Step into Character
Building on the connections we started creating last week by reading and re-reading our favorite Bible stories, this week we invite you to step right into the scripture itself and create a Bible character monologue!
Don’t feel intimidated if you don’t consider yourself a “theatre person” – we’ve broken the process down into simple, accessible steps. Start by choosing a character. If you need ideas, check out this exhaustive list of Bible characters, with links to more information about each one. You might also find inspiration in this article detailing ten “obscure” characters, and it’s a fun read even if you’ve already made your choice.
You’re ready to start brainstorming your monologue! First, go back to the story itself and review the passages that talk about your character. Choose a specific moment when your monologue takes place, and decide how your character might feel about what’s going on, and who they would talk to about it. This worksheet, which was originally created for theatre students to use when writing about characters they’ve created, will help you get pointed in the right direction.
This example might help you too: imagine your character of choice is Jonah, from today’s scripture lesson. Your monologue might take place at the moment he is swallowed by the fish. He would likely feel terrified! He might also feel regretful about the choices he made that led him here, and perhaps surprised that he has survived being eaten. He’s alone, so he could be talking to himself, but maybe he’s addressing the fish he is inside of, or even God.
Once you’ve finished planning your monologue, start writing. What would your character say in this moment? In some cases, you’ll be able to go back to the scripture for some of the words; use your imagination for the rest, but try to be true to what we DO know about the character. Remember to write in first person, as if you ARE the character speaking about what is happening to them.
When you’ve finished writing, read it out loud! If you are doing this activity with older kids who have been working independently, take turns sharing. If you have younger kids in your life, you can work together to plan the monologue, scribe it for them, and then read it out loud so they can hear what they’ve created.
This activity may be outside of your family’s comfort zone, but the benefits of stepping into a character make it worth the discomfort. Bible stories can sometimes feel very far away, removed from us by time and place, but when we step into the shoes of one of the people in the story, the events of the Bible become things that are happening to real people, things that are happening right now. This kind of perspective-taking is also a wonderful tool for helping kids build empathy and emotional literacy, which are so important to their development!
So have fun and don’t worry about being Broadway-ready – nobody will see your monologue unless you want them to! If you DO want others to see what you’ve created, however, we invite you to share with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram...
