of the fine passages of the
play Shakespeare has put in the mouth of Jacques. Why do you suppose he
did this?

Contrast the two dukes. Are they conventional characters, or do they
have distinct personalities? Compare Touchstone with Wamba in _Ivanhoe_.

FORM.--What is the normal meter?

Show how Shakespeare varies the normal line by changing the number of
the syllables; the relative position of the accented and the unaccented
syllables; and the position of the pauses.

What characters always speak in prose? There is no accepted theory to
account for Shakespeare's use of prose, but can you see any difference
in the importance of the thought or in the depth of feeling between
scenes altogether in prose and those altogether in verse?

THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOR.--See outline for the study of _The
Merchant of Venice_, p. 72.

OUTLINE FOR THE STUDY OF JULIUS CAESAR

I. Preparation

Little is required to arouse the interest of any class in the play of
_Julius Caesar_. A brief account of the salient facts of Roman history
that center about Caesar's life, and an interesting account of the man
himself will help the student to an appreciative study.

II. Reading and Study

The purpose of the first and second readings will be the same as that
stated in the previous two outlines.

III. Study of the Play as a Whole

SETTING.--When does the play open? What two events of history has
Shakespeare combined in Act I? Why?

How many days are required for the action of the play?

Show where the scenes follow one another without loss of time, and where
they do not.

How are the descriptions of nature used to make the action more
effective? Compare Shakespeare's use of storm and prodigy in this play
with that in _Macbeth_.

PLOT.--Where did Shakespeare get his material for this play? How has he
modified it? Select two or three important modifications and show why he
made them. In this story of the rise and fall of the conspiracy show by
what successive steps it reaches the highest point in the first scene of
Act III. At this point is our feeling one of sympathy with the
conspirators or of opposition to them? Why? Where does the fall begin?

Trace the successive steps of the fall to the end in the last scene of
Act V.

Does our feeling toward the conspirators change? Why? Compare the
opening scene of this play with the corresponding ones in _The Merchant
of Venice_, and _Macbeth_. Which seems to you th