The students devoted their Saturday lesson to Artur, the protagonist of Sławomir Mrożek's ‘Tango’, and to the reversed generational conflict. The lesson brought the term to a close, and a reward awaited the group at the end.
The students worked directly with the text of the play, analysing the character of Artur, his rebellion and his attempt to impose rules on a world without norms. In ‘Tango’ the traditional pattern is turned upside down: it is not children rebelling against strict parents, but young Artur who rises up against his parents, Stomil and Eleonora, who long ago rejected all conventions. A diagram illustrating this reversed conflict was displayed on the classroom screen, and questions about the protagonist helped to structure the analysis. The students consolidated their knowledge and conclusions through interactive games, which encouraged active participation and discussion.
As a pleasant end to the term, the students were treated to pizza and watched selected excerpts from ‘Tango’, which allowed them to compare a stage interpretation with their literary analysis. In the play's famous finale, power is seized by the boorish Edek, who dances the title tango with Uncle Eugeniusz. Sławomir Mrożek (1930–2013) is one of the most outstanding Polish playwrights of the 20th century, and ‘Tango’, published in 1964, is one of his best-known works. The question it poses – whether rebellion can mean a return to rules – remains as relevant as ever.
The lesson took place in a great atmosphere, and the whole group did very good work.
