Introduction: Monsters are Due on Maple Street

Introduction: The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street

Screenplay by Rod Serling

Multiple Choice

Which stage direction tells a cameraman to follow a person or an object with their camera?

• Pan

• Cut

• Close

• Long

Multiple Select

What is a play written for television called?

• Acting

• Screenplay

• Teleplay

• Drama

Multiple Choice

Stage directions help to establish a mood and understand characters' personalities.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which example of a stage direction creates a mood of excitement and anticipation?

• Serena: (leaps out of chair, running toward the door, smiling broadly)

  "I'm going to check the mail."

• Serena: (yawning and stretching)

  "I'm going to check the mail."

Multiple Select

What 2 things are true about social commentary?

• Thought-provoking questions about society

• Critiques of society

• Always agreed upon

• Never causes problems

Multiple Select

What was Rod Serling known for? (Choose 2)

• Surprise endings

• Writing novels

• Social commentary

• He had anger problems.

Multiple Choice

Why were some scripts and screenplays banned in the 1950s and early 1960s?

• Powerful people did not like topics that questioned American society.

• Powerful people did not like how some of the actors looked.

• Powerful people only let their friends write for TV shows and movies.

• Powerful people did not like science fiction.

Open Ended

What social commentary can YOU provide at this moment?

Multiple Choice

Choose the best description of herd mentality (a.k.a. Mob Mentality)

• when people get together and protest unfair laws and policies

• when a person's behavior is influenced by a group's behavior

• when you are afraid to go anywhere by yourself

• when you do illegal things with a mob

Open Ended

What is a real-life example of mob/herd mentality?

Setting/Historical Context: COLD WAR

• U.S. and Soviet Union in an arms race, though no actual battles

• The threat of communist spies in the U.S. led to suspicion of citizens.

• The FBI considered protestors dangerous communists; fought & discredited MLK Jr.

• Serling wrote Monsters during this time.

Multiple Choice

What is the historical context of the screenplay "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street"?

• World War II

• The Cold War

• The Vietnam War

Multiple Choice

What was one way the Cold War affected American society?

• Many Americans became communist spies and gave secrets to the Soviet Union.

• The U.S. government and many citizens were suspicious of people who protested injustice. They often accused protestors of being communists.

Open Ended

Think about the title of the screenplay, and think about what we talked about today. Make a prediction about what you think "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" might be about.