Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

Consider the role of theater in exploring various emotions. In particular, how are live theatrical performances able to communicate strong emotions such as Love, Disconnection, and Guilt/Regret as compared to other forms of creative expression?

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Answer question provides an opportunity to introduce the play’s overarching themes. Western theater is believed to have originated in Ancient Greece, where playwrights explored emotions such as Love and Guilt/Regret through dramatized performances. Over time, theater expanded and evolved to reach a greater number of people, while still focusing on creating emotional connections with audiences. Many playwrights focus on these themes since they are fundamental to the human experience and allow for audiences to connect easily to the given circumstances and conflicts in the play; seeing an actor’s live, emotional, intimate performance may impact an audience member in a way that is different from watching a recording. These and similar resources will provide additional context on the topic.

• “What Is Method Acting” from the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute helps to explain one training method many actors utilize to convey realistic, emotional portrayals.