Lonna With The Radio On Workbook

Ready to dig in?  Below are four lessons for discussion or writing.  Lessons 1, 2, and 3 each correspond to a certain section of Lonna With The Radio On.  Listen to the section indicated, then answer the questions. Lesson 4 gives you a chance to express your thoughts about some part of the drama.

Lesson 1 As you listen:  Who are these people?  What is their relationship?  What have they been doing?  Where are they going?

Lesson 1: Literary Devices  0:00-15:45

Foreshadowing is a literary device used in books, plays and movies. Foreshadowing is a warning or indication of a future event, often something bad.

 
A Greek Chorus was a group of people in ancient Greek plays who commented on and reacted to the situations and themes presented in the play.  The Greek Chorus, although part of the play, was separate from the characters in the play.  The Greek Chorus would often foreshadow or warn characters of tragic events that were to occur later in the play.

Q1 The radio in this drama acts much like a Greek Chorus and tries to warn Lonna of the danger ahead.  If you’re not already on the website, go to the website  roscoesongs.com  and go to the bottom of the web page, CD Lit, where the radio segments can be played, and listen to the radio segment entitled “Sportscast.”  In Sportscast the clues to Lonna’s fate are buried deeply in the dialogue, and here they are:  Ted “the Truck” Wyzinski is the winning pitcher.  The name Ted is much like the name Eddie, Lonna’s husband, and Eddie is like a truck, a powerful, unstoppable force.  Ted The Truck scatters seven hits.  The losing pitcher is Jorge Sanchez.  Jorge is another form of the name George, Lonna’s boyfriend.  There is a grand slam homerun by Nick Feldabetti (felled a Betty). The winning team mascot is a carnivore, the Panthers, and the losing team mascot (the home team) is prey, the Bucks.  The Jenson Lake Judges is the upcoming team; you face judgment upon death for crimes committed.  The new stadium is “heavenly;” you go to heaven after death.

Now listen to the segment “5 day weather forecast” and write down the clues you find for Lonna.  These clues are more accessible, but you’ll still need to slow down and stretch your imagination to find them.

Q2 Are there any more clues in the radio segments?

 

Q3 Where does the radio act like a Greek Chorus by commenting on the actions of Lonna and George?  Or you might ask, where does Lonna use her special talent to find just the right song for their mood?  Find two or more instances.

Q4 Get Creative!  Lonna and George do not hear or heed the radio’s warnings for them.  Write your own radio commercial or segment that would have been a strong enough clue to make George and Lonna pause and think about their situation.

 

Lesson 2: Character Study 15:45-39:45

Lesson 2 As you listen:  Now that you know more about Lonna and George, think about the psychology of these people and how they came to be in this situation.

Q5 What are the differences between Eddie and Lonna’s father?  Are they similar in any way?  Write your answer in one or two paragraphs.  Back up your ideas with info from the story.

Q6 At 22:14, we learn that George’s dad had a negative impact on his life.  He was not loving, but shaming.  He favored big brother, Ron over George, and George did not have fun outings with his Dad.  Pick one personality trait that this parenting may have produced in George, and describe how that trait could affect the outcome of this story. 

Q7 List one personality trait that you see in George, that Eddie probably doesn’t have, that makes him attractive to Lonna?  Write your answer in complete sentences.

 

Lesson 3: Themes  39:45-51:23 End

Lesson 3 As you listen:  This story does not have a happy ending, but it mirrors what often happens in real life.  It would be far more satisfying for Lonna to survive and  escape from her marriage, but in real life the story is frequently more tragic.

Q8 There are several topics that could be considered “themes” in this story.  Pick one from this list and describe how it helped shape the conclusion.  How would things have been different without this aspect?  Your answer should be ½ to 1 page in length.

           •Domestic Abuse
           •Adultery
           •Alcoholism
           •Choices and how they affect outcomes

Q9 The song is Lonna With The Television On, and the drama is Lonna With The Radio On.  Why?  In two paragraphs, explain the difference between the two media in Lonna’s life.

 

Lesson 4:  Essay Questions
Discuss as a group, or write a one-page essay on any of the following topics.  Writers, your essay should have a thesis and a conclusion, and each paragraph should have a topic sentence.

1 Find a decision point in this story where a different choice may have produced a different ending?  Elaborate to produce a positive ending for this story.

2 Were George and Lonna justified in having this affair?  How would you have done it differently if you were George or Lonna?

3 What do you think would have happened to the children of Lonna and Eddie?

4 How would George’s life change after Lonna’s death?

5 Write Eddie’s story, starting in prison.  Before you start, look for any clues that you can find to learn about Eddie.  Here’s one clue, the guitar feedback throughout the song Lonna With The Television On represents Eddie.  What emotion does that convey to you that helps you know what Eddie is like?  Assemble these bits and pieces and make a list of things that describe Eddie before you begin.  These can be talents, personality traits, emotions, or physical features.  Defend your choices, cite the evidence.  Write your list at the top of your page.

6 At the end of the song Lonna With The Television On the singer sounds like he’s mocking Lonna when he sings, “hey Lonna if you wanna, but you got to pay the price.”  What is he talking about?  Write your one page essay on woman-blaming in our culture.  You may use the following questions to help you get ideas.

Do you think the phrase is fair to Lonna? 
Would it seem unfair if it were directed to a man? 
Is this song woman-blaming? 
Is our culture woman-blaming when a relationship goes bad? 
Is there a woman-blaming part of our culture that is reflected in this song?