1) Julius Caesar has been called the "gateway" from Shakespeare's history plays to his five great tragedies. Would you agree with this assertion and, if so, why?

2) Compare Julius Caesar to Richard II. In what ways are they similar?

3) Examine the character of Brutus. Is he truly virtuous? What negative qualities of Brutus cause his own destruction?

4) Examine the sources Shakespeare used in constructing Julius Caesar. What did Shakespeare change and why?

5) Discuss the role of Cassius in the play. What motivates him?

6) Explore the theatrical history of Julius Caesar. Why do you think the play has been produced countless times in the tumultuous 20th century?

7) Some would say that Julius Caesar is ultimately a play about the tragedy of lost morality in the political sphere. Would you agree?