How did they express their words?
Textual Evidence Authorial Intent
Jurors / Narrative Did they speak forcefully? Did they
Device choose silence? Did their words carry
prejudice?
In the play Twelve Angry Men, stage
directions serve as a tool to convey
the unspoken actions of the
characters, providing a clear visual
experience for the audience. By
utilizing stage directions, each
character can express their opinions
Stage Direction without speaking a word.
Additionally, stage directions offer
insights into the personalities of the
characters, revealing how their
prejudices influence the way they
present themselves to others. For
example, the revelation that Juror 5
was raised in the slums resulted in a
change in the way he was treated by
the other jurors, which was
highlighted through the use of stage
directions.
Juror 1 is a character who tries his
best to use his authority as the
foreman to keep the jury room in
order and leading the conversation in
Juror 1/foremen a professional manner, his actions
and words seeming as he did not
have much of an opinion of the case.
However, as the play continues,
Quote + where in text (exposition, rising
action, climax, falling action, denouement)
During a heated discussion about the slums,
Juror 10 expresses prejudiced views that
offend Juror 5. In response, Juror 5 stands up
and walks away, while the other juror's
distance themselves from Juror 10's
discriminatory rhetoric. Though Juror 4 tells
Juror 10 to be quiet, the collective actions of
the other jurors clearly prove their
disagreement with his comments, without the
need for any spoken words.
This can be seen throughout the play, as he
continues to keep track of all the votes,
suggesting to the other Jurors to keep in order
of their Jury numbers, and keeping the jurors
on track to the focus of the case, when
characters like Juror 7 tries to go off topic.
(page 71, page 78)
- Because the Foreman regularly
What comment is the author making here? Is
he supporting or challenging an idea/theme?
In their work, the author emphasizes the
importance of including stage directions in a
play, particularly during a character's
monologue, to illustrate the reactions of other
characters without the need for dialogue. This
highlights the strength of actions over words
and reinforces the idea that silence can be just
as impactful, if not more so, than speaking.
Here Rose shows that even with words and
authority, even with a bit of neglect or not
caring over some things, doesn't get the
authority a leader wants, no matter how
loudly they speak. Here Rose challenges the
idea of ‘loudness=authority’ showing that
leading a group requires more than just
suggesting ideas when it should be a demand.

during the rising action his authority
fails him, due to him not caring much
over the case, majority of the other
jurors did not feel the need to listen
to him when he wants the Juror’s to
stay on topic.
suggests doing certain things, when
he tries to tell the other Jurors to do
something barely anyone listens to
him.
- Causing a scene where he yells at
another juror (forgot which one) to
take his place and lead the Jury
room.
“Let us stop arguing here for two minutes in
here. Can’t we stick to the subject?”
“That sounds fair, anyone object?”
“Why don’t you take the chair then?” (Giving
the foreman chair to another juror)