Greek Drama – Mask Assignment
Honors English 10
*Assignment adapted from
http://www.smhs.org/ourpages/auto/2010/12/7/42150591/Greek%20Drama%20Mask-2010-2011.pdf
Assignment:
You are a costume designer for a production of Antigone. The director has given you a description of
each character. You are to select one character and create a mask for him or her. In order to create an
accurate mask, you must examine what you know about the character – what makes him or her tick?
What words would you use to describe his or her personality? What are his or her physical attributes –
what does he or she look like? What does your color scheme imply about the character’s personality?
Materials Needed:
*A plain mask from craft or costume store, or make your own with clay, papier mache or other materials:
no paper plates or notebook paper – it must be three-dimensional and the approximate size of a
human face or larger.
*You can apply papier mache to an inflated balloon and then pop the balloon when your mask is ready.
Each layer takes a day or so to dry, so this method must be started soon. Check out
http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/papermache/ht/PaperMache.htm
*Paint or markers
*Yarn or other materials used for hair; jewels, rope, crowns, etc.
Assignment:
THE MASK: (75 points)
1. Make the mask out of suitable material.
2. Mask will be large enough to cover your own face.
3. Mask will be decorated using paint or markers, yarn or other materials for hair, and other art materials
as you desire
4. The mask should reflect a character’s position in life (priest, commoner, royalty), his or her age and
gender, his or her emotions (expression of exaggerated happiness, sadness, neutrality)
5. Your name must be printed and class period on the back side of the mask.
6. Attach a string to the back of the mask so as to be worn.
TWO PARAGRAPHS: (25 points)
7. Analyze your character and describe your mask. Assume you are part of the production staff, so your
description MUST analyze your chosen character’s personality, explain your character’s motivation at this
time, what portion of the play you are attempting to capture, and what emotions you want to reveal about
your character at that moment. You MUST provide 2 examples from the text. (The paper is analyticalno 1st or 2nd person pronouns.)
8. Description follows MLA format.
THE PRESENTATION:
COUNTS AS A QUIZ GRADE.
“SHOW” your mask to the class and explain what is in your written paper. Extra points will be awarded to
anyone who memorizes some of the lines for his or her character and actually performs them behind the
mask. 

RUBRIC for GREEK MASK
(A) Amazing! This mask looks similar to the Greek mask examples we viewed in class. It
shows exaggerated facial features and an expression that suits the character. Character
traits are represented in the mask. The mask is sturdy and shows that time and effort
went into its creation.
(B) GOOD This mask is also in the style of classic Greek theater masks, showing
exaggerated facial features. Some character traits are represented in the mask. The
facial expression suits the character chosen but the mask may show errors/problems in
craftsmanship, a somewhat rushed production, or limited understanding of the character.
(C) AVERAGE This mask shows effort, shows at least some effort to create facial
expression, and portrays a specific character. It may not show full understanding of the
character’s complexities or of the traditions of Greek theater or may fail to indicate
character traits through its design. Errors or problems in crafting the mask seem to
indicate poor effort or last-minute construction.
(D) POOR Fails to show facial characteristics necessary for Greek theater. This mask
could be attached to almost any character and lacks distinction.
(E) UNACCEPTABLE This mask uses materials that were not allowed and/or shows very
little understanding of the assignment. There is little or no effort to represent any
particular character and the traditions of Greek theater are not apparent or are undercut
by other problems with the mask.
WRITTEN PORTION
(A) WOW! The essay is clear, well written, almost flawless spelling, punctuation, grammar and
fluid syntax. This paper is interesting and insightful and shows the ability to read between and
beyond the lines as well as on the line. You have made good use of your dialectical journal.
(B) GOOD. Clear. Well written, but just a little less so. A few more little errors, a little less fluid in
writing style. The material is covered but it is not as insightful. It is very Good, but just not a
WOW. It shows less ability to read between and beyond the lines.
(C) AVERAGE. Paper is okay. It feels a little skimpy. It makes a few too many small writing
errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. It covers the rubric requirements, but it doesn’t
reflect any depth in the character analysis. It feels ordinary and says the obvious, showing effort
but no real finesse in interpretation.
(D) POOR. Paper is short. It is awkwardly worded and has many typos, or grammar errors. This
paper doesn’t answer all the rubric requirements. In fact, It spends a lot of time explaining what
“materials” were used to make the mask and less important information, but addresses the real
rubric requirements of analyzing the character’s motivations and how that is revealed in the
mask in a very superficial or shallow manner.
(F) WHY BOTHER? Paper is too short. It tells the reader how much “fun” or how “hard” it was
to was to make this mask. It talks about the motivation of the writer, but never addresses the
character’s motivation and how it is revealed in the mask.