Hobson's Choice: A Lancashire Comedy in Four Acts
The New windmill series
on Goodreads (483)
What’s inside...
The 'Heinemann Plays' series presents contemporary and classic plays for classroom use, including 'Hobson's Choice,' a comedic play set in the 1880s about a cobbler named Hobson and his strong-willed daughter. The play explores themes of family dynamics, personal ambitions, and romance, featuring actors like Ian Abercrombie and Francesca Beach. Additionally, this work is recognized as culturally significant and is in the public domain in the United States, allowing it to be freely distributed. It is valued for its contribution to the knowledge base of civilization and efforts are made to preserve and keep this work accessible to the public.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
12-15
Length
99 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Maggie Hobson
Vickey Hobson
Alice Hobson
Albert Prosser
Fred Beenstock
Willie Mossop
Henry Horatio Hobson
Discussion points
Why do you think the characters made the choices they did? What would you have done differently?
How do the characters' relationships change throughout the play? What do you think caused those changes?
What role does humor play in the story? Can you think of a funny moment and explain why it made you laugh?
How do the settings impact the story? Which place in the book would you like to visit and why?
What lessons can we learn about independence and making decisions for ourselves from the characters?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about the motivations behind characters' choices, fostering empathy and critical thinking. Use humor present in the text to make discussions more enjoyable and relatable. Discuss the influence of setting on the story's events to enhance their understanding of narrative context. Lastly, relate themes from the book to real-life decisions to make the story personally relevant.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Importance of personal integrity
Explanation: In 'Hobson's Choice', the characters demonstrate personal integrity through their choices and actions, even when faced with difficult decisions.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to uphold their values and make ethical decisions, showing integrity in their schoolwork and interactions with others.
Example Lesson: Empowerment and independence
Explanation: The story showcases characters, especially women, making decisions for themselves and asserting their independence.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to take initiative, make their own choices, and embrace independence in tasks and problem-solving.
Example Lesson: Consequences of actions
Explanation: The play highlights how the decisions and actions of characters lead to various consequences, teaching accountability.
Real-World Application: Children can understand that their actions have effects on themselves and others, promoting responsible behavior.
Example Lesson: Value of hard work
Explanation: Characters in the play achieve their goals through determination and hard work, underlining the merits of diligence.
Real-World Application: This lesson can inspire children to persist in their studies and personal projects, understanding that effort leads to achievement.