ENGLISH THEATRE THROUGH THE

AGES Christine Kvachkoff

EDCI 270- Lab 02Professor Newby

Click here to continue…

ORIENTATION

If you are ready to move on to the next slide, click on the comedy face:

If you need to return to the previous slide, click on the tragedy face:

If you need to return to the home slide, click on the movie camera:

In order to navigate your way through the lesson, you must first learn about the comedy and tragedy faces.

AUDIENCE 9th-12th Grade Students Middle Class Suburban Community Children interested in theatre but have

trouble applying that interest to other school subjects, especially English

Students involved with their school’s theatre group or choral ensemble

ENVIRONMENT Students work alone or in pairs of two In a large classroom with plenty of easily

accessible space In a classroom located in an isolated

part of the building where loud talking will not disrupt other classes’ learning

OBJECTIVE

Lesson #1: Famous Playwrights After completing this activity, students will

be able to correctly identify and distinguish famous historical playwrights, as well as discuss the most well-known play written by each author.

Students will critique each play with 100% accuracy by answering all five questions correctly on the evaluation quiz at the end of the lesson.

OBJECTIVE

Lesson #2: Character Analysis By acting out various scenes from selected

plays, students will be able to express and analyze different characters within the play.

While working separately or in pairs, students will demonstrate retention as they perform a prepared scene from memory.

MOTIVATION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkYZ6rbPU2M

Watch this video entitled, “Food Court Musical” of an acting group called “Improv Everywhere” performing in the food court of a shopping mall.

WHAT WILL YOU BE LEARNING?

Select which lesson you would like to study:

Famous Playwrights

Character Analysis

ORIENTATION If this is your first time learning, click

here:

If you have already begun this lesson, click on a specific playwright to learn about:

Start at Beginning

Shakespeare Moliere Poe

INFORMATION In this lesson, you will learn all about

three famous playwrights:1. William Shakespeare2. Moliere3. Edgar Allen Poe

After reading the information provided for each playwright, you will learn about one major play written by that author.

APPLICATION 1. Read through the information about

each playwright including the date of birth, family members, and date of death.

2. Next, read through the information regarding the playwright’s most well-known play.

3. Then, review the information and prepare for the evaluation quiz.

4. Finally, take the quiz at the end of the lesson to ensure your total learning potential.

INFORMATION: SHAKESPEARE William Shakespeare was born in April of

1564. Throughout his life, he wrote over 50 plays. Many of Shakespeare’s plays are studied in

countries all over the world in several languages.

Shakespeare had a wife named Anne, and three children: Susanna, Hamlet, and Judith.

Considered to be his most famous play, Hamlet was named after his only son.

William Shakespeare died in April of 1616.

INFORMATION: HAMLET The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark,

or more simply titled, Hamlet is believed to have been written between 1599-1601.

“The play vividly charts the course of real and feigned madness,” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlet)

The play explores themes such as:TreacheryRevenge

The play Hamlet is full of symbols such as:Skulls

INFORMATION: MOLIERE Jean-Baptiste Poquelin was best known by

his stage name, Moliere. Moliere was born in January of 1622. Throughout his life, he wrote over 35

plays. Moliere had a wife named Armande

Béjart, and co-directed with his sister-in-law, Madeleine Béjart.

Considered to be his most famous play, Tartuffe literally means, “The Imposter.”

Moliere died in February of 1673.

INFORMATION: TARTUFFE Tartuffe was written and first performed in

1664. The play is centered on the main character

Tartuffe, who is a hypocritical clergy man. He invites himself to an extended stay in the house of Orgon and his wife, Elmire.

As a result of Moliere's play, the word "tartuffe" is used in contemporary French and English to designate a hypocrite who ostensibly and exaggeratedly feigns virtue, especially religious virtue,” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartuffe).

INFORMATION: POE Edgar Allen Poe was born in January of 1809. Throughout his life, he wrote over 30 plays. Unlike Shakespeare and Moliere, Poe also wrote

many short stories in addition to plays and poetry.

Shakespeare had a wife named Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe, but he never had any children.

Considered to be his most famous work, “The Tell-Tale Heart” was written in the Gothic fiction genre.

