Theatre: Art in Action

Chapter 5: Directing & Producing

Activity Lesson Plans

Introduction
Students have studied the importance of choosing and working with a script, including analyzing the plot, the characters, and the setting. In this lesson, they will read a brief script and then analyze its elements.

Lesson Description
Students will read a brief script, The Sea King's Daughter: A Russian Legend , and answer questions that ask about their first reactions and the script's plot, characters, and setting.

Instructional Objectives
1. Students will be able to read and understand a brief script.
2. Students will be able to analyze its plot, characters, and setting.

Web Quest Activity Answers
1. Feelings may include happy and satisfied because the main character was rewarded for working hard, having a kind heart, and having a positive outlook on life.

2. Students should include that Sadko, a poor musician, made a very meager living by playing his gusli for rich merchants or nobles at feasts. He was very poor, but happy to bring joy to others and proud to live in the city of Novgorod. One day, as Sadko sat on the bank of the River Volkhov playing his gusli , the King of the Sea came out of the water and asked him to come to the sea floor and play his music at a feast. The King gave him a golden fish in advance for his payment. The next day, Sadko sold the fish so that he could board a boat to take him out to sea. When the timing was right, Sadko jumped out of the boat into the sea. He sank to the sea floor and found the King's palace, where he was to play. The King enjoyed Sadko's music so much that he wanted Sadko to marry one of his daughters and stay there forever. Although Sadko was nervous about never returning to his homeland, he married one of the princesses. Then the Sea Queen confided to Sadko that if he kissed or embraced the princess, he would indeed never return to his city. That night Sadko had a very difficult choice to make. He decided that he could not give up the chance to see his beloved city again and fell asleep. The next morning, he awoke on the bank of the River Volkhov. He had been returned to Novgorod. He went on to use the monies from the King of the Sea to buy a ship of his own and become a merchant. He married, had a family, and became one of the richest men in the city.

3. Answers should include Sadko, the poor musician with a good heart.

4. Answers should include long ago, in the river port city of Novgorod, Russia, the River Volkhov, and the Baltic Sea.

GO TO STUDENT ACTIVITY