Author: erica brotzman

Erica — How is it different from our reality?

This play is different from reality in the following ways:

(1) unusual names

(2)  random tree on a hill as meeting place

(3) Lucky treated as a dog/slave on a leash.

(4) Curt conversations

(5) Short term memory lapses by the characters

(6) Pozzo becomes blind in one night and helpless in one night.

(8) Concept of time is skewed

(9) The day is repeated over again.

Exposition and Forwards- Act IV Scenes 3-6, Act V Scene 1

Exposition and Forwards – Act IV Scenes 3-6 and Act V Scene 1

Erica Brotzman

 

Act IV Scenes 3-6

 

Scene 3

Exposition

  • Barnadine is to be executed today.
  • Barnadine has been drinking all night
  • The Duke is still disguised as a friar. (only the Duke/audience know)
  • Provost and the Duke (friar) are conspiring together to save Claudio's life as they both believe that he should not be put to death for his crimes.
  • Provost respect the Duke (friar) because of his profession and he is willing to follow his plans.
  • The Duke plans to write Angelo stating that he is close to home.  (only the Duke knows).
  • The Duke lies to Isabella and states that Claudio has been executed and the Duke is to return tomorrow. (only the Duke knows that this is a blatant lie)
  • Lucio confesses to the Friar that he denied impregnating a women to the Duke. Little does he know he has just confessed his lie to the Duke himself.

 

Forwards

  • Calling Barnadine to rise and be put to death.  Will he truly be executed today?
  • Provost proposes to the Duke that instead of executing Barnadine and using his head to trick Angelo, that they should use another man's head who has died of a fever earlier in the day. Whose head shall they use in order to postpone Claudio's execution?  Will Angelo find out that Claudio is still alive? 
  • The Duke lies to Isabella about the execution.  Will she believe him?  How will she take the news?
  • The Duke (friar) states that the Duke shall return tomorrow.  How will the Duke come back into power?  Will the people be at ease to know that justice will once again be served? 

 

Scene 4

Exposition

  • Only the Duke knows the underlying meanings behind his orders to Escalus and Angelo.
  • Angelo is worried of the gossip that may ensue due to his relations with Isabella.  Only the Duke and Isabella and Mariana know that Angelo actually had sexual relations with Mariana, not Isabella.
  • Only Angelo knows that Claudio should not have been put to death.  He does not know that the head he received wasn't actually Claudio's and that Claudio is still alive.

 

Forwards

  • Why must Angelo and Escalus meet the Duke at the gates on his arrival?  Why must people present petitions in the street. 
  • Angelo is worried that Isabella may tell of his disgraceful act of taking a maiden's virginity and then putting to death a man of the same crime. What will come of Angelo?  Will Isabella talk? 

 

Scene 5

Exposition

  • The Duke returns as himself.  Only he knows that he has been in Vienna the whole time. 

Forwards

  • What do the letters that Friar Peter carries say?
  • What will the Duke reveal to Varrius?

 

Scene 6

Exposition

 

Forwards

  • Mariana and Isabella confer about whether or not to out Angelo.  Will Isabella and Mariana tell of his sin?

 

Act V, Scene 1

 

Exposition

  • The Duke has arrived.  Again only he knows that he has been in Vienna the whole time.
  • Everyone is complying with the Duke's plans, even though they think the plans were given by the friar. 
  • The Duke lies and tells Angelo he is thankful and proud of his work while he was gone. 
  • Isabella has confessed her and Angelo's sin.  The Duke plays dumb though he knows she speaks the truth.
  • Angelo admits to once being engaged to Mariana. 
  • The Duke once again questions Mariana, though he already knows her answers.
  • The Duke is disguised as the friar he has been portraying. 
  • The Duke orders Angelo's execution in exchange for Claudio's even though only he and Provost know that Claudio is still alive. 

 

Forwards

  • The Dukes return.  How shall he resolve the situation?  Will he right things in Vienna?
  • Why does the Duke seem so cold to Isabella in front of Angelo even though he knows of her honesty?
  • Mariana arrives.  Will she reveal her and Isabella's scheme?
  • Marian reveals that Angelo has been tricked. 
  • The Dukes disguised return.  Will he reveal himself?  What will he say of his schemes with the women?
  • Mariana pleads with the Duke to not execute her future husband.  Will the duke comply?
  • Bernadine and Claudio are led into the city.  Isabella finally finds out that Claudio is alive.
  • The Duke asks for Isabella's hand in marriage.  Will she accept?

Erica Brotzman – Units Analysis

UNIT 1 — "It's all downhill from here"

  • Willy returns home — Linda wakes
  • Linda wakes — Linda questions
  • Linda questions –Willy explains
  • Willy explains – Linda suggests
  • Linda suggests – Willy justifies
  • Willy justifies – Linda concedes

 

Summary of Action – Willy returns home unexpectedly to a concerned wife, who makes suggestions regarding his current employment situation. 

