12 Angry Men12 Angry Menby Reginald Roseby Reginald Rose

Key TermsKey Terms ““Murder in the first degreeMurder in the first degree… is the … is the

most serious most serious chargecharge tried in our tried in our criminal courts… One man is dead. criminal courts… One man is dead. The life of another is at stake. If The life of another is at stake. If there is a there is a reasonable doubtreasonable doubt in your in your minds as to the guilt of the minds as to the guilt of the accused… then you must declare accused… then you must declare him not guilty… him not guilty…

Now, write your understanding of the Now, write your understanding of the definition for each underlined term in definition for each underlined term in the above quote.the above quote.

Murder in the first Murder in the first degree-degree-

Murder in the first degree Murder in the first degree generally is a calculated act generally is a calculated act of slaying committed with of slaying committed with malice aforethought, often malice aforethought, often requiring aggravated requiring aggravated circumstances such as circumstances such as extreme brutality. It receives extreme brutality. It receives the severest penalty, often the severest penalty, often life imprisonment or capital life imprisonment or capital punishment.punishment.

ChargeCharge - -

an accusation: an accusation: He He was arrested on a was arrested on a charge of theft.charge of theft.

Reasonable doubtReasonable doubt - - Uncertainty as to a criminal Uncertainty as to a criminal

defendant's guiltdefendant's guilt Proof of guilt beyond a reasonable Proof of guilt beyond a reasonable

doubt is required for conviction of doubt is required for conviction of a criminal defendant. A reasonable a criminal defendant. A reasonable doubt exists when a factfinder doubt exists when a factfinder cannot say with moral certainty cannot say with moral certainty that a person is guilty or a that a person is guilty or a particular fact exists. It must be particular fact exists. It must be more than an imaginary doubt, and more than an imaginary doubt, and it is often defined judicially as such it is often defined judicially as such doubt as would cause a reasonable doubt as would cause a reasonable person to hesitate before acting in person to hesitate before acting in a matter of importance. a matter of importance.

MORE KEY TERMS:MORE KEY TERMS:

ProtagonistProtagonist AntagonistAntagonist DramaDrama ForeshadowingForeshadowing Literary foil Literary foil

Protagonist: Protagonist: The central The central

character in a character in a story or play is story or play is called the called the protagonist. The protagonist. The protagonist is protagonist is always involved in always involved in the central the central conflict of the plot conflict of the plot and often changes and often changes during the course during the course of the work. of the work.

Antagonist: Antagonist: The antagonist in a The antagonist in a

work of fiction is the work of fiction is the character who character who opposes the hero, opposes the hero, or protagonist, of or protagonist, of the story. The the story. The antagonist is antagonist is central to the work central to the work in providing the in providing the conflict of the story. conflict of the story.

Drama: Drama: Drama is literature that Drama is literature that

develops plot and character develops plot and character through dialogue and action; through dialogue and action; in other words, drama is in other words, drama is literature in a play form. literature in a play form. Dramas are meant to be Dramas are meant to be performed. Drama performed. Drama advances from the advances from the introduction of characters introduction of characters and situations to the rising and situations to the rising action or complication, action or complication, climax or crisis, falling climax or crisis, falling action or denouement, and action or denouement, and resolution or catastrophe. resolution or catastrophe.

Foreshadowing:Foreshadowing: Foreshadowing is Foreshadowing is

a writer’s use of a writer’s use of hints or clues to hints or clues to indicate events indicate events that will occur that will occur later in a later in a narrative. This narrative. This technique often technique often creates suspense creates suspense and prepares the and prepares the reader for what is reader for what is to come. to come.

Literary foil:Literary foil:A foil is a character who provides a striking contrast A foil is a character who provides a striking contrast to another character. By using a foil, a writer calls to another character. By using a foil, a writer calls

attention to certain traits possessed by a main attention to certain traits possessed by a main character or simply enhances a character by character or simply enhances a character by

contrast. contrast.

VS.

