Cutting Lines

Shakespeare, being a poet, wrote much more than he ever expected to be presented on a stage.  Knowing this, you will need to examine your assigned sections of text to determine where you should make cuts. Take out repetition, unnecessary exchanges, and slow speeches.


For example:

Things to think about:


1.  What is each character trying to say?
2.  Does the speech/exchange still make sense with your cuts?
3.  Have you considered what happened before and what happens after the section you are cutting?

Monday, February 28

Objective:  SWBAT

·      Apply context clues to determine vocabulary meaning.

Agenda:

I.       Warm-up

II.    Line Cutting Notes

III.  Vocabulary work

IV.  Survey 
     Link at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SecGoal21011

Homework:             

·      Log #7

·      Read IV.i

Warm-up:             

·      With the last acting company scenes, your group was asked to cut lines.  What do you need to remember when doing this?

Friday, February 25

Objective:  SWBAT

·      Analyze blocking and subtext choices in film interpretation.

Agenda:

I.      Warm-up

II.    Film

Homework:             

·      Log #6 and OR book (Due Tuesday)

Warm-up:             

·      Take out a piece of paper and share half with a neighbor. Prepare it for a quiz.

Thursday, February 24

Objective:  SWBAT

·      Present blocking and subtext choices to show scene interpretation.

Agenda:

I.       Warm-up

II.    Acting Company Presentations

Homework:             

·      Catch up on Logs

·      Get OR book

Warm-up:             

·      Get back in Companies and review scenes. You have 10 minutes! Go!

Wednesday, February 23

Objective:  SWBAT

·      Apply blocking and subtext to acting company activity.

Agenda:

I.      Warm-up

II.    Acting Company #5

III.  Intro to OR Project

Homework:             

·      Rehearse scenes

·      Catch up on Logs

·      Get OR book

Warm-up:             

·      Okay, so since we are still having the assembly, period six still needs to catch up.  We will be focusing on adding blocking and rehearsing scenes.  Let’s go…

             

Tuesday, February 21

**Snow Day!**

Assembly has been moved to tomorrow.  Schedule is as follows:

7:25 am - 8:00 am Period 1
8:05 am - 8:45 am Period 2
8:50 am – 9:20 am Period 3
9:25 am – 10:00 am Period 5
10:05 am – 12:14 Period 4A
    10:05 – 10:35 A Lunch       
    10:38 – 11:08 B Lunch       
    11:11 – 11:41 C Lunch       
    11:44 – 12:14 D Lunch               
12:19 pm – 1:09 pm    Period 6 Group #1
1:14 pm – 2:10 pm   Period 6 Group #2

Acting Company Activity #5

            For this activity, your company will be directing and performing a unique section of Act III.  Please follow the guidelines below for completing the activity.  Be sure to take adequate notes about your choices in your notebook.

1.     Read through your section of the scene.  Use the cheat sheet method.

2.     Determine the general meaning for each speech. Note these in your write-up.

3.     Look at each speech. Cut unnecessary repetition and phrasing to condense your piece.  Be aware of rhythm and meter when making cuts.  Take notes on what you cut and why you cut it.

4.     Determine character objectives for your section. Incorporate these objectives inot the subtext of your lines. Record your decisions in your write-up.

5.     Stand up and develop blocking pattern for the characters during the exchanges. Take notes on how and why the characters are moving the way they are.

6.     Create blocking maps for your scene showing character movements.

Scene assignments:

Part I:  III.ii.1-89

            Characters: Oberon, Robin, Demetrius, Hermia

Part II:  III.ii.90-180

            Characters: Overon, Robin, Lysander, Helena, Demetrius

Part III: III.ii.181-249

            Characters: Hermia, Lysander, Helena (Demetrius)

Part IV: III.ii.250-295

            Characters: Lysander, Helena, Hermia, Demetrius

Part V: III.ii.296-365

            Characters: Hermia, Helena, Demetrius

Blocking Notes

Remember, when you are planning stage blocking, the director should create one set page per page of script.  Personal blocking should be recorded on each individual script by each actor. Here is a completed example:

Thursday, February 17

***Early Release for Conferences. Only pd. 2 and 3 meet!***

Objective:  SWBAT

·      Apply blocking and subtext to acting company activity.

Agenda:

I.       Warm-up

II.    Acting Company #5

Homework:             

·      Rehearse scenes

·      Catch up on Logs.

Warm-up:             

·      Give me an update about what you have accomplished over the two weeks I have been out.

Act 3 on Film

 Answer the following questions as you watch the film for Act III.

1.     Why does Bottom’s transformation have to take place off stage when it is acted in a theater? How is it handled in the film? Which is better? Why?

2.     List one ironic statement Bottom makes now that he is a donkey, but doesn’t realize it. How is subtext used to create this irony?

3.     Is the way the mechanicals react to Bottom realistic? Why or why not?

4.     Describe one blocking choice that adds humor to the scene. How does it?

5.     What is symbolic about Hermia’s dream?  How has it come to pass?

Wednesday, February 16

Objective:  SWBAT

·      Analyze subtext and blocking in film.

