Study Group Expectations

Although I will sometimes “lecture” briefly to provide background and context, this study group will consist more of facilitated discussion than lectures. I will provide some “reflection prompts” for each week’s session, although we will not always follow up at great length on all of them, but rather, follow the discussion where it naturally wants to go at the time.

I encourage your comments and questions. Please raise your hand if you would like to speak; in Zoom sessions, please use the raised hand icon. I will call on people in the order in which I see the raised hands. If I see that someone who hasn’t spoken as much as others, or at all, would like to speak, however, I will call on that person before calling on others who may also have their hands raised, but have previously spoken. Please speak into your microphone loudly and clearly to the whole group.

If I don’t get to address a question or concern you had during a session, please let me know at the end of class or send me an email afterwards. In the case of Zoom sessions, you can enter a question or comment in the chat; I will not monitor and respond to the chat during the sessions, but I will respond afterwards by email. If something comes up in between sessions, please feel free to send me an email (sbloom326@gmail.com). In all cases, I will try to respond to you directly within a day or two, and if appropriate, I will address your question or concern with everyone at the next session.

I recommend that you plan to read the plays at least twice, and possibly three times. The first reading will allow you to establish basic elements of plot, setting, and character; the second reading will allow you to consider some of the dynamics and thematic issues in greater depth. A third reading after seeing the production or watching the film may be interesting. I realize that many of you may have already seen the film of Long Day's Journey. To the extent possible, please try to put that out of your mind when you read the play.

Please remember that it is very important to read stage directions; plays are written to be staged. Please keep in mind that every production is an interpretation of the written text. It is always very interesting to compare the way a play is produced to the way you envision it while reading, in both a film and stage production. That is why it is so important to read the play before seeing it performed or on film, and why I strongly discourage you from watching it (again or for the first time) before we have had both discussions of the written text.

A note on "Reflection Prompts":

A few days before every session, I will post a few "reflection prompts." These are meant to provoke thoughts about the play and/or production in anticipation of our discussions. These prompts will inform our discussions, not necessarily direct them; in fact, we may not necessarily address every question specifically. I always encourage you to raise questions and make observations that may seem to be outside the scope of these prompts.