Twelve Angry Menby Reginald Rose

This is a play that was originally a live television broadcast on CBS’s show Studio One in 1954.Two years later, Rose

wrotethe screenplay for a film version, which he co-produced

with the actor Henry Fonda (who has a leading role as Juror

#8). The result is a taut, engrossing drama in which eleven

jurors believe the defendant in a capital murder trial is guilty, while one juror stands up courageously for what he

believes is justice, and tries to persuade others to his way of

thinking.

The play was inspired by Rose’s own experience of jury duty on a manslaughter case in New York City. At first, he had been reluctant to serve on a jury, but, he wrote, “The moment I walked into the courtroom… and found myself facing a strange man whose fate was suddenly more or less in my hands, my entire attitude changed.” Rose was greatly impressed by the gravity of the situation, the somber activity of the court, and the “absolute finality” of the decision that he and his fellow jurors would have to make. He also thought that, since no one other than the jurors had any idea of what went on in a jury room, “a play taking place entirely within a jury room might be an exciting and possibly moving experience for an audience.”

Making Connections:Making Connections:

What books, shows, What books, shows, movies, songs, poems movies, songs, poems can you think of that can you think of that have a jury as part of have a jury as part of the conflict of the plot?the conflict of the plot?

Meet the Characters!Meet the Characters! Twelve Angry MenTwelve Angry Men is a character driven is a character driven

play. play.

That means that the theme and plot unfold That means that the theme and plot unfold as we get to know the characters. as we get to know the characters. Although they are only known to us by Although they are only known to us by numbers (no names are used in the play numbers (no names are used in the play until the very end), their personalities are until the very end), their personalities are distinct, and the inter-reaction between distinct, and the inter-reaction between characters is worth our focus.characters is worth our focus.

Juror 1Juror 1

He is a small, petty He is a small, petty man who is impressed man who is impressed with the authority he with the authority he has and handles has and handles himself quite formally. himself quite formally. He is not overly He is not overly bright, but dogged.bright, but dogged.

Juror #1 – played by Martin Juror #1 – played by Martin BalsamBalsam

Juror 2Juror 2

He is a meek, He is a meek, hesitant man who hesitant man who finds it difficult to finds it difficult to maintain any maintain any opinions of his own. opinions of his own. He is easily swayed He is easily swayed and usually adopts and usually adopts the opinion of the the opinion of the last person to whom last person to whom he has spoken.he has spoken.

Juror #2 – played by John Juror #2 – played by John FiedlerFiedler

Juror 3Juror 3

He is a very strong, He is a very strong, very forceful, extremely very forceful, extremely opinionated man within opinionated man within whom can be detected whom can be detected a steak of sadism. Also, a steak of sadism. Also, he is a humorless man he is a humorless man who is intolerant of who is intolerant of opinions other than his opinions other than his own, and accustomed own, and accustomed to forcing his wishes to forcing his wishes and views upon others.and views upon others.

Juror #3 – played by Lee J. Juror #3 – played by Lee J. CobbCobb

Juror 4Juror 4

He seems to be a man He seems to be a man of wealth and position, of wealth and position, and a practiced speaker and a practiced speaker who presents himself who presents himself well at all times. He well at all times. He seems to feel a little bit seems to feel a little bit above the rest of the above the rest of the jurors. His only concern jurors. His only concern is with the facts in this is with the facts in this case and he is appalled case and he is appalled with the behavior of the with the behavior of the others.others.

Juror #4 – played by E. G. Juror #4 – played by E. G. MarshallMarshall

Juror 5Juror 5

He is a naïve, very He is a naïve, very frightened young frightened young man who takes his man who takes his obligations in this obligations in this case very seriously case very seriously but who finds it but who finds it difficult to speak difficult to speak up when his elders up when his elders have the floor.have the floor.

Juror #5 – played by Jack Juror #5 – played by Jack KlugmanKlugman

Juror 6Juror 6

He is an honest but dull-He is an honest but dull-witted man who comes witted man who comes upon his decisions upon his decisions slowly and carefully. He slowly and carefully. He is a man who finds it is a man who finds it difficult to create difficult to create positive opinion, but who positive opinion, but who must listed to and digest must listed to and digest and accept those and accept those opinions offered by opinions offered by others which appeal to others which appeal to him most.him most.

