The Stranger Classroom Companion: Engaging Students with Identity, Influence, and the Dark Side of Social Media

For educators preparing to explore Stranger by Azrael Thomas, we are excited to introduce the Classroom Companion—an invaluable resource designed to help you guide students through the darkly comedic and mysterious world aboard a Chicago Red Line train.

This Classroom Companion is specifically crafted to support your students’ understanding of Stranger, a play that blends murder mystery, social commentary, and supernatural elements, all while examining modern anxieties around identity, social media, and influence. With tools for character analysis, thematic exploration, and creative activities, this resource will deepen students' engagement with the play both in the classroom and beyond.

Download the resource for free by clicking the button above!

Inside, you’ll find:

  • Pre- and post-performance discussion questions to encourage students to reflect on the characters, themes, and impact of social media and online personas before and after viewing or reading the play.

  • Creative activities that give students opportunities to explore identity, influence, and deception through hands-on projects, including creating dual identity profiles, social media timelines, and character monologues.

  • Character analysis exercises that guide students in examining the contrast between characters’ online personas and their true selves, exploring how identity shifts between the digital and real world.

  • Historical and cultural context activities to deepen students’ understanding of themes like true crime, social media influence, anonymity, and fandom through research and group discussions.

  • Reflection prompts and assessment ideas to encourage students to connect the play’s themes with their own experiences, especially around social media, trust, and influence, while providing creative and analytical ways to assess their learning.

Whether you’re focusing on character development, themes of digital identity, or the tension between trust and suspicion, this Classroom Companion provides everything you need to engage your students throughout their journey with Stranger.

Download the Stranger Classroom Companion today and dive into this unique blend of mystery, satire, and modern social issues!

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