The Glass Menagerie
Soundtrack Project
Task: You are to create the soundtrack album for a soon to be released movie version of
The Glass Menagerie.
Basic Objectives: To collect four songs that represent, reflect, or otherwise relate to four key
passages from The Glass Menagerie. For each song, you will turn in a justification for why that
song was chosen as the backdrop to that particular passage. This justification will follow the
attached format. The lyrics (the song must have lyrics – no instrumentals) will be included at
the end of the explanation sheet. The rubrics go at the very end.
The Glass Menagerie
Song Justification
The following format must be followed exactly in order to receive full credit. You will retype
this format on your own using Calibri or Times New Roman font in 11-point size with single
spacing. Each justification is not to exceed 200 words.
Track number:
Title:
Artist:
Album: (include the copyright date)
Scene: (include page numbers)
Explanation:
The explanation is the key. Essentially write a well-written, short essay explaining the
connection between that song and the scene from the novel. Do not write a mere summary of
the scene and/or the song. Go beneath the surface of the words in the novel and the words in
the lyrics to tie them both together. Discuss themes, what is going on internally with the
characters, and/or the mood occurring within both the song and the scene and how they reflect
one another. Remember you are trying to convince someone that that song fits that scene
perfectly. On the following rubrics, fill-in the song titles and submit with the song justifications.
Student Sample: This sample is from the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. Notice
how it uses both the text and lines from the song to back up the idea that the theme of
“loneliness and alienation” is introduced early in the novel by this song. Also, notice how the
justification talks about what is going on inside the character of Holden Caulfield.
Track number: 1
Title: “One”
Artist: Aimee Mann
Album: For the Love of Harry: Everybody Sings Nilsson (1995)
Scene: This would play during the opening scene of the novel as Holden walks around the campus alone
(p. 2-5).
Explanation:
To start the film for The Catcher in the Rye, a song that could get the soundtrack going is “One”
as sung by Aimee Mann. The song “One” could actually be used in many different scenes from the
novel. As it talks about the number one being “the loneliest number that you’ll ever know,” just about
any time that Holden is by himself feeling lonely, this song would match perfectly. However, first time
we see him alone would be the perfect time to introduce this theme of loneliness.
As Holden walks toward the football game, the opening lyrics would be playing in the
background. As Holden is watching from on top of a hill above the football field, he notes that “the
whole school except me was there” (Salinger 2). This is maybe the first time he mentions that he is by
himself, something that happens throughout the book. All of this fit very well with the second stanza of
the song, especially the line “’No’ is the saddest experience you’ll ever know,” because he has just been
told “no” by the school. “No” you don’t belong here, and “no” you can’t stay. This sense of not
belonging is starting to sink into Holden and we first see it in the opening scenes of him alone at a school
full of kids his age.
“One”
One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
Two can be as bad as one
It’s the loneliest number since the number one
“No” is the saddest experience you’ll ever know
Yes, it’s the saddest experience you’ll ever know
Because one is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever know
It’s just no good anymore since you went away
Now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday
Because one is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever know
One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
One is the loneliest number, much much worse than two
One is the number divided by two
25 pts TITLE:
Connects the song to one of the following: one theme, what’s occurring within a
character, or the overall mood of the scene.
Connects the song to another one of the following: one theme, what’s occurring
within a character, or the overall mood of the scene.
Is well-written with few grammatical errors.
Is written persuasively and is convincing.
Completes all other elements of the justification correctly, such as the format, the dates, and
the page numbers.
25 pts TITLE:
Connects the song to one of the following: one theme, what’s occurring within a
character, or the overall mood of the scene.
Connects the song to another one of the following: one theme, what’s occurring
within a character, or the overall mood of the scene.
Is well-written with few grammatical errors.
Is written persuasively and is convincing.
Completes all other elements of the justification correctly, such as the format, the dates, and
the page numbers.
25 pts TITLE:
Connects the song to one of the following: one theme, what’s occurring within a
character, or the overall mood of the scene.
Connects the song to another one of the following: one theme, what’s occurring
within a character, or the overall mood of the scene.
Is well-written with few grammatical errors.
Is written persuasively and is convincing.
Completes all other elements of the justification correctly, such as the format, the dates, and
the page numbers.
25 pts TITLE:
Connects the song to one of the following: one theme, what’s occurring within a
character, or the overall mood of the scene.
Connects the song to another one of the following: one theme, what’s occurring
within a character, or the overall mood of the scene.
Is well-written with few grammatical errors.
Is written persuasively and is convincing.
Completes all other elements of the justification correctly, such as the format, the dates, and
the page numbers.
Template for you to use:
Track number:
Title:
Artist:
Album: (include the copyright date)
Scene: (include page numbers)
Explanation:
Add lyrics in this box