 

Unit 2 – "PMS"

  • Willy inquires (of sons) – Linda explicates
  • Linda explicates – Willy bitches          
  • Willy bitches – Linda defends
  • Linda defends – Willy revokes
  • Willy revokes – Linda dotes
  • Linda dotes – Willy rants
  • Willy rants – Sons awaken

Summary of Action — Willy changes the topic of conversation with Linda to his sons and their situations and they eventually are awakened by his ranting and raving. **please feel free to edit/comment/review.  The more brains the better.

Erica Brotzman — Help

Hey guys,

I’ve organized the bullet points of the dramatic action but I’m having a little trouble with the “imagistic descriptive phrase” for the units.  Also we only have to breakdown 2 units right?  Also, i’m a tad confused about where to break up my units.  Any suggestions??

Right now I have the first unit ending when his sons wake up after his return. and the 2nd when the household goes to sleep after Willy’s return. How does that sound?

Erica Brotzman – Imp. Info About Our Category!

Hey guys.  I have made a list of important information from Hodge regarding our two sections.  Hope this helps!!

Dramatic Action

  • clash of forces, continuous conflict
  • Action and characters = core of plays
  • “instruments that affect the action or are affected by it and forced to take action”
  • exists only in present tense
  • all action forces a counteraction. AKA Reciprocal Action
  • the characters make an adjustment before taking on a new action
  • plot = arrangement of action
  • a new unit is delineated when someone enters the room or the focus of the action changes
  • the smallest designation of dramatic action is a line.
  • Each unit has its own objective
  • Each speech can be reduced to a present tense verb
  • DO NOT use verbs that cannot be acted.  It must force another actor to do something.
  • page 33 gives procedure of breaking down units

Character Description

1.  Desire – what the character wants the most.  Usually not something tangible.

2.  Will – a characters strength in attaining his desires.  how much are they willing to give up?

3.  moral Stance – values.  Moral code that governs their behaviors.

4.  Decorum – physical appearance

5.  Summary adjectives – adjectives. Traits of the character their actions reveal.

Compiled Medea Plot

I have compiled the previous lists of the plot with my own and made a master list.  If anyone would like to add or change it please feel free.

I agree with the decision of the inciting incident being Creon’s offer of Glauce to Jason.

The Plot of Medea

·        Jason leaves Medea

·        Nurse grieves for Medea's fate. (Beginning Exposition)

·        Nurse worries about Medea's reaction to Jason's decision to marry Creon's daughter.

·        Tutor warns the Nurse that Creon will exile Medea (Complication)

·        Nurse sends  the children inside to hide from Medea and her overwhelming and vocal despair

·        Nurse warns Medea not to overstep her bounds to prevent punishment from the gods.

·        Chorus attempt to soothe Medea's grief.  Chorus warns Medea not to act to severely or rashly.

·        Medea prays to the gods for revenge for the unfaithfulness of her husband.

·        Medea addresses the chorus and request that they not reveal her plan.  Chorus agrees that Jason deserves punishment for his actions.

·        Creon banishes Medea and her sons.

·        Chorus agrees with and understands Medea's anger.

·        Medea manipulates Creon into letting her and the children stay for one more day.

·        Medea decides on the plan to poison everyone.  She calls on the goddess of black magic to assist her.

·        Chorus supports Medea and her decision.

·        Medea argues with Jason. Medea accuses him of being an unfaithful liar, and he berates Medea for not understanding. (Complication)

·        Jason offers Medea financial support during his families exile.  She refuses.

·        Chorus curses Jason that he will die unloved and friendless.  Chorus preaches of the burden and suffering that comes along with love.

·        Aegeus pledges to house Medea and her children in Athens in exchange for Medea's magic.

·        Medea solidifies her plan of murders.

·        Medea sends the Nurse to bring Jason.

·        Chorus disagrees with Medea's plans and they mourn the unevitable deaths to come.

·        Medea trick Jason into trusting her and letting the children stay.

·        Medea sends the children to Glauce with the elaborate, poisoned gifts.

·        Creon and Glauce die from the poison.

·        Chorus condems Medea's actions, but accuses everyone of being in the wrong.

·        Chorus begs Helios (the sun-god) to stop Medea from killing her children.  Chorus speaks of the burden of having children and the pain they cause.

·        Messenger enters and warns Medea to flee as they have identified her as the cause of Creon and Glauce's death.

·        Medea says goodbye to her sons as she must leave.

·        Medea kills her sons (climax).

·        Jason discovers his dead sons. (recognition).

·        Jason mours the death of his sons.  He wants to bury them.  (reversal).

·        Medea does not let him and flies away in the chariot of Helios with the bodies of her dead children.

·        Jason exits to bury Creon and his new wife. (new stasis).

·        Chorus ends the play by stating that the Gods act in mysterious ways.

Medea adheres to the unities of Greek drama and therefore has an intensive plot.  Every complication leads to a heightening of Medea’s intense emotion; every retaliation as a result of that emotion has devastating effects on others.  The main idea of the play, however, is the cause and effect which takes place as a result of Jason’s thirst for fame.  He is not grateful for what he has and grasps for things beyond his means.  Consequently, Jason is punished for his hubris by losing everything he originally had.