Tillie Olsen: I Stand Here Ironing
An Introduction to Monologue
Prologue: The Great Depression
~ Imagine you are alone in the midst of a simple,
repetitive activity, such as a household chore or
manual task.
"What happens in your mind as you perform
this chore or task?"
~Imagine the woman in the
painting looked up and saw you.
How does she feel about your
presence (startled, angry, happy,
embarrassed, etc.)?
What was she thinking about
before you came in?
Who is she? What does she want
you to know about herself?
**Write for 10 minutes.
(Try to keep your pen going the whole
time. If you really get stuck, reread
what you have written, circle
something interesting and develop
that idea further. )
Pablo Picasso
Tillie Olsen
Tillie Olsen: Homework
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is the year of her birth?
When did she die? How old was she when she died?
In what decade she was in her twenties?
What was happening in the United States in the 1930's?
What was life like for American families during the Great
Depression?
6. Click on the picture of Olsen, which reveals a photograph
of her in the 1930's when she was a young mother in her
twenties. Study the photograph & answer the following
questions:
What difficulties and obstacles did she probably face raising
a child alone during this time in history?
What do you think her child's life was like?
Questions for class tomorrow:
~What do you think she meant when she says she
was "silenced for 20 years"?
~Why do you think she began to write after so
many years of working?
~What effects did the Great Depression have on
American families?"
~What factors might have contributed to families
falling apart?
Read: I Stand Here Ironing
Study Questions
1. Spend two minutes brainstorming a list of words and
phrases that come to mind when they think about the
mother and Emily.
Then circle those items you think are the most
significant.
2. "What is the story telling us about ____________?"
find support for this theme in the story
Monologues
~What are the similarities in the monologues we
just heard?
**Monologue: a lengthy speech by a single person
directed toward another, who remains silent
The Five Themes of
I Stand Here Ironing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Separation
Nourishment
Maternal anguish
Choice
Time.
**In your groups, read the overview of the theme you are assigned.
-Then go back to the story and locate support for the theme.
Make sure you explore the whole story and underline the
textual support you find.
Be ready to share the textual evidence you found .
Elements of a Monologue
• an audience is implied
• there is no dialogue
• she speaker speaks through an assumed voice—a
character, a fictional identity, or a persona.
a monologue is one person’s speech, it is offered
without overt analysis or commentary, placing emphasis
on subjective qualities that are left to the audience to
interpret.
Tips for Writing a Good Monologue
• Choose a theme
• Your Character’s Voice Distinct and Consistent
• Pay Attention to the Rhythm and Shape of Your
Monologue
• Know Your Audience, Know Your Audience, Know
Your Audience!
Writing Assignment:
Write a Monologue
Homework Assignment
1. Study each photo and choosing one to focus on.
2. Choose one family member in that photograph for
whom you will write a monologue.
3. Copy questions for Monologue Guideline Sheet
4. Fill out the sheet in regard to the family member in
the photo you select.
5. When you have completed the guideline sheet, write a
monologue using the sheet as a guide.
Monologue Assignment Tips
• meet the definition of a dramatic monologue,
• accurately and appropriately represent the character
in a voice that seems authentic to that individual,
• reflect a knowledge of the character and his/her role
in the novel, and
• reveal some previously unknown facet of the
character’s life (i.e., the audience should gain a deeper
understanding of the character’s psychology).
Monologue Guideline Sheet
1. What is the approximate age and gender of the person you
chose?
2. Describe the clothes he/she is wearing. (Be as descriptive as
you can.)
3.Describe the facial expression of the person. (Be as descriptive
as you can.)
4.What do you think this person had been doing right before this
picture was taken?
5.Does this person want his/her picture taken? Why?
6.What do you think is important to him/her?
7.Who is the monologue directed toward?
Families of the Great Depression
Follow-up Group work
1. Share your monologues with your group.
Pay attention to the differences in how each of
you presented the woman.
2. Discuss for two or three minutes the differences you
noticed.
3. Determine who might want to share their monologues
with the class.
Peer Edit Monologues
~Read the monologue of your partner.
Determine whether the monologue you read contained
themes.
Write or Circle the themes & be prepared to share them
with the class.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Who is the “you” addressed in paragraphs 1, 3, and elsewhere in the
story?
Does the narrator intend to go see the person that she mentally
addresses in the story? Why or why not? In what ways is the current
situation part of a larger pattern of events in the life of the narrator?
List the important facts of Emily’s childhood. Under what
circumstances was she raised? What is the state of her physical and
emotional well being?
List some of the mistakes that the narrator made in raising Emily. Is
she aware or unaware of these mistakes? Are there any factors in their
lives that are beyond her control?
What is happening in Emily’s life at the present? How has she turned
out? What does this reveal about her (and maybe about young people
and the human spirit in general)?
Consider the symbolism of the iron and ironing board at the end of the
story. How is this related to the mother’s wish for her daughter?