Guiding Questions and a Request: Act 2 of COE

Here are some questions to think about as you read and which we'll discuss in class. In addition, choose for yourself a single line or speech from this reading that catches you eye for whatever reason, and as you have previously, post a comment about it.

II.i
1. Act out lines 1-41: What stereotypes do Luciana and Adriana perpetuate? What effect does the rhyme have on this interaction? Compare lines 15-25 and 32-41. What are the two women saying and how are their views on marriage different?
2. Look at Adriana's final two speeches: 87-101 and 103-115. How does this speech contradict her previous one in lines 32-41. What is the tone of her delivery? What is Shakespeare saying about all women in this speech -- go crazy.

II.ii
1. The idea of madness is introduced in the previous scene, and here we have some seriously wacky things happening. But the scene begins with Dromio S's witty word play. What is the purpose of the back and forth in the first 106 lines? Remember, we've now seen Antipholus with both Dromios.
2. Act out lines 109-end. How do Antipholus and Dromio physically react to this situation? What are we to think of Adriana?

Friday's Work

in addition to reviewing Act I of Comedy of Errors, as I indicated in class, I'd like you and a partner (probably) to choose a one minute portion of the reading that you can perform together. It need not be memorized, but you should be familiar with your lines so you can read it glibly, without having to labor. Otherwise you'll be too distracted to be physical at all! Then, your focus should be on embodiment of the lines. This MAY mean comedy and even slapstick. If you think you can incorporate some of that into the second scene, for example, great. Imagining HOW that tone would be established early in the play is the key. Scene one, after all, is not funny. It's there that the possibility of death and the "time line" we discussed last week are established. Within that threat, however, we are to create humor. Let's see (and I do mean SEE) what you can do!

Socratic Fishbowl

Tomorrow is our special session with David Sinaiko and Alison Park. Thanks to the six of you who agreed to be part of the opening fishbowl. The question we'll begin with is, "Should we read The Merchant of Venice? Does it belong in school curriculum?" We will decide tomorrow whether students or guests open the fishbowl. Be thinking about your preference. After we have had sufficient time to air that issue, we'll open the question to those of us who have been witness to the fishbowl thus far. Then we'll segue into the other questions we listed, and proceed spontaneously. I'm looking forward to it!