Agenda:

I.       Warm-up

II.    Complete Film Work

III.  Acting Company #5

Homework:             

·      Log # 5

Warm-up:             

·      Examine Hermia’s dream at the end of Act II.  What symbolism do you see in this dream?  Explain.

Tuesday, February 15

Objective:  SWBAT

·      Analyze subtext and blocking in film.

Agenda:

I.      Warm-up

II.    Film Work

Homework:             

·      Read III.ii

·      Log # 4

Warm-up:             

·      What is blocking?

Acting Company Grade Rubric

Scenes will be graded in the above categories.  Marks include check plus (excellent), check (good), and check minus (needs improvement).  A zero constitutes a complete inattention to the category and will only be used under extreme circumstances.

Monday, February 14

Objective:  SWBAT

·      Apply subtext to dialogue during acting company.

Agenda:

I.       Warm-up

II.    Acting company #4

Homework:             

·      Read III.i

Warm-up:             

·      Create four or five insults from the insult sheet.  File these for future use.

Friday, February 11

Objective:  SWBAT

·      Apply subtext to dialogue during acting company.

Agenda:

I.       Warm-up

II.   Quiz Review

II.    Acting company #4

Homework:             

·     Log #3

Warm-up:             

·      Take quiz sheet and complete.  You have 15 minutes. Good Luck!

Acting Company Activity #4

For this activity, your group will be implementing your given subtext for II.ii.41-71.  Be sure to analyze the speeches based on the following:

           

1.     Which words would Lysander and Hermia emphasize to show their subtext?

2.     What facial expressions would each character show during their speeches?

3.     What body language would be evident during their speeches?

4.     How would the two characters interact on the stage to show subtext?

5.     Examine the text for clues to staging and the characters’ movements.

6.     Keep in mind that there is sometimes action when there are no words. Build appropriate action between the lines as well as during the lines.

To help you understand how to portray your assigned subtext think about your character and answer the following:

·      Based on the text and your given subtext, what is the scene objective for Lysander? Hermia?

·      Based on the text and your given subtext, what do you think Lysander’s superobjective is for the play? Hermia’s?

Run through these lines at least three times with full action.  You do not need to memorize the lines, but you should be familiar enough with them that the book is only a reference, not a necessity.

Subtext assignments:

Part I:              L is macho, H is sarcastic

Part II:             L is innocent, H is seductive

Part III:            L is seductive, H is cold

Part IV:            L is smitten, H is tempted but chaste

Part V:             L is childish, H is ditzy

Text and Subtext

Notes go here.

Thursday, February 10

Objective:  SWBAT

·      Examine text and subtext in MND.

Agenda:

I.       Warm-up

II.    Text and subtext

III.  Acting company #4

Homework:             

·      Catch up on logs!

Warm-up:             

·      Take your company folders. Complete Activity #3. You have 15 minutes.

Acting Company Activity #3

For this activity, your group will be looking for patterns in language in Titania’s speech (II.i.125-142). Complete the following:

1.     Read the passage to punctuation (See Cheat Sheet).

2.     Note any ideas that come to you as you read and analyze the passage.

3.     Are there any images that make a picture in your head? Note them. Is there a pattern of theme to these images? Explain. Are the images peaceful or violent, hot or cold? What are the most memorable mental pictures in the passage?

4.     Look for metaphors in the passage. Note them.  How does the use of metaphor enhance the passage?

5.     Look for and note words that evoke smells or sounds.

6.     Look for examples of alliteration and assonance. Note them. How does this affect the passage?

7.     Look for repetition of words and phrases, noting them. Why do you think Shakespeare included these repetitions?

8.     Draw some conclusions about the overall effect of the piece and its mood. How do the parts mentioned above help to achieve that effect?

Be sure to take good notes during this close text analysis and place it with this paper in your group folder.  Folders should be turned in at the end of class.

Objectives, Superobjectives, and Beat Changes

Objective – What the character is trying to accomplish during a scene.   What do they want? How are they trying to get it?

Beat Change – When a character changes tactics in trying to achieve their goal, or when a character has met their goal and sets a new one.

Superobjective – What the character is trying to accomplish by the end of the whole play.  Objectives feed into the superobjective

Examine the following characters, and determine their objectives in I.i:

1.    Hermia

2.    Egeus

3.    Helena

Examine the following characters, and determine their superobjectives:

1.    Oberon

2.    Titania

How do you know what the objectives and superobjectives are?  What text evidence leads you to your ideas about character objectives and superobjectives?  Remember, all analysis needs to be supported by text evidence!

Wednesday, February 9

Objective:  SWBAT

·      Examine objectives, superobjectives, and beat changes for characters.

Agenda:

I.       Warm-up

II.    Objectives and Superobjectives

III.  Acting Co. #3

Homework:             

·      Read III.i and Log #3

Warm-up:             

·      Take your company folders. Complete Activity #2. You have 10 minutes.

Acting Company Activity #2

Complete the following for this activity dealing with II.i:

1.     Complete the text reading sequence (see Cheat Sheet) for II.i.33-61 stressing rhythm. Read the remainder of the scene.

