Comprehension items
Prologue:
1.
How were stage directions used at the start?
2.
Describe the setting. (Read the entire Prologue first.)
3.
Identify two allusions/references to traditional theatre.
4.
Why was Ti-Jean placed in the moon?
5.
How do the stage directions and props help in their characterization?
6.
Contrast the music played for the entrance of Mi-Jean and then for the mention of his mother.
7.
Describe the entrance of the devil and his fiends. How is the mood changed again?
8.
How is the stupidity of Gros-Jean and Mi-Jean revealed? What is the effect?
9.
What is the relationship between the two brothers and Ti-Jean?
10.
What two things do they compare him to?
Act 1
1.
Do you agree with Gros Jean’s decision to leave with telling anyone goodbye? Explain.
2.
What is the effect of Mother’s comment: “Woman life is so. Watching and losing.” Give an example of her watching and one of her losing.
3.
The mother says, “The arm which digs a grave/ Is the strongest arm of all.” What does she mean? Whose arm is the strongest in the story based on what she says?
4.
Comment on the use of literary devices in the mother’s speech in the same section.
5.
What advice does Mother give Gros Jean? Does he obey? If no, explain.
6.
What is the dramatic effect of Gros Jean’s song?
7.
Who is the Old Man? How do you know?
8. According to Gros Jean is the shortest way to success?
9. How does the planter successfully anger Gros Jean? List his strategies.
10. What do the stage directions reveal about Gros Jean and the planter?
Act One
Chorus
Acts as narrators.
Introduces the central characters
Comments on the action
Stage Directions
The opening stage directions reveal the setting of the play (location, time of day, weather), introduce the chorus and the mother (characters) and hints at the theme of poverty.
Stage directions add to characterization: how Gros Jean walks, how the creatures react, etc.
Show how props and sound effects/music are used.
Props
Related to poverty – empty bowl, bare table
Props are used to indicate the brothers’ jobs (faggots and fishing line) and also interest (books)
Music
Characterization: Gros Jean performs an exaggerated march to music.
A drum roll and comic quatro introduce Mi-Jean, and the mother is introduced with “sad music on flute.”
The mood and music change again with the entrance of the devil and his servants: cymbals, shrieks, thunder.
Bolom enters with the sound of wind, rain and insects.
Bolom later imitates the crying of a child.
Lighting
It is a dark rainy evening.
Red for the devil.
Blue for Bolom.
Thank you for the questions. They will point the students into questioning the behaviour of characters and the importance of the setting.
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ReplyDeletedoes ms.atkins know the answers for the questions?
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