Discuss the qualities possessed by a good leader. Generate a list of these qualities and choose a leader (from the student body, history, or the contemporary world) who exhibits several of them. Write a short essay on that leader based on the list of qualities generated. The essay should include both qualities the leader possesses as well as those he or she lacks.
• Bring in articles from current newspapers or magazines focusing on current leaders. Discuss the leaders' strengths and weaknesses as identified in the articles. Decide whether or not the strengths and/or weaknesses are legitimate and relevant, or if they reflect bias on the part of the journalists.
• Make a list of the leadership qualities that the class feels are legitimate, and then make a list of the qualities that they feel are a result of the journalists' bias. Compare and contrast the two lists and compile one list of leadership qualities that the class feels a good leader should have. Prioritize the list.
• Examine the effect a leader's domestic relationships, physical condition, and/or athletic ability may have on his or her leadership abilities. Begin with a class discussion of these issues, and then have students research historical and current leaders who dealt with questions about their leadership abilities because of one or more of these issues. (e.g. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Gerald Ford, Gary Hart, Teddy Roosevelt, John Tower, etc.)
2. Friendship is another major theme in the play. Explore this theme by answering the following questions:
• How far would you go to stop a friend from harming your country?
• How far would you go to obtain revenge on someone or some group who destroyed your best friend?
• Is there anything for which you would betray a friend?
• Which is more important to you, friendship or personal principles? Why?
3. One of the most sensitive issues in the play is suicide. The following activity will help prepare students for this issue:
• Research attitudes toward suicide held by the following cultures: ancient Roman, modern Japanese, and modern American. Compare and contrast these attitudes in class presentations or in written essays.
4. The role of fate and superstition is another theme. The following questions help focus attention on this issue:
• To what extent can we control the future?
• How superstitious are you? Do you have any good luck rituals that you perform before important occasions?
• Do you watch for omens before important events?
• Do you read your horoscope every day, and do you follow its advice?