Drama Extension “Essay” – What Happens Now?
For this Final Exam, you are being asked to take the liberty of adding to, or extending an original work, by writing an “epilogue” of sorts. Choose only one of the two plays we read, Trifles or A Doll’s House. Regardless of the play chosen, your epilogue should answer the question, “What happens, now thatshe returns?”
For Trifles, you should be writing what happens when Minnie gets released from prison and returns to her home. This return would occur not long after the final curtain falls. Do not let years pass. It’s up to you what Minnie does with her newfound freedom.
For A Doll’s House, you should be writing what happens when Nora returns to her home. This return could be the next day, the next week, or after some months. Do not let years pass.
Your “what happens now” response must include both prose andcharacter dialogue. Follow the format you see in plays themselves. Pay close attention as to how dialogue is written. Write your work as a playwright would write. Look closely at fonts, punctuation, and letter cases used.
You must write in such a way so that your ideas are related to the rest of the play. Your job is to continue the play realistically, not to rewrite the play.
Your language should match the play’s language, and your character should still be representative of the character in the play. The same holds for the other characters involved in your new final scene(s). Bear in mind the time period of the work. Credibility matters!
Regarding characters – you are not required to use every character we met in the play. As well, you are allowed to introduce new characters, if that makes sense for your new work. Be sure your character list is accurate.
As we learned beginning with short story, an audience needs to understand a character’s actions, inactions, and reactions, so they must follow a natural progression for a character. Your character has been created, and your job now is to stay true to that character, and others. Of course, that does not mean that something unexpected cannot happen, as long as it does not suspend belief.
In addition: Your extension essay should begin like every written play does, with a listing of the characters and information on the Scene and/or Setting. Stage directions should also be included. You should present this material before the text of your essay begins. This section does not count as part of the required length. Again, pay close attention to how this is written in dramas, including the formatting required. Follow the formatting you see in the written works.
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Regardless of your choice of play, try to have a little fun with the creative freedom this opportunity presents. Having read so much literature this semester, you should have a good sense of what makes a story and a plot good literature, and characterscompelling. Stay true to the original works, while taking the liberty of expanding the works with your own approach to literature. And just so we are clear, sorry, but no zombies or aliens in these plays!
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Format: Be sure to follow MLA style for font (Times New Roman), spacing (double), and pagination (your last name and page number on each page). Play titles are written in italics.
Look closely at the written works in your textbook, and follow all formatting as you see it. There are lots of capital letters and words in italics. Be careful with your formatting.
Length: Your epilogue should be at least three full pages. Try not to go longer than seven full pages of text in length. Remember the front matter material needed before your epilogue begins. That front matter is not included in the required page count. The front matter material is explained in the “In addition” section of this assignment. You do not need to include citations, since it is assumed you are writing original literature. It is also assumed you will do your best writing for this essay. Quality matters!
Due Date: This Drama Exam is due in Canvas no later than 11:59 p.m., 5/17, as noted in this week’s Overview in Canvas. Late work cannot be accepted.