2/3: Do Now: 1. Get a worksheet & a playbook from the front table  and check it out with me at my desk 2. Make sure your Modernism worksheets and “Araby” are attached to 7L-7R OR turn them in if they aren’t graded 3. Enter into your TOC: 2/3 8L-8R Drama Notes

Introduction to Drama Notes 8L – 8R

What is Drama? Drama is a type of literature that is primarily written to be performed for an audience. When reading a play, it is important to keep certain features of drama in mind. Some of these features relate to drama as literature; others reflect its character as a performance. Drama is a type of literature that is primarily written to be performed for an audience. When reading a play, it is important to keep certain features of drama in mind. Some of these features relate to drama as literature; others reflect its character as a performance.

History… Greek Drama B.C. Greek Drama B.C. Medieval: The Middle Ages AD Medieval: The Middle Ages AD Elizabethan & Jacobean Elizabethan & Jacobean Restoration & 18 th Cent. Drama Restoration & 18 th Cent. Drama Romantic Era Romantic Era Modern Era 1850-Present Modern Era 1850-Present (note that this is slightly different than Modern Literature…) (note that this is slightly different than Modern Literature…)

Types of Drama- Tragedy Tragedy: A play in which the main character experiences disaster, but faces this downfall in such a way as to attain heroic stature.* Tragedy: A play in which the main character experiences disaster, but faces this downfall in such a way as to attain heroic stature.* Even though Tragedies are “ gloomy ” they are triumphant, because they inspire greatness as human beings can be seen as heroes even in defeat. Even though Tragedies are “ gloomy ” they are triumphant, because they inspire greatness as human beings can be seen as heroes even in defeat.

Comedy Comedy closes with a peaceful resolution of the main conflict.* Comedy closes with a peaceful resolution of the main conflict.* High Comedy: The humor arises from subtle characterization, social satire, and sophisticated wit. High Comedy: The humor arises from subtle characterization, social satire, and sophisticated wit. Low Comedy: Emphasizes absurd dialogue, bawdy jokes, visual gags, and physical humor.* Low Comedy: Emphasizes absurd dialogue, bawdy jokes, visual gags, and physical humor.*

Types of Comedy Romantic Comedy: The main characters are lovers, and the plot tends to follow the pattern of “ boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl again. ” Romantic Comedy: The main characters are lovers, and the plot tends to follow the pattern of “ boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl again. ” Satiric Comedy: Uses humor to ridicule foolish ideas or customs with the purpose of improving society. Satiric Comedy: Uses humor to ridicule foolish ideas or customs with the purpose of improving society. Comedy of Manners: Satirizes the vices and follies of the upper class.* Comedy of Manners: Satirizes the vices and follies of the upper class.*

Additional Forms of Drama Farce: Relies on exaggeration, absurdity, and slapstick Farce: Relies on exaggeration, absurdity, and slapstick Straight Drama or Drama: Deal with serious subjects, but do not always end in disaster. Straight Drama or Drama: Deal with serious subjects, but do not always end in disaster.

Elements of Drama External Conflict: Pits a character against nature or fate, society, or another character External Conflict: Pits a character against nature or fate, society, or another character Internal conflict: Between opposing forces within a character. Internal conflict: Between opposing forces within a character. Protagonist: The central character of the play and often undergoes radical changes as the action progresses.* Protagonist: The central character of the play and often undergoes radical changes as the action progresses.* Antagonist: The character who opposes the main character* Antagonist: The character who opposes the main character*

Protagonist

Antagonist

Foil: A minor character whose traits contrast sharply with those of the protagonist Foil: A minor character whose traits contrast sharply with those of the protagonist Dialogue: Conversations between characters Dialogue: Conversations between characters Monologue: A long speech spoken by a single character to himself or herself, or to the audience Monologue: A long speech spoken by a single character to himself or herself, or to the audience Soliloquy: A monologue in which a character speaks his or her private thoughts aloud and appears to be unaware of the audience. Soliloquy: A monologue in which a character speaks his or her private thoughts aloud and appears to be unaware of the audience.

Aside: a short speech or comment delivered by a character to the audience, but unheard by the other characters who are present. Aside: a short speech or comment delivered by a character to the audience, but unheard by the other characters who are present.

Conventions of Drama Cast of Characters: listed in the beginning of the play, before the action starts. Cast of Characters: listed in the beginning of the play, before the action starts. Act: a major division of a play Act: a major division of a play Scenes: sub-division of an act Scenes: sub-division of an act Stage Directions: a dramatist ’ s instructions for performing a play Stage Directions: a dramatist ’ s instructions for performing a play Usually in italics and are performed rather than being read. Usually in italics and are performed rather than being read.

Death of a Salesman Written in 1949 Written in 1949 Won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for best play Won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for best play Main characters: The Loman Family: Willy, Linda, Biff, and Happy Main characters: The Loman Family: Willy, Linda, Biff, and Happy Setting: Late 1940s; Willy Loman's house; New York City and Barnaby River; Boston Setting: Late 1940s; Willy Loman's house; New York City and Barnaby River; Boston Rich with social commentary about the working class of America and The American Dream of the time Rich with social commentary about the working class of America and The American Dream of the time

Arthur Miller Arthur Miller Born October 17, 1915 Died: February 10, 2005

Arthur Miller: Interesting Facts American playwright and essayist American playwright and essayist One of the most notable and prominent playwrights of the 2oth Century. One of the most notable and prominent playwrights of the 2oth Century. Won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama Won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama Many of his plays reflect characters from his own personal life Many of his plays reflect characters from his own personal life Was, at one point, married to Marilyn Monroe Was, at one point, married to Marilyn Monroe

Driving Question* How does Arthur Miller use themes of Modernism in Death of a Salesman to depict and comment on American life and society of the time period?

Doas Pre-reading Worksheet pg. 9L Doas Intro Quickwrite pg. 9R What pressures do you feel from American society? Relationships? Family? How are the pressures of today both similar and different than the early 1900’s? SimilaritiesDifferences

DoaS Text Log: page 10L-10R One page for each topic, label all as page 10 One page for each topic, label all as page The benefits and consequences of the American Dream 2. Anxiety and isolation within the individual psyche 3. Disillusionment 4. Disintegration of social norms (family, government, politics, and religion). Page #Character(s)Textual example

DoaS Text Log page 11L-11R ½ page for each of the 4 main characters: ½ page for each of the 4 main characters: Willy, Linda, Biff, and Happy Main, bulleted attributes of the character, like a character sketch. Main, bulleted attributes of the character, like a character sketch. Include the page number of where you got that information. Include the page number of where you got that information.

2/4: The “Two-Minute Play” Write a script for a “two-minute play” that includes the following elements of drama: 1. Dialogue 2. Characters and/or a narrator 3. Stage directions (written and performed) 4. Either internal or external conflict 5. Either a protagonist or an antagonist* 6. Some connection to ONE of the Modernist themes (anxiety/isolation, disillusionment, disintegration, the American Dream) Groups of 3-4. Everyone should have a script! - Take a picture You will perform your play tomorrow!

Example: “Day 1” MS. JENNINGS: [standing at the front of an empty classroom, pacing, speaking to herself] Hello, everyone. My name is Ms. Jennings and I am so thrilled to be your teacher this year.[Frazzled] Yo, homies, this class is gonna be dank, cuz you know I’m chill! [Rolls eyes] No, no. [stands up straight and frowns] I am Ms. Jennings. Now, take a seat, look to the board, open your notebook. [sighs, and walks to the side of the stage as Students enter the room. Desperately, to herself,] What am I going to say? STUDENTS: [bustling in noisily] I have Mr. Foley 3 rd period…so tired…Where’s your locker?...detention.. MS. JENNINGS: Welcome! [pauses – no one hears her, student continue to talk] Hello!... Class… Ladies and Gentlemen… [looks into the audience as the lights fade to black. Softly] Help…

2/8: Quickwrite pg. 12L 1. Write about a moment of enlightenment or an “Ah-Ha!” moment that you’ve experienced. What caused or triggered this moment for you? 1. About life, relationships, your future calling, education, family, purpose, personal strengths or weaknesses, etc… 2. What situations cause the moments? What are some different reactions people may have to these epiphanies?

2/8 1. Sketch the DoaS Set as described in the Stage Directions (worksheet in notes) 2. Log descriptions of the main characters

2/9: 12R Quickwrite Chart: Changes 7 th Grade MePresent-Day Me 28 Year-old Me Willy’s vision of Biff and his hopes for his son are based on the past, and Biff’s high school self. 1. Brainstorm some characteristics of who you were as a 7 th grader, who you are now as a senior, and who you envision yourself to be at age 34, focusing on the changes between those versions of yourself. 2. What aspects of yourself haven’t changed and/or do you hope stay the same ?

2/16: Quickwrite pg. Brainstorm about situations that cause you stress. How do you deal with them? What situations cause your parents/guardians stress? How do they cope with stressful situations? Brainstorm about situations that cause you stress. How do you deal with them? What situations cause your parents/guardians stress? How do they cope with stressful situations? Stress-causing situations How to cope: ME PARENTS

2/16: End of Act 1: Recap Complete the following prompt for each of the 4 members of the Loman family: Willy, Linda, Biff, and Happy. *Include responses on the respective character sketch pages on 11. Complete the following prompt for each of the 4 members of the Loman family: Willy, Linda, Biff, and Happy. *Include responses on the respective character sketch pages on How do you feel about the character of ______ by the end of Act 1? Why? How is ______ involved in the themes of Modernism?

2/18: Exit ticket: Driving Question* Respond to the driving question for this unit (below) using details from what we have read this far: Respond to the driving question for this unit (below) using details from what we have read this far: How does Arthur Miller use themes of Modernism in Death of a Salesman to depict and comment on the American life and society of the time period? How does Arthur Miller use themes of Modernism in Death of a Salesman to depict and comment on the American life and society of the time period?

3/2-3/3: Death of a Salesman Socratic Seminar Focus Questions/Statements: Family life has the greatest impact on a person’s overall perspective The disintegration of a family unit can, and will ruin an individual’s perspective Do the consequences of the American Dream outweigh the benefits? Is Linda a positive example of a lead female character or a negative one? How is the identity struggle a reflection of the Modernist perspective? Discussion Grading Criteria: 1. Claim = 1 pt 2. Evidence = 2 pts 3. Unique question = 1 pt 4. Language / Responding to others = 1 pt 5. Disproving/refuting a counterclaim = 1 pt *Max out at 12 points!

3/3: Death of a Salesman Socratic Seminar Reflection pg. 15L (Get stamped when done!) Respond to the following prompts within 2-3 sentences each. 1. How do you think you performed in the Socratic Seminar? Why do you think so? 2. What claims or opinions were strong or were well-supported? 3. Which topic did you enjoy discussing the most? Why? 4. What did you learn about the characters or the topics through the Socratic Seminar? 5. What was your favorite part of this Socratic Seminar and why?

Death of a Salesman Essay Prompt: Prompt: How does Arthur Miller use the Modernist themes of disillusionment, disintegration of social norms (like the family unit), anxiety and isolation of the individual psyche, and the benefits and consequences of the “American Dream” to comment on American life of the time period? Analyze the development of one or more of these themes from the play Death of a Salesman to support your claims.