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Performance Adaptation Project
Character
& Plot Development Worksheet
Use this worksheet to help students
analyze character and plot development. They will use their analyses
later when they begin to write their scripts.
Assignment
Groups of
students will rewrite and perform Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar by
adapting it to one of the themes listed below. Circle the scenario upon
which you and your group plan to base your play.
- Pretend each
character in the play is a current political figure. Which character
would be which politician? Why? How would they behave/speak as a
result? What is the motivation for their actions?
- Pretend
each
character in the play is an animal. Which character would be which
animal? Why? How would they behave/speak as a result? What is the
motivation for their actions?
- Pretend
each
character in the play is a stereotypical teenager. Which characters
would belong to which social “groups”? Why? How would they
behave/speak as a result? What is the motivation for their actions?
- Develop
your own
scenario and define the characters. Your ideas MUST be submitted in
writing and approved in advance.
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Names of each group
member
1.
____________________________
2. ____________________________
3. ____________________________
4. ____________________________
5. ____________________________
6. ____________________________
Directions
Define each character listed
below
according to the theme you and your group have selected. Use the
questions following each scenario to define the character. Don’t forget
to consider: What is the motivation of each character? Were the
characters and their actions justified? What is each character’s tragic
flaw and how did they bring their problems upon themselves? If you
select #4, you will need to devise your own questions. Include the name
that you will give each character in your version of the play.
Major Characters:
Julius Caesar —
Antony —
Brutus —
Cassius —
Octavius —
Minor Characters:
Other conspirators (min. 2)
Other characters (2-3)
Directions
Define the plot and the
effects
according to the theme you and your group have selected. Use a separate
sheet of paper to describe each.
Plot:
- List the events in
Shakespeare’s play that you believe are most important and MUST be
included in your version.
- Describe how
you will
apply
the scenario that you have chosen to the events listed above. (For
example: How will your Cassius convince your Brutus to join the
conspiracy? What is the reason your Cassius and your Brutus fear your
Caesar?) Don’t forget to consider: What is the motivation of each
character? Were the characters and their actions justified? What is
each character’s tragic flaw and how did they bring their problems upon
themselves?
Effects:
- What costumes might
your characters wear? Describe how your ideas would enhance the
audience’s understanding of the play.
- What might
your sets
look like? Describe how your ideas would enhance the audience’s
understanding of the play.
- What might
your props
be and
how might they look? Describe how your ideas would enhance the
audience’s understanding of the play.
- What music or
sound
effects
might you use? Where and how would they be used? Describe how your
ideas would enhance the audience’s understanding of the play.
- What other
effects
might you use? Describe how your ideas would enhance the audience’s
understanding of the play.
Original Use
This assignment is geared
toward William Shakespeare's Julius
Caesar; however, the assignment can be adapted to any of
Shakespeare's other plays as well as to other literature.
Other Assignment
Components
Assignment
Description & Purpose
Assignment
Sheet
Project
Responsibility Form
Character
and Plot Development Worksheet
Audience
Performance Evaluation
Group
& Self Evaluations
Group
Grading Rubric
Individual
Grading Rubric
Handouts
Assignment
Description & Purpose
Assignment
Sheet
Project
Responsibility Form
Character
and Plot Development Worksheet
Audience
Performance Evaluation
Group
& Self Evaluations
Grading
Rubrics
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