The Frog and the Nightingale by Vikram Seth
Mock trial
Name -______________________________________________ Date-____________________
Instructions for organiserAssign different roles to students.
Some will play characters from the poem (you will need a student to play the role of the frog, the
nightingale, eight other characters from the poem –four of them as witnesses for the frog and
four as witnesses for the nightingale ); the rest will be court staff (judge –one , prosecutor -two,
defence barrister- two ) who ask the questions, and members of the jury . If you want to include
as many students as possible in this activity, you could ask a different student to ‘interrogate’
each character.
Introduce the task first and then give each character their instructions, allowing them time to
form their response. You might also like to give a copy to those asking the questions, as it will
give them a chance to focus their questions accordingly.
You could arrange the class into a circle and seat the person who is being interrogated in the
middle of the circle to create a high-drama courtroom!
Instructions for the studentsThis is a Summative assessment task and you will be individually judged on Criteria A ( strands
i,ii,ii) ,Criteria D (strands –i-v)
The ATL skills you will be judged up on are –
Communication Skills, Thinking skills (Critical, Creative and Transfer),Self management and Social
Skills.
The learner profile you will be exploring are –
Risk taker and _______________________________,_______________________________ besides
Communicator.
Time Limit for the complete act -40 min.
Preparation time -2 lessons
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Adapted and modified from © www.teachit.co.uk 2012-15819 –Measure For Measure by William Shakespeare (22 Nov.2017)
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The Frog and the Nightingale by Vikram Seth
Mock trial
Imagine a different ending to the poem ‘The Frog and the Nightingale’ by
Vikram Seth. In this ending there is a court case filed by the Nightingale against
the Frog accusing him of taking advantage of her and causing her massive
distress.
As part of the court case process, the accused will be put into the ‘hot seat’ and answer
questions about the ruling. The court case goes to court with Frog as the defendant. The charge
against him is as follows:
What the Frog did was worst form of crime, and he should be punished accordingly.
You will be playing the character of the Frog.
You will need to consider carefully the meaning and implication of the words ‘worst’ and
‘punished accordingly’. You will need to work out your view of the charge and be ready
to deliver your opinions on the following points:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How would you react in a court session?
What do you think would be your reaction the charge?
How you can defend your actions in the Bingle Bog?
How you can defend your actions with the Nightingale?
What would make a suitable punishment for your crimes, if you decide that you
have done something wrong?
You will be playing the character of the Nightingale.
You will need to consider carefully the meaning and implication of the words ‘worst’ and
‘punished accordingly’. You will need to work out your view of the charge and be ready
to deliver your opinions on the following points:
1. How can you defend your actions with the Frog?
2. How can you defend your decision to ask the frog to help you train to become a
better singer?
3. Decide how you will explain that Frog’s actions were aimed at benefitting his own
self.
4. Consider what you think about Frog’s crimes.
5. Decide what punishment you think Frog should have.
Adapted and modified from © www.teachit.co.uk 2012-15819 –Measure For Measure by William Shakespeare (22 Nov.2017)
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The Frog and the Nightingale by Vikram Seth
Mock trial
You will be playing the character of Lawyer/barrister for the frog.
You will need to consider carefully the meaning and implication of the words ‘worst’ and
‘punished accordingly’. You will need to work out your view of the charge and be ready
to deliver your opinions on the following points:
1. What is your opinion of the Frog’s crimes?
2. What do you think about the Nightingale?
3. Decide whether you are pleading for Frog’s pardon and consider your motivation
for doing so at the time.
4. Decide what punishment you think would suit Frog’s crimes.
You will be playing the character of Lawyer/barrister for the Nightingale.
You will need to consider carefully the meaning and implication of the words ‘worse’
and ‘punished accordingly’. You will need to work out your view of the charge and be
ready to deliver your opinions on the following points:
1. What do you think about Frog’s crime (your opinion may be influenced by your
opinions of the Nightingale and also your own experiences-as you are resident of
bog and have borne the brunt of frog’s cacophony)?
2. What do you think should be the sentence for it?
3. Decide what you want to happen to the Frog now.
You will be playing the character of Jury.
You will need to consider carefully the meaning and implication of the words ‘worst’ and
‘punished accordingly’. You will need to work out your view of the charge and be ready
to deliver your opinions on the following points:
1. What do you think about the Frog’s crimes? Has his raucous singing in the bog
influenced your opinion of him?
2. What do you think about the Nightingale’s actions?
3. Why do you think the frog should be punished?
4. How do you think that the Frog should be punished?
Adapted and modified from © www.teachit.co.uk 2012-15819 –Measure For Measure by William Shakespeare (22 Nov.2017)
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The Frog and the Nightingale by Vikram Seth
Mock trial
You will be playing the characters of the witnesses (For the frog).
You will need to consider carefully the meaning and implication of the words ‘worst’ and
‘punished accordingly’. You will need to work out your view of the charge and be ready
to deliver your opinions on the following points:
1. What do you think about the Frog and his crimes?
2. What do you think about the Nightingale and the charge(s) made by her against
the frog
3. How has your opinion of the Frog changed because of the situation with the
Nightingale and what do you want to happen to him now?
4. What is your opinion of the Nightingale, and what has made you think like that?
5. As per you, what constitutes a crime and what would be a fitting punishment?
You will be playing the characters of the witnesses (For the Nightingale).
You will need to consider carefully the meaning and implication of the words ‘worst’ and
‘punished accordingly’. You will need to work out your view of the charge and be ready
to deliver your opinions on the following points:
1. What do you think about the Frog and his crimes?
2. What do you think about the Nightingale and the charge(s) made by her against
the frog?
3. What would the Nightingale want to get out of the situation?
4. What would you want to happen to the Frog, and what do you think about his
actions, particularly those relating to the Nightingale?
You will be playing the characters of the Judge.
You will need to consider carefully the meaning and implication of the words ‘worse’ and
‘punished accordingly’. You need to listen to both the factions; make your notes and justify the
punishment you want to give.
You will need to work out your view of the charge and be ready to deliver your judgement on the
following points:
1.
2.
3.
4.
What do you think about the Frog and his crimes?
What do you think about the Nightingale and the charge(s) made by her against the frog?
How would you take into account the opinion of the jury?
What would you want to happen to the Frog, and what do you think about his actions,
particularly those relating to the Nightingale?
Adapted and modified from © www.teachit.co.uk 2012-15819 –Measure For Measure by William Shakespeare (22 Nov.2017)
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