The story of the play
Twelve Angry Men, a fifty minute script, was broadcast live on CBS's show Studio One in 1954. Rose expanded the play for the stage, and a new version was published in 1955. Two years later, in 1957, Rose wrote the screenplay for a film version, which he co-produced with the actor Henry Fonda. The play has subsequently been updated and revived.
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" 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 the 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" 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 the others to his way of thinking.
Twelve Angry Men - The Basics of the Case
At the beginning of Twelve Angry Men, the jury has just finished listening to six days of trial proceedings. A nineteen-year old man is on trial for the murder of his father. The defendant has a criminal record (and a lot of circumstantial evidence piled against him). The defendant, if found guilty, would receive a mandatory death penalty.
The jury is sent to a hot, crowded room to deliberate. Before any formal discussion, they cast a vote. Eleven of the jurors vote “guilty.” Only one juror votes “not guilty.” That juror, who is known in the script as Juror #8, is the protagonist of the play. As the tempers flare and the arguments begin, the audience learns about each member of the jury. And slowly but surely, Juror #8 attempts to guide the others toward a verdict of “Not Guilty.” Will he succeed?
The jury is sent to a hot, crowded room to deliberate. Before any formal discussion, they cast a vote. Eleven of the jurors vote “guilty.” Only one juror votes “not guilty.” That juror, who is known in the script as Juror #8, is the protagonist of the play. As the tempers flare and the arguments begin, the audience learns about each member of the jury. And slowly but surely, Juror #8 attempts to guide the others toward a verdict of “Not Guilty.” Will he succeed?
Twelve Angry Men - The Jurors
Twelve Angry Men - Activities
The CSI Effect
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Memory and Circumstantial Evidence
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Should Juries Decide Court Cases?
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Twelve Angry Men YouTube link
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twelve angry men - writing assignment choices
Our culminating task for 12 Angry Men is a writing assignment. You have two options.
OPTION #1 - In 2-3 double-spaced pages (approximately 500-750 words)
OPTION #2 – Answer ALL of the following short response questions in a total of 2-3 double-spaced pages (approximately 500-750 words)
1. Were there any flaws in the prosecution's case which might have cast reasonable doubt on their evidence? If so, what were they?
Were they problems of relevance or reliability?
2. What evidence was introduced by the jury members that the defense had not even used? How would this information have
affected the jury's discussion had it been introduced in trial?
3. What inferences were made by jury members? What inferences were made in favor of the prosecution, upon what basis? What
inferences were made in favor of the defendant that the defense had not made? Comment upon the relevance and reliability of
all of these inferences.
4. Choose one of the jurors and discuss your perceptions of that person's behavior. Explain how you think that man's personal
perspective may have influenced his decisions.
OPTION #1 - In 2-3 double-spaced pages (approximately 500-750 words)
- Discuss the positives and negatives of the jury system as portrayed in 12 Angry Men. Give specific examples. Excluding Juror #8, discuss three jury members and how their beliefs, personalities and views of their responsibility affected their participation in the jury.
OPTION #2 – Answer ALL of the following short response questions in a total of 2-3 double-spaced pages (approximately 500-750 words)
1. Were there any flaws in the prosecution's case which might have cast reasonable doubt on their evidence? If so, what were they?
Were they problems of relevance or reliability?
2. What evidence was introduced by the jury members that the defense had not even used? How would this information have
affected the jury's discussion had it been introduced in trial?
3. What inferences were made by jury members? What inferences were made in favor of the prosecution, upon what basis? What
inferences were made in favor of the defendant that the defense had not made? Comment upon the relevance and reliability of
all of these inferences.
4. Choose one of the jurors and discuss your perceptions of that person's behavior. Explain how you think that man's personal
perspective may have influenced his decisions.