1. Assignment
O Go through this Power Point Presentation
O Compose two questions you have
regarding:
O The Play
O The Playwright
O The Plot Diagram
O The video or article
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2. Our Town
By: Thornton Wilder

3. Goal
O Learn about the play Our Town
O Acts and characters
O Learn about the plot diagram
O Each step or part of diagram
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4. Quick Background
O Written in 1938
O Minimal props
O Setting: Grovers
Corner, NH
O Play:
O Act 1: May 7, 1901
O Act 2: July 7, 1904
O Act 3: summer 1913
http://www.theatrealberta.com/eNe
ws/2008/January.html
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5. Characters
O Stage Manager
O George Gibbs
O Emily Webb
O Dr. Gibbs and Mrs.
Gibbs
O Mr. Webb and Mrs.
Webb
O Mrs. Soames
O Simon Stimson
O Rebecca Gibbs
O Wally Web
O Howie Newsome
O Joe Crowell, Jr
O Joe Stoddard
* Anything bolded means
they are a main character
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6. Stage Manager
O “omniscient narrator”
O Tells the story
O Interacts with
characters
O Interacts with the
audience
O Plays other small roles
in the play
Photo by: E. Anastasio
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7. Emily Webb
O Wally’s older sister
O Smart (in school)
O Marries George
Gibbs
O Dies during childbirth
O Gives the play
meaning
Photo by: E.Anastasio
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8. George Gibbs
O Star of the baseball
team
O President of the
senior class
O Wants to attend
State Agricultural
School
O Marries Emily Webb
Photo by: E. Anastasio
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9. Plot Diagram
http://waxebb.com/writings/plotting.html
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10. Exposition
-Author giving
information about the
plot
-Stage Manager
introducing the play
http://www.thefreewallpapers.com/lak
e-in-bottom-of-mountain/
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11. Rising Action
- Building up to the
http://www.visualphotos.com/image/2x4528114
/group_of_friends_hiking_up_hill
climax/ main point
in the story
- -George and
Emily’s wedding
- -Depiction of life
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12. Climax
-Biggest point in a
piece of literature
-Act 3
-After Emily has died
http://chihealthblog.blogspot.com/ 12

13. Falling
Action
http://www.visualphotos.com/image/2x4
732847/people_walking_down_mountain
_salt_flats_utah
-Trying to resolve
what has happened
at the climax
-Emily goes back to
the cemetary
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14. Resolution
-Problems have been
resolved
-Everything has come
to an end
-The Stage
Manager’s closing
soliloquy
http://laurenceparent.blogspot.com
/
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15. Next Up...
O You can choose to either watch the videos
or read the article
O Don’t forget about your two questions!
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16. Article on Our Town
O http://plays.about.com/od/plays/a/ourtownlessons.htm
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17. Videos
O “Gregory Boyd on Thornton Wilder and Our Town”
O http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdWPvWzoVhI
O “Theater Talk: Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town”
O (only have to watch: 11:15-14:15)
O http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=xUT2CKRVk1Y
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