12 Angry Men Study Guide – Flashcards
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Foreman (Juror #1)
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A small, petty man who is impressed with the authority he has and handles himself quite formally. Not overly bright, but dogged.
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Juror #2
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A meek, hesitant man who finds it difficult to maintain any opinions of his own. Easily swayed and usually adopts the opinion of the last person to whom he has spoken.
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Juror #3
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A very strong, very forceful, extremely opinionated man within whom can be detected a streak of sadism. A humorless man who is intolerant of opinions other than his own and accustomed to forcing his wishes and views upon others.
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Juror #4
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Seems to be a man of wealth and position. A practiced speaker who presents himself well at all times. Seems to feel a little bit above the rest of the jurors. His only concern is with the facts in this case, and he is appalled at the behavior of others.
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Juror #5
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A naive, very frightened young man who takes his obligations in this case very seriously, but who finds it difficult to speak up when his elders have the floor.
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Juror #6
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An honest but dull-witted man who comes upon his decisions slowly and carefully. A man who finds it difficult to create positive opinions, but who must listen to and digest and accept those opinions offered by others which appeal to him most.
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Juror #7
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A loud, flashy, glad-handed salesman type who has more important things to do than to sit on a jury. He is quick to show temper, quick to form opinions on things about which he knows nothing. Is a bully and, of course, a coward.
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Juror #8
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A quiet, thoughtful, gentleman. A man who sees all sides of every question and constantly seeks the truth. A man of strength tempered with compassion. Above all, a man who wants justice to be done and will fight to see that it is.
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Juror #9
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A mild, gentle old man long since defeated by life and now merely waiting to die. A man who recognizes himself for what he is and mourns the days when it would have been possible to be courageous without shielding himself behind his many years.
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Juror #10
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An angry, bitter man. A man who antagonizes almost at sight. A bigot who places no value on any human life save his own. A man who has been nowhere and is going nowhere and knows it deep within him.
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Juror #11
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A refugee from Europe who has come to this country in 1941. A man who speaks with an accent and who is ashamed, humble, and almost subservient to the people around him, but who will honestly seek justice because he has suffered through so much injustice.
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Juror #12
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A slick, bright advertising man who thinks of human beings in terms of percentages, graphs, and polls and has no real understanding of people. A superficial snob, but trying to be a good fellow.
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The young people of today are more delinquent than the young people of yesterday.
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O
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Most criminals come from slum neighborhoods.
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A
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Men are solely reasoning animals, who act on the basis of facts and not on the basis of opinions and emotions.
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D
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A man's experiences have a great effect on the way he thinks and acts.
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A
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Most men are followers rather than leaders.
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A/D
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Older men are more prejudiced than younger men.
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D
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Men who speak without thinking often contradict themselves.
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A
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A man should not have the right to hold an opinion that is different from the opinion of the majority.
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D
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Many people want to do what is right and just.
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O
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It is easy for men to live in harmony as brothers.
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D/O
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It is difficult to determine the accuracy of testimony given in court.
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A
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The death penalty should be abolished.
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O
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A man should be regarded as guilty until he can be proven innocent.
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A/D
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The legal profession is basically corrupt.
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O
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Our present jury system is a failure as a means for convicting criminals.
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D
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Justice is guaranteed by our present trial system.
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D
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Trial by jury is often a lengthy and difficult process.
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A
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A group of men with different backgrounds and temperaments are incapable of acting wisely and justly.
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D
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The switch-knife found in the dead man belonged to his son.
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Visual demonstration: The switch-knife was not the only one of its kind in the neighborhood; Juror #9 changed
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The old man heard the boy say, "I'm going to kill you."
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Logical thinking: The old man couldn't have heard the boy scream with the el train passing; Juror #5 changed
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The old man saw the boy run out in 15 seconds.
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Visual demonstration: The man would've only reached the door in 39 seconds; Jurors #2, #6, and #11 changed
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The boy stabbed in a downward angle.
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Visual demonstration/Discussion: A person used to handling a switch-knife would never have stabbed downward; Jurors #7, #12, and #1 changed
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The woman with the glasses saw the stabbing.
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Logical thinking: The woman wouldn't have been able to see because she wouldn't have been wearing glasses; Jurors #3, #4, and #10 changed
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p. 12 #10: "Well, look, you've gotta expect that. You know what you're dealing with..."
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Stereotype
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p. 13 #10: "Look at the kind of people they are-you know them."
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Stereotype/Self-evident truth
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p. 13 #10: "Well, it's the element. They let the kids run wild."
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Stereotype
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p. 14 #3: "I never saw a guiltier man in my life."
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Overgeneralization
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p. 14 #3: "The man's a dangerous killer. You could see it."
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Overgeneralization/Self-evident truth
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p. 16 #10: "...knowing what he is. I've lived among 'em all my life. You can't believe a word they say. You know that."
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Association/Slant/Self-evident truth
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p. 21 #3: "You're right it's the kids. The way they are-you know? ...I've got a kid...Rotten kid! I hate tough kids! You work your heart out."
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Stereotype/Getting personal
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p. 23 #4: "You know what actually happened. The boy took a knife home, and a few hours later stabbed his father with it and even remembered to wipe off the fingerprints."
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Slanting/Overgeneralization
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p. 27 #3: "You come in here and you vote guilty and then this-(nods towards #8)- slick preacher starts to tear your heart out with stories about a poor little kid who just couldn't help becoming a murderer."
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Overgeneralization
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p. 27 #3 "We're just trying to put a guilty man in the chair where he belongs-"
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Slanting/Overgeneralization
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p. 36 #10 "Bright! He's a common ignorant slob. He don't even speak good English!"
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Stereotype
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p. 42-43 #3 (in exchange with #8): "What's the matter with you people? The kid is guilty! He's got to burn! We're letting him slip through our fingers. For this kid? You bet I'd like to pull the switch."
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Getting personal
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p. 46 #6: "And if the boy did scream that he was going to kill, then we have the authority of this man-(motions at #3)-to prove that it might not really mean he's going to kill."
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Appeal to authority (said in a mocking or taunting tone)
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p. 59 #10: "Look, you know how these people lie. I don't have to tell you. They don't know what the truth is. ...they don't need any real reason to kill someone, either... Most of them, it's like they have no feelings. ... They're no good. There's not a one of 'em who's any good. We better watch out."
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Stereotype
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p. 52 #3 (to #4): "You're the guy. You made all the arguments. You can't turn now. A guilty man's going to be walking the streets. A murderer! He's got to die! Stay with me!"
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Appeal to authority/Slanting
