Of Heaven and Earth: Character & Setting

Adapted from the First Stage Theater Company Education Department.

Using the painting The Sulky Boy (1875) by Antonio Mancini from the Of Heaven and Earth exhibition, ask students to describe the boy. Consider the following prompts to assist in your discussion:

  • Who is the “sulky boy”?
  • How old is he?
  • What do the objects around him tell you about where he is?
  • What does his expression and body language tell you about how he is feeling?

Allow students the opportunity to embody each other’s descriptions and share their “sulky boy” pose with the group.