"A play should give you something to think about. When I see a play and understand it the first time, then I know it can't be much good." T.S. Eliot
Spring Break Reading & Writing
Where we're going and why
*Drama GRASPS Essay FIRST DRAFT due Friday, April 17th for Peer Review.
*Final drafts will be due Friday, April 25th.
In order to prepare for the Drama GRASPS Essay, please complete the following:
A. Finish reading + annotating A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen (in the Bedford, the play begins on page 1727 and ends on page 1775)
1. Read "Modern Drama" (1722-6) + About A Doll House (1726-7)
2. Complete ALL Considerations for Critical Thinking and Writing
#12 Critical Strategies requires you to read the section on new historicist criticism (2036-7) and consider:
3. Read Beyond Realism (1777-81) + A Critical Case Study of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll House (1782-98) . This includes a sample student paper
***Scholar's Challenge: Compare/contrast this play with The Awakening.
Consider Ibsen's play, Chopin's novel, the public's response to each work, the social values contemporary to both works, and our social values today. Consider the writer's purpose, the text itself, and the response to the text then and now.
B. Read + annotate Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (see pp. 1840-1906 in the Bedford )
1. In the Playwright's Words: (read + annotate both - see pp. 1906-9)
a. "Tragedy and the Common Man," Theater Essays of Arthur Miller (excerpt)
b. "On Biff and Willy Loman" (New York Times, February 5, 1950)
C. GRASPS Pre-writing - Prepare at least two pages of pre-writing for Drama GRASPS Essay. This includes mind-mapping and outlining characters/conflict/theme/social values/literary criticism (applying lenses to both plays).
Spring Break Reading & Writing
Where we're going and why
*Drama GRASPS Essay FIRST DRAFT due Friday, April 17th for Peer Review.
*Final drafts will be due Friday, April 25th.
In order to prepare for the Drama GRASPS Essay, please complete the following:
A. Finish reading + annotating A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen (in the Bedford, the play begins on page 1727 and ends on page 1775)
1. Read "Modern Drama" (1722-6) + About A Doll House (1726-7)
2. Complete ALL Considerations for Critical Thinking and Writing
#12 Critical Strategies requires you to read the section on new historicist criticism (2036-7) and consider:
- Ibsen once wrote a different ending for the play to head off producers who might have been tempted to change the final scene to placate the public's sense of morality. In the second conclusion, Helmer ... This causes her to realize... Ibsen called this version of the ending a "barbaric outrage" and didn't use it. How do you think the play reflects or refutes social values contemporary to it?
3. Read Beyond Realism (1777-81) + A Critical Case Study of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll House (1782-98) . This includes a sample student paper
***Scholar's Challenge: Compare/contrast this play with The Awakening.
Consider Ibsen's play, Chopin's novel, the public's response to each work, the social values contemporary to both works, and our social values today. Consider the writer's purpose, the text itself, and the response to the text then and now.
B. Read + annotate Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (see pp. 1840-1906 in the Bedford )
1. In the Playwright's Words: (read + annotate both - see pp. 1906-9)
a. "Tragedy and the Common Man," Theater Essays of Arthur Miller (excerpt)
b. "On Biff and Willy Loman" (New York Times, February 5, 1950)
C. GRASPS Pre-writing - Prepare at least two pages of pre-writing for Drama GRASPS Essay. This includes mind-mapping and outlining characters/conflict/theme/social values/literary criticism (applying lenses to both plays).