‘NIGHT MOTHER Assignment (revised 01-30-15)
Based on your reading of ‘Night Mother, answer
 ALL OF THE “Identify” section
AND
 Answer 5 of the 10 questions listed below. Your responses to each question should
be in the form of short answer essays.
This assignment and the entire script of ‘Night Mother is posted on the Scholarblog site and
located in the “Readings” section.
E-mail this document to me at rfuller@emory.edu as a WORD or PDF document anytime before
the due date and time. A hard copy print-out of this assignment is not necessary!
Be sure to name the WORD or PDF file as “Your last name – Night Mother”.
Identify:
a. Dawson-b. Ricky-c. Cecil-d. Agnes Fletcher-e. What is the significance of "cocoa" in the play?
Answer 5 of 10 of the following questions;
1. What preparations has Jesse been making for her suicide? Why has she been so careful
in her planning? Why did she wait until this particular time to commit suicide?
2. One of Jesse's statements in the play is: "This is how I have my say...and I say No!" To
what is Jesse saying "No?" Why is she committing suicide?
3. What specific things does Jesse tell Mama she is to do after she has committed suicide?
Why does Jesse give Mama such specific directions?
4. What are some of the specific things Jesse has in the box which she brings into the
living room?
5. What are some of the tactics Mama uses during the play to delay Jesse's final act?
What final tactic does she use after Jesse has gone in her room at the end of the play?
6. One of Mama's final statements in the play (after she hears the shot in Jesse's
bedroom) is: "Jesse, Jesse, child...forgive me. I thought you were mine." Explain what
Mama means by this statement.
7. Contrast Jesse and Mama's views of life.
8. Often Greek dramas deal with ethical issues to which there may be no clear cut
answers. Do you believe that there is a right/wrong answer to Jesse's decision?
9. Are there any of the following elements (which were embraced by many Greek
dramatists) also present in 'Night Mother?
o A drama will promote feelings of pity and fear in the audience.
o A drama will observe the unities of time, place, and actions as follows:
 It will take place within a limited amount of time.
 The setting will not change.
 The action will move forward in a chronological manner.
10. The characters have a sense of greatness, even if they ultimately fail.
The source for these questions is:
http://www.dl.ket.org/humanities/resources/finale/nightmomstudy.htm