Question

In act one, the Stage Manager describes the time capsule that the townspeople plan to put in the bank cornerstone, saying:

We’re putting in a Bible…and the Constitution of the United States—and a copy of William Shakespeare’s play. What do you say, folks? What do you think?

Y’know—Babylon once had two million people in it, and all we know about ‘em is the names of the kings and some copies of wheat contracts…and contracts for the sale of slaves. Yet every night all those families sat down to supper, and the father came home from his work, and the smoke went up the chimney, --same as here. And even in Greece and Rome, all we know about the real life of the people is what we can piece together out of the joking poems and the comedies they wrote for the theatre back then.

So I’m going to have a copy of this play put in the cornerstone and the people a thousand years from now’ll know a few simple facts about us—more than the Treaty of Versailles and the Lindbergh flight.

See what I mean?

So—people a thousand years from now—this is the way we were in the provinces north of New York at the beginning of the twentieth century. —This is the way we were: in our growing up and in our marrying and in our living and in our dying (Wilder 33).



The Stage Manager wants to leave a record of everyday life for future generations to find so that people who find the time capsule will know what life was like beyond just the historical facts and major events.

Besides the items listed in the passage above, what else would you have included in the time capsule that would accurately portray daily life in Grover’s Corners? Select items that you would include in the time capsule in addition to the items already listed. You must choose at least two items, and explain your reasoning clearly. What would people far in the future learn about daily life from your choices? In 150-200 words, justify your choices by explaining why you think those items should also be included in the time capsule. Take time to consider the less obvious choices or items that were special because they had significance behind them.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

In addition to the items already listed by the Stage Manager, I would include a family photo album and a cookbook.

A family photo album would give future generations a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people in Grover’s Corners. They could see what people looked like, how they dressed, and what kinds of activities they enjoyed. The album would show families gathering together for holidays, children playing with friends, and couples getting married. By looking at the photos, people in the future could get a sense of what daily life was like for the people of Grover’s Corners.

A cookbook would also be a valuable addition to the time capsule. It would show what kinds of foods were popular in the early 1900s and how they were prepared. Recipes for dishes like pot roast, apple pie, and biscuits would be included, as well as instructions for canning and preserving fruits and vegetables. By including a cookbook, people in the future would be able to learn about the diet and culinary traditions of the people of Grover’s Corners.

Overall, by including a family photo album and a cookbook in addition to the Bible, Constitution, and Shakespeare play, future generations would gain a more complete understanding of daily life in Grover’s Corners. They would see not only the important documents and cultural artifacts of the time, but also the personal experiences and traditions that shaped the lives of ordinary people.