In your essay, be sure to:

• Introduce a clear thesis that presents your stance on how confinement, silence, and/or rebellion serve as instruments of social critique in the play.
• Analyze at least two or three specific scenes or moments from the text (e.g., Bernarda's orders for mourning, Adela's act of defiance, Pepe el Romano's presence off-stage) to bolster your argument.
• Examine how Lorca employs dramatic techniques — such as symbolism (the white walls, the green dress, the stallion), stage directions, and the all-female cast — to strengthen his critique.
• Consider the role of honor (honra) as a social construct and how characters either uphold or challenge it.
• Conclude by reflecting on the wider implications of Lorca's message: What does the play reveal about the impact of repression on the human spirit?

Length

4–6 paragraphs (or as directed by your teacher)

Format

Formal literary essay with textual evidence and citations

In your essay, be sure to

• Develop a clear, defensible thesis that connects Bernarda's domestic tyranny to a broader thematic or political argument.
• Analyze at least two specific literary or dramatic techniques (e.g., symbolism, stage directions, dialogue, imagery) and explain how each supports your claim.
• Discuss how at least two characters (e.g., Adela, Martirio, Poncia, or Bernarda herself) embody or resist the forces of repression in the play.
• Consider how the play's ending reinforces or complicates your argument.
• Use textual evidence (direct quotations or specific references) to back up each point.

Suggested Time

45–60 minutes

In your essay, be sure to:

• Introduce a clear thesis that takes a stance on how Lorca uses Bernarda's household to critique systemic oppression.
• Analyze at least two specific dramatic techniques (e.g., symbolism, stage directions, imagery, dialogue) that Lorca uses to convey this critique.
• Examine the role of at least two characters (e.g., Adela, Martirio, Poncia, or La Poncia) as either agents of resistance or tools of repression.
• Consider the play's ending and what it suggests about the ultimate power — or lack thereof — of authoritarian control.
• Support all claims with textual evidence, including direct quotations and specific scene references.