Our Town

Learning Goals:

• Identify and Define Point of View techniques
  
• Analyze how Point of View techniques show theme
  
• Evaluate the effectiveness of Point of View techniques to show theme.
  
• Identify and Define Modernism
  
• Analyze the technique’s of Modernism show theme
  
• Evaluate current/contemporary/later adaptations of modernist texts portrayal of theme
  
• Apply effective sequencing techniques in writing complex, argumentative texts
  
• Apply effective syntax techniques in writing complex, argumentative texts

Act 1:  How does the stage manager control what the reader/watcher sees or understands?  Why?  What does he want to show off?  What does he want to hide?

Act 2:  What's changed since Act 1?  What's stayed the same?  What "repeats" of things that happened once already happening again (literally, symbolically, metaphorically, allusion-ally)?  What is Wilder trying to communicate to the audience through these repetitions?

Note:  The traditional hymn, "Blessed be the tie that binds," appears in all three acts of the play.  (Hint:  Wilder's using it symbolically!)  Here are two versions of the song.  Listen to the lyrics carefully.

Act 3:  What is Wilder's comment on the social change of the early 20th Century?

Essay Question:  Watch at least two movie versions of Our Town.  Which movie version best portrays the themes of the novel?  Why?  Why is the other movie(s) not as effective?

--Take evidence from both movies and the novel
--15 to 18 pieces of evidence minimum
--Use a effective, inherent logical structure