English II (on-level): Julius Caesar 3 Speeches and Memorization Tips

To hear the speeches, select the links below:

Cassius: Two Stories

Brutus: The Serpent's Egg

Antony: Funeral Oration

(To download for MP3-player use: right click link, choose "save link/target as".)



MEMORIZATION TIPS

1. Use flash cards. Divide the speech into logical sections. Put the beginnings of sections on one side and the remainder of the lines on the other.


2. Draw a series of pictures that represent your speech or your lines. Remember picture stories from preschool? Be very creative and think of a picture story to go along with your lines. After you've created your picture story, go back and say your lines as you look at the pictures.


3. Say your lines in front of a mirror and move your face or your arms a special way to emphasize specific words or passages.


4. Write out your lines. The act of writing the words provides very strong reinforcement.


5. Carry your script or speech with you at all times and read the full text when you get a chance to get a strong emotional "feel" for it.


6. Get to know your character. Understand why you say and do what you do.


7. Act out your lines as you say them, even if this is an unemotional speech. You can exaggerate your words with dramatic gestures. Of course, you may not want to do this during your actual speech, but you will be thinking about it.


8. Record your lines with exaggerated vocal expressions. You may even want to yell your words. Exaggerations leave big imprints in your brain. Carry your recorder with you and listen to it as often as you can.

Audio Files copyright Caedmon Shakespeare, 1996. Academic Fair Use for student analysis. Do not reproduce or distribute these files.

Memorization tips via about.com