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Reading schedule · Grades 8–12

Julius Caesar in 5 Weeks: A Reading Schedule

A five-week plan for reading Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, one act a week. Each week gives the reading, a short summary of what happens, three discussion questions and the escape room that goes with it. For grades 8–12, in class or at home.

Pacing

One act a week suits most high school classes. Read the act across the first part of the week, in class or at home and ideally with some of it read aloud, then use the questions for discussion or a short written response and finish the week with the escape room. Acts vary in length, so give a long act an extra lesson if it needs one: nothing is lost by stretching a week.

Each week ends with an escape room on that week's reading: seven self-checking locks that run in any browser, with no logins, and progress is saved, so a room can be finished another day. Every room has free taster locks to try, and members can open them all.

Print this schedule Escape rooms on Julius Caesar

Week 1: Act 1

Read: Act 1

The tribunes scold the Roman crowd for celebrating Caesar's triumph, and a Soothsayer warns Caesar about the Ides of March. Cassius works on Brutus's fears about Caesar's power, Casca reports that Caesar was offered a crown three times, and in a night of storms and omens Cassius plans to win Brutus to the conspiracy.

Discussion questions

1. What different reasons do Cassius and Brutus have for fearing Caesar?
2. How does Cassius flatter and persuade Brutus?
3. What do the storm and the omens add to the mood of the play?

Escape room: Beware the Ides (lockedlessons.com/rooms/julius-caesar-act-1/)

Week 2: Act 2

Read: Act 2

Alone in his orchard at night, Brutus decides that Caesar must die, and the conspirators meet at his house. Portia pleads to share her husband's secret; Calphurnia dreams of Caesar's statue running with blood and begs him to stay at home, but Decius gives the dream a flattering meaning and brings Caesar to the Capitol.

Discussion questions

1. Is Brutus's reasoning in the orchard convincing?
2. Why does Brutus refuse to kill Antony as well, and is this a mistake?
3. How do Portia and Calphurnia show the private cost of public events?

Escape room: The Orchard at Night (lockedlessons.com/rooms/julius-caesar-act-2/)

Week 3: Act 3

Read: Act 3

Caesar ignores the warnings and is stabbed at the Capitol. Antony makes peace with the conspirators and wins leave to speak at the funeral; after Brutus explains his reasons to the people, Antony's speech and Caesar's will turn the crowd, and the mob kills Cinna the poet by mistake.

Discussion questions

1. Compare the speeches of Brutus and Antony: what makes Antony's more effective?
2. Why does Brutus let Antony speak?
3. What does the death of Cinna the poet show about the crowd?

Escape room: Friends, Romans, Countrymen (lockedlessons.com/rooms/julius-caesar-act-3/)

Week 4: Act 4

Read: Act 4

Antony, Octavius and Lepidus draw up a list of enemies to be put to death. At Sardis, Brutus and Cassius quarrel in Brutus's tent over money and honour, make peace, and Brutus reveals that Portia is dead; they decide to march to Philippi, and Caesar's Ghost appears to Brutus that night.

Discussion questions

1. What does the scene with the list of names show about the new rulers of Rome?
2. What is the quarrel between Brutus and Cassius really about?
3. Why does Brutus insist on marching to Philippi, and why does Cassius give way?

Escape room: The Quarrel at Sardis (lockedlessons.com/rooms/julius-caesar-act-4/)

Week 5: Act 5

Read: Act 5

The generals trade insults before the battle at Philippi, and Brutus and Cassius say farewell. Cassius, wrongly believing Titinius captured, has himself killed and Titinius follows him; Lucilius is taken while pretending to be Brutus, and Brutus runs on his own sword before Antony speaks in his praise.

Discussion questions

1. How do misunderstandings shape the deaths in this act?
2. Why does Antony praise Brutus at the end?
3. Who is the real hero of the play: Caesar, Brutus or someone else?

Escape room: The Field of Philippi (lockedlessons.com/rooms/julius-caesar-act-5/)