Transcript A Streetcar Named Desire

A Streetcar Named Desire
by
Tennessee Williams
Warm Up
• Do you think a woman needs a man in order
to be happy? Why or why not?
Tennessee Williams
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Lived from 1911-1983
Born in Columbus, Mississippi
Died of a suspected drug overdose
Wrote short stories, poetry, essays, and most
importantly…..
• PLAYS
The Plays Of Tennessee Williams
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The Glass Menagerie(1944)
A Streetcar Named Desire(1947)-Pulitzer Prize
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955)-Pulitzer Prize
Orpheus Descending (1957)
The Night of the Iguana(1961)
…..and many more
Streetcar Named Desire
• Ran on Broadway from 1947-1949
• Directed by Elia Kazan/starring Marlon
Brando, Jessica Tandy, Kim Hunter, and Karl
Malden
• Film(1951) was directed by Kazan as well and
had the same cast with the exception of
Jessica Tandy.
Marlon Brando
Themes in Streetcar
Theme-An idea explored in a literary work
• Reality vs. Fantasy
• The relationship between sex and death
• Dependence on men
Anticipation Guide
• Write all answers on a separate sheet of
paper. DO NOT WRITE DIRECTLY ON THE
WORKSHEET PLEASE!
• We will share our responses near the end of
the class.
• Put the paper(with your name on it) in the
inbox before you leave class for the day.
Warm Up
• Find a new assigned seat. It can be anywhere
as long as it is in the first row.
A Streetcar Named Desire
• Assign parts:
Stella
Blanche
Eunice
Negro Woman
Motifs
• Motif- A reoccurring idea or feature in a
literary work.
• Motifs in Streetcar:
1.Light
2. Bathing
3. Drunkenness
Writing Assignment
Answer this question with a 75 word response:
1. In modern day, what do you think separates
people more, race or class?
Warm Up
• What does it mean when somebody is “high
maintenance”? Which character in Streetcar
fits this description?
Characters For Today
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Blanche
Stella
Stanley
Steve
Mitch
Eunice
Writing Assignment
• In 75 words, tell me how you think Blanche
and Stanley will get along in the future. Will
they like each other or will there be problems?
If the do not get along, what kind of problems
might they have?
Warm Up
• What type of problems arise when people
from different backgrounds get married?
Scene 1 Summary
• Opens in New Orleans/Elysian Fields
• Stanley comes home and heads to bowling/Stella
goes with him
• Blanche arrives(Stella’s sister from Laurel,
Mississippi)
• Stella comes home/Her and Blanche talk
• Blanche is very critical of Stella(her home, her
husband, and her weight)
• Blanche tells Stella she lost the family plantation.
• Stanley comes home/meets Blanche
Scene 2
• Follow along as we read the first ten pages of
scene 2.
Writing Assignment
• In scene 2 we see a different side of Stanley.
In 75 words explain how Stanley’s character
has changed from the last scene that we read.
Use examples from the text.
Warm Up
• Why do you think some people stay in abusive
relationships?
Scene 2 Recap
• Stella tells Stanley that Blanche lost Belle Reve.
• Stanley does not believe it/thinks they have been
swindled/Napoleonic Code
• Stanley questions Blanche/Blanche shows him
the papers
• Stanley realizes the plantation was lost and not
sold.
• Stanley lets it slip that Stella is pregnant.
• Blanche is happy about the pregnancy and how
the situation with Stanley was resolved.
Trope
• a common or overused theme or device :
cliché
• The main one of these used in Streetcar is
Blanche’s frequent baths.
• Blanche claims the baths calm her nerves, but
they are actually symbolizing her need for
emotional, mental, and spiritual cleansing.
• Can you think of any examples of this in film
or television?
Characters
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Stanley
Steve
Mitch
Pablo
Stella
Blanche
Eunice
Writing Assignment
• In 100 words describe the relationship
between Stanley and Stella. Since Blanche
and Stella are sisters and share the same
background, why do you think one sister is so
attracted to Stanley and the other so repulsed
by him?