Lost in Yonkers Lesson Plan

How does Neil Simon illuminate the innocence of Jay and Arty through their opening dialogue?

Begin this discussion by asking students what Jay and Arty talk about while they wait for their father to speak with Grandma. The bulk of dialogue is occupied with talking about members of the Kurnitz family before we even have the chance to meet them. However, the two boys talk about some fairly serious subjects as they make their way through the family tree.

For instance, we learn that Grandma used to hit Bella, to the point that it may have affected her mental development (we'll learn later that she also had scarlet fever as an infant). We learn that Gertrude has breathing...