A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Play - 1947

Film - 1951

KEY CHARACTERS

Blanche

- Belle Reve, Mississippi

- English teacher

- Well mannered, has traditional values

Stella

- New Orleans

- Sister

- Married to Stanley

Stanley

- New Orleans

- Blue-collar worker

- Rough, brutish

Things to take note of throughout our in-class performance

1. The use of symbolism

2. Anytime you think there is a reference to the title of the play

3. Any reference to technical elements of production you think could have significant meaning. Eg. lighting, sound etc.

GROUP TASK

In pairs, you are to answer one of the following questions AND analyse a symbol or motif within the text
You may select your own symbol or motif (think about the reccuring images we discussed in class)
You are to present your response to the group
Use ICT to outline key ideas and supporting quotations from the text
Include in your presentations at least one question to the class to generate discussion
Every group should answer a different question from the selection below

1. What is the name of the streetcars that take Stella to New Orleans? What might the names represent?

2. How does Stanley react to the loss of Belle Reve? How does this fuel the tension between Blanche and himself?

3. In Scene 4, when can we begin to see Stanley's opinion of Blanche surface?

4. How does Mitch percieve Blanche prior to the 'news' from Stanley? How does his attitude towards Blanche change as a result?

5. What does the term 'Southern Belle' refer to? How do the central characters respond to Blanche's 'Southern Belle' ways?

6. Do you believe Blanche lives in a world of fantasy? What gives the reader this impression?

7. Discuss Blanche and Stanley's relationship with alcohol.

8. Do you believe Blanche is caught in the past? Discuss.

9. Why do you think Stanley has a dislike for Blanche?

10. How do both Stanley and Blanche try and prove their superiority over one another?

11. How does Stanley feel about being called a 'Polak'?