Lesson 2: The Glass Menagerie: Key Themes

In their original pairs or triads, students work on Worksheet 2 to detail how Williams’ use of expressionist techniques reinforce and extend his themes.

• Worksheet 2: Extending Analysis
• Worksheet 2: Extending Analysis (Teacher Version)

Activity 1. “The Glass Menagerie”: Key Themes

To defend and/or refine (and to extend) the analysis students began in Lesson 1, have them work with their partners on Worksheet 2. Extending Analysis. They will focus now on one of the play’s apparent goals or themes; indicate multiple expressionist devices and instances in the play that speak to that theme; and assert how the theme is, in turn, evolving for the reader/audience. (A teacher version of Worksheet 2 is available with suggested answers.)

Once students have had the chance to get some detail and analysis on their worksheets, gather for a whole-class discussion. Ask each pair or triad to share a theme and technique or instance they considerable especially relevant and explain how expressionism in that case is advancing the theme—complicating it, refining it, extending it, and so on.

After each brief presentation, invite the pair or triad and the rest of the class to offer additional examples of where the play speaks to the same theme through a different expressionist device or instance. Let the discussion evolve to a substantial consideration of what Williams’ play communicates about each of the identified themes.

Assessment

Ask students to answer this question in their own words in a paragraph: “Williams uses [student’s choice of expressionist device] to say what about [student’s choice of theme]? For example …”