NCERT Textbook: Say More without Speech — Mime | Arts (kriti) Class 7 - New NCERT PDF Download

 Page 1


2 
Say more without  
Speech — MIME
You will learn
 ? What is mime?
 ? Basic features of mime.
 ? Advantages of mime.
 ? Preparing for a show.
Imagine a situation where you are at an important 
event and nobody is allowed to talk. You suddenly 
remember that you had kept your umbrella 
outside as you were waiting for your friend, 
before the event began. But forgot to bring it inside 
with you. You are in the middle of the hall and cannot 
walk outside. You have to tell your friend sitting near 
the entrance door to go out and bring it in for you. How 
would you communicate it? 
Sit in pairs in the class and communicate this to each 
other. You can take turns doing this. If possible, you can 
also continue the conversation, for example, the friend 
replies by saying it is not possible to walk out. You request 
again, saying it is important — and so on. But all in silence!
What did you just do? Communicate using actions 
and expressions. Right? You just did a mime bit, that was 
miming!
“Mime as an art form speaks the universal language of silence. It can 
make the invisible become visible and make silence the most powerful 
and loudest form of communication.”
— Marcel Marceau (a well-known French mime artist)
Page 2


2 
Say more without  
Speech — MIME
You will learn
 ? What is mime?
 ? Basic features of mime.
 ? Advantages of mime.
 ? Preparing for a show.
Imagine a situation where you are at an important 
event and nobody is allowed to talk. You suddenly 
remember that you had kept your umbrella 
outside as you were waiting for your friend, 
before the event began. But forgot to bring it inside 
with you. You are in the middle of the hall and cannot 
walk outside. You have to tell your friend sitting near 
the entrance door to go out and bring it in for you. How 
would you communicate it? 
Sit in pairs in the class and communicate this to each 
other. You can take turns doing this. If possible, you can 
also continue the conversation, for example, the friend 
replies by saying it is not possible to walk out. You request 
again, saying it is important — and so on. But all in silence!
What did you just do? Communicate using actions 
and expressions. Right? You just did a mime bit, that was 
miming!
“Mime as an art form speaks the universal language of silence. It can 
make the invisible become visible and make silence the most powerful 
and loudest form of communication.”
— Marcel Marceau (a well-known French mime artist)
Called Mukaabhinaya in India, let us first 
get familiar with the words used in this form of 
performance. 
Here are some basic terms that you might be 
familiar with.
Facial Expression 
The emotion and 
reaction shown on 
the face
Mime: A form of acting that uses 
no words or sound. Could be a part 
of a bigger play with dialogues.
The person performing this is 
also called a ‘mime’.
Energy 
Intensity and focus  
behind each action
Interactive: Incorporating 
audience participation to make 
them ‘a part of the illusion’ for 
more impact.
Body Language 
Hand gestures, body  
postures and 
actions made
Technique-based terms
So let us jump right in and try doing some 
mime.
Pantomime: A 
theatrical performance 
that involves multiple 
actors and music. The 
show involves acting, 
mostly in comedy.
21  |  SAY MORE WITHOUT SPEECH – MIME