Dear American Drama students,
As you probably know, all NSU classes are cancelled for today (Tuesday, January 27). When our class meets next Tuesday, February 3, we will cover the two plays that were assigned for today, Trifles and Desire under the Elms. You will not be responsible for Our Town until February 10.
I plan to post a revised
assignment sheet on the class Web page by late Thursday night, January
29. Please print this document and bring it to class with you next Tuesday.
Since you do not have a new reading assignment for February 3, I am adding the following writing assignment: Write about two (2) pages (no less than 1˝ and no more than 2˝) on one (1) of the following topics in Desire under the Elms:
(1) Discuss the significance of the title of Desire under the Elms. What different types of desire (or objects of desire) do the characters demonstrate? What specific examples of each type (or object) of desire do the characters demonstrate? What references to elms does the play make? What is the significance of the elms?
(2) Discuss the theme of incest in the play. What specific examples of incest are present? What is the significance of incest in the play as a whole?
(3) Discuss
how the play relates to ancient Greek
tragedy. What elements of Greek
tragedy are present in the play? What
elements of Greek tragedy are lacking?
(Optional: Why does O’Neill use elements of Greek tragedy? How
does the plot of this play relate to the Greek myth of Phaedra and Hippolytus and/or to
(4) Discuss the play’s references to Judeo-Christian religion. What specific references to the Bible (especially the Old Testament), God, Christianity, etc., does the play contain? What is the function or purpose of these references in the play as a whole?
This assignment will be worth fifteen (15) daily points. Follow the instructions in the document “Computer Format and Manuscript Form” on my home page. Document quotations with parenthetical page references. Let me know if you have questions.
As I announced last week, you can earn extra-credit points
for attending and responding to Julius Caesar, which will be performed
this Saturday, January 31, at 8 p.m. at the Nightingale Theater,
I’ll see you in class next Tuesday!
Best wishes,
John Mercer