Mastering the Art of Reading a Play: A View from the Bridge Model Lesson
Practice reading and understanding stage directions, character dialogues, and narration in Arthur Miller's play "A View from the Bridge." Learn how to use expression, volume, and empathy to portray characters effectively. Engage in a cold read session with volunteers to enhance your comprehension and performance skills.
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A View from the Bridge How to read a play? I m going to model this and you are all going to practice with Alfieri s speech Stage directions indicate how something should be said or done or how the actor behaves Stage directions in italics within the dialogue indicate that the actor should behave that way the narrator will read these Stage directions on their own should be read out to help you visualise what the actor is doing this is the narration Reading a play class rules: Use expression in your voice consider the words used and the punctuation Following along the page to see what is next/being read Volume adapt your volume to suit the character s mood/attitude If you don t know the word I might help you with how to say it Use empathy to consider how the character is meant to feel Act One Volunteers please Narration Alfieri Eddie Carbone Beatrice Carbone Catherine - This is a cold read: We will stop to ask questions (verbal and written in books) We will stop to check understanding If you want to ask a question put your hand up and we will pause the reading to clarify
A View from the Bridge: Recall 1 In your books please: If you were not in please read to page 7 1. How are stage directions presented in a play? 2. What is important about your voice when reading? 3. Who is the main protagonist (main character in the play)? 4. Who are the family? 5. Who is the lawyer? In your books please: 1. Stage directions are in italics they might be in the dialogue or separate to tell the actor how to move/speak 2. Volume, tone 3. Eddie Carbone 4. Eddie, Beatrice, Catherine (B s niece) 5. Alfieri Alfieri represents the Greek Chorus in a tragedy who is responsible for telling the story.
A View from the Bridge: Recall 2 In your books please: 1. Where is Catherine s new job? 2. How does Eddie feel? 3. Why does Eddie feel this way? In your books please: 1. The plumbing company. 2. Nervous, unhappy, dislikes the idea of her leaving school and working in a male dominated environment. 3. He knows what working class men can be like and doesn t want her to be subject to male attention. Objectification - the action of degrading someone to the status of a mere object. Treating women like sexual objects.
A View from the Bridge: Recall 3 In your books please: 1. What was Catherine upset about? 2. How did Rodolpho comfort her? 3. What fell of the back of the boat on the 23rd December? 4. How was Eddie behaving when he came home? 5. What did Eddie demand from Rodolpho? 6. How did Catherine react to the ultimatum? In your books please: 1. How Eddie was behaving 2. He reassured her that he was not just after a passport and the off stage implication is that they had sexual intercourse 3. Whisky 4. Drunk and jealous - he kissed both Catherine and Rodolpho 5. That he leave his home 6. She said that she had to leave too.
A View from the Bridge: Recall 4 In your books please: 1. Where did Eddie go and how is this outside the code of honour? 2. What did he hear? 3. How did he feel about this? 4. What does he do? 5. How was this foreshadowed earlier in the play? In your books please: 1. To see Alfieri - this was going against the code of honour as they don t speak to or trust lawyers. 2. That he had no moral or legal rights to stop Catherine s marriage 3. He feels helpless and angry. He thinks Rodolpho ain t right . 4. He calls the immigration office and explains that there are illegal immigrants living in his house. 5. The story of Vinny Balzano being shunned for telling on family foreshadows this.
A View from the Bridge: Themes Justice and the Law Codes of Honour Maternal Love Paternal Love Romantic Love Respect - Eddie feels disrespected by Rodolpho What? Alfieri s opening monologue shows a mistrust of the law. In this neighbourhood to meet a lawyer or a priest on the street is unlucky People like Eddie from the working classes, mistrust the law and lawyers, thinking that they will bring trouble on them if they speak to them or get them involved with their business. How? Why? What? How? Why? What? How? Why?
A View from the Bridge: Recall 5 In your books please write down the true statements. Correct the false ones and write these. 1. Eddie panics when he realises Marco and Rodolpho are upstairs with the Lipari family. 2. Beatrice does not realise that Eddie is responsible for calling the immigration service. 3. Catherine is confused by the immigration officers at the door. 4. Catherine and Beatrice argue with the immigration officers about Marco and Rodolpho s citizenship. 5. Rodolpho accuses Eddie of killing his children. 6. Alfieri persuades Marco that the only revenge he can have is through the law. 7. Marco does not seek revenge. 8. Eddie demands respect. 9. Beatrice agrees with Eddie s demand for respect. 10.Marco Eddie dies at the end as he brings a knife out on the street.
A View from the Bridge: Recall 5 In your books please write down the true statements. Correct the false ones and write these. 1. Eddie panics when he realises Marco and Rodolpho are upstairs with the Lipari family. 2. Beatrice does not realise that Eddie is responsible for calling the immigration service. 3. Catherine is confused by the immigration officers at the door. 4. Catherine and Beatrice argue with the immigration officers about Marco and Rodolpho s citizenship. 5. Rodolpho Marco accuses Eddie of killing his children. 6. Alfieri persuades Marco that the only revenge he can have is through the law. 7. Marco does not seek revenge. 8. Eddie demands respect. 9. Beatrice agrees disagrees with Eddie s demand for respect. 10. Marco Eddie dies at the end as he brings a knife out on the street.
