Play by Reginald Rose Teaching Activities by Rivka Lewenstein

SAMPLE PAGE FROM 
TWELVE ANGRY MEN
© 2011. A.E.L. Publications

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Twelve Angry Men
4
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Identifying Parts and the Whole II
5.
The title of this play is 
Twelve Angry Men
. Why do you think that the author chose 
this title? 
Identify
different 
parts
of the play which probably helped him decide on 
this title (different parts where each of the twelve jurors was indeed angry).
Based on your findings, do you think that 
Twelve Angry Men
is a suitable title for 
this play, or would you have chosen a different title? Why?
►
Generating Possibilities
Note that this HOTS was introduced after Act One (pages 98–99 and pages 32–33). You are now 
spiraling (reusing) the HOTS. 
6.
At the end of 
Twelve Angry Men
, the jury decides to acquit the defendant — certainly 
not something that we would have thought possible at the beginning of the play. If 
only one thing had happened differently during the jury’s deliberations (discussion), 
the whole outcome of the trial might have been different. For example, if TWO had 
not been polishing his glasses, which caused him to squint at the clock, thereby 
reminding SIX of the woman’s bifocals, FOUR and TEN would not have had a 
reasonable doubt and the case would most likely have resulted in a hung jury. 
Generate
at least three additional 
possibilities
of things that could have taken 
place within the jury room and that would have changed the outcome of the trial.
►
Applying
Before beginning this question, turn to page 108 for an introduction to the HOTS.
7.
Reading literature isn’t only about reading a text and enjoying it. There is always 
something that we can learn and take away from a good piece of literature — how 
to face different situations, how to choose between right and wrong, how to interact 
with others, and much more. 
What have you learned from 
Twelve Angry Men
? Choose two of the jurors in the 
play (preferably one who is shown in a positive light, and one who is shown in a 
negative light) and make a list of their positive and negative actions and personality 
traits. Choose one action / trait of each juror that you especially identify with and 
decide how you can 
apply
it to your own life. (In other words, what is one positive 
behavior / character trait that you would like to emulate / adopt as your own, and 
what is one negative behavior / character trait that you would like to avoid?)
8. 
Think of a person whom you really respect / admire. What is one character trait 
that s/he possesses that you can apply to your own life?