Play by Reginald Rose Teaching Activities by Rivka Lewenstein

Analysis and Interpretation II
Read one or more of the following questions with your teacher and discuss it / 
them as directed by your teacher. The answer to the sequencing question should 
be written.
►
Comparing and Contrasting
Before beginning this question, turn to page 102 for an introduction to the HOTS.
1.
In 
Twelve Angry Men
, twelve men who are very different from one another are 
chosen to serve together on a jury. As the jurors interact with each other, they 
reveal much of their personalities. 
Compare
and 
contrast
the way EIGHT relates to the other jurors (for example, to 
NINE) to the way THREE relates to the other jurors. Pay attention to what they 
say, how they say it (see stage instructions), as well as their physical actions.
In addition, compare and contrast EIGHT’s approach to the trial and giving a verdict 
to SEVEN’s attitude to the trial. Again, note both their speech and actions. 
Bring specific examples from Act Two to prove your points.
What does the jurors’ behavior show us about them? Explain your answer.
SAMPLE PAGE FROM 
TWELVE ANGRY MEN
© 2011. A.E.L. Publications

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Twelve Angry Men
2. 
Compare and contrast two books or movies that you really enjoyed 
reading / watching. What do they have in common, and in what ways are they 
different? Can you conclude from this which characteristics are important to you 
when choosing books to read / movies to watch?
►
Sequencing
Before beginning this question, turn to page 104 for an introduction to the HOTS.
3.
In Acts One and Two, the jurors discuss the different events that supposedly took 
place on the night of the murder. Prepare a timeline showing the alleged (what 
people say happened, not necessarily what actually happened) 
sequence 
of these 
events based 
only
on the testimonies of the witnesses for the prosecution (the old 
man, the woman across the street, the neighbors, and the storekeeper). Include 
only the main events that have significance for the court case. You can do so in 
the form of a graphic organizer or just as a list with approximate times (see both 
options below). Remember that some events occurred almost simultaneously! 
Example of a timeline in a graphic organizer:
Example of a timeline in list form: