3 exam questions

1. . Select a passage from a novel you have chosen to study which presents a revelation which alters the course of the narrative. By paying due attention to the context of the passage, outline how you would stage the action by focusing on how it might be effectively dramatized for an audience.

In the novel, there is a part where Desiree discovers that Daniel is engaged with Andrea. As Desiree who thought she was the only love and partner of Daniel, she got very shocked when she figured the existence of Andrea. The scene definitely presents one of the greatest revelations throughout the novel that alters Desiree's mood and emotions toward Daniel. Before knowing the fact, the only emotion around Desiree toward Daniel was love and hope since she thought they genuinely loved each other and also they promised for their future together. However, after knowing he has a promised fiance, she even felt that she had been betrayed by him. Furthermore, Papa Ge appeared in Desiree's dream and tried to lead the situation worse by stating "Here, take this knife. Strike hard, strike deep. Let his blood flow heavy. Let it run down the sides of mountains. Let it spread over the land. He has betrayed you- betrayed us all. Only then will we gods be assuaged." By this statement, Desiree's mixed feelings of hatred and disappointment went bigger, and she even tried to stab him before she saw Daniel's smile on his face. If I would have to stage this scene while dramatizing the revelation which alters the emotions of Desiree, I would highlight the scene where Madame telling Desiree that Daniel has already been engaged. During the scene, Desiree's acting is very important by acting very surprised, she can even show some resistance toward the fact. I would put Andrea on the corner of the stage and dresses her with all the expensive clothing and accessories to represent a beautiful successful woman, which can show a contrast between Desiree and Andrea. While making Andrea as a perfect woman, I would highlight Desiree and Madame through stage lights to focus on their conversation. 

2.  Select a passage from the concluding chapter of a novel you have chosen to study and show how acting, staging effects and design can combine to make it an effective ending for an audience

The ending part of the novel is very miserable and quite surprising since Desiree dies. Audience would have expected the farewell but perhaps not about Desiree's death since people tend to seek for a happy ending. However, the ending was very miserable since Daniel getting married to Andrea and Desiree died by getting trashed in front of the gate of the hotel by Lucifus. I would dramatize the scene where Daniel taking a car with Andrea in front of the gate and Desiree getting thrown away from the gatekeeper, because these two scenes mainly show the depression and miserable situation of Desiree. I would little exaggerate the miserable situation of Desiree by costuming her like a homeless person. Since she had been staying on the street and have eaten nothing for a long time, I would have to present Desiree weak and fragile. While dressing her like a poor starving peasant, I would dress Daniel very fancy with all expensive silk dresses since he just got married, and to show a different social status and environment between two characters.  

3. . Select a passage from a novel you have chosen to study which contains a scene of pivotal

importance to a theme in the narrative. Outline how you would stage the scene paying particular

attention to how the theme might be effectively dramatized for an audience.