Activity: For this activity, you will be required to write a short play. It only has to be one scene, and it must follow the rules of Aristotle’s Poetics. Go back and review this material to ensure that you have a grasp of it.
Your job is to pick a person in history that is admired for standing up to authority. You could look into Jim Crow Laws, Civil Rights Movement, Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, etc. There are so many options here!
In your play, you need to describe the situation and motivation for this person to take such action. What gave this person the courage to stand up for what he/she believed? Was it religious, political, etc? WHY did this person oppose some type of authority? What were the short and long term effects of this eventual opposition for this person and society?
This is my answer:The person I chose it Rosa Parks. She was tired when she got on the bus and didn’t want to get up from her seat when a white man needed a seat. I guess she was just tired of the difference there was at that time.
What gave this person the courage to stand up for what he/she believed? The courage probably came from frustration and anger that nothing was right. She wanted to be treated fairly and equal.
Was it religious, political? This was political because it was all segregated. Blacks and whites were separate. And whites had more power no matter what age they were.
WHY did this person oppose some type of authority? She hated the situation that her people were going through. She opposed the authority whites had and she was frustrated and was done with the whole racist segregation thing.
What were short/ long term effects of this eventual opposition for this person and society? This called for segregation to stop and blacks were given privileges.
*white Man enters the bus, Rosa park is coming from her job is tired and weary. *
White man- Ma’am I have the right to sit here.
Rosa Park- Sorry sir. I refuse to get up.
White man- you have no right to talk to me like that.
Rosa Park- Are we not equal?
White Man- No we are not equal and we never will be.
Rosa Park- well I still will not move because we are equal whether you like it or not.
White man- driver, thus stubborn back lady won’t move!
driver- Ma’am get up and let the man sit down.
Rosa parks- I am weary and tired, I will not move.
Driver- Ma’am, if you don’t get up I will call the police.
Rosa park- I am tired, I will not move, he can sit elsewhere.
Driver- alright ma’am but I warned you.
*police come and take away Rosa Parks*
Judge- Rosa Parks are you or are you not guilty of not giving up your seat?
Rosa Parks- I am.
Judge- why didn’t you get up?
Rosa parks- I was weary and tired and I have had enough that us blacks don’t get the same privileges as the white. What are we animals? If we are then the white are as well.
Judge- For that you are sentence to jail time, maybe you have time to think of what you have done.
Rosa Parks- I will think and I will think, how hateful this world is, how unfair you people are and how these times need to change!
*word reaches Martin Luther King Jr. of what Rosa Parks did*
is it right? Or did I completely mistake Aristotle’s Poetics?
Martin Luther King Jr.- Rosa Parks, your act of defiance has sparked a movement. Your courage and determination have inspired us all. We will fight for justice and equality together.
To write a short play about Rosa Parks, there are a few steps you can follow:
1. Research Rosa Parks and her historical context: Before writing the play, it would be helpful to research Rosa Parks and the civil rights movement in order to understand the situation and motivation for her actions. Look into the Jim Crow Laws, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the racial segregation that occurred during that time.
2. Create a setting: Set up the scene in a bus, where Rosa Parks encounters a white man who demands her seat. This will be the catalyst for her actions.
3. Establish the motivation: In the play, delve into Rosa Parks' motivation for taking a stand. Explore her frustration, anger, and exhaustion with the inequality and segregation she faced. This can be portrayed through her dialogue and actions.
4. Highlight the political nature: Emphasize that the opposition to authority in this scenario is political. The segregation of races was enforced by authorities, and Rosa Parks' decision to resist it was an act of political defiance against an unjust system.
5. Show the confrontation: Depict the conversation between Rosa Parks and the white man, as well as the subsequent involvement of the bus driver. This will serve to highlight the tension and power dynamics at play.
6. Include the consequences: Show the moment when the police are called and Rosa Parks is arrested. Include a courtroom scene where she stands trial and speaks up about her beliefs and the need for change. This can be a powerful moment of defiance and an opportunity to address her long-term effects on society.
7. Introduce Martin Luther King Jr.: As you mentioned, the word reaches Martin Luther King Jr. about Rosa Parks' actions. You can end the play by referencing his involvement and his subsequent role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the civil rights movement.
By following these steps and incorporating the elements of Aristotle's Poetics, you can create a short play that captures the bravery and impact of Rosa Parks' stand against authority.