Twelve Angry Men
Themes
Characters
Background
Reginald Rose
•Reginald Rose: born December 10, 1920 – died April 19, 2002
•He was an American film and television writer most widely known
for his work in the early years of television drama.
•Rose is known for writing about controversial social and political
issues. His realistic approach helped create the genre of television
drama of the 1950’s.
Twelve Angry Men
 Was originally written for television by Reginald Rose.
 The play was inspired by Rose's own experiences on jury
duty off a murder case in New York City..
 He did not want to be involved at first but as soon as he
walked into the courtroom he was intrigued.
Why is this unique?
 Murder in the first degree –pre-meditated homicide- is the
most serious charge tried in our criminal justice courts.
 “Twelve Angry Men” is not a court-room drama, but rather a
jury-room drama during which many aspects of the court
proceedings are recalled. The audience is taken into a room
in which the general public is never allowed to enter. The
experience of this play, then is an unusual one.
Historical Context
 1950’s
 A socially conservative time.
 People were very materialistic. The American
Dream had turned into the dream of owning
things.
 Juvenile delinquency was said to be at an all-time
high
 African Americans were subject to racial
discrimination.
 Comics were published and growing in
popularity.
 Television sales were booming.
Discrimination
 Some of the jurors think the boy is guilty because of his
background and ethnicity.
 Slum: A thickly populated area marked by poverty and dirty
or deteriorating houses.
 (No.8) “I don’ t think it was a very strong move. This boy has been
hit so many times that violence is practically a normal state of
affairs with him. I just can’t see two slaps in the face would have
provoked him into committing murder.”
Justice
 The administration of the law
 Fairness
 Righteousness
Integrity
 Adherance to a code of values.
o Juror # Eight
What is a Play?
 Any type of reading that is
performed on stage.
 This includes:
 Dramas
 Comedies
 Musicals
 Tragedies
What is a Drama?
 One of the major forms of
literature
 Intended to be performed
on stage in front of an
audience
 It includes stage directions
and dialogue between
characters
 Drama begins with a scriptthe written form of the play
STAGE DIRECTIONS
 Instructions for the director, actors, and stage crew
 Set apart in the script using (parentheses) and Italics
 Describe the scenery (items on stage that create setting) and
what the props are (objects the actors use)
DIALOGUE
 Conversation between characters
 One of the most important things about a drama/play is
that it uses dialogue.
 During the play, the dialogue tells us about the plot and
characters’ personalities.
 We know who the speaker is because the name of the
speaker is bolded in front of what the speaker says.
What’s a Trial?
 We will see a brief glimpse of this in To Kill a
Mockingbird
 There are several parts to a trial.
 Jury Selection
 Opening statements
 Prosecution’s case (“good guy”)
 Defense’s case (the defendant “bad guy”)
 Closing statements
 Jury instructions
 Jury deliberation and verdict
Important terms to know:
 Burden of proof: the necessity of proof always lies with the
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person who lays charges.
Due process of law: the state must allow all of the legal rights
that are owed to a person under the law.
Presumption of innocence: the defendant is legally assumed
to be innocent until he or she is proven guilty.
Circumstantial evidence: evidence used which may or may
not be true.
Reasonable doubt: doubt of a person’s guilt based on
evidence or reason.
Vocabulary
A text that is acted
out in front of an
audience
The first major
division of a play
The division of an
act
Play
Act 1
Scene 1
Scene 2
Act 2
Scene 1
Vocabulary
 Abstain: Refrain from an action
 Antagonize: To provoke hostility
 Coroner: Doctor who investigates causes of death.
 Deliberate: Carefully think through.
 Drab: Dull
 Petty Jury: A jury of twelve people
 Rapport: Relationship
 Subservient: Passive and obedient
Vocabulary
 Dialogue: Conversation between two or more parties.
 Naïve: Someone who is inexperienced in the ways of the
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world.
Unanimous: The agreement of all.
Hung Jury: A jury that cannot agree.
Sadist: Someone who enjoys seeing other people suffer.
Reasonable doubt: Doubt based on evidence or reason.
Premeditated: Planned before an act is performed.
Homicide: Murder.
Bigot: Someone who is racist and discriminates against
people.
WHERE DO YOU STAND?
Ethics and Values
 Suppose you knew that everyone around you was thinking
one way; the opposite of how you were thinking.
 Would you still stand up for what you believed, or would you
go along with the crowd?
 Suppose someone tells you that your best friend gossips
about you behind your back.
 Would you:
 Talk to your friend
 Investigate the situation (i.e. consider the source, go over the
facts)
 Never talk to your best friend again
 Is there ever a good enough reason to give someone the death
penalty?
 Suppose someone tells your mom they saw you smoking.
 Your mom kicks you out of the house without even talking to
you about it.
 Fair? Unfair? Why? Why not?
 Have you ever, even in jest, said, “I’m gonna kill you!”?
 Now, suppose that person that you said that to turned up
dead later that day (they had, indeed, been killed).
 Is that reason enough to send you to jail for life?
 Imagine a time that you have been really ticked off.
 While you were mad: Did you listen to music? Did you
watch a movie?
 If so, can you remember the song or the title of the movie?
Why or why not?
What is Justice?
 In your assigned small groups write down on your sticky notes
what you think justice means in general and what is means in
relation to the criminal justice system.
 Then place your sticky notes on the poster board at the front of the
room.
 We will discuss our thoughts!