35 pages 1 hour read

Joseph Addison

Cato, a Tragedy

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1713

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Essay Topics

1.

Cato, a Tragedy was a hugely influential text during the American Revolution and among the Founding Fathers; George Washington reportedly had the work performed for soldiers at Valley Forge. Write an essay that connects Cato to the American Revolution and considers why the Founding Fathers would have been drawn to Addison’s play.

2.

Julius Caesar is often referenced in Cato, though he is never seen. What do you learn about Caesar and his reign as emperor through the play?

3.

Contrast the play’s “good” characters of Cato, Portius, and Juba against the “villains” Sempronius and Syphax. What does Addison reveal about the key themes of honor and virtue through these groups?

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 35 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 8,450+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools