Julius Caesar
by William Shakespeare
- Grade range
- Grades 9–11
- Age range
- Ages 14–17
- Pages
- 240
- First published
- 1599
- Genre
- Historical Tragedy
- ISBN-13
- 9780743482745
About this book
Roman senators, led by Brutus, assassinate the ambitious Julius Caesar to preserve the Republic — setting off civil war. Shakespeare's dramatization of rhetoric and political violence is a fixture on 9th and 10th grade curricula and cited in Common Core ELA Appendix B.
Themes
- power
- loyalty
- rhetoric
- political violence
- honor
Content notes
- violence
- assassination
Common Sense Media recommends age 13+.
Where this book is assigned
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 9th grade · Floridasource: B.E.S.T. Standards grade 9 rhetoric exemplar
- recommended· 10th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 9-10 drama exemplar
- recommended· 10th grade · Illinoissource: Illinois Learning Standards grade 10 Shakespeare
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is Julius Caesar?
- Julius Caesar is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 9–11. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What curricula assign Julius Caesar?
- Julius Caesar appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Julius Caesar banned in schools?
- Julius Caesar does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
- What themes does Julius Caesar explore?
- Central themes in Julius Caesar include power, loyalty, rhetoric, political violence, honor. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.