AP Lit Chapman
Term 2: Recitation 100 MP
Subject Matter: John Milton Paradise Lost
Due Dec 2/3(WR) and Dec 4/7 (FM)
Objective: To learn a scene, monologue, or passage from the text, rehearse it, and present it in a manner
that allows your audience to Billy Joel it: “forget about life for awhile.”
Options: Any scene, monologue, or passage from Book I, IV, VIII, IX, X, or XII of
Paradise Lost.
Or The Poetry Out Loud qualifying pieces:
Milton’s Sonnet 23, “Methinks….”
Milton’s Sonnet 19, “When I consider….”
Milton’s “On Shakespeare”
Substance: Students are to choose and justify the significance of the chosen passage from the above
options. Students may work with ONE other person.* If your chosen partner is in a different class
period, you will be expected to both be available in one class period to present (seminar period must
coincide with one class period, for example). Each student is to present approximately 15 lines (a sonnet
is 14), so a duo presents 30 lines. Every effort should be made that the duo presents an equal number of
lines.
Scoring: Grading will be 100 MP
 The same score will be given for each member of a duo, so choose carefully. The degree of
difficulty is higher for a duo, and I will take this into consideration. * If you choose to work in a
small group with three or four people, note that the degree of difficulty increases with the
number of people involved. Aka Mob Mentality.
 The intro portion may include an allusion to pop culture, politics, etc. it can include any
sounds/actions created by the students.
 No props may be used at any time.
 14 memorized intelligible (volume, enunciation) lines with an intro including the theme,
attention-getting device, book number, line numbers, author, and plot summary includes the
minimum requirement for earning a 70.
 Earning a 71-79 is a standard-level presentation that involves all the items above PLUS
expression, emotion, creativity, attention to detail, and a genuine understanding of the lines being
presented.
 Earning an 80-89 must embody all the characteristics above and go above and beyond the
expression, emotion, creativity, attention to detail, and genuine understanding conveyed by a
standard presentation. Satire and/or humor may be intimated.
 Earning a 90-99 is a demonstrated excellent presentation. It exceeds expectations in quality and
quantity. It may present more lines than the minimum requirements, incorporate special (studentcreated) effects, bring in transitions, utilize creative elements of sound and movement, or further
our understanding of the scenes as it is evident that the presenters are experts in the meaning
inherent in the scenes being presented. Satire and/or humor may play a role here.
Procedure:
1. At no time may the speakers look at each other or touch each other in the actual presenting of the
scene/s; however, in the introduction, anything goes.
AP Lit Chapman
2.
The presenter or duo will approach the speaking arena and stand in neutral establishing bullseye contact with the audience.
3. The presenter or duo will nod to teacher/audience in three points of contact to acknowledge
readiness.
4. The speaker/s will introduce the piece:
 Attention-getter for theme of scene
 Set the setting/plot of scene: What must we know to fully appreciate the scene
beforehand?
 Are there poetic devices, epic conventions, or events of grandeur that need
acknowledgment?
 Then say, So here are lines ____, “Title of Scene,” from Book___ of Paradise Lost.
 Transition from neutral into character, note that everything comes before the line, and
begin.
 At the end, be sure the last line has the retardando appropriate to the end of a passage
(tempo, tone, volume)….
 Pause in character before returning to neutral. Once in neutral, await snapplause. Then
smile and depart the speaking arena to your seat.
5. Example of an introduction with two speakers:
(Students approach and face full front in neutral; bulls-eye contact is established. After three nods, Intro
begins.)
Duo A: You may have heard lore of the fork-tongued Lucifer who slinks about as a serpent might—
Duo B:--on slimy legless coils, leaving a viscous trail behind….
Duo A: His red face and ram’s horns curling on the sides of his head, pitch fork in hand—
Duo B: --clicking like the villainous snake in Kipling’s children’s tale….
Both: WRONG.
Duo A: Milton’s Lucifer is a giant—
Duo B: A Titan—
Duo A: a LEVIATHAN!
Duo B: And Milton’s Satan is not for children.
Duo A: This is the Devil’s scene in Book IV—
Duo B: --between lines 88 and 113,
BOTH: From “The Throne of Hell”
Duo B: By John Milton.
(From neutral, students transition into character….and)
Book IV (line 88)
While they adore me on the throne of Hell
With diadem and scepter high advanced,
…..
By thee and more than half perhaps will reign;
As man ere long, and this new world, shall know. (113)