Opening Agenda

1. Opening Agenda • Things to Get: • Handout from the table in the front of the room • Notebook paper (2) • Things to Do: • Opener: Modern American Drama • Class work: 1) Notes 2) Lit Circle 3) Script Reading • Closure: Scene Analysis

2. opener • Read the article entitled “Modern Theater” and answer the questions on the back of the page. • Information to help you: • he·don·ism      /hidnɪzəm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[heed-n-iz-uhm] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun 1. the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good. 2. devotion to pleasure as a way of life: The later Roman emperors were notorious for their hedonism. 3) Pursuit of or devotion to pleasure, especially to the pleasures of the senses.

3. Modern American Drama Questions • 1) What four changes did American theater grow out of? • 2) What is meant by the sentence, “increasingly uprooted in the shift from a primarily agrarian to an urban/suburban society”? • 3) Identify two intellectuals in whom American dramatists found inspiration. • 4) What had the individual person been increasingly cut loose from in the Modern Era? • 5) What is meant by sexual hedonism? What caused an individual to be lost? • 6) Describe the hero of the Modern Era. • 7) What did this hero desire? • 8) What provided ideas for provocative structural patterns in American drama? • 9) What four things became an integral part of dramatic scripts at this time? • 10) What is meant by, “the American heart is a universal heart?” • 11) What did Tennessee Williams build many of his themes around?

4. Modern Drama/Theatre Note title

5. Tennessee Williams • 1911-1983 • Thomas Lanier Williams • New Orleans, LA • “Tennessee” – father’s birthplace • Plays reflect stories from his own life • Used film techniques in his plays (thought it made the play better for the audience) • Pulitzer prize for, A Streetcar Named Desire, in 1947 • Emotional deterioration of Blanche du Bois • Known for: strong characters, creative presentations, excellent dialogue and perceptive portrayal of American life, especially in the south.

6. Famous Works: A Streetcar Named Desire • Date: 1947 • Tragedy • Theme: Reality vs. Idealism • How would the play influence the audience: It would make audiences take a good look at their own lives (is someone really living the good life?) • Interesting Fact: Story of a woman who tries to escape the reality of her life by going to visit her sister and her husband.

7. Arthur Miller • 1915-2005 • Married to Marilyn Monroe 1956 to 1961 • Famous works include: Death of a Salesman – 1949 The Crucible – 1953 • Known for allegory, expressionism and realism

8. Famous Work: Death of a Salesman • Date: 1949 • Theme: Explores the ideas of: • Death • Family • Broken American Dream • How the play would influence audiences: It would be a reality check; no matter how hard someone works, sometimes they can’t become prosperous • Tragedy • Interesting Facts: Story of a salesman who decides that he is worth more to his family dead than alive

9. The Crucible • 1953 • Set during the colonial Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts • Tells the story of a group of young girls who are accused of practicing witch craft who are then persecuted for their alleged behavior • Served as a political allegory on 1950’s McCarthyism and persecution based on fear of communism

10. Lorainne Hansberry • 1930-1965 • Chicago, Illinois • Most famous work: • A Raisin in the Sun • First African-American woman to write a drama performed on Broadway

11. Famous Work: A Raisin in the Sun • Date: 1959 • “living room” drama • Theme: dealt with strengths and weaknesses that families experience • How would the play influence audiences: Focused on the need to protect one’s self-respect and dignity of others • Interesting Facts: Known for adding realism to characters of the 1960’s

12. Application: Lit Circles • Read your part description on the other page. • Read the summary and work on your role alone. • When time is called, you will come together as a group and discuss your summary. • This is where the majority of your group work points come from. • You have 20 minutes to complete this activity. (10 min to read; 10 to discuss)

13. Application- Part Deux: Circled Out • Lit Circle= Completed • Divide into smaller groups within in your list circle according to the scripts you have. Once this is done, complete the following: • Read through your script. • Next, assign a role to each member of the group. • Finally, read through your script as if you were your character. REMEMBER… you will perform this scene next class period, so use this time wisely =)

14. Exit Slip • One piece of paper per group • Group answers the following questions about your play and scene: • play title • short scene description • play theme • conflict in scene • individual roles (tell me who is playing who) • Homework: bring in anything school appropriate next class that will help you portray your character

15. Exit Slip- Viewing Questions to Answer • For A Streetcar Named Desire • How does Blanche’s character show the theme of reality vs. idealism? Cite examples from the scene. • For Death of a Salesman • How does the scene with the sons show the idea of the broken American dream? Cite examples from the scene. • For A Raisin in the Sun • Why is A Raisin in the Sun considered a “living room drama”? Cite examples from the scene.