“There was never yet an uninteresting life. Such a thing is an impossibility. Inside of the dullest exterior there is a drama, a comedy, and a tragedy.” -Mark Twain
"Drama": Terminology: Dialogue- A conversation between 2 or more characters.
Foil: Minor character in contrast to the main character; may be comparative to the main character and serves to highlight the main character.
Plot: way in which the events fo a story are arranged. If there are 2 stories, this is called a "double-plot". Subplots are less significant than the main plot.
Climax: the point of greatest tension or importance where the decisive action takes place.
Comedy: events end happily; characters' fortunes are reversed for the better; usu. ends in a marriage or a birth.
Tragedy: play recounting the downfall of an individual.
Tragicomedy: uses elements of both.
Theater of the absurd: drama that discards conventions of plot, character, and motivation in order to depict a world in which nothing makes sense.
Stock character: stereotypical character; ex: nerd, drunk, etc.
Surrealism: movement allowing unconventional use of syntax, chronology, juxtaposition, and dreamlike images (usu. in prose or poetry).
Staging: production of a play in performance; this involves the sets, costumes, lighting, music, etc.
Rising Action: point in which the action builds intensely.
Resolution/Denoument: final stage in plot where actions come to an end and loose ends are tied up.
Prologue: first part of a play when the actor gives background and explanation.
Props: decorations on the stage.
Monologue: extended speech by one character.
Scroll down to see the writing assignment for this unit of study.
Citing plays:
Usually, we have act #.scene#.line#: (Shakespeare 1.2.41-43).
Some plays don't have SCENE numbers, so we use act and line number: (Miller 2.213-215).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPnEFZJafjE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w_LwpFPj_I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AzwOnAgCw8&feature=related
Essay 3 Assignment
In this essay, you will analyze the similarities of the character traits of 3 characters, one from each of the 3 plays we have studied [Death of a Salesman, The Glass Menagerie, & Cat on a Hot Tin Roof].
Paragraph 1 will introduce the characters you are comparing, as well as the premise of the stories they appear in; make sure you provide a “link” (a theme, perhaps) that bridges the 3 works together and gives a context for your comparison. Your thesis should clearly explain in what general way(s) the characters are similar; your body paragraphs should further examine in greater detail those ways. Your thesis statement should NOT say, “these characters have similarities” or “I will compare these characters”. Be sure to include the titles of the plays & authors as part of your introduction, but this information needs to be worked into a bigger sentence; Tennessee Williams wrote Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is NOT an appropriate sentence because it doesn’t establish any argument or premise.
Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 should each begin with a topic statement that sets up the analysis for the paragraph. You can discuss one character per paragraph OR one idea per paragraph while relating the idea to each character. Remember to transition.
The conclusion should firmly establish the connection between the characters and state the value of studying these characters together. What “social commentary” can be gathered from a discussion of these characters? In what way(s) can modern audiences still relate to these characters? What can we learn from them?
Requirements:
MLA Format
2 Pages
Works Cited page that lists all 3 plays
At least 3 correctly cited quotes per body paragraph.
Choices:
1. Willy, Amanda, Big Daddy [the “heads” of the family who are all dealing with family crisis]
2. Amanda, Linda, Big Mama [The matriarchs of the family who have all been abused, who have to find strength]
3. Tom, Biff, Brick [The prodigal sons… all are given responsibilities and roles by their parents which they can’t or won’t uphold; each deals with their own burdens]
4. Laura, Happy, Goober [The “problem” children, the ones who are deemed “weak”]
5. Biff, Big Daddy, Tom [The backbones of the family, the truth tellers]
You must compile your notes and find your citation examples before Monday 12 April. On that day, you will write this essay in class. You can use notes, as well as any rough draft or outline that you bring with you to class that day. It is a hybrid assignment (in/out of class).
Print the graphic organizer; fill it out, and bring it to class on the essay day.
http://freeology.com/graphicorgs/pdf/triplevenn.pdf
