The Dramatization of Bible Stories An experiment in the religious education of children

Dramatization is not commonly recognized as a means of vitalizing the religious education of children. The public school has found it to be one of the most effective methods for...

Two very different aims are revealed in the present-day employment of dramatization. Children are often required to give a dramatic production at some entertainment or social ev...

As will be noted in the following chapter, it is well in beginning dramatic work with children to use for the first efforts very simple stories. _Joseph_ is too long and complic...

At the meeting when these were read the children began to criticize the length of the play. One little boy made the remark, "We keep telling the same things over; why can't we l...

_Reuben:_ Shall we stay longer in this place? Our flocks have fed well in Shechem and Dothan. Let us return again unto Canaan and to the tent of our father, Jacob.

_King:_ I dreamed, and, behold, I stood by a river, and there came up out of the river seven fat cows, and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other cows came up after them...

_Joseph:_ And is this your younger brother of whom ye spake unto me? God be gracious unto thee, my son! [_To the brothers:_] Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? I...

When beginning dramatic work with a group of children who have never had the training before, it is always well to select as the first story to be dramatized one that is short,...

_Third Brother:_ I have seen him; he is verily a giant. His height is six cubits and a span. He weareth an helmet of brass upon his head, and he is armed with a coat of mail, an...

_David:_ Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and when there came a lion or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after him and smote him, and delivered it out of...

[DAVID _picks up five smooth stones and puts them into his shepherd bag._ GOLIATH _comes toward him. He is dressed in armor, and the man that bears his shield comes before him._...

The method of presenting the story of _Moses in the Bulrushes_ differed somewhat from that employed with _Joseph._ There was little need to tell the story at the beginning, for...

_King:_ Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come, let us do wisely with them lest they rise up and make war against us.

_Mother:_ Where shall we take him? I have hidden him for these three months, but he is so big now and his cries are so loud that they will be sure to find him wherever we go.

_Mother:_ How can I leave him here alone? My little daughter, will you stay and watch and bring me word quickly if anything happens? We will hide the baby in this basket among t...

_Princess:_ Will you take good care of this baby for me until he becomes a youth? I will pay you wages. I am the Princess, King Pharaoh's daughter. I will see that he is educate...

_Princess:_ Yes, father, and I know that you will grant me this. Several years ago I adopted a son and I ask that you allow him to be educated in your palace.

_Ruth_ was dramatized by the club during the fall of the year because it is a story of the Hebrew harvest time. In order fully to interpret the life of Ruth it was necessary for...

_Naomi:_ Yea, you must leave me now. I am going home to my own country and my own people, to Bethlehem, Judah! It is ten long years since I left there to come to dwell in your l...

_Boaz_ [_to_ RUTH]: Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, but stay here by my reapers. Let thine eyes be on the reapers, and do thou glean that which...

_Boaz:_ I would speak about a matter of importance; wait thou here until I can bring witnesses. [_He turns to citizens._] A piece of land is about to be sold; will ten citizens...

The story of Esther involves a much more complicated situation than any of the others here described. It is not too difficult for dramatization, however, if it is taken after su...

_King:_ The seventh day of this feast hath come, and on this day will I bring my beautiful Queen, Vashti, before you. The princes of my land must depart, bearing a good report o...

_Mordecai_ [_taking_ ESTHER'S _hand_]: Esther, my child, thou art like my very child, for although I am but thy uncle I have been as a father to thee. I bid thee farewell now, f...

_Haman:_ Thou Jew! Dost thou think that thou art mightier than I, whom the King hath set above all the princes of the land? Thou shalt suffer for this. [_Turns to servant._] Sen...

_King:_ Esther, hast thou dared to come before my presence when I have not called thee? Thou surely dost not know what thou art doing! This act of boldness can mean thy death! B...

_King:_ I am happy to be with thee, my fair Queen. Thou must have a request which thou desirest to make--speak, be not afraid. I will grant it though it be half of my kingdom.

This incident should be simplified and adapted before it is told to children. The dramatization is best worked out in the form of a short, free play which involves only one act....

