YEAR 12 LESSON Forty-Three [12th March 14]: HOMEWORK

The aim of this session was to prepare students for a written response that will provide the foundations for the COURSEWORK that we will begin to construct next week. The whole session considered a response to the question:
WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF COMEDY IN THIS PLAY?
I expect a three/four paragraph response. Students should refer to the notes below as well as the notes we constructed in the class session.

• THE FIRST PARAGRAPH needs to explore the idea that in the First Act, comedy is used by Butterworth to disguise or mask the serious and philosophical nature of this play. In the opening scenes Butterworth presents the audience with the crude, bawdy, and defiant character of Rooster Byron. Students need to offer specific textual reference to reinforce the idea that Johnny is a comedic figure. He appears to be unconventional and eccentric but there is little evidence of his character being supernatural or deeply symbolic. Students might wish to refer to how his character appears to be a composite of the Shakespearean Trickster-Clown-Jester but Butterworth does not offer the symbolic significance of the allusions to Shakespeare and the world of the creative imagination until later in the play. The paragraph needs to conclude with a brief summary of the function of comedy in Act One. What is Butterworth's aim? The power of Byron's dramatic shift in character is masked by the fact that in Act One, the play is presented by Butterworth as being little more than a crude comedy about an eccentric character facing eviction from his caravan.
• The second paragraph needs to explore how Butterworth changes the tone of Byron's character and how the play begins to evolve into a much more philosphical and serious play. Harold Pinter has stated that theatrical comedy should offer 'THE WEASIL UNDER THE COCKTAIL CABINET' and Tom Stoppard has stated that a theatrical experience should involve the audience 'BEING AMBUSHED BY AN UNEXPECTED WORD, OR BY AN ELEPHANT FALLING OUT OF THE CUPBOARD.' This idea that theatrical comedy should offer the audience a shock or surprise is definitely evident in Acts Two and Three. How does Butterworth introduce the element of mystery that begins to surround Byron's character? How does this link to theme? If Byron becomes a SYMBOLIC character, what are the ideas being explored through his character? 
• The third paragraph could explore how the play could be considered a tragedy rather than a comedy. Byron continues to be a comedic character but he is now so much more. Reference could be made to the final scene. Tragedy or comedy? Aristotle? Arthur MIller?There was some FANTASTIC class discussion today relating to this final scene. Refer to your notes. What is Butterworth's aim? Why does he transform Byron from a simplistic and crude comic creation into an isolated and possibly magical symbolic figure? How does Butterworth's use of comedy help shape the dramatic power of the play's conclusion?
• The conclusion needs to consider the nature of comedy. Here are the quotes that could be used within your argument. Pick one quote and weave your argument around the quote:

1. Aristotle: 'Comedy does not involve pain or destruction.'
2. Robert D.Hume writing about Restoration Comedy in 1976 stated that:..'comedy presents...the complexities and ambiguities of human experience rather than a simple white-black picture of what man should or should not be..'
3. C.L.Barber: Comedy..'reacts against social conformity..'
4. David Mamet: 'When you come to the theatre, you have to be willing to say 'We're all here to undergo a communion, to find out what the hell is going on in this world.' If you're not willing to say that, what you get is entertainment instead of art, and poor entertainment at that.'
5. Moliere: 'The duty of comedy is to correct men by amusing them.' 
6. Heywood: 'Comedy begins in trouble and ends in peace.' 

Students need to weave their concluding comments relating to Jerusalem's use of comedy around one of the quotes.Students should also offer an explanation of Butterworth's aim and, if possible, explain why this play is relevant and is a valuable work of Literature.
Phew. Good Luck.

Students also need to email their coursework title to me at some point over the weekend.
THIS IS A MASSIVE ESSAY as this work will be used within your coursework. This essay is really the beginning of the coursework...so it needs to be precise and coherent. This work will allow me to gauge your level of textual understanding and discover who has been using the resources. We have been indulging in a lot of discussion and now it is time for the written work. I can't wait to receive this essay!
Listen to my Jerusalem podcast. It will be extremely useful.