Sorry, Right Number

By Stephen King What is a Drama ? Provide the definition of these terms that are related to this genre. Drama: A story told in dialogue form. Like fiction, drama establishes a setting, a series of plot events, and centers on one or more conflicts that characters must cope with. Drama does not use a narrator to describe what happens, and the plot unfolds through the characters’ words and actions. Stage Directions : an instruction written into the script of a play, indicating stage actions, movements of performers, or production requirements

What is the difference between an act and a scene? An act is a major division of a play; one act may be divided into several scenes. HR From lines 1- 145) • At the beginning, the mood of the story is normal or ordinary • What is it about the phone call that changes the mood of the story? • The voice on the phone is followed by ‘desperate sobbing’ • It sounds ‘awful, heartbreaking’ • Then the connection suddenly is lost • The mood now is disturbing, unsettling, puzzling HR From lines 146 - 264) • Understand the author’s technique for building suspense • After Katie speaks with Polly, what does Bill say? • He says that the sobbing phone call was either “a prank” or “someone who dialed a wrong number” • Katie disagrees. • Do you agree with Bill or Katie? Why?

HR HR From lines 146 - 264 • How does the difference in the way that Katie and Bill react to the phone call add to the suspense? • Katie’s tone is emotional and panicky throughout – she is pessimistic • Bill is calm and composed – he is optimistic • His attempts to calm Katie down only seem to make things worse, which intensifies the conflict and heightens the suspense

HR What are Bill’s attempts to calm Katie down? • Telling her to calm down • Trying to convince her that it may not be her family member – it’s a prank call or somebody who accidentally punched their number • Trying to make the mood lighter (makes small jokes – ‘..through a shimmering of tears….we veterans…..) • Laughing out and making fun of her words

HR HR From lines 265 - 359 • Do you feel that the operator acted appropriately in this scene? Explain. • No, her behavior is not appropriate. • Bill and Katie is having an emergency while the operator is trying to strike a conversation about Bill’s books

HR HR • What natural and supernatural reasons might account for Dawn’s phone being off the hook? • Supernatural event is an event that could not happen naturally in our world under any circumstances. • Natural : – someone took the phone off the hook because he or she didn’t want to be disturbed – The phone was knocked off the hook during a struggle – An intruder cut the phone wires so no one could call for help HR • What natural and supernatural reasons might account for Dawn’s phone being off the hook? • Supernatural – Some type of energy from space interferes with telephone connection – Some unnatural forces is affecting the area

HR HR HR HR HR HR HR HR HR Yes. • She knows of Bill’s complaints about his health but she takes it easy and doesn’t bother to take it seriously (as obvious from her conversation with Lois). She assumes he is having paranoia or he is overly anxious. • Her panic and distress over the mysterious phone call and its after effects make Bill nervous and on edge too. This could have put strain on his stress level causing an adverse effect on his already weak heart, thus, killing him. No. • It is fated that Bill should die from a heart attack. There is no way Katie could have known that it was serious. There was no serious symptoms that she should be worried about. • Furthermore, Bill is responsible for his own health. If he feels he has medical issues, he should have gone for a check - up himself without waiting for his wife to tell him to do so.