An experiment
with an air pump
Shelagh Stephenson
Learning objectives
To engage with the underlying themes of the play
To recognise and appreciate ways in which writers use language,
structure and form to create and shape meanings and effects (AO3)
To communicate a sensitive and informed personal response to
literary texts (AO4)
The inspiration
Who are the characters in Joseph Wright of Derby’s painting?
What are they thinking?
Annotate the painting with your own ideas (next slide).
Timeframes
Why might the author have chosen to
structure her play in this way?
The Task:
Empathic
Response
(Coursework)
You will assume the voice of
one of the characters in the play
You will write your thoughts at a
particular moment in the play
600 – 1000 words
An example…
You are on a ship. It is sinking.
Pick a character from the next slide.
What are your thoughts? Think
about what you would say and how
you would say it.
Jack, a poor, free-spirited artist
Rose, a young heiress and socialite
What would you say in this
moment? How would you say
it?
The Characters:
An Experiment
with an Air
Pump
Prologue & Act I,
Scene 1
Getting to know the characters
In order to write an effective empathic response, we need to get to
know the characters.
Read Ellen’s soliloquy (= the act of speaking one's thoughts aloud).
Highlight examples of where you find out something about Ellen’s
personality:
What does this tell us about Ellen?
Maria & Harriet
Analyse the characterisation of Maria and Harriet in the prologue (pp.4-5):
ØFind lines which tell you something about their character.
ØDetermine which adjective(s) would be fitting to describe Maria/Harriet.
Maria
Harriet
Fenwick
Look at the following quotes.
How is the character of Fenwick portrayed?
p.5
p.5
p.7
p.6
p.7
p.11
Isobel
Analyse the introduction of Isobel as a character on page 17.
Choose a line which exemplifies her character and find an adjective to
describe Isobel.
Harriet
p.14
How is Harriet
portrayed?
Harriet
p.14
How is Harriet
portrayed?
Harriet & Isobel
pp.17-18
How is the relationship
between Harriet &
Isobel portrayed?
In groups
You are Harriet after your father has dismissed your play.
Portray your thoughts in a brief soliloquy.
Edward’s Letter
Act I Scene 1 concludes with Maria reading
aloud a letter by Edward.
Maria
You are Maria. Write your thoughts after reading Edward’s letter (150 –
200 words).
ØPick up on one (or more) parts of the letter you’d like to give your
thoughts on.
ØDemonstrate your knowledge of Maria’s personality by emulating the
voice Stephenson has crafted for her. Use the quotes on the next slide
as a starting point.
pp. 14-15
p.4
p.12
p.13
p.15
pp.18-19
p.16
p.17
p.19