Stage Fright

Stage fright, also know as glossophobia, is defined as...

• The fear of roller coasters.

• Performance anxiety. The fear of speaking/performing in front of others.

• Being afraid to eat hamburgers while jumping on the bed.

• Loving to perform and talk to strangers.

One part of stage fright is...

• rage

• happiness

• panic/anxiety

• sleepy

These are symptoms of stage fright.

• Falling asleep on stage.

• Standing up straight, looking at the audience, and acting confident.

• Fast pulse, dry mouth, and shaky hands.

• Feeling excited about talking in front of people.

You can help end stage fright by...

• Relaxation techniques.

• Eating hot peppers.

• Swimming in the ocean.

• Think about how scared you are.

What if I forget what I'm supposed to say?

• Then you can just sit down and not worry about sharing. 

• Make note cards or a written speech to help you.

Which strategy would best benefit a nervous speaker?

• Don't make eye contact with the audience.

• Practice in front of a mirror or friend.

• Speak quickly to get it over with.

• Write your speech out in complete sentences.

Read the following line from "Stage Fright."

I studied and studied

my perfect Prince-part.

Why does the poet use alliteration in these lines?

• to compare studying to the part

• to compare studying to the Prince

• to emphasize the importance of the arts.

• to emphasize how much he studied for the part.

What type of poem is "Stage Fright?"

• haiku

• acrostic

• limerick

• free verse

The author speaks directly to the reader in paragraphs 1 and 2 in order to --

• encourage the reader to try out for a play

• share a personal story with the reader

• help the reader understand the experience of stage fright

• demonstrate that acting requires skill

Both selections suggest that stage fright can --

• happen even when a person wants to perform.

• permanently affect a person's health.

• get better when an audience shows support.

• be worse for actors than for other types of performers.