AIM: How does Tracy Letts use stage

directions to further develop conflict and

relationships in “August: Osage County”?
LP11 - Pages 77 to 97
REVIEW
Original
Broadway
Production
Photo
MOTIFS for “August: Osage County”
● Family Roles (The Cycle of Generations)
● Family (Secrets and Responsibilities)
● Connection and Communication
● Power and Racism
● Addiction and Abuse
 NEW CHARACTERS
ACT TWO
Karen Weston (Youngest Sister)
Steve Heidebrecht (Karen’s Fiance)
Little Charles Aiken (Mattie Fae and Charles’ Son)
 Married

Married
Sisters

Beverly Weston Violet Weston Mattie Fae Aiken Charlie Aiken

Patriarch Matriarch Aunt Uncle

Married Sisters Son

Bill Fordham Barbara Fordham Ivy Weston Karen Weston Steve Heidebrecht Little Charles Aiken
Oldest Daughter Middle Karen’s Fiance Cousin
Youngest Daughter
Daughter Daughter

Jean Fordham Johnna Monevata Sheriff Deon

Housekeeper Gilbeau
Family Roles
(The Cycle of Generations)

Mother
Violet Beverly

Daughter

Barbara Bill
Does the family
cycle continue or
will one of the
women finally
break free? How?
Granddaughter

Jean
?
NEW VOCABULARY
Pages 77 to 97
 VOCABULARY

Liable - responsible by law; legally answerable.

Patriarch - the male head of a family or tribe.
Replenish - fill (something) up again.
Legitimate - conforming to the law or to rules.
Ravenous - extremely hungry.
Adversarial - involving or characterized by conflict or opposition. (93)
Antagonize - cause (someone) to become hostile. (93)
Crux - the decisive or most important point at issue.
Scintillate - emit flashes of light; sparkle.
Adrenaline - a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, especially in conditions of stress,
increasing rates of blood circulation, breathing and preparing muscles for exertion.

Think of cortisol as nature’s built-in alarm system. It’s your body’s main stress hormone. It
works with certain parts of your brain to control your mood, motivation, and fear.

It’s best known for helping fuel your body’s “fight-or-flight” instinct in a crisis. Cortisol is
nature’s response to fear.
Follow along with your book while listening to the
recording (Audiobook 7) of pages 77 to 97 (Act
Two). Then answer the questions on the attached
Document.
SECTION 8
Tracy Letts uses overlapping dialogue for large portions
of Act Two. What does this writing style do for the
scenes? Why?
SECTION 9
Who is Ivy’s new boyfriend and what is their
relationship?
SECTION 10
Violet tells “truths” to the family at the dinner table
while the other family members discuss slaughtering
animals and their cortisol levels. Why would the
playwright juxtapose these two ideas? What is he saying
about Violet and her relationship with the rest of the
family?
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION IN PARAGRAPH
FORMAT AND CITE AN EXAMPLE FROM THE TEXT.

Violet reveals a glimpse into her, Mattie Fae and Bev’s

childhood by telling the entire family stories about her life
growing up (93 to 95). What does her revelation say about her
character(addiction, attitude, language)? (Why would the
playwright include this information about Violet? How does it
change the way the audience would perceive her? Does this
relate to or affect any of the motifs we have seen thus far? How?
Why?)