To ask for your help with Shakespeare's Julius Caesar ...

[Demerara1]

Sorry, I know it's a bit random for AIBU, but I'd really appreciate your help.
I work in a support role at a secondary school. Part of my timetable involves working with a disengaged young person of below average ability, who can display challenging behaviour. He is lovely though!
I'd like to help him develop a Julius Caesar inspired board game, as they're studying the play in English (Year 8).
I'm thinking that we could have the usual steps forward when good things happen, forfeits, steps backward when disaster befalls etc. The only problem is that I don't know the play at all.
Could anyone help with this? So for example, 'Calpurnia had a bad dream about you and begs you to stay home. Go back 2'.
I've probably even got that wrong!
Educational but fun/gory is key

Thank you loads from me and B.

Get him to make a cartoon strip of the play. A square for each scene which focuses on the main point in that scene. If you don't know the play, Google it. You should find a summary of each scene. Once he's made a cartoon, get him to tell you about it. Then you can design a board game using that information

You could look on Quizlet and Kahoot for ideas.

If you go to rsc.org.uk then search Julius Caesar various resources come up in their Shakespeare learning zone.

OP, you sound great, by the way.

Try asking ChatGPT for a summary of the plot and key scenes. This is the answer I got

"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare is a tragedy that revolves around the conspiracy against Julius Caesar, his assassination, and the aftermath. Here's a plot summary along with a list of key scenes:
Plot Summary:
Act 1:
The play opens with Caesar's triumphant return to Rome after defeating Pompey's sons in battle. The people of Rome celebrate Caesar's victory, which causes concern among some senators, including Cassius and Brutus, who fear Caesar's ambition for absolute power. Cassius, manipulating Brutus's fears and sense of honor, convinces him to join a conspiracy to assassinate Caesar.
Act 2:
The conspirators meet and finalize their plans. Brutus, though torn between loyalty to Caesar and his love for Rome's well-being, agrees that Caesar's death is necessary for the good of the Republic. Meanwhile, Caesar's wife, Calpurnia, has a dream warning of Caesar's murder, but Caesar is persuaded by Decius Brutus to ignore it and attend the Senate.
Act 3:
On the Ides of March, the conspirators carry out the assassination in the Senate. Caesar is stabbed multiple times, with Brutus delivering the final blow. After the assassination, Mark Antony, Caesar's loyal friend, asks permission to speak at Caesar's funeral, which Brutus reluctantly grants. Antony's funeral oration turns the public against the conspirators, and a civil war looms on the horizon.
Act 4:
Antony, Octavius Caesar (Caesar's adopted son), and Lepidus form a triumvirate to oppose the conspirators. Brutus and Cassius, now on the defensive, gather an army in the hope of maintaining their power. Meanwhile, tensions rise between Brutus and Cassius due to personal conflicts and disagreements over strategy.
Act 5:
The forces of Antony and Octavius clash with those of Brutus and Cassius in the Battle of Philippi. Despite their earlier disagreements, Brutus and Cassius put aside their differences to lead their army. In the heat of battle, both Cassius and Brutus suffer defeats. Cassius, believing Titinius has been captured, commits suicide. Later, believing that all is lost, Brutus asks his servant to assist him in his own suicide. Antony, upon finding Brutus's body, pays tribute to his noble character.
Key Scenes:
Act 1, Scene 2: Cassius persuades Brutus to join the conspiracy against Caesar.
Act 2, Scene 1: Brutus's internal struggle with his decision to join the conspiracy.
Act 3, Scene 1: The assassination of Julius Caesar in the Senate.
Act 3, Scene 2: Antony's funeral oration, turning the citizens against the conspirators.
Act 4, Scene 3: Brutus and Cassius's heated argument before the Battle of Philippi.
Act 5, Scene 1: The Battle of Philippi, where Brutus and Cassius face off against Antony and Octavius.
Act 5, Scene 5: The final scene, where Brutus commits suicide, and Antony praises his noble character.
These scenes are pivotal in the development of the plot, characters, and themes of betrayal, honor, and the consequences of political ambition.

