Sojourner Truth

by Joanna Evans

The fight for suffrage drives a wedge between a spirited young woman and her mother. . . .

Characters

NARRATOR

REBECCA, 17 years old

MAMA, her mother

BEFORE RISE: NARRATOR enters, addresses audience.

NARRATOR: Did you know that women in the United States weren’t allowed to vote until 1920? That’s when the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, extending voting rights to all women. If you do your math, you’ll find that women couldn’t vote for nearly 150 years after our nation was created out of the Revolutionary War. . .talk about injustice!

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Question
Use the passage and instruction paragraph to answer the question.

Refer to the stage direction that shows Rebecca kneeling at Mama’s feet. Rebecca pleads with her mother to come with her to hear Truth speak.

What structural part of the play does this stage direction and dialogue represent?

(1 point)
Responses

rising action
rising action

exposition
exposition

falling action
falling action

climax
climax
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1 answer

The stage direction that shows Rebecca kneeling at Mama’s feet and pleading with her mother to come with her to hear Truth speak represents the rising action of the play. This moment builds tension and conflict as it highlights Rebecca's desire for her mother to join her in a significant social movement, which suggests a struggle between their differing views on suffrage.