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
Focusing on Literature
►
Irony
Twelve Angry Men
often features 
irony
— a situation, speech, etc., where there is 
a distinct difference between what might be expected and what actually occurs. 
(Sometimes, they are exact opposites.) For example, in Act One, FIVE gets upset when 
TEN talks negatively about the people in the slums. THREE tries to calm him down 
by saying, “He didn’t mean you, feller. Let’s not be so sensitive.” The irony is that at the 
beginning of Act Two, THREE attacks FIVE in a much more personal way (because he 
thinks that FIVE has changed his vote to not guilty), and still tries to excuse himself 
afterwards with the words, “Nothing personal.”
1.
There are two outstanding instances of irony connected to EIGHT’s arguments 
about the phrase “I’m going to kill you” which the boy supposedly shouted. Copy 
the table below into your notebook and complete it with EIGHT’s arguments, the 
other jurors’ refutations, and the irony of these refutations.
EIGHT’S Argument
Refutation
Irony
a. We often say “I’m going 
to kill you” without 
actually meaning it.
b.
He’s a common, 
ignorant slob who 
“don’t even speak good 
English.”
2. 
What is ironic about what THREE says in lines 583–585?
SAMPLE PAGE FROM 
TWELVE ANGRY MEN
© 2011. A.E.L. Publications

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Act Two
Analysis and Interpretation I
Answer the questions about Act Two of the play. 
1.
In the middle of Act Two, FIVE changes his vote to not guilty. Do you think that 
this is purely a result of EIGHT’s arguments, or are there other factors involved? 
(lines 431–543) 
2. 
What do the following stage instructions for EIGHT show us about his personality? 
(The first answer is completed for you.)
a. Hard (line 443) — 
He can be tough when necessary and when he feels strongly 
about something.
b. Softly (line 498) — ...
c. Ignoring him (line 602) — ...
d. Calmly, Softly (line 683, 699) — ...