A View from the Bridge: The Ending Evaluate the ending of A View from the Bridge. Consider: The chain of events leading up to Eddie s death Who is to blame for his death? How are they to blame for this? How do people around him react? What effect does his death have? How do you feel towards Marco?
A View from the Bridge: The Play Group Task: On sugar paper, I will type up the responses as revision notes Eddie Beatrice Catherine Rodolpho Start: What happens? + Evidence - What it makes you think? Middle: What happens? + Evidence - What it makes you think? End: What happens? + Evidence - What it makes you think?
A View from the Bridge Practicing planning and introductions Structure: Introduction Support (Name of text) by (Author Name) presents (character name) as (key idea about how the character is presented). The (character name) is (idea 1); (idea 2) and (idea 3) How does Miller present Beatrice as a loving wife in A View from the Bridge? Extract - (one idea from the extract) Plan Idea 1: Idea 2: Idea 3: My Model Your Turn: How does Miller present Catherine s development in A View from the Bridge? Planning Idea 1 Idea 2 Idea 3
How does Miller present Catherines development in A View from the Bridge? How does Miller present Beatrice as a loving wife in A View from the Bridge?
A View from the Bridge Practicing extract paragraphs Structure: Main Paragraph support In the extract/text (you choose) (character name) is presented as (idea 1 or 2 or 3 depending on paragraph) to suggest (your idea). The (terminology) in (evidence) implies (meaning) because (why?). The reader/audience (you choose) might feel (effect) because (why). Perhaps, (author name) was trying to show (intention for presenting the character like this). Repeat this structure for as many examples as you can for each paragraph. How does Miller present Beatrice as a loving wife in A View from the Bridge? Main Paragraphs using the extract Look at the example from last time My Model: using the extract Your turn: How does Miller present Catherine s development in A View from the Bridge?
A View from the Bridge: Evidence Learning Evidence for the characters Terminology Meaning Rhetorical question Repetition Dialogue Imagery Tone (be specific) First person pronouns Declarative sentence Imperative sentence Exclamatory sentence Interrogative sentence Verb/Noun/Adjective/ Adverb Connotations
A View from the Bridge: Evidence Learning Evidence for the characters Eddie - Evidence & terminology/method Where & about what? Eddie is pleased and therefore shy about it You re walking wavy What job? She s gonna finish school Like Vinny Balzano, you remember Vinny? Eddie - he is coming more and more to address Marco only: stage directions I don t know B, I don t want to talk about it Did I hurt you kid? Pack it up. Go ahead. He kisses her on the mouth pins his arms laughing, and suddenly kisses him stage directions Give me the number of the immigration bureau Not tomorrow, Catherine, do it now. Now gimme my name and we go together to the wedding Eddie springs a knife with his hand - stage directions My B!
A View from the Bridge: Evidence Learning Evidence for the characters Where & about what? Beatrice Evidence and Terminology I m just worried about you, that s all, I m worried Please, she s crazy to start work Eddie turns to Beatrice who has been avoiding his gaze stage directions When am I gonna be a wife again, Eddie? All right, that s her ride. You re a woman that s all, and you got a nice boy, and now came the time when you say bye. All right? Pulling Eddie down into the rocker That s enough, Eddie; he did pretty good, though. You got your house now, you got your respect I m no different Pressing her palms against her face Oh my God, my God You want something else, and you can never have her!
A View from the Bridge: Evidence Learning Evidence for the characters Catherine Evidence and Terminology Where and about what? No, not when I stand up! I m walking wavy almost in tears because he disapproves - stage What, was he crazy? Enthralled leave him finish, it s beautiful Embarrassed, now angered - stage directions Pained Oh no Eddie I don t think so He looks so sad and it hurts me Teach me. She is weeping. I don t know anything, teach me, Rodolpho, hold me Trembling with fright I think I have to get out of here, Eddie. I ll get Beatrice and meet you at the church. In horror: B! I never meant to do nothing bad to you.
A View from the Bridge: Evidence Learning Evidence for the characters Rodolpho Where and about what? Me? Yes, forever! Me, I want to be an American To Marco: Why? To Eddie: Messages! The rich people in the hotel always need someone who will carry a message. After getting a nod of permission from Marco in a high tenor voice begins singing - stage directions Yes laughs indicating Catherine: especially when they are so beautiful I have respect for her, Eddie. I do anything wrong? No, no he didn t hurt me. There s nobody here now, come inside, Come. Rodolpho is almost carrying the sobbing Catherine up the street - stage directions Please, I want you to watch the wedding. Maybe you did not mean to insult me at all
A View from the Bridge: The Ending Practising planning and introductions Structure: Main Paragraph support In the extract/text (you choose) (character name) is presented as (idea 1 or 2 or 3 depending on paragraph) to suggest (your idea). The (terminology) in (evidence) implies (meaning) because (why?). The reader/audience (you choose) might feel (effect) because (why). Perhaps, (author name) was trying to show (intention for presenting the character like this). Repeat this structure for as many examples as you can for each paragraph. How does Miller present Beatrice as a loving wife in A View from the Bridge? Main Paragraphs from memory Look at the example from last time My Model from memory Your turn: How does Miller present Catherine s development in A View from the Bridge?
