IN LESSON AND FOR HOMEWORK YOU SHOULD WRITE A ‘SAMPLE’ ESSAY ON TRUFFALDINO (PUTTING INTO ACTION ALL YOUR RECENT RESEARCH)
YOU WILL END UP WITH A FULL INTRODUCTION (GENERIC + YOUR OWN TAKE ON THE QUESTION) – FOLLOWED BY 2 FULL PARAGRAPHS LOOKING AT TRUFFALDINO’S 1ST ENTRANCE AND ANOTHER MOMENT. YOU WILL USE QUOTES FROM THE PLAY AND YOUR RESEARCH IN EVERY PARAGRAPH
Traits that sum up Truffaldino.
- Servant (social status = low, but he can invert this)
- Under-dog (creates a strong bond with the audience)
- Hungry (‘a body-character’)
- Poor (peasant) Looking for work
- Thinks he’s clever
- Lives in the moment.
- Amoral not immoral (doesn’t know the difference between good and bad)
- A rebel (anarchic – rule-breaker)
Write out this question: (identify key/command words)
As a performer, discuss how you would perform the role of Truffaldino in at least two sections of the play in order to convey your interpretation of the character to the audience. You must make specific reference to the social, cultural and/or historical context of A Servant to Two Masters in your answer.
Is this an Open or Closed Question?
- Write your generic Introduction? [1-2 lines]
- Give a summary of the character and his basic plot.
- Show you know something of his traditional portrayal and how Goldoni has changed him in this play.
- State your Interpretation in the first 3-4 scenes (1st impressions you want audience to have).
THINK/ DISCUSS –What are the ‘GO-TO’ moments you could use to illustrate your “interpretation” from the first 4 scenes?
Paragraph #1 (PEE structure) 1st entrance & disregard for authority
- Where and How does Truff. make his 1st impression.
- How does he show his disregard for authority?
Paragraph #2 (PEE structure) Lustful urges
- How does he show his basic urges like ‘lust’?
- What’s the reaction from the audience?
OR
Paragraph #3 (PEE structure) Talking to the audience
- Act 1 Scene 4 (Monologue) – What’s the effect/reason for him talking to the audience?
- Lazzo of the trunk (how can this be funny?)