12 ANGRY Men by: Reginald Rose Information about the background of this play and about the play: a drama preformed on stage. Who is Reginald Rose? What is a play? What is a trial?

Inspiration for the play The play was inspired by Rose’s own experience of jury duty on a manslaughter case in New York City. Reluctant to be on the jury until “the moment I walked into the courtroom… and found myself facing a strange man whose fate was suddenly more or less in my hands, my entire attitude changed.”

Inspirations Rose wrote about the gravity of the situation. Decided that “a play taking place entirely within the jury room might be an exciting and possibly moving experience for an audience.” Eleven jurors believe a defendant in a capital murder trial is guilty, while one juror stands up courageously for what he believes is justice.

Themes in the play… The Triumph and fragility of justice Overcoming Class and Race Prejudice Democracy and Social Responsibility

From the stage to the screen Twelve Angry Men was published in an expanded form as a stage play in 1955 and made into a successful film in 1957, starring Henry Fonda and coproduced by Fonda and Rose. The film garnered Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, and an Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Motion Picture Screen-play from Mystery Writers of America.

What is a Play? Any type of reading that is performed on stage. This includes: Dramas Comedies Musicals Tragedies

What is a Drama? One of the major forms of literature Intended to be performed on stage in front of an audience It includes stage directions and dialogue between characters

STAGE DIRECTIONS Instructions for the director, actors, and stage crew Set apart in the script using (parentheses) and Italics Describe the scenery (items on stage that create setting) and what the props are (objects the actors use)

DIALOGUE Conversation between characters One of the most important things about a drama/play is that it uses dialogue. During the play, the dialogue tells us about the plot and characters’ personalities. We know who the speaker is because the name of the speaker is bolded in front of what the speaker says.

What’s a Trial? We caught a brief glimpse of this in To Kill a Mockingbird There are several parts to a trial. Jury Selection Opening statements Prosecution’s case (“good guy”) Defense’s case (the defendant “bad guy”) Closing statements Jury instructions Jury deliberation and verdict

The Jury Consists of 12 citizens They are interviewed and personally selected for the case based on their views and responses to questions They decide the verdict for the defendant They must come to a unanimous decision for the verdict Meaning: all 12 persons need to agree on a guilty or not guilty charge

REASONABLE DOUBT “beyond a reasonable doubt” is the term the court uses Simply put, this means that there is no doubt, in a reasonable person’s mind, that the defendant is guilty. Most importantly used in murder cases when the defendant’s life is on the line. Meaning, that the evidence presented is air-tight.

CIRCUMSTANSTIAL EVIDENCE Evidence based on the circumstances Basically, it’s not the best type of evidence. It is largely based on inferences and indirectly proves a fact. EX: I buy a blouse. You steal the same blouse from a friend of ours. Because I wear the blouse in public the next day, circumstantial evidence says I stole it.

El Train Short for ELEVATED Train Usually found in large cities like Chicago and New York City Basically, a metro station above the ground

1957, New York Last year in the 10 year “GOLDEN AGE” of Baseball Although women are granted the right to sit on a jury in 1947, it is a state-by-state decision, and on a volunteer basis (women aren’t forced to be on a jury) Boxing and Baseball are the hot sports; many attend baseball games and the Friday Fight Nights

Dempsey-Firpo Fight (pg.42) Famous boxing fight that took place in 1923. Dempsey was the reining heavyweight champ. Firpo put up a good fight, and he knocked Dempsey out of the ring. Dempsey suffered a blow to the head, and there was a scandal around how slow the ref counted and how Dempsey got back into the ring Dempsey eventually won the match.

Khrushchev (pg.50) Nikita Khrushchev was a Soviet Union Communist leader Boorish- served for the Bolsheviks in Russia Was convinced that the communist ways were going to take over the west (America)… not so much…

J. Walter Thompson (pg.68) Successful advertising agent in the early 1900’s He is credited as the "father of modern magazine advertising" in the US. Thompson is responsible for some enduring brand images in popular culture, like the Rock of Gibraltar used for the Prudential Insurance Company

Clarence Darrow (pg.70) Famous American lawyer Leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union Most famous for defending the two killers, Leopold and Loeb: two teens charged for the murder of a 14 year old boy; they were aiming to create “the perfect murder”. No such luck: both got life sentences

WHERE DO YOU STAND? Ethics and Values

Prompt 1 Suppose you knew that everyone around you was thinking one way; the opposite of how you were thinking. Would you still stand up for what you believed, or would you go along with the crowd?

Prompt 2 Suppose someone tells you that your best friend gossips about you behind your back. Would you: Talk to your friend Investigate the situation (i.e. consider the source, go over the facts) Never talk to your best friend again

Prompt 3 Is there ever a good enough reason to give someone the death penalty?

Prompt 4 Suppose someone tells your mom they saw you smoking. Your mom kicks you out of the house without even talking to you about it. Fair? Unfair? Why? Why not?

Have you ever, even in jest, said, “I’m gonna kill you!”? Prompt 5 Have you ever, even in jest, said, “I’m gonna kill you!”? Now, suppose that person that you said that to turned up dead later that day (they had, indeed, been killed). Is that reason enough to send you to jail for life?

Imagine a time that you have been really ticked off. Prompt 6 Imagine a time that you have been really ticked off. While you were mad: Did you listen to music? Did you watch a movie? If so, can you remember the song or the title of the movie? Why or why not?

What is Justice? In your assigned small groups write down on your sticky notes what justice means to you, or what you think justice means in general. List one definition of justice on each of the five sticky notes your group has received. Work as a group. Then place your sticky notes on the poster board at the front of the room. We will discuss our thoughts!