2.     After completing the text reading sequence, answer the following:

a.     Identify the new characters. What are they like? Find lines that support your ideas.

b.     How are they different from the characters introduced previously? How are they the same?

c.      Which character does your group connect with most? Why?

3.     Examine the setting, and answer the following:

a.     What is the new setting?

b.     How is it different than Athens?

c.      What is the mood established? How do you know? Cite line references.

4.     Paraphrase the action for the entire scene.

5.     Prepare to reconvene as a whole group and share ideas and questions.

Tuesday, February 8

Objective:  SWBAT

·      Analyze rhythm, rhyme, and meter in MND.

Agenda:

I.     Warm-up

II.    Acting Co Activity #2

Homework:             

·      Read II.ii

Warm-up:             

·      Take your company folders.  Review Activity #1 and modify if necessary. Complete Activity #2.

Examining Rhythm and Meter in MND

Look at V.i.440

If we shadows have offended
Think but this and all is mended.

1.  What do you notice about the passage?
2.  How many strong beats per line?
3.  What is the relationship of weak beats to strong beats?

Look at II.i.18

The king doth keep his revels here tonight
Take heed the queen come not within his sight

Examine this passage for the same questions above.

And finally, look at I.ii.23

That will ask some tears in the true performing of it.  If I do it, let the audience look to their eyes. I will move storms; I will condole in some measure.

Who speaks what types of lines?  Why do you think they speak the way they do?

Rhythm, Rhyme, and Meter

·      Rhythm and Meter are related to each other.

·      Basic unit of rhythm is called a ‘foot’.  A foot consists of one accented syllable and one or more unaccented syllable.

o   Accented                          \

o   Unaccented                     U

·      Types of feet

o   1 unaccented and 1 accented            [ \ U ]

  (iamb)

o   1 accented and 1 unaccented            [ U \ ]

 (trochee)

o   1 accented and 2 unaccented            [ \ U U ]

 (dactyl)

o   2 accented                                         [ \  \ ]

(spondee)

·      Meter is the amount of feet per line

o   tetrameter              (4 feet per line)

o   pentameter            (5 feet per line)

Monday, February 7

Objective:  SWBAT

·      Analyze rhythm, rhyme, and meter in MND.

Agenda:

I.      Warm-up

II.    The Beat!

III.  Acting Co Activity #2

Homework:             

·      Read II.ii

Warm-up:             

·      Write a song or nursery rhyme you remember from childhood.
     1.  How long have you had this song/verse in your memory?
     2.  Why did you remember it?
     3.  What helped you remember it? Did you sing silently? Tap the beat?

Friday, February 4

Objective:  SWBAT

·      Analyze Act I through film interpretation.

Agenda:

I.      Warm-up

II.    Film activity

Homework:             

·      Read II.i

·      Log #2

Warm-up:             

§  Take and complete grammar activity sheet.

Hey all. Leah is still sick and I have to be out again today.  Please pay attention to the film and complete the follow up activity.  I will see you Monday. Have a great weekend.

Thursday, February 3

I am out today.  Sorry all. See you tomorrow.

Objective:  SWBAT

·      Analyze Act I in acting companies.

Agenda:

I.       Warm-up

II.    Activity #1

Homework:             

·      Read II.i

·      Log #2

Warm-up:         ·      Take and complete mini quiz on I.i.

Acting Company Activity #1

For the first acting company activity, complete the following activity dealing with Act I:

1.     Spend five minutes sharing ideas and comments on the play so far, now that we are at the conclusion of Act I.  This is a good opportunity for members to bring up anything that is puzzling or confusing them.  Also, note any interesting constructions or ideas that Shakespeare includes in his play.  The director should be taking notes.

2.     What are the group’s general impression of each of the characters so far? Focus ideas on the four lovers, Egeus, and the more overt mechanicals, such as Bottom.  The director should take notes.

3.     In most acting companies, you will be approaching the text for the second time, the first time as a group.  Complete the following sequence of events for the assigned scene.  This will be the general sequence of events when asked to do the text reading sequence (see Cheat Sheet):

a.     Complete a round robin reading. Sit in a circle and have every student read, stopping at punctuation.  There are no characters. The goal is to absorb the language.

b.     Circle any words or phrases that you do not understand as the round robin reading occurs.  At the conclusion of the reading come to consensus about definitions and meaning (I can be used as a resource if you are truly stuck!).

c.      Paraphrase long, difficult speeches into modern English for easier comprehension.

d.     Make sense of the overall scene and plot action.

4.     Complete the above sequence of events for I.i.230-257. The director should take notes on company ideas and questions.

Wednesday, February 2

Objective:  SWBAT

·      Analyze Act I in acting companies.

Agenda:

I.      Warm-up

II.    Intro to acting companies.

III.  Activity #1

Homework:             

·      Log #1.

·      Read II.i

·      Log #2

Warm-up:             

§  Take out your dream essay and draft if you haven’t submitted it yet.

§  With a partner, answer the following:

·      What kind of person is Bottom? How do you know?

·      How do the other mechanicals feel about Bottom?

·      What type of character is Quince? How do you know?