Edgar Allen Poe died in October of 1849.

INFORMATION: “THE TELL-TALE HEART”

“The Tell-Tale Heart” was first published in 1843. The short story follows an unnamed narrator

who insists on his sanity after murdering an old man with a "vulture eye,” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tell-Tale_Heart).

Considered to be Poe’s most famous short story, “The Tell-Tale Heart” focuses on themes such as: Betrayal Revenge Guilt

ORIENTATION If this is your first time learning, click

here:

If you have already begun this lesson, click on a specific play to select a passage from:

Start at Beginning

Hamlet Tartuffe “The Tell-Tale Heart”

INFORMATION In this lesson, you will read excerpts

from the three plays you have just learned about:1. Hamlet2. Tartuffe3. “The Tell-Tale Heart”

After reading the passages provided from each play, you will learn how to analyze the characters, scene, and overall plot.

APPLICATION 1. Read through the information about

each play, and then select a scene to complete the lesson activity.

2. First, read through the scene quietly to yourself.

3. Next, read through the scene alone or with your partner and select characters to portray.

4. Then, watch the video of the scene being performed by professional actors.

APPLICATION 5. Work alone or together with your

partner to conduct an accurate analysis of the scene, plot, and characters.

6. Once you have finished your analysis, act out the scene alone or with your partner.

7. Practice performing the scene and try to develop in-depth characters.

8. Perform your scene for your teacher and classmates from memory.

INFORMATION: HAMLET After reading the short biography of

both the playwright, Shakespeare, and the play, Hamlet, select a scene from the play to complete the activity:

Act 1, Scene 1: The Ghost Appears Act 2, Scene 1: Polonius and His Servant Act 3, Scene 1: Hamlet’s Monologue Act 4, Scene 1: The King and Queen Act 5, Scene 1: In the Graveyard

HAMLET: ACT 1, SCENE 1 HAMLET

  1   The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold.       HORATIO

  2   It is a nipping and an eager air.       HAMLET

  3   What hour now?       HORATIO

  3    I think it lacks of twelve.       HAMLET

  4   No, it is struck.       HORATIO

  5   Indeed? I heard it not: then it draws near the season   6   Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.

           A flourish of trumpets,   *        and two pieces go off [within].

  7   What does this mean, my lord?       HAMLET

  8   The king doth wake tonight and takes his rouse,   9   Keeps wassail, and the swaggering up-spring reels;  10   And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down,  11   The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out  12   The triumph of his pledge.

HAMLET: ACT 1, SCENE 1 VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-NLns

q3P7Y&feature=PlayList&p=BA5AF82197EF7358&index=0&playnext=1

In this video the ghost of King Hamlet, Hamlet’s dead father, reappears to the guards at Elsinore. King Hamlet refuses to speak to the guards, but appears twice in one night.

Pay close attention to the articulate nature in which the actor who plays Horatio speaks.

HAMLET: ACT 2, SCENE 1 POLONIUS

Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth:  61   And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,  62   With windlasses and with assays of bias,  63   By indirections find directions out:  64   So by my former lecture and advice,  65   Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?

      REYNALDO  66   My lord, I have.

      POLONIUS  66   God buy you; fare ye well.

      REYNALDO  67   Good my lord!

      POLONIUS  68   Observe his inclination in yourself.

      REYNALDO  69   I shall, my lord.

      POLONIUS  70   And let him ply his music.

      REYNALDO  70   Well, my lord.

      POLONIUS  71   Farewell!

HAMLET: ACT 2, SCENE 1 VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN0D

Axjw0z0

In this video, the King’s right-hand man Polonius imparts words of wisdom upon his servant Reynaldo, who is departing for France to keep an eye on Polonius’s son.

Take note of the humor in which the actor who plays Polonius delivers his lines. Some of these quotes have become quite famous!

HAMLET: ACT 3, SCENE 1        OPHELIA

 93   My lord, I have remembrances of yours,  94   That I have longed long to re-deliver;  95   I pray you, now receive them.

      HAMLET  95   No, not I;  96   I never gave you aught.

