Lesson Three
We are looking here at the end of the play and the ways in which this finale has been prepared for earlier, so again we are looking in detail at language and structure. We want to arrive at as complete and satisfactory answer to the question in this Learning Objective: ‘How far does this come as a shocking conclusion and to what extent have we been prepared for this moment? And then, secondly: ‘which of the play’s central themes are resolved here: or left unresolved?
Read through the passage and make sure you research any references that you don’t fully understand.
Work in pairs alternately on passage to start. Discuss your findings and record them as the class plenary for each part of the lesson.
Start at page 152: ‘She lets him take it, regarding him from somewhere’ to the final line of the play: ‘I fell in love with James Tyrone and was so happy for a time’.
Starter Activity
We need to take an initial view of the different elements of the scene that directly affect its impact:-
- Jamie’s recitation of Swinburne’s ‘A Leave Taking’
- The responses of the male characters.
- Mary’s monologue and the very detailed stage directions that accompany and direct it.
In alternate pairs look at the first two bullet points and say how they…