Juror #6 – played by Edward Juror #6 – played by Edward BinnsBinns

Juror 7Juror 7 He is a loud, flashy, He is a loud, flashy,

glad-handed sales-glad-handed sales-man type who has man type who has more important more important things to do than to things to do than to sit on a jury. He is sit on a jury. He is quick to show temper quick to show temper and equally quick to and equally quick to form opinions on form opinions on things about which things about which he knows nothing. he knows nothing. He is a bully, and, of He is a bully, and, of course, a coward.course, a coward.

Juror #7 – played by Jack Juror #7 – played by Jack WardenWarden

Juror 8Juror 8

He is a quiet, He is a quiet, thoughtful, gentle thoughtful, gentle man– a man who sees man– a man who sees all sides of every all sides of every question and question and constantly seeks the constantly seeks the truth. He is a man of truth. He is a man of strength tempered with strength tempered with compassion. Above all, compassion. Above all, he is a man who wants he is a man who wants justice to be done, and justice to be done, and will fight to see that it will fight to see that it is.is.

Juror #8 – played by Henry Juror #8 – played by Henry FondaFonda

Juror 9Juror 9

He is a mild, gentle old He is a mild, gentle old man, long since man, long since defeated by life, and defeated by life, and now merely waiting to now merely waiting to die. He recognizes die. He recognizes himself for what he is, himself for what he is, and mourns the days and mourns the days when it would have been when it would have been possible to be possible to be courageous without courageous without shielding himself behind shielding himself behind his many years.his many years.

Juror #9 – played by Joseph Juror #9 – played by Joseph SweeneySweeney

Juror 10Juror 10

He is an angry, bitter He is an angry, bitter man– a man who man– a man who antagonizes almost at antagonizes almost at sight. He is also a bigot sight. He is also a bigot (racist) who places no (racist) who places no values on any human values on any human life save his own. Here life save his own. Here is a man who has been is a man who has been nowhere and is going nowhere and is going nowhere and knows it nowhere and knows it deep within him.deep within him.

Juror #10 – played by Ed Juror #10 – played by Ed BegleyBegley

Juror 11Juror 11

He is a refugee from He is a refugee from Europe. He speaks Europe. He speaks with an accent and is with an accent and is ashamed, humble, ashamed, humble, almost subservient to almost subservient to the people around the people around him. He will honestly him. He will honestly seek justice because seek justice because he has suffered he has suffered through so much through so much injustice.injustice.

Juror # 11 – played by George Juror # 11 – played by George VoskovekVoskovek

Juror 12Juror 12 He is a slick, bright He is a slick, bright

advertising man who advertising man who thinks of human beings thinks of human beings in terms of percentages, in terms of percentages, graphs and polls, and graphs and polls, and has no real has no real understanding of people. understanding of people. He is a superficial snob, He is a superficial snob, but trying to be a good but trying to be a good fellow.fellow.

Juror #12 – played by Robert Juror #12 – played by Robert WebberWebber

Theme ConnectionsTheme Connections Prejudice gets in the way of the truth. Prejudice gets in the way of the truth. Getting to the bottom of a complex issue Getting to the bottom of a complex issue

takes time and effort. takes time and effort. Check your intuitions -- neither dismiss them, Check your intuitions -- neither dismiss them,

nor trust them blindly. nor trust them blindly. Details can be important, in context; think in Details can be important, in context; think in

terms of contingencies. terms of contingencies. There are many interpretations of "the facts." There are many interpretations of "the facts." Test others' opinions, question their Test others' opinions, question their

assumptions, and draw your own assumptions, and draw your own conclusions. conclusions.

More Theme ConnectionsMore Theme Connections Civility will encourage your opponents to Civility will encourage your opponents to

keep listening to you. keep listening to you. Tailor your tactics to your target. Tailor your tactics to your target. Coalitions can work for or against you -- Coalitions can work for or against you --

and they can shift. and they can shift. Reason and assertiveness can both be Reason and assertiveness can both be

powerful tactics, depending on the powerful tactics, depending on the situation. situation.

Patient silence and loud persistence can Patient silence and loud persistence can both be powerful, at the right times. both be powerful, at the right times.

One determined and skilled individual can One determined and skilled individual can wield a lot of influence.wield a lot of influence.