Sunday, March 14, 2010

Six Characters in Search of an Author

Six Characters in Search of an Author by Luigi Pirandello

Friday, February 26, 2010

Arms and The Man

Arms and The Man by George Bernard Shaw

I. Exposition
A. Time
B. Place
C. Mood & Atmosphere
D. Preliminary Situation

II. Plot
A. Initial Incident
B. Rising Action – Summarized Briefly
C. Climax
D. Conclusion – Final Outcome for Each Major Character

III. Characters
A. Protagonist
B. Antagonist
C. Secondary
D. Minor – Listed

IV. Theme – Stated in one sentence

V. Personal Reaction – A brief paragraph stating honestly what you think about the play and why.

VI. Evidence – Lines of passages or phrases which clearly illustrate the author’s style or express ideas you
wish to emphasize.

The Importance of Being Earnest

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

I. Exposition
A. Time
B. Place
C. Mood & Atmosphere
D. Preliminary Situation

II. Plot
A. Initial Incident
B. Rising Action – Summarized Briefly
C. Climax
D. Conclusion – Final Outcome for Each Major Character

III. Characters
A. Protagonist
B. Antagonist
C. Secondary
D. Minor – Listed

IV. Theme – Stated in one sentence

V. Personal Reaction – A brief paragraph stating honestly what you think about the play and why.

VI. Evidence – Lines of passages or phrases which clearly illustrate the author’s style or express ideas you
wish to emphasize.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Tartuffe

Tartuffe by Molière

I. Exposition
A. Time
B. Place
C. Mood & Atmosphere
D. Preliminary Situation

II. Plot
A. Initial Incident
B. Rising Action – Summarized Briefly
C. Climax
D. Conclusion – Final Outcome for Each Major Character

III. Characters
A. Protagonist
B. Antagonist
C. Secondary
D. Minor – Listed

IV. Theme – Stated in one sentence

V. Personal Reaction – A brief paragraph stating honestly what you think about the play and why.

VI. Evidence – Lines of passages or phrases which clearly illustrate the author’s style or express ideas you
wish to emphasize.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

I. Exposition
A. Time: First Performed between 1595 and 1596. Script was first printed in 1600. The play is set in Mythological times.
B. Place: Athens in Greece
C. Mood & Atmosphere: Slightly surreal, dreamy, comedic atmosphere and mood.
D. Preliminary Situation: Theseus has captured Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, on the battlefield, and they plan to marry. Also, Egeus stipulates that his daughter Hermia must marry Demetrius, but she wants to marry Lysander, whom Hermia's friend Helena is in love with.

II. Plot
A. Initial Incident:
B. Rising Action:
C. Climax:
D. Conclusion – Final Outcome for Each Major Character

III. Characters
A. Protagonist: Possibly Puck
B. Antagonist:
C. Secondary:
D. Minor:

IV. Theme: The theme of the play is a Comedy.
V. Personal Reaction:

VI. Evidence:
"I know a bank where the wild thyme grows."
-Oberon

"Lord, what fools these mortals be!"
-Puck

"The man shall have his mare again, and all shall be well."
-Puck

"The course of true love never did run smooth."
-Lysander

"Use me but as your spaniel: spurn me, strike me, / neglect me, lose me; only give me leave / (Unworthy as I am) to follow you."
-Helena

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Medea

'Medea' by Euripides

I. Exposition
A. Time: The play was produced in 431 B.C.
B. Place: The play takes place outside of Medea's home in Corinth.
C. Mood & Atmosphere: The mood of the play is of bitter revenge. The atmosphere is filled with Medea's anger towards Jason.
D. Preliminary Situation: Jason disbands his marriage with Medea and marries the daughter of the King of Corinth to gain further status in life. This infuriates Medea who plots for revenge and vengeance.

