The Addams Family Study Guide (PDF)

Define
Normal
Life Skills
WriTing
Find two families or groups
depicted in movies or on television
and two families that you know
personally—compare and contrast—
What makes them “normal” or “abnormal” according
to the status quo? Now compare the status quo to
what you consider to be “normal”—what are some of
the differences you notice?
Consider families on reality television. They are
usually famous for being unusual. In what ways
does reality television break stereotypes about what
a “normal” family is supposed to be, and in what
ways does it uphold stereotypes?
Choose two of the families that you have
compared and contrasted, and write a scene in
which they meet for the first time. Some things to
think about while you’re writing the scene: what
are some of the things that they notice right away
about each other? Do the families get along? What
conflicts arise when these two different families are
brought together? If you like, write another scene
in which they find common ground and learn to
accept each other’s differences.
Define
Normal
Life Skills
explOre
Write two versions of a scene set
around the family dinner table: one
version that you consider “normal”
behavior for your family and one
that is “unusual.” Read both scenes
out loud to the class and have them guess which
is which.
What’s “normal” for your family? If your family
were on a reality TV show, what would it be
called? What would it be about? What makes your
family different and unique that would make them
a good subject for a reality show? Discuss your
idea for a reality show based on your family with a
parent, relative, or close friend.
FRAMe TK
Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia Addams in
The Addams Family.
Joan Marcus
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