shakespeare's julius caesar antony funeral oration act iii scene 3 pathos / Lesson Plan

Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to analyze and understand the use of pathos in Antony's funeral oration in Act III, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The student will also develop skills in identifying emotional appeals and their impact on an audience.

Materials and Prep

• Notebook and pen/pencil for taking notes
• Printed copy of Act III, Scene 2 of Julius Caesar
• Highlighters (optional)
• Access to a quiet space for reading and discussion

Before the lesson, ensure that the student has read or is familiar with the context of Julius Caesar and the events leading up to Antony's speech. Understanding the characters and their motivations will enhance the analysis of pathos.

Activities

1. Reading and Highlighting

   The student will read Act III, Scene 2 aloud, highlighting phrases and words that evoke strong emotions. This will help them identify specific examples of pathos in Antony's speech.

2. Pathos Analysis Chart

   The student will create a chart listing examples of pathos from the speech, categorizing them by the type of emotion they evoke (e.g., sadness, anger, nostalgia). This will help organize their thoughts and deepen their understanding of emotional appeal.

3. Role Play

   The student will perform a short role play, acting as Antony delivering the speech to an imaginary audience. This will give them a chance to experience the emotional weight of the words and understand how delivery can affect the message.

4. Group Discussion

   If possible, the student can invite family members to join a discussion about the speech. They can share their insights on how Antony's use of pathos affects the crowd and why it is effective. This encourages critical thinking and verbal expression of ideas.

Talking Points

• "What is pathos? It's the emotional appeal in rhetoric. Antony uses it to sway the crowd's feelings."
• "Consider how Antony refers to Caesar's love for the people. Why do you think he emphasizes this?"
• "Look at the moment when he shows Caesar's wounds. How does that imagery affect the audience?"
• "Antony repeats the phrase 'Brutus is an honorable man.' What effect does this repetition have on the audience's perception of Brutus?"
• "How does Antony's tone change throughout the speech? What emotions does he express?"
• "Why do you think Antony chooses to show the will of Caesar? What emotional response is he trying to elicit?"
• "Discuss the importance of timing in Antony's speech. When does he choose to pause for effect?"
• "How does the crowd's reaction change during the speech? What specific lines trigger this change?"
• "Why is it important for a speaker to connect with their audience emotionally?"
• "What role does storytelling play in Antony's speech? How does it create a connection with the audience?"
• "Can you think of modern examples where pathos is used in speeches or advertisements? How does it work?"
• "How does understanding pathos help us become better communicators?"
• "Why do you think Shakespeare chose to have Antony deliver such a powerful speech? What was his purpose?"
• "What can we learn about persuasion from Antony’s speech?"
• "How does Antony's use of pathos relate to the theme of loyalty and betrayal in Julius Caesar?"