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  • 1.  Drama as Literature

    Posted 08-08-2017 07:43
    Hi Folks,
    A new teacher is asking about appropriate dramatic literature for 8th grade. As I understand, they are simply teaching this a literature and not for staging. Any suggestions for sources would be appreciated.
    Thanks,
    Dana


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    Dana Taylor
    MSD of Mt. Vernon
    Evansville IN
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  • 2.  RE: Drama as Literature

    Posted 08-08-2017 22:02
    I'm an 8th Grade ESL and Theatre Teacher. I am also the Literacy Coach for my school. Some of the plays I've used as literature have been:

    A Raisin in the Sun
    Of Mice and Men
    The Miracle Worker
    The Crucible     (rather unsuccessfully)
    Othello
    Twelve Angry Men/Women


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    Hugh Fletcher
    Performing Arts Coordinator
    IS 229 Dr. Roland Patterson Middle School
    Roosevelt NY
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Drama as Literature

    Posted 08-09-2017 07:05
    I teach eighth grade. The Tempest is a fabulous choice if you break it down a lot. I do a lot of Shakespeare and Company exercises in my English class at the beginning. I also get them thinking about choices a director might make. There are tons of resources to teach this book as "literature" but stay true to its theatre roots. There is a great Christopher Plummer stage version on DVD that is how in pieces after we read and discuss each scene. I also have had great success with The Crucible. Same theatrical techniques. (Looking at subtext in the first scene between Elizabeth and John.

    Sent from my iPad


    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Drama as Literature

    Posted 08-09-2017 14:03

    One public domain play that I read with my primarily 9th grade Theatre I classes is Trifles by Susan Glaspell.  I use it as an example of Realism, but it would be a terrific lead-in to discussions of the criminal justice system, especially as pertains to our history of juries that were distinctly not representative of the population as a whole.  In fact, Glaspell also wrote this in short story form, "A Jury of Her Peers", also public domain, and reading the two together could be a great way to explore the difference between stories and plays.

    I agree with Hugh that The Crucible is a hard read.  I love directing it with high school students, but it takes them a while to make that language feel like everyday speech.



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    C. J. Breland
    Asheville High School
    Asheville NC
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    Original Message


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