12 Angry Men–Act 1 Vocabulary and Study Guide Questions – Flashcards
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unanimous
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complete agreement with no one dissenting
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refugee
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a person who flees one country and seeks safety somewhere else
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el
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a train of the same design as a subway train that runs on tracks and is elevated a few stories above the streets
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retire
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to leave the open court to go to a private room
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calculus
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a complicated mathematical process
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belligerently
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a hostile or angry manner
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monopoly
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the exclusive ownership of a business
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switch knife
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a knife whose spring-loaded blade is concealed inside the body of the knife
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proposition
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a deal; bargain
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bickering
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arguing
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mugging
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a physical attack to take money or goods from another person
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breeding ground
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a place that feeds and nourishes the growth of what is born there
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flimsy
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weak and thin
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What instructions does the judge give the jurors?
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if they have reasonable doubt they must declare the defendant "not guilty"
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How many jurors must vote guilty for the accused to be convicted?
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all twelve
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What is the last thing the jurors hear before they are locked in the jury room that might affect influence their thinking?
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"He doesn't stand a chance." says the uniformed guard
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Describe the staging for this play.
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bare, drab room with 1 window, a table, and 12 chairs
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What is the climate like in the setting?
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hot and stuffy, late in the afternoon
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What is the defendant accused of?
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murdering his father
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What evidence is there against the defendant?
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the weapon looks like one he lost and he has a previous record with the law for knife fighting; there are two witnesses to the events of the fathers murder
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What does the woman across the street claim to have seen?
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saw the boy do it through the window of the El train
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What does the man downstairs claim to have heard?
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the boy threaten his father and he claims to have seen the boy run down the stairs
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Who is the protagonist and what is he doing when we first see him?
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Juror 8; he is staring thoughtfully out the window
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Who is the antagonist? How is he different from other people?
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Juror 3; he is loud, bossy, and opinionated and is in opposition to the protagonist
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What will be the cause of conflict between the protagonist and antagonist?
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On the surface they argue about the guilt of the boy but it becomes a personality class and an argument about justice and fairness
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What is the cause of Juror 3's anger towards all young men?
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because of his anger towards his own son; his son was beaten by his father as a child and as a teen he knocked his father down; he ran away and has not been seen by his father since
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What does Juror 10's following comment reveal about himself? " How can you believe him, knowing what he is? I lived among 'em all my life. You can't believe a word they say."
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He is clearly prejudiced; he distrusts an entire race/class of people based on very limited exposure
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Juror 8 says he had a peculiar feeling about this trial. What does he think is wrong?
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Juror 8 feels the defense counsel did not conduct a thorough cross-examination, and many questions were left unasked.
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Why does the foreman ask the guard to bring the switchblade knife?
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Juror 4 says he feels that the jurors have the right to see the exhibits in evidence.
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What dramatic climax occurs toward the end of Act 1?
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Juror 8 jabs a knife into the wall. The knife is identical to the murder weapon.
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What does Juror 8 propose at the end of act 1?
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that they all vote again but that he will not vote; if all 11 jurors vote guilty, then he will do the same
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What is Juror 8's motive for proposing the vote at the end of act 1?
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He believes that at least one juror, if not more, will vote "not guilty"
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From what you have learned of the jurors at this point, which one(s) would want on your jury if you were on trial?
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Juror 8 for sure
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Which jurors would you NOT want on your jury if you were on trial?
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Jurors 3, 10, and 12
