'Night Mother: Quiz & Analysis; Geva Workshop: Spamalot

During period 1, please take the short quiz on 'Night Mother. When you have completed this quiz, please drop off your test and pick up the analysis worksheet. You may use your books for the analysis worksheet.

In pairs, identify the following moments/points in the play. Each answer should also indicate page # or use textual support to defend your answers. You may work with 1 other student on this and you may use your scripts.

• Conflict: What traditional type of conflict is best represented here by this play? What other conflicts arise and how are these dealt with in the play? Choose at least 3 conflicts of various types and explain how Marsha Norman, the playwright, uses conflict to create a gripping, effective play script.
• Structural Unity: all parts of the plot (exposition, rising action, turning point, climax, resolution, etc.) should work and fit together. Explain how the playwright has achieved structural unity in this play. How does exposition turn to rising action? How does the turning point (the play's crisis or a character's dark moment) lead to our climax? How does the playwright resolve the action of the play? How effectively do you feel this was done? 
• Inciting Incident: the point of attack, the inciting incident forces the protagonist into the action of the play's plot. What inciting incident occurs in the early scenes of the play? Identify when and what page this occurs on.
• Major Dramatic Question (MDQ): the hook that keeps an audience interested in a play; a dramatic question that a reader/viewer wants answered. What is the MDQ for this play?
• Major decision: A decision a character makes in the plot that creates the turning point for their character. Choose either Jessie or Mama. What is the major decision for this character?
• The dark moment/crisis: the lowest moment of a character's struggle--when all the world seems lost, the fight unbeatable, the "darkest hour before dawn" -- a stunning reversal of fortune and sense of failure. Examining Mama's character, what moment would you say is her dark moment or crisis? Defend your answer with an explanation.
• Enlightenment: When the protagonist understands how to defeat the antagonist. A revelation that begins the movement toward a climax. Does this play have an enlightenment? Which character(s) are involved in this enlightenment if it exists? If it does NOT exist, who might the author intend to have the "enlightenment"? Defend your answer.
• Catharsis: Discuss the ending of this play with your partner. How did it effect you? If it did not effect you, why not? 
• Discuss other aspects of this play with your partner while we have time in class. Hand in your answers to the first 7 questions as participation credit.

During period 2 Geva will be here to conduct a workshop for the musical Spamalot!--our field trip Thursday from periods 3-7. Please hand in your permission slips and medical forms today!

HOMEWORK: Please read Act One of Spamalot! Complete your reading of 'Night Mother, if you did not complete it.