Doubt: A Parable
Background Jigsaw Questions: Putting the Pieces Together
Group 1
Members:
“About The Playwright”:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is the playwright’s name?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Where and when did the playwright grow up? How does this relate to the play?
______________________________________________________________________________________
When was the author’s first exposed to plays?
______________________________________________________________________________________
What notable prize did the author win for the play Doubt: A Parable?
______________________________________________________________________________________
How has the author’s writing been accepted worldwide?
______________________________________________________________________________________
“The Playwright”:
6.
Where was the playwright educated? How is this significant to the play?
______________________________________________________________________________________
7.
The author also wrote screenplays and won awards for what two famous movies? What famous award
did he win for one of these?
______________________________________________________________________________________
8.
9.
It has often been said that the best writers write what they know. What example of this is found from the
author’s life?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Who does the author say helped him and watched out for him as he was in school?
______________________________________________________________________________________
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KMH - RCSHS- ENG II B: Unit 2 Doubt: A Parable
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Group 2
Members:
“Catholic Education”:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
What subjects are studied at a Catholic school?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Does a student have to be Catholic to attend a Catholic school?
______________________________________________________________________________________
What are some of the rules all students must follow to attend Catholic school?
______________________________________________________________________________________
What is another name Catholic schools may be called and why is this name used?
______________________________________________________________________________________
How are Catholic schools accredited and how are their teachers certified?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Approximately how many American students attend Catholic school?
______________________________________________________________________________________
What is the average tuition cost for Catholic secondary, or high school?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Why might a parent choose to send his or her child to Catholic school? What are some of the benefits?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Group 3
Members:
“Organization of the Catholic Church”:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Who is the highest ranking official of the Catholic church? His role can be compared to the president or
king of a country.
______________________________________________________________________________________
The pope’s advisors who are appointed to assist him in specific areas are called _____________. They are
comparable to the Secretary of Education and Secretary of Defense appointed by the President of the U.S.
___________________________________________________________ ___________________________
A diocese is district of multiple churches that controlled by a _____________________. An archdiocese,
which is an extremely large diocese, is rub by an ________________________.
______________________________________________________________________________________
A diocese is divided into parishes. A parish is a division of the diocese and covers sever neighborhoods.
Each parish has a ___________________ and a ________________, who is appointed by the bishop.
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KMH - RCSHS- ENG II B: Unit 2 Doubt: A Parable
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5.
6.
7.
8.
The laity refers to all non-ordained members of the church, which includes members of the congregation
and _________________.
Ordained means ________________________________________________________________________.
What is a monsignor?____________________________________________________________________
The hierarchy or ranking of the church is as follows:
Supreme Head of the Catholic Church
Report to the pope. Responsible for
electing new popes, serving on various
councils, and overseeing bishops and
dioceses.
Appointed by the Pope to run a diocese.
Appointed by a bishop. A pastor is a
priest who works in a parish and oversees
the day-to-day activities of the parish
church (hearing confessions, leading
prayers, performing marriages, etc.)
All non-ordained members of the church
including nuns and church attendees.
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KMH - RCSHS- ENG II B: Unit 2 Doubt: A Parable
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Group 4
Members:
“The Parable, The Three-Tier Hierarchy, and African American Catholics”:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
What is a parable?
______________________________________________________________________________________
How is it different than a fable?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Why is the Catholic Church run exclusively by men?
______________________________________________________________________________________
How many Bishops are there, and where do they preach?
______________________________________________________________________________________
What is assigned to each Cathedral/Bishop?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Heirarchy is another word for the rank system within the Catholic Church. Where do nuns fall within this
hierarchy? What vows do they take?
______________________________________________________________________________________
What percentage of all US Catholics does the African American population comprise?
______________________________________________________________________________________
How many bishops in the U.S. are African American? Compare this to the total number of bishops in #4.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Group 5
Members:“Historical Background”:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is the setting of the play? Remember the setting is the place AND time.
______________________________________________________________________________________
What was the Bronx known for during this time period?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Groups from what descents primarily populated the Bronx during the time of the play?
______________________________________________________________________________________
What was not impacted by the Civil Rights movement and desegregation in the Bronx and other European
neighborhoods?
______________________________________________________________________________________
What is significant about Donald Muller and his attendance at St. Nicholas Catholic School?
______________________________________________________________________________________
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KMH - RCSHS- ENG II B: Unit 2 Doubt: A Parable
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Group 6
Members:
“The Historical Context of the Play”:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Who was elected president at the beginning of the 60s? What was his religious affiliation? Given the
setting of the play, why would this be significant?
______________________________________________________________________________________
What were the Cold War Crisis and the Bay of Pigs? How could these have impacted the U.S.? If you lived
during these events, how might you feel?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
What two organizations, recognized widely and still in use today, did the president form?
______________________________________________________________________________________
What happened to this president on November 22, 1963?
______________________________________________________________________________________
What other movement was pivotal in this time period in creating much change in the U.S. List several
events that were a part of this movement.
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
List two international events that occurred during this time period:
______________________________________________________________________________________
List two medical developments that have impacted society that were introduced during this time period.
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Group 7
Members:
“Vatican II”:
1.
2.
What is the other name of the Vatican II?
______________________________________________________________________________________
What was its purpose?
______________________________________________________________________________________
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KMH - RCSHS- ENG II B: Unit 2 Doubt: A Parable
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3.
4.
How many religious leaders and how much time was involved in this reform?
______________________________________________________________________________________
List several (no less than three) changes that were made after Vatican II- Be sure to include the two that
relate to laypeople:
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Class discussion regarding the impact of these changes on nuns.
Group 8
Members:
“The Second Ecumenical Council or Vatican II”:
1.
2.
What was the attitude of the early popes of the Catholic Church. List some of the beliefs and events that
created discontent in the Catholic Church.
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Who initiated the reform of the Catholic Church and when?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
According to Vatican II, the following represent some of the changes made:
3.
4.
5.
6.
What language was now sanctioned or approved for use during Mass or worship service? What language
did it replace?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Prior to Vatican II, where did the priest or pastor face when giving a sermon? After?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Vatican II gave much more power and participation in the church’s dealings to whom?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Why were these changes criticized by traditional Catholics?
______________________________________________________________________________________
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KMH - RCSHS- ENG II B: Unit 2 Doubt: A Parable
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