Oleanna: Day 2

Brainstorming:

• List 5-10 characters quickly (name at least + occupation or an identifying label or two)
• Ex. Jessie: an aging epileptic who contemplates suicide
• Ex. Miggy: a 9-year-old Hispanic boy; an energetic, goofy or playful nerd
• From your list choose 3-5 of these characters to be major characters--characters with whom you might be able to follow their story. The other characters should be labeled "minor" characters. They might be foils or supporting characters in a setting or location.
• For your major characters, give each one a story goal: this need or character OBJECTIVE should be what makes the character active or willing to cause things to happen. Most character objectives are behavioral. They reflect a desire to affect or change another character's status, life, or circumstance. We might classify character objectives as one of four types:
• to make other characters feel good
• to make other characters feel bad
• to find out something important from another character
• to persuade or convince another character of something important
• All scenes develop conflict based on a character's objective. The only exception to this is the monologue, which is primarily used to provide backstory, exposition, or character development.
• Keep your notes for future writing exercises.

Oleanna: pg. 1643. Let's continue reading the play. After reading, if we complete the play, we will discuss it. Those who are not reading out loud should be ready to discuss the topic they signed up for.

HOMEWORK: If we do not finish the play in class, please complete it as homework. Read The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter for next Thursday (there will likely be a quiz on the play). As you read, pay close attention to the character objectives of Gus and Ben.