Name: ______
Beach Park
Creative Writing 3
Objective:
In this lesson, you will become familiar with the aspects of drama by learning the components of writing and producing a play.
Journal Assignment: Folktales (5 minutes):
Retell your favorite folktale (Jack and the Beanstalk, Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, Cinderella,etc.) Give the story a different ending than the original.
Writing a Dramatic Sketch
A dramatic sketch is a short scene that focuses on a single theme or main idea. Read or acted out in front of an audience, a dramatic sketch has one setting and one to three actors who speak dialogue as they interpret the roles they are playing.
The tone of a sketch can be serious or funny. An example of a short story with a serious scene occurs in Thank You, M'am by Langston Hughes. In the scene, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones grabs a young purse snatcher by the back of his neck and takes him home with her. An example of a short story with a humorous scene occurs in Charles by Shirley Jackson. In the
scene, Laurie's mother discovers that Charles, the naughty boy in Laurie's kindergarten class, is really Laurie himself.
To be dramatic, scenes in sketches must have conflict. The scene can take place at the climatic moment, when action and emotion are at their peak. Because a scene is not a full length play, the conflict does not have to be resolved. Although one actor can speak a monologue and reveal inner conflicts to the audience, the best scenes occur between people who are enemies or whose views and goals conflict.
Before you can write a dramatic scene, brainstorm a list of stories and real life events that involve one or two people engaged in conflict. Think of movies you've seen, books you've read, short stories, plays, and narrative poems in your literature book. Add ideas to the list on the following page.
1. Disruptive student and teacher
2. Parent and teenager
3. Snow White and the Jealous Queen (disguised as the old peddler)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
A dramatic sketch includes the following elements: a title, the author of the sketch (and the author of the story from which it is adapted), a list of characters who appear in the sketch, background information, stage directions, and dialogue. Here is an example of the format for a dramatic sketch.
Snow White and the Big Red Apple
by
Emmy Ryan
from a story in Grimm's Fairy Tales
CHARACTERS
Snow White, an orphaned princess, fairest of all
Queen, a jealous, wicked stepmother, disguised as an old peddler
[The scene is inside the cottage of the seven little men, hidden deep in the forest, where Snow White is hiding from the murderous Queen. She escaped assassination when the killer took pity and spared her life. From the Magic Mirror, the Queen learns that Snow still lives and tracks her down. Disguised as a peddler, the Queen flatters Snow and sells her a poisoned comb and a corset that shrinks tight enough to kill her. Both attempts fail. The little men warn Snow not to
trust strangers, especially that peddler, but Snow is lonely, and once again, someone is knocking at the door.]
[Knock! Knock! Knock! Snow lays aside her broom, smooths her apron and hair, and opens the door.]
Peddler: [in a quavery, weak voice] May I come inside, dearie, and rest my weary old bones?
Snow: [Leaving the door partly closed and talking through the crack] The little men who own this house told me not to let anyone in, especially peddlers like you. The comb you sold me last week gave me a terrible headache and made my hair fall out.
Peddler: [Shaking head] Tsk, tsk, tsk. I'm so sorry, dearie. Perhaps I can repair the damage. [She tries to enter]
Snow: [Holding the door almost shut] And the corset shrank so tightly that I fainted and couldn't breathe. My face turned blue!
Peddler: [Pretending surprise while sticking her foot in the crack of the door and shoving her way inside] My, oh, my. I'm so embarrassed. It's that cheap, imported merchandise. [Placing a claw-like finger on the side of her nose, as if thinking of a way to make amends for the defective products.] Let's see, now. How about a little gift for you, dearie, to make things right?
Snow: [Looking doubtful] Well, that depends upon the gift.
Peddler: [Hobbling over to the table, she sets down a wicker basket covered by a colorful napkin.] Come and see! Come and see! [She cackles like a witch and whips off the napkin like a magician to reveal a basket of green apples and one huge, shiny red one on top.]
Snow: [Her eyes light up and she smiles] They look delicious! It's been ages since I've had a piece of fruit. Which one may I take?
Peddler: [Lowering her head to hide an evil smile] Take the red one.
[Snow holds the red apple and admires it. Then she takes a big bite. Her eyes grow wide. She clutches her throat, gags, and falls to the floor. The evil Queen cackles and dances around the room in a victory celebration.]
Peddler: [Spoken toward the audience in a triumphant voice] Now I'm the fairest in the land!
An Assignment for Your Student Writing Portfolio:
Prewrite a dramatic sketch. You will use the information you generate on the next several pages to write a draft.
1. In no more than six sentences, draft a paragraph synopsis of the scene you intend to write. Include a beginning, a middle, and an end.
Begin writing here:
2. Make a list of the characters and describe their appearance, personality, and style of speaking.
Begin writing here:
3. Make a list of details about the setting:
Describe the time and place:
Special lighting (such as bright sunshine or candle-lit room):
Properties (such as table, basket of apples, broom):
4. Following the format of the Snow White sketch, draft your sketch in the space below.
Begin writing here: