Julius Caesar Duet Presentation

Julius Caesar Act II Scene II

lines 58 till 107

Partners with Janera, who will play Caesar, while I will play Decius Brutus

In this scene, Decius Brutus tries to persuade Caesar to go to the Capitol. Moments before Decius arrives, Caesar's wife, Calpurnia, convinces Caesar to stay home due to a nightmare she had dreamt of the night before. Decius uses flattery to re-interpret Calpurnia's dream. He re-interprets the nightmare as a vision of prosperity and good fortune that Caesar brings to Rome. In the end, Caesar agrees to go to Capitol with Decius.

The Significance of this scene is to show the characterization of Decius Brutus. This scene shows how well Caesar is known by the Senators, and how Decius is able to flatter Caesar. Decius shows that he is a fast thinker as well as a very calculative person who knows his friends very well. The scene also shows that Decius is very observant as he knows the personal Caesar, whose mind is easily changed by flattery.

DECIUS BRUTUS

Caesar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Caesar:
I come to fetch you to the senate-house.

CAESAR

And you are come in very happy time,
To bear my greeting to the senators
And tell them that I will not come to-day:
Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser:
I will not come to-day: tell them so, Decius.

CALPURNIA

Say he is sick.

CAESAR

Shall Caesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,
To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth?
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.

DECIUS BRUTUS

Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so.

CAESAR

The cause is in my will: I will not come;
That is enough to satisfy the senate.
But for your private satisfaction,
Because I love you, I will let you know:
Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home:
She dreamt to-night she saw my statua,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood: and many lusty Romans
Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it:
And these does she apply for warnings, and portents,
And evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day.

DECIUS BRUTUS

This dream is all amiss interpreted;
It was a vision fair and fortunate:
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance.
This by Calpurnia's dream is signified.

CAESAR

And this way have you well expounded it.

DECIUS BRUTUS

I have, when you have heard what I can say:
And know it now: the senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
If you shall send them word you will not come,
Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be render'd, for some one to say
'Break up the senate till another time,
When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams.'
If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper
'Lo, Caesar is afraid'?
Pardon me, Caesar; for my dear dear love
To our proceeding bids me tell you this;
And reason to my love is liable.

CAESAR

How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!
I am ashamed I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.

Learning Profiles

During class period, we had the opportunity to talk about our learning profiles. We went over the 5 senses of our body, and to find out which side we were more dominant in for the ear, hands, feet, eyes and brain. To find out, we took many tests and experiments to be sure of our results. When we were about to conclude the class, I found out that I was a Profile B learner, with my left-brain more dominant, allowing me to be a Logic Dominant Learner.

Looking over at the packet of paper we received, and comparing them to my own characteristics, I learn best when… I work while I move around either walking around the classroom, taking a look at what others do, or working with my hands on, meaning with experiments, labs, and activities. It also helps for me to have an instruction sheet with me including the directions for the specific assignment. This is useful for me so I am able to look over the instructions and work in an orderly manner, while going through each and every step. I find it extremely useful if I'm able to make connections with what I hear around me to what I see. For me to be able to study and learn better, I need to be able to make notes so I can remember it easier.

Since I’m more of a Logic Dominant Learner, I need to work on my Gestalt side of my brain. For this, it would help for me to brainstorm my ideas more, and to make more posters so I am able to unleash my creativity. Also, I need to work in groups more often, so I can listen to others’ ideas and connect them with some of my own. To help me become more of a Gestalt learner, I should be more physically active, in non-competitive sports such as swimming, running, walking and hiking. I should also be included in more activities that require me to imagine and visualize images in my mind.

Any strategies to help me learn better are for me to sit on the left side of the classroom, so I am able to use my dominant ear to hear what the teachers are saying. It would also be nice if I were able to have breaks in the middle of class to absorb what I have heard and to walk around. I would like to be able to have instructions sheets with me for all of our assignments, so I know what to do, and in what order to do them in. Seeing things on the board, as well as seeing an example of what we are doing is also very helpful for me when I work.

I would like my teachers to know that I am quite a visual and audio learner, as I have to see something in order to understand it. For me, listening to something doesn’t help me understand it better, but it helps to remember it better, and for a longer period of time. Also, it would be really helpful for me to be able to take notes during class about what we are learning and if the teacher doesn’t go through what we are learning too fast, so I have time to write it down. As well as taking notes, I would like to be able to have group discussions, or class discussions about what we are learning about so I have able to see other’s opinions on the same topic as mine. I also would want to have more class activities where we move around, walk, act or try out our own activities so it is easier for me to remember and absorb what we are learning.

Brunelleschi's Dome- How do the actions and decisions of people effect change?

While Brunelleschi was building the dome for the Florence Cathedral, he encountered many different problems. These problems were encountered by Brunelleschi taking many risks are having courage. He was brave enough to take all those risks to further continue on his dome. Brunelleschi was very committed to finishing his dome, no matter what happened. The Florentines were unsure about the design of Brunelleschi's dome, but their opinion changed, once Brunelleschi used the shape of an egg to design his dome. Once again, Brunelleschi took a rick, as he was not completely sure his dome would work. He spent a lot of time working on it, perfecting every single area. After the whole building was complete, the Florentines respected Brunelleschi for his creativity, courage and skill. Brunelleschi did not take that much interest into what people thought of him, I think this takes a large position to how he completed the dome.

Where do New Ideas Come From?

As I think about all the ideas that just suddenly come to my mind, it makes me wonder, 'Where DO these ideas come from'. Sometimes, I think that they just suddenly appear, out of random and for no reason whatsoever. Other times, I think that you get ideas from seeing things. For example, by reading a book, you get an idea on how to start your story or how the plot goes. Now that I thoroughly think it through, I believe that we get ideas from both seeing things and our brain's creativity. Some of you might disagree, because your not a person who has to see something to remember it. Maybe you hear some one's idea but change it so that's its new and is yours. That is very possible too. Also, for me, I am only able to think of new ideas when I'm in a quiet area with a calm state. It is not possible for me to think of many ideas when I'm stuck in chaos. The easiest time of day for me to get new ideas is at night. I'm not sure why this is, but when I'm just about to sleep, tons and tons of new ideas start flooding into my brain, so much so that I am not able to sleep. This is my personal opinion, but 'What about you? When do you get fresh new ideas? Where do you think they come from?'

What Makes a Good Story?

Looking back on the short story unit, I find the story, “Lamb to the Slaughter” the most amusing read. This is because the exposition of the story is very strong. It seems like a normal introduction to any story while giving you a sense that something is wrong. The way Roald Dahl wrote it is very captivating and it reels you into the story. Also, there seems to be more than one climax in the story. The plot is very interesting as there are more than one spot in the story where all the action happens. It was hard to tell when the action was falling as there was something else coming up that reached the climax again. The resolution to the story leaves the reader very blank and puzzled. Much like a cliffhanger, so they want more to the story than what is given.