Showing the young person how to access this kind of information. For themselves might be helpful

Adding that the answer be for a young person, changed the result to

Sure! "Julius Caesar" is a play by William Shakespeare about the assassination of the Roman dictator, Julius Caesar, and its aftermath. Here's a simplified version of the plot and some key scenes:
Plot Summary:
The play is set in ancient Rome. Julius Caesar has become very powerful, and some senators, including Cassius and Brutus, fear that he will become a tyrant and destroy the Roman Republic. They decide to assassinate Caesar to prevent this.
Key Scenes:
The Soothsayer's Warning (Act 1, Scene 2):
• A soothsayer warns Caesar to "Beware the Ides of March" (March 15th), but Caesar ignores the warning, believing himself to be invincible.
The Conspiracy Forms (Act 1, Scene 2-3):
• Cassius begins to convince Brutus, a close friend of Caesar, that Caesar's ambition is dangerous for Rome. He suggests that they should kill Caesar for the good of the republic.
The Assassination (Act 3, Scene 1):
• The conspirators, including Brutus, meet Caesar at the Senate. They stab Caesar to death, and Brutus delivers the famous line: "Et tu, Brute?" meaning "Even you, Brutus?"
Marc Antony's Speech (Act 3, Scene 2):
• After Caesar's assassination, Marc Antony, Caesar's loyal friend, gives a speech at his funeral. His speech turns the people of Rome against the conspirators by cleverly using rhetoric.
Brutus' Speech (Act 3, Scene 2):
• Brutus also gives a speech at Caesar's funeral, explaining why they killed Caesar. He convinces the people that they did it for the good of Rome.
The Battle of Philippi (Act 5, Scene 1-5):
• A civil war breaks out between the conspirators led by Brutus and the forces of Octavius Caesar (Julius Caesar's adopted heir) and Marc Antony. The play ends with the deaths of Brutus and Cassius, leaving Antony and Octavius in control.
Themes:
• Betrayal: Caesar's assassination by his close friend Brutus.
• Power and Ambition: Caesar's ambition and the conspirators' fear of his power.
• Fate vs. Free Will: Caesar's belief in his invincibility despite warnings.
This play is full of political intrigue, powerful speeches, and tragic consequences. It explores themes of power, friendship, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions.

Thank you all!

I don’t know the play but would sound a note of caution trusting ChatGPT. It’s known to provide answers that seem convincing, but it can get things wrong or downright “hallucinate” (make up answers).
For example, the two summaries above are in parts contradictory. Also, surely, the famous line “Et tu, Brute” would have been spoken by Caesar rather than Brutus himself?
Apologies if this is a naive question but why wouldn’t you read the actual text if you’re teaching someone about it?

Here’s a scene-by-scene summary provided as a teaching resource by the Globe Theatre https://teach.shakespearesglobe.com/julius-caesar-synopsis

Here’s the full play text, searchable and with a synopsis:
https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/julius-caesar/read/3/1/?q=Et%20tu%20brute#line-3.1.85
(this bit shows the context of the “Et tu, Brute” quote)

I’m finding it a bit worrying how much people seem to trust ChatGPT or other AI bots! Wrongly attributing the “Et tu, Brute” quote to Brutus himself is pretty bad… but because ChatGPT’s “tone of voice” sounds authoritative people don’t question it.
Machinesplaining…

Infamy, infamy, they've all got it infamy

So from memory -

Caesar has a triumph (good) some people of Rome (I think Marcellus and Flavius, check) are furious and take down the decorations

Mark Antony is running a race (good) and while everyone is watching Cassius works on getting Brutus to agree Caesar is a tyrant (bad)

Mark Antony offers Caesar a crown three times (bad) which he rejects (good)

Brutus ponders what to do in a soliloquy. Caesar is his friend (good) but a king is bad for Rome (bad)

Cassius and the other conspirators arrive and convince Brutus to kill Caesar (bad) They also want to kill Mark Antony but Brutus refuses (good)

