GRADE 11-12 LESSON TOPIC: CREATIVE WRITING AFTER WATCHING RIGOLETTO LENGTH OF LESSON: 2-3 CLASS PERIODS
STAGE 3 – LEARNING PLAN Learning Activities: Total time: 2-6 class periods Suggested Materials and Resources: • English translation of the liberetto of Rigoletto, if needed: http://www.murashev.com/opera/Rigoletto_libretto_Italian_English NOTE: At this point, it is assumed that students have already attended Boston Lyric Opera’s production of Rigoletto or watched a version of it online or on DVD. Introductory Activity • Exploring character traits (one class period) •
As a class, discuss the character traits of all the main characters in Rigoletto. Write a master list of traits on the board.
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Discuss setting, historical period, and how these factors affect the characters.
Developmental Activity • Writing an ending scene (one class period, and/or variable time at home) •
Keeping in mind the character traits, setting, and historical period, write an ending scene for Rigoletto. After the end of the opera, what happens to the Duke? Rigoletto? Maddalena? Sparafucile? Encourage students to write either as a story or as a play, a script with dialogue and stage direction.
Closing Activity • Sharing and comparing ideas (one class period) •
Have students read or perform their ending scenes in small groups. Encourage them to compare their ideas and to critique the consistency of the new scenes with the scenes in the opera. Some possible questions to explore: 1. Do the actions of the characters in a given ending match the original character traits the class agreed on? 2. Are the actions and events that take place in a given ending consistent with the time period and setting of the opera? 3. Is the reader/listener left wondering about the fate of any of the characters in Rigoletto, or is all resolved?
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