Study Help Practice Projects

1. Inherit the Wind was first produced on stage in 1955. It was produced as a television movie in 1960 and in 1988, and it was on Broadway again in 1996. Each time the play has been produced, it has been successful. Research each era and describe the historical events that may have contributed to the relevance of each production.

2. Read one of the following works and compare it to Inherit the Wind:

Stephen Vincent Benet’s The Devil and Daniel Webster

Arthur Miller’s The Crucible

3. Lawrence and Lee convey the theme through the characterization of their two main characters: Drummond and Brady. Restage parts of the play, changing only these character’s personality traits: Make Drummond arrogant and overly confident; make Brady decent and kind. Discuss how such a change affects the audience’s reaction to the characters and the central conflict.

4. Imagine that Drummond is asked to give the eulogy at Brady’s funeral. Write the eulogy. Or, if you prefer, assume that you, like Hornbeck, have covered the trial and now must write an article.

5. Create a Web site to introduce Inherit the Wind to other readers. Design pages to intrigue and inform your audience, and invite other readers to post their thoughts and responses to their reading of the play.