The story of _Daniel in the Lions' Den_ was dramatized by the members of the club according to the same methods as those which were used in connection with the story of _Abraham...

_King Darius:_ Good Daniel, I have sent for thee that thou mayest know my will. It has pleased me to set over my kingdom one hundred and twenty princes, and over these princes h...

_First Conspirator:_ O King, hast thou not signed a decree that he who shall pray to any God or man within thirty days, save to thee, shall be cast into the den of lions?

_Daniel_ [_from within_]: O King, live forever! My God hath sent his angel and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me, for the Lord knoweth that I have done no w...

Many of the New Testament parables present interesting problems for dramatization. The selection should be limited to those which involve dramatic situations and unity of struct...

[_A man comes along the road carrying his bundle over his back. Many thieves rush out from ambush and attack him. Some knock him down and rob him, while others are looking anxio...

_Good Samaritan:_ Here is a wounded man. Take care of him. Here is money, and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again I will repay thee. [_He gives the_ INNKEEPER _some...

_Younger Son:_ Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth unto me. I am weary of living at home. I will go into some far country and make my fortune.

_Prodigal Son:_ Would that I had something to eat! My money is all spent, and there is famine in the land. What shall I do? I am sick, and feel that I may soon die. If I could b...

_Prodigal Son:_ How horrible is this life; I am dying of hunger. No man will give me anything--all I get to eat is the food that I give the pigs. Oh, I wish that I had never lef...

_Father:_ It seemeth to me that I see my son coming home! I knew that he would come! I will go to meet him! [_He meets him._] It is my son! [_The_ FATHER _shows great joy. The_...

_Servant:_ Thy brother is come; thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. Thy father sendeth for thee to come in. [_The_ ELDER BROTHER...

The stories in the Bible, if taken just as they are given, present a body of material which is complicated by a historical background and a religious symbolism that is remote fr...

The stories which have been taken for dramatization in the previous chapters were not chosen because they are the best ones for that purpose, but because they represent differen...

child Samuel is sleeping near the old priest, Eli. He thinks he hears a voice calling him, and he runs to Eli to ask what he wants. Eli has not called him and tells him to lie d...

The inhabitants are discussing the victories of the Israelites. They are afraid of Joshua, the leader. Messengers report that he is advancing toward Gibeon. The Gibeonites plan...

The men from Gibeon come to Joshua and tell him that they are from a far country. They say that they have heard of his great victories and wish to make a league with him. The co...

The Israelite soldiers rush into Gibeon to take it, but find that the inhabitants are the same ragged strangers with whom they made the league. The Israelites reproach them, but...

Abraham is lying down in his tent. He is talking to Isaac, his son, about the wife he wishes him to have. He calls a servant and bids him go to Mesopotamia, his old home, and br...

The messenger, with his servants, comes to the well just outside of the city walls, where the women draw water. There should be no attempt to represent the camels. These may be...

In this scene comes the discussion of Rebekah's leaving home to become the wife of Isaac. The messenger makes known to the family that it is Abraham, their kinsman, who is sendi...

Isaac walks alone in the field at sunset. He is constantly looking into the distance, and he is wondering when the messenger will return with a wife for him. At length he sees t...

The King dreams a dream and forgets it. He calls all of his wise men and demands that they tell him what his dream was and also interpret it. The wise men declare that this is a...

Daniel appears before the King again. The King asks if he is able to tell what the dream was and to interpret it. Daniel answers that he is able to tell him, not, however, by hi...

The heralds come through the streets crying aloud that King Nebuchadnezzar commands all people to bow down when they shall hear the musical instruments and worship the image of...

The men come before the King and begin their story by saying, "O King, live forever!" The Bible language may be used directly here in the conversation which follows. The King is...

The point has been emphasized in the preceding chapters that very little stage setting and only a few properties are used in connection with these dramatizations. It is always b...

The question of costuming may be dealt with in much the same manner as that of stage setting and properties. Costumes are unnecessary in many of the simpler plays, and even wher...

The kind of dramatics described in this book may be undertaken with success in connection with any Sunday school. The most necessary element is a leader in charge who is wide aw...