The Actor

PART A: How does speaker develop the theme of the poem?

• by using the actor as an example of the superficial and fleeting nature of fame

• by using the actor as an example of the escape from reality that imagination provides

• by using the actor as an example of the ways in which people disguise their true feelings

• by using the actor as an example of the broader human responsibility to inspire and uplift

PART B: Which line(s) from the poem support(s) the answer to Part A?

• 
  "Oh, man, with your wonderful dower,

  Oh, woman, with genius and grace," (lines 1-2)

• "No discourse or sermon can reach us" (line 9)

• "And the player, behind all his playing,

  He ought to be great as his art" (lines 15-16)

• "The everyday life you are living" (line 19)

Read lines 5-6.

The stage is a force and a factor

In molding the thought of the day,

What is the purpose of the figurative language?

• to describe how theater entertains people with compelling stories

• to express that theater is a powerful tool for controlling people's thoughts

• to imply that theater distracts people from serious current issues

• to highlight how theater influences and shapes public opinion

Based on stanza 3, what can be inferred about the relationship between an actor's personal life and his or her performance?

• An actor's personal life does not matter – only his or her technical skill.

• 
  An actor's personal life has no effect on his or her performance.

• An actor's personal life influences his or her performance, whether consciously or unconsciously.

• An actor's personal life should be kept separate from his or her professional work.

What is the effect of the poem's structure?

• The poem's adherence to a strict rhyme scheme illustrates the high standard to which the actor is held.

• The poem's contrast between the actor's and the audience's experiences emphasizes the unpredictable nature of art.

• The poem's division into four stanzas, each focusin on a different aspect of performance, mirrors the complex emotional journey of an actor on stage.

• The poem's lack of consistent rhyme and meter highlights the tension between the actor's persona and private life.

Read lines 29-32.

Be worthy your work if you love it;

The king should be fit for the crown;

Stand high as your art, or above it,

And make us look up and not down.

How does the figurative language in the lines contribute to the meaning of the poem?

• by describing the hours of work that go into preparing for a performance

• by encouraging actors to focus more on their public image than on their craft

• by suggesting that only actors with royal lineage deserve the public's admiration

• by emphasizing that personal integrity should match the greatness of the performance

How does the poem reflect the speaker's point of view on acting?

• The focus on the actor's personal life and morals reveals the speaker's beliefs that these qualities are as important as talent.

• The focus on technical skills of performance reveals the speaker's belief that actors should study their craft.

• The focus on the natural genius of the actor reveals the speaker's belief that people are born with artistic talent.

• The focus on the power of the performance reveals the speaker's belief that entertainment is the primary purpose of art.