WEEK 3, WEDNESDAY

OBJECTIVES:

Students will be introduced to dramatic frequency: the repetition and absence of words, phrases, concepts, actions, characters, problems, interactions. They will examine Act I of The Piano Lesson and the first scenes of Act II for Wilson’s use of frequency to set the rhythm and pace of dramatic development. They will consider how he builds tension, intensifies conflict and reinforces focus on the power of the past to control the present and future. The students will extend this technique to The Message in order to connect the dramatic form to the musical.

MATERIALS:

Drama, video and recordings: Drama: The Piano Lesson by August Wilson; Penguin Books; 1990

Song: The Message by Grandmaster Flash

Websites: The Piano Lesson Study Questions

PROCEDURE:

1. Review: dramatic duration, conflict and development
2. Discuss homework: read paragraphs to groups
3. Set goals for day: explore dramatic frequency and drawing conclusions
4. Read play and write journal response
5. Present concept of frequency: use of repetition and elision. Define concept. Compare to music, dance, painting, history. Ask students for examples from songs, movies, life.
6. Discuss the playwright’s use of repetition. Questions: What is repeated? what elided? How does the repetition of stories shape characters? Are the characters bound to repeat the past? How does the ghost contribute to the pattern of the past? What elements are not repeated? why? How does the timing of the repetition effect or interrupt the action and characters? What language is repeated? When? Why?
7. Compare use of repetition in The Message in small groups
8. Locate examples to support comparisons or contrasts
9. Discuss conclusions that can be drawn from both works. Questions: what is a conclusion? how it it different from a summary? Review inferences: AisB. BisC. Therefore AisC. If A, B. A. Therefore B.
10. Homework: write preliminary conclusion for presentation/ essay

ASSESSMENT:

Students will demonstrate their understanding through discussion in class and in homework when they write their preliminary essay conclusion which will be reviewed and polished the following day.

NOTES:

Draw student’s attention to the importance of repetition in education and our use of it in this unit. Ask them to consider how much has been excluded from our study and how these two factors work together to bring focus to our study. Emphasize that this characteristic is also important for good writing. Ask them to consider how they might apply these concepts to their own essay/ presentations.

Lesson Plan 1

Lesson Plan 2

Lesson Plan 3

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