The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail Learning Centers Choice of 5

Center #1: Define Transcendentalism Read “Brief Sketch of Transcendentalism” and “What Is Transcendentalism?” Discuss as a group what you have come to understand the term Transcendentalism to mean. Then, using the laptop, collaboratively WRITE a definition essay (typed, 1-2 pages, MLA guidelines) that outlines your interpretation of the term. As part of your definition, relate the term to society today. Be sure to include concrete support for your ideas.

Center #2: Diagram the Stage The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail opens with a description of how the stage is to be arranged. Using any materials you choose, draw a diagram or make a model of the stage. Include as many details from the play as possible that will convince your audience that you understand the concept that “time and space are awash here.”

Center #3: A Favorite Thoreau Quote Look back over the text of the play; highlight some of the sayings that we have come to relate so closely to the philosophy of both Transcendentalism and to the personal philosophy of Thoreau. Read the selection of Thoreau quotes included as part of this center. Discuss as a group the meanings of his proverbs. Which ones have particular meaning for you today? Which ones might have had more meaning for someone at the time Lawrence and Lee produced their play? Each one of you in your group is to select one saying and CREATE an 8 ½ x 11” motivational poster that quotes Thoreau

Center #4: Rewrite a Scene Discuss in your group how you would rewrite the scene to bring out the ideas more clearly. Decide what specific ideas would need to be changed, added, deleted. Then, REWRITE the scene, making it more modern. How would you adjust the language? How would you change the setting (time, place, mood)? Be sure to make the scene you select appeal to an audience of 21st century Transcendentalists

Center #5: Summarize Act 2 Read the enclosed summaries of Act I of The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail. Notice how the writers condensed the ideas without leaving out any of the major points. Then, in your collaborative group, review Act II thoroughly. And finally, WRITE a succinct summary of Act II. Be sure that you include all of the major ideas of the act. Could your summary be used as a review tool for a test over the play?

Center #6: A Day at Thoreau’s School Decide what Mr. Thoreau would teach if he were employed at Pope High School today. Then, CREATE a lesson plan for a typical day in his class. Be sure to include what activities he would have his students carry out and what readings he would have them complete. Would Mr. Thoreau assign homework? If so, what would it be? If he would not assign homework, how about a project? What type of project would be assign? How might he grade the final product? What would students like best about Mr. Thoreau? How would parents of Pope students react to Mr. Thoreau’s methods? WRITE a synopsis of your conclusions in the form of a job evaluation of Mr. Thoreau. Include as many of your ideas about his methods and parent/student reactions as possible.

Center #7: Create a Timeline For this center, you and your group will CREATE a timeline that is two-fold: One line will trace the events as the playwrights present them in the play. A second line will rearrange those same events in chronological order. The purpose is to juxtapose Lawrence and Lee’s expressionistic vision with events as we know them from Thoreau’s biography. And finally, as you work, discuss in your group WHY Lawrence and Lee might have chosen to rearrange events in the manner that they did.

Center #8: Write a Theater Review Read the provided reviews of the play. Note the differences in the reviewers’ style. What positive points did each reviewer share with his reading audience? What negative points did each reviewer choose to point out? Was the reviewer focused on the message of the play, the dramatic elements (staging), or the performances of the actors? What was the overall TONE of the different reviews? As a group, WRITE a POSITIVE review of the play as if you had seen it performed recently at the Theater in the Square in Marietta. In addition to your review, identify actors and actresses who would have appropriately filled the roles of the characters. Incorporate their names into your review. Be sure your review reads as a theater review, not as a literary analysis; maintain the TONE of a review.