Name Date Twelve Angry Men – Study

name ______________________________ date ______________ twelve angry men – study guide questions act i ===== 1. what is

Name ______________________________ Date ______________
Twelve Angry Men – Study Guide Questions
Act I
=====
1.
What is the charge in being tried in the play?
2.
The judge informs the jury of a condition of their verdict. What
is it?
3.
Describe the appearance of the jury room.
4.
What is the general mood of the jurors as they enter the jury
room?
5.
Why would you think the jurors are locked in the jury room?
6.
How is the first vote conducted? What problems could you foresee
with this kind of vote?
7.
What are the reactions of the jurors to Juror Eight after the
first vote?
8.
Juror Ten makes a broad generalization about a type of people.
What does he say?
9.
Something is revealed about each of the jurors as each has a turn
to tell his own story. Briefly summarize the stands of:
Juror Two
Juror Four
Juror Five
Juror Six
Juror Three
10.
What does Juror Eight propose at the end of Act I? In what manner
will the second vote be taken? What position does Eight have in
the second vote?
11.
What do you think gave Eight the idea for his proposition? Do you
think he knows how the last vote will turn out?
12.
Juror Two thinks the defendant is guilty because “nobody proved
otherwise.” In what way is his thinking in conflict with the legal
system?
13.
How would criminal trials be different if defendants were
considered guilty until proven innocent?
Act II
======
1.
Do you agree with Juror Seven when he says that they all have a
right to know who voted “not guilty?” Why or why not?
2.
Why does Juror Seven feel that Juror Five is the one who changed
his vote?
3.
What is Juror Nine’s explanation for changing his vote?
4.
Why does Juror Eight snatch away the paper on which Three is
playing tic-tac-toe?
5.
What point about the old man’s testimony did Juror Eight first
question?
6.
What observation does Juror Nine make about the old witness?
7.
Why couldn’t the old man have run in fifteen seconds to the door
to see the boy fleeing the murder scene?
8.
How does Juror Three contradict his own words when he says the old
man can’t be sure about anything?
9.
How long does the re-enactment of the old man’s actions take?
10.
What is proven by Juror Three’s shouting, “I’ll kill him!” at the
end of Act II?
Act III
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1.
How is the third vote of the jurors conducted?
2.
What does Juror Seven say that insults Juror Eleven?
3.
What point of discussion does Juror Two bring up about the stab
wound?
4.
Describe Juror Three as he demonstrates the stabbing.
5.
What is contradictory about the wound and the type of knife used
in the murder?
6.
What disproves the testimony of the woman who saw the murder
through the windows of the passing el train?
7.
Explain why most of the other jurors turn their backs on Juror Ten
during his monologue.
8.
Who is the last juror to be convinced to change his vote? Why do
you think he did change his vote?
9.
Do you feel the defendant is innocent or guilty? Explain your own
decision. Remember: “if there is reasonable doubt, you must
declare him not guilty.”