Caesar is killed (bad)

Mark Antony arrives and is very distressed (bad) He puts on an act that he understands why Brutus did what he did (bad) Brutus agrees to let Antony speak at the funeral (good)

Antony speaks and emerges to be a powerful orator who turns the crowd against the conspirators (good)

Antony and Octavius Caesar name men to be killed (bad)

Brutus and Cassius quarrel and make up (good / bad) Brutus’ wife Portia has committed suicide (bad)

Brutus sees Caesar’s ghost who tells him he will see him at Philippi (bad)

Brutus and Cassius and Antony and Octavius exchange insults (bad) and a battle is imminent

Cassius is killed (bad) Brutus says he ‘will find time’ to mourn him. (That line came back to me years later when my dad died. ‘I owe more tears to this dead man … I will find time, Cassius, I will find time.’)

Brutus is defeated. He asks his servant Lucullus to help kill him but Lucullus kills himself instead (good - I know not really but shows the loyalty Brutus inspires in others)

Brutus commits suicide (bad)

Antony covers Brutus’ body with a purple cloak (good) and acknowledges that Brutus acted with good intentions (good) and that he will be given a proper funeral (good)

Hope that helps somewhat. I may have mixed up when the ghost appears. I think it is after Brutus and Cassius’ quarrel but am not 100% sure.

When I was a teen, we had some kind of "translation" of Julius Caesar into very colloquial modern English and it was hilarious. I wonder if you could use something like that to get your ideas started for the game?

I'd also be tempted to do the game from the point of view of the conspirators, but that might just be me. So Caesar being warned to stay home is bad, Caesar deciding he's not going to listen is good, Mark Anthony saying you're an honourable man is good - oh, hang on, no it isn't, etc. Partly because IIRC Caesar dies less than halfway through the play so you'd be able to cover more of it if you focus on the conspirators.

One of the best lines in cinema history

Watch the BBC Animated Tales. You’ll get the gist. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7DtJkeMK0yU

Naive, maybe a bit
My timetable is already rammed (I already do a lot for these kids outside of school) and I'm not his teacher.

Thanks again everyone!

When I was a teen, we had some kind of "translation" of Julius Caesar into very colloquial modern English and it was hilarious. I wonder if you could use something like that to get your ideas started for the game?

I'd love this! It would be right up his street. I've tried googling 'Julius Caesar retold for kids' and similar, but no joy. I'll try another search

Julius Caesar was a badass who makes Putin look like a tobacconist. If that isn't something to pique a disaffected youths interest, maybe I am dead already.

This sounds like a great chance to shatter the "history/Shakespeare" are boring myths. All power to you OP.

Asterix may help too😀

This is why I loathe that Checktrade advert, 'I'm Julius Caesar a Roman emperor'. No he wasn't! Caesar was prevented from forming a dynastic power house by staunch Republicans Brutus and the co-conspirators. The first acknowledged emperor was Octavian who became Augustus.

I think these Roman kinds of power play - Republican vs Imperial power - would be good for a modern young people's board game; less so the suicide themes.

Horrible Histories is great for a 3 minute break for your student.

This is why I loathe that Checktrade advert, 'I'm Julius Caesar a Roman emperor'.

(thread divergence) There are plenty of other reasons to despise Checkatrade

Oh yes. I'm a Checkatrade representative, best played by a cowboy. But we've settled on Julius Caesar to show you how dead inside you'll feel after you've had the 'work' done and got the final invoice.

I've been racking my brains to try and remember the title but I can't. It had a green cover and that's all I can remember.

OP Here you are - a version in cartoon/graphic novel form, for teens:

https://primarybooks.co.uk/products/julius-caesar-graffex-paperback-william-shakespeare-author-michael-ford-retold-by-li-sidong-illustrator?variant=32683932942413

It's one of a series of classic texts - some of the other titles might be useful one day.

Don't wish to sound patronising, but what you are doing to help this pupil sounds fantastic.