II. Plot
A. Initial Incident: Jason intends on having Medea exiled. Medea is upset over the situation. Creon, the King of Creon, comes to Medea to order her exile. Medea begs to stay another day. Creon agrees to let her stay 24 hours.
B. Rising Action: The rising action occurs when Jason and Medea meet for the first time. She is angry with him and Jason is trying to justify his decision. In the time she is allotted she meets the King of Athens, who agrees to give her refuge. Medea changes her plan to deceive Jason and kill off those that are close to him.
C. Climax: Jason and Medea talk once again and Medea is deceitfully forgivable and wishes to give poisoned gifts to Jason's new wife. The plan follows through and the Princess and the King die from the poison. Afterwards, Medea kills her children. Jason arrives astounded and cries to Medea, but receives no mercy. Medea rides off to Athens in her golden chariot.
D. Conclusion:
Medea: Medea rides off and takes refuge in Athens. Protected by the King there.
Jason: Jason is left with the death of the king of Corinth, the death of his wife(the princess), and the death of his children(his heirs). Tragic ending for Jason.
All other characters, other than their children, are assumed to be alive and well - haha.

III. Characters
A. Protagonist: Medea
B. Antagonist: Jason
C. Secondary: Creon King of Corinth, Aegeus King of Athens, Nurse of Medea, Women of Corinth
D. Minor: Tutor of Medea's children, Jason's current wife, Messenger

IV. Theme: The theme of the play is of passion, rage, revenge, and the position of women.

V. Personal Reaction: I thought Medea was exceedingly ruthless in this play, more so that she gets away with it in the end. I'd like to assume this is a very rare play because of contemporary views of the time it was made. Although Medea is some what justified by her anger and plots of revenge, she goes too far by killing her children. The act of killing her children may scar her for life and cause more agony than what was worth the revenge. I believe this play was very mature for the era it debuted in. Feminism is a theme some what prevalent in the play.

VI. Evidence: Very Famous feminist quote by Medea about war and the work of woman:
Medea: "I had rather stand my ground three times among
the shields
than face a childbirth once."

Jason after the reaction of Medea killing his children:
Jason: "Murder is punished, and you'll be destroyed
by the avenging phantoms of you children."

Othello

'Othello' by Shakespeare

I. Exposition
A. Time: Late 16th century. During the wars between Venice and Turkey.
B. Place: Venice early then Cyprus later on.
C. Mood & Atmosphere: Italian atmosphere. Mood is sporadic.
D. Preliminary Situation: Othello is a respected man in Venice as a great general. He is also truly in love with his wife Desdemona.

II. Plot
A. Initial Incident: Othello attempts to build a life with Desdemona. Iago, who is upset at Othello for not making him his lieutenant(and envious of Othello), plots to deceitfully ruin Othello by convincing him Desdemona is unfaithful.
B. Rising Action: Iago continues to plot and reveals his scheme: bring down Cassio, and to continually assert to Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful.
C. Climax: Iago plants a handkerchief to trick Othello in to seeing that Desdemona was unfaithful. Iago unsuccessfully attempts to kill Cassio. Othello kills his wife Desdemona, but later kills himself after Bianca reveals Iago's plot. Iago is taken away to be tortured.
D. Conclusion Othello: Othello kills himself after finding out he was tricked in to killing his innocent wife.
Iago: Iago is taken off to be tortured after his plot is revealed and Othello dies.
Desdemona: Smothered by Othello. Dies.

III. Characters
A. Protagonist: Othello
B. Antagonist: Iago
C. Secondary: Desdemona, Cassio, Roderigo, Brabantio, Duke of Venice, Emilia, Lodovico
D. Minor: Gratiano, Montano, Clown, Bianca

IV. Theme: The theme of this play is of tragic heroic love, deceit, and hints of racism.

V. Personal Reaction: To be honest I had to gradually adjust myself to be able to read this play. I believe the play was written in Old English, or early modern english after a bit of research. The play involves a lot of scheming, drama, naivety, and then action. How did Iago get away with so much? In the end of it all he receives only torture and his name/rank is removed, but he has successfully tricked the main characters in the play to kill each other and themselves. How can a General be so good yet could not see the trickery? Anyhow, I believe this play has become a standard for which many other people used. Shakespeare is brilliant.

VI. Evidence: Iago in Act 1 talking to Brabantio about Othello and Desdemona's relationship (little bit of racism):
Iago to Brabantio, "Your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs."

Iago exclaiming he hates "the moor"
Iago - "I hate the Moor;
And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets
He has done my office: I know not if 't be true;
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety."

Othello before killing himself:
Othello - "I kissed thee ere I killed thee, no way but this,
Killing myself, to die upon a kiss."