Arcadia Discussion: Act 1, Scene 1

HONORS PS1500 - It's About Time

Arcadia, Act 1, Scene 1 C Questions for Discussion

Summary
Identify the familial relationship between Thomasina, Lord and Lady Croom, Captain Brice, and Augustus. In what year does the play open? How old is Thomasina in the first scene?
What does the first scene tell us about the personalities of Thomasina, Septimus, and Chater?
Identify some of Thomasina's mathematical or scientific interests.
At the middle of p 19, Lady Croom enters exclaiming "Oh, no! Not the gazebo!" What is she referring to, and what do Septimus and Chater take to be the subject of her remark?
What is Noakes doing to the gardens of the house?
Look up the phrase A Et in Arcadia Ego@ on the web. Near the top of p. 25, what is Thomasina reacting to when she exclaims, A Oh, phooey to Death!@ ?
What does Thomasina draw at the end of Act 1, Scene 1?

Acting Assignments for Arcadia

1. Act 1, pp. 14 - 18 (Two parts: Septimus and Chater)

Starts with Septimus: Now, sir, what is this business than cannot wait?

Ends with Chater: Yes, by God, she is a wife to me, sir!

2. Act 1, pp. 22 - 25 (Six parts: Lady Croom, Noakes, Brice, Thomasina, Septimus, and Chater)

Starts with Lady Croom: Your drawing is a very wonderful transformation.

Ends with Septimus: How picturesque.

Last modified: Thursday, February 24, 2005 05:09 PM