Exercise: The class will read aloud only the first act of "He Who Says Yes/He Who Says No," by Bertolt Brecht.5 Six students should volunteer to take a part, and the rest of the class will read in unison the part of the Great Chorus.
Discussion: Questions for class discussion include: what does the Great Chorus's line, "Many say Yes without understanding," mean to each of the three main characters? Do the students reading the play think that the custom of throwing the weak person into the valley is necessary, or wise? What currently observed customs and traditions in our society can the class think of? Discuss their current validity and relevance.
Exercise: The class will read aloud the second act of "He Who Says Yes/He Who Says No," by Bertolt Brecht. Six students should volunteer to take a part, and the rest of the class will read the part of the Great Chorus.
Discussion: Questions for class discussion include: do the students reading the play think the Boy acted in a morally upstanding way? Did he make the right decision? Obviously, the class will need to arrive at a definition for "morally upstanding," and "right decision." This should lead the discussion into considering what the Boy had to consider when making his decision to disagree with the ancient custom.
Exercise: Working independently, each student will write a one-page essay designating the roles of persecutor, rescuer and victim to the characters in Brecht's play. Students will use excerpts of dialogue and implications of actor's actions to support their designations.
Lesson 2, Part Two: "Maybe Yes and Maybe No"
Exercise: The Instructor will divide the class into groups of five and assign each group one of the following improvisational scenarios. Each group will devise and briefly rehearse two different renditions of the improvisation. One ending should feature the protagonist agreeing with the demands of the group, and the other rendition should feature the protagonist disagreeing with the demands of the group. Students will perform their scenes for the class.
Improvisation One:
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A group of environmental science students is lost in the jungle. Two students have already left the group to explore escape routes, but never returned. One student wants to clear a large area and start a huge signal bonfire. The rest of the group wants to climb into the hills where there may be a village.
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Improvisation Two:
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An airplane crash-landed on an iceberg a week earlier. There is no food or fuel left. All except one of the survivors think that it is necessary to resort to cannibalism.
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Improvisation Three:
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During an hazing initiation ceremony, a student must set a dormitory broom closet on fire. Although the dorm is supposed to be entirely empty, one student is inside sleeping and dies from smoke inhalation. Only one of the fraternity or sorority members believes it is their responsibility to confess to the school dean.
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