Memory Play Project: Day 2; The Glass Menagerie (Reading)

Memory Play Project:

Continue writing your short MEMORY play draft. See previous posts for details about the 4 stages of the Coming of Age archetype and the 9 characteristics of a bildungsroman.

By beginning of class you should have completed:

1. A title page & cast list: with a short description of 2-6 characters that will appear in your play.
2. A set description on the same page. Describe the setting. Remember setting is not just location, but may include time period, weather, season, and time of day. Your set description should appear on your title page for this project.
3.  You should have identified a protagonist who is "coming of age" in some way. Look back and consider the 4 stages and 9 characteristics of a coming of age story for ideas for conflicts and complications to your plot or character design.

Period 3:

• Begin writing your scene once you have completed all prewriting steps (see post below for details!) Your play should be written and formatted as a play script. 
• Your play should be between 5 - 10 pages in length (excluding your cast list and set description) 
• Do NOT double space your play scripts. It is okay to skip a single line (one hard return) between lines. 
• Names should be typed in upper case. 
• Stage/acting directions should be written in parenthesis. Try to avoid over explaining or using stage directions. Let the actors and director do their own job. You should focus on really good dialogue writing. Try to get your characters to sound like different people.
• Consider this format for your play: Page 1: exposition and inciting incident. Pages 2-6: development of plot, complications. Focus on the removal, challenge, and perhaps realization of your protagonist. Pages 7-9: Focus on the climax and reintegration of your protagonist. Page 10: wrap up the play. End the play with a strong visual image or good ending line.

Period 4: 

• Go to the library to pick up the memory play: The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams.
• When we return, we will read the beginning of this play together in class. 
• Complete the reading of this play on your own over the break. Return with the play read by Oct. 12. Bring your scripts back with you to discuss and analyze the play.

HOMEWORK: Complete your reading of The Glass Menagerie. As you read, take notes in your journal about how this play also follows the "coming of age" archetype. Tom is our protagonist, and is based loosely on Tennessee Williams himself. Bring your scripts back with you next class.