Friday, January 14, 2011

Today, we finished reading the play A Thousand Clowns. You were then given the following questions to do as homework (you also handed in your Act II questions). The questions for Act 3 are below. These are due for Monday.

A Thousand Clowns: Act 3 Questions

1. In Act 3, Murray and Arnold have a talk. It ends when Arnold sums up the basic difference between himself and Murray with this: "I'm lucky. I'm gifted. I have a talent for surrender. I'm at peace, but you are cursed." Explain what Arnold meant. Do you agree with his view? Why?

2. Leo Herman can be viewed as both a tragic and comic figure. Is he more likely to move the audience to laughter or tears? Why? How did you react to Herman? Why?


3. For the most part, all the characters in the play are quite different from one another. Yet, they all seem to be attracted to each other. Why? Explain your point of view.

4. Jason Robards, who has played the role of Murray, described Murray as "the sidewalk superintendent of the human race". What do you think he meant?

5. Murray has been described as "a nonconformist who worries about getting mothered by the world". What do you think this means?

6. Murray feels that too many people spend their lives in the “rat race”. He found a way to avoid this with his own life. What other ways do you think there could be of avoiding the rat race?

7. Herb Gardner has his own idea about what happens to Murray after the final curtain. What do you think is most likely to happen to him? Why?

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Today, the students answered questions on Act II of A Thousand Clowns. Part of this was group work. If you weren't here, these are in your portfolio. If you haven't completed them and you were here, they are due for tomorrow.

Wednesday, January 12, 2010

Today, we read Act II of A Thousand Clowns. Please read it for tomorrow if you weren't here today.

Tuesday, January 11, 2010

Today, we went over the questions from yesterday as a class, discussing the importance of going back into the text and re-reading the pertinent sections prior to answering the question given. We then assigned roles for Act II of the play, which we will read tomorrow.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Today, we finished reading Act I of A Thousand Clowns. I then gave you questions to answer. These have been put in your portfolio if you were absent. They are due tomorrow for those who were here.

Friday, January 7, 2010

Today, we began reading the play A Thousand Clowns. we red up to halfway down on page 76. If you weren't here, please read this so you are caught up for Monday.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Today, we discussed the layout of the play A Thousand Clowns. I also provided a bit of a character sketch to you, focussing on the importance of learning to take brief notes rather than rewriting everything presented. We then chose the students to perform roles in Act I. We will start reading it in its entirety tomorrow.

Wednesday, January 5, 2010

Today, you were given the book On Stage 1. I then had you flip to the play we will be studying (A Thousand Clowns) and we examined it for length, layout and characters. I then had you flip to page nine where there is a visual of a modern stage. We then read the stage directions at the beginning of the play. From here, you were put into groups of three and given a diorama of a stage. You then had to make a list of the props indicated in the stage directions, highlight them to match them up by some sort of created category (ie: furniture in yellow, paper products in green), you then had to cut out boxes to represent the props and label what they are. Finally, using tape, you had to place them correctly on the stage provided. The purpose is to help you have an understanding of the layout so you can visualize it while we are reading it.

Tuesday, January 4, 2010

Today, I introduced the modern drama unit. You were provided with three readings: one on mondern drama itself; one on the author of the play we will be reading as well as an overview of the play itself; and one on the historical context of the play. These have been put in your portfolio if you were absent. We managed to read all but the last couple of paragraphs of the one on historical context. If you were in class, make sure you read these for tomorrow. If you were not here, it is best if you come in when you get to school and get these from your portfolio so you can be caught up.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Today, we discussed assignments that were due. You were then given the duration of the class to catch up.