      OPHELIA  97   My honor'd lord, you know right well you did;  98   And, with them, words of so sweet breath composed  99   As made the things more rich. Their perfume lost, 100   Take these again; for to the noble mind 101   Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind. 102   There, my lord.

      HAMLET 103   Ha, ha! are you honest?

      OPHELIA 104   My lord?

      HAMLET 105   Are you fair?

      OPHELIA 106   What means your lordship?

HAMLET: ACT 3, SCENE 1 VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY-QL

_HJBCc

In this video, Hamlet performs the famous, “To be or not to be…” speech. He is debating whether or not to kill his uncle, King Claudius.

Pay attention to the vast array of emotions that the actor who plays Hamlet explores by using his facial expressions alone.

HAMLET: ACT 4, SCENE 1 KING

  1   There's matter in these sighs, these profound heaves:   2   You must translate: 'tis fit we understand them.   3   Where is your son?

      QUEEN   4   Bestow this place on us a little while.

  5   Ah, mine own lord, what have I seen tonight!       KING

  6   What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet?       QUEEN

  7   Mad as the sea and wind, when both contend   8   Which is the mightier: in his lawless fit,   9   Behind the arras hearing something stir,  10   Whips out his rapier, cries, "A rat, a rat!"  11   And, in this brainish apprehension, kills  12   The unseen good old man.

      KING  12   O heavy deed!  13   It had been so with us, had we been there:  14   His liberty is full of threats to all—  15    To you yourself, to us, to everyone.  16   Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answer'd?  17   It will be laid to us, whose providence

HAMLET: ACT 4, SCENE 1 VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a1ks-

S4UNU

In this video, King Claudius questions Queen Gertrude about Ophelia’s sanity. Claudius is concerned that while grieving her father’s death, Ophelia will become dangerous.

Observe the chemistry that exists between the two actors playing the King and Queen. Try to imitate this emotion in your own scene.

HAMLET: ACT 5, SCENE 1 HAMLET

 65   Has this fellow no feeling of his business, that he  66   sings at grave-making?

      HORATIO  67   Custom hath made it in him a property of  68   easiness.

      HAMLET  69   'Tis e'en so: the hand of little employment hath  70   the daintier sense.

      HORATIO            Song.  71          But age, with his stealing steps,

 72             Hath claw'd me in his clutch,  73          And hath shipped me into the land,  74             As if I had never been such.

           [Shovels up a skull.]       HAMLET

 75   That skull had a tongue in it, and could sing once:  76   how the knave jowls it to the ground, as if it were  77   Cain's jaw-bone, that did the first murder! It  78   might be the pate of a politician, which this ass  79   now o'er-reaches; one that would circumvent God,  80   might it not?

HAMLET: ACT 5, SCENE 1 VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLO5I

dAl-q8

In this video, Hamlet visits the graveyard to mourn the loss of his ex-girlfriend, Ophelia. While there, he encounters a man digging her grave and begins a discussion with him.

During the video, take note of the emotional connection the actor who plays Hamlet has with his dead jester, Yourik.

INFORMATION: TARTUFFE After reading the short biography of

both the playwright, Moliere, and the play, Tartuffe, select a scene from the play to complete the activity:

Act 4, Scene 4: Tartuffe and Elmire Act 4, Scene 5: Tartuffe and Elmire Act 4, Scene 6: Orgon and Elmire

TARTUFFE: ACT 4, SCENE 4 TARTUFFE

Well, if you are, as you say, strongly moved,Your ardor, certainly, is simply proved?

ELMIREBut how can my quick acquiescence jive,With God's dictates for which you ever strive?

TARTUFFEIs that what bothers you? A churchish fear?If that is all, then we are free and clear!You need not fret yourself about God's laws.

ELMIREWon't holy retribution give you pause?

TARTUFFEI'll teach you, Ma'am, that Heaven's contradictions,Give latitude to men of pure convictions.It's true that Heaven frowns on some dark acts,Though with great men, our Lord makes higher pacts.A pious man made study of a science.

TARTUFFE: ACT 4, SCENE 5 TARTUFFE

I'll deal with that, Madame, should it be dealt.For now ...

