12 Angry Men
Study Guide
Legal Terms Vocabulary Words- Write the definitions to each vocabulary word.
1.
Homicide: MURDE
2. Acquit: TO FIND INNOCENT
3. Premeditate: TO PLAN AHEAD
4. Deliberate: TO DISCUSS THOROUGHLY
5.
Defendant: PERSON ACCUSED OF THE CRIME
6. Prosecutor: LAWYER WHO TRIES TO PROVE GUILT
7.
Reasonable Doubt: IF A SENSIBLE AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTY EXISTS, ACQUIT
8. Verdict: FINAL DECISION MADE BY THE JURY
9. Double Jeopardy: CAN’T BE TRIED TWICE FOR THE SAME CRIME
10. Convict: TO FIND GUILTY
Explain the significance of:
11. Judge’s monologue (p.9): TO SHOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DECISION OF THE JURORS. FACING THE
DEATH PENALTY
12. The end of Act II: FIGHT BETWEEN 3 AND 8. 3 CONTRADICTS HIMSELF (“I’LL KILL HIM)
13. Setting: HOT, SMALL JURY ROOM
14. Old Man’s Testimony: HE COULDN’T HAVE MADE IT TO THE DOOR IN 15 SECONDS, MAYBE DIDN’T SEE
THE KID,
15. Re-enacting the stabbing: TO PROVE ANGLE OF STAB WOUND
16. The jurors turning their back on ten when he rants (p.59); THEY DO NOT AGREE WITH HIS RACIST REMARKS
List all of the evidence against the defendant:
1. KNIFE
2. NO ALIBI
3. WOMAN ACROSS EL TRACKS SAW IT
4. OLD MAN HEARD/SAW THE BOY
5. FIGHTS WITH HIS DAD
6.
7.
Explain the reasonable doubt created with:
17. Knife: NOT UNIQUE
18. 15 seconds: OLD MAN COULDN’T HAVE MADE IT
19. Woman across the street’s testimony: SHE PROBABLY WASN’T WEARING HER GLASSES, SO COULDN’T SEE
WHO THE MURDERER WAS
20. “I’ll kill you!” (The old man hearing it): EL TRAIN WAS TOO LOUD FOR HIM TO HEAR IT
21. “I’ll kill you!” (Three screaming it at Eight): PROVES THAT PEOPLE SAY THAT WITHOUT MEANING IT
22. List other cases of reasonable doubt:
Who is:
23. The just man: 8
24. The racist: 10
25. The old man: 9
26. The sadist: 3
27. The refugee/foreigner: 11
28. The advertiser: 12
29. The youngest: 5
30. The bully: 7