68 pages • 2 hours read
Bernard PomeranceThe Elephant Man
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1979A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Essay Topics
The play brings up the debate of science versus religion. What stance do you think it takes? Do you agree? Why or why not? Use examples from the text.
Research the real history of Joseph Merrick and Frederick Treves. How does the playwright take liberties with the story? How do these liberties change the way the play might affect an audience?
Why do you think the playwright doesn’t want the actor playing John Merrick to use stage makeup and affected speech to mimic Joseph Merrick’s condition? How do you think that changes the way the play presents disability?