ELMIREWould you just look about once more? Make sure my husband's nowhere near the door.

TARTUFFEYour husband? Why concern about that rube?He drinks in every story like a boob!If he caught us, en flagrante, that dull lout,He'd offer up to God a joyful shout!And even when he realized, that clown,He'd chastise you, be careful of your gown!

ELMIREBut yet, for sake of my unbridled passion,Please look to see that no one waits to dash in.

TARTUFFE: ACT 4, SCENE 6 ORGON

(Coming out from beneath the table:)A total monster; he's an utter cad!He's diabolical ... completely bad!

ELMIREOh, coming out already? No, not yet!Why not wait for some more certain threat?Make sure you watch until you're satisfied,At least till his entreaty's gratified.

ORGONCould hell contain so dreadful of a beast?

ELMIREWhy stop him now? My dress is scarcely creased!This saint of yours, Orgon, our dear Tartuffe,Can hardly be indicted with such proof!

TARTUFFE: VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFsPMY

5BsVM&p=F574D2090089946A&index=8&feature=BF

In this scene, Tartuffe tries to seduce Elmire while her husband Orgon hides under the table to eavesdrop on their conversation. While Tartuffe has no idea that Orgon is listening in, Elmire devised the plan in an attempt to trap Tartuffe in one of his lies.

Pay close attention to the physical comedy displayed by the actors throughout the scene.

INFORMATION: “THE TELL-TALE HEART”

After reading the short biography of both the playwright, Poe, and the play, “The Tell-Tale Heart,” select a passage from the story to complete the activity:

Passage #1 Passage #2 Passage #3 Passage #4

“TELL-TALE HEART,” PASSAGE #1 “TRUE! — nervous — very, very dreadfully nervous I had

been, and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses — not destroyed — not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Harken! and observe how healthily — how calmly I can tell you the whole story. It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but, once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! — yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture — a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so, by degrees — very gradually — I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.”

“TELL-TALE HEART,” PASSAGE #2 “Now this is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen know

nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded — with what caution — with what foresight — with what dissimulation I went to work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him. And every night, about midnight, I turned the latch of his door and opened it — oh so gently! And then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I first put in a dark lantern, all closed, closed, so that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my head. Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in! I moved it slowly — very, very slowly, so that I might not disturb the old man’s sleep. It took me an hour to place my whole head within the opening so far that I could see the old man as he lay upon his bed.”

“TELL-TALE HEART,” PASSAGE #3 “Ha! — would a madman have been so wise as this? And

then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern cautiously — oh, so cautiously (for the hinges creaked) — I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye. And this I did for seven long nights — every night just at midnight — but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye. And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into his chamber, and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he has passed the night. So you see he would have been a very profound old man, indeed, to suspect that every night, just at twelve, I looked in upon him while he slept.”

“TELL-TALE HEART,” PASSAGE #4 “Upon the eighth night I was more than usually cautious in

opening the door. A watch’s minute-hand moves more quickly than did mine. Never, before that night, had I felt the extent of my own powers — of my sagacity. I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph. To think that there I was, opening the door, little by little, and the old man not even to dream of my secret deeds or thoughts. I fairly chuckled at the idea. And perhaps the old man heard me; for he moved in the bed suddenly, as if startled. Now you may think that I drew back — but no. His room was as black as pitch with the thick darkness, (for the shutters were close fastened, through fear of robbers,) and so I knew that he could not see the opening of the door, and I kept on pushing it steadily, steadily.”

“THE TELL-TALE HEART” VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LNjg

v5p3Ek In this video, the un-named Narrator

begins his soliloquy with all the reasons for which he committed the murder of the old man with the vulture eye, which are completely justified in his own mind.

While watching the scene, take careful notice of the actor’s movements as he delivers the opening monologue.

ANALYSIS Now that you have read through your

selected scene, answer the following questions to perform your analysis:1. What motives do the characters have for

feeling the way they do?2. What events in the characters’ past lead

to the development of their personalities?3. What context clues can you find within

the text that point to how the plot unfolds?4. How do you see the plot unfolding after

your selected scene ends?

PERFORMANCE TIME! After you have finished the following

tasks:Read through your sceneActed out the scene alone or with your

partnerPerformed a character and plot analysisPracticed your scene separately or with

your partnerCommitted the scene to memory

You are now ready to perform the scene for your teacher and other classmates. Don’t be nervous and have fun!

SOURCES CITED http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlet

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartuffe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tell-Tale_Heart

EVALUATION: QUESTION #1Read the question and select the best

answer: 1. Which of the following plays was

written by William Shakespeare?A. “The Tell-Tale Heart”B. HamletC. Tartuffe

WELL DONE!!! You have successfully completed this

question.

Way to go!

SORRY!!! You did not successfully complete this

question.

Please try again!

INFORMATION: SHAKESPEARE William Shakespeare was born in April of

1564. Throughout his life, he wrote over 50 plays. Many of Shakespeare’s plays are studied in

countries all over the world in several languages.

Shakespeare had a wife named Anne, and three children: Susanna, Hamlet, and Judith.

Considered to be his most famous play, Hamlet was named after his only son.

William Shakespeare died in April of 1616.

EVALUATION: QUESTION #2Read the question and select the best

answer: 2. Which of the following is used as a

symbol throughout the play Hamlet?A. SkullB. SwordC. Blood

WELL DONE!!! You have successfully completed this

question.

Way to go!

SORRY!!! You did not successfully complete this

question.

Please try again!

INFORMATION: HAMLET The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark,

or more simply titled, Hamlet is believed to have been written between 1599-1601.

“The play vividly charts the course of real and feigned madness,” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlet)

The play explores themes such as: Treachery Revenge

The play Hamlet is full of uses symbols such as: Skulls

EVALUATION: QUESTION #3Read the question and select the best

answer: 3. What is the name of the female

character in the play Tartuffe?A. OrgonB. TartuffeC. Elmire

WELL DONE!!! You have successfully completed this

question.

Way to go!

SORRY!!! You did not successfully complete this

question.

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INFORMATION: TARTUFFE Tartuffe was written and first performed in

1664. The play is centered on the main character

Tartuffe, who is a hypocritical clergy man. He invites himself to an extended stay in the house of Orgon and his wife, Elmire.

As a result of Moliere's play, the word "tartuffe" is used in contemporary French and English to designate a hypocrite who ostensibly and exaggeratedly feigns virtue, especially religious virtue,” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartuffe).

EVALUATION: QUESTION #4Read the question and select the best

answer: 4. What animal is used to personify the

old man’s glass eye in “The Tell-Tale Heart?”A. EagleB. VultureC. Snake

WELL DONE!!! You have successfully completed this

question.

Way to go!

SORRY!!! You did not successfully complete this

question.

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INFORMATION: “THE TELL-TALE HEART” “The Tell-Tale Heart” was first published in 1843. The short story follows an unnamed narrator

who insists on his sanity after murdering an old man with a "vulture eye,” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tell-Tale_Heart).

Considered as Poe’s most famous short story, “The Tell-Tale Heart” focuses on themes such as: Betrayal Revenge Guilt

EVALUATION: QUESTION #5Read the question and select the best

answer: 5. What is the main character’s

profession in the play Tartuffe?A. Clergy manB. SalesmanC. Lawyer

WELL DONE!!! You have successfully completed this

question.

Way to go!

SORRY!!! You did not successfully complete this

question.

Please try again!

INFORMATION: TARTUFFE Tartuffe was written and first performed in

1664. The play is centered on the main character

Tartuffe, who is a hypocritical clergy man. He invites himself to an extended stay in the house of Orgon and his wife, Elmire.

As a result of Moliere's play, the word "tartuffe" is used in contemporary French and English to designate a hypocrite who ostensibly and exaggeratedly feigns virtue, especially religious virtue,” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartuffe).

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You have successfully completed the

quiz!

You are now finished with this lesson.

Please return to the menu page to review the lesson or start learning all over again!

SOURCES CITED http://www.eapoe.org/works/tales/thearta.htm

http://moliere-in-english.com/tartuffe.html

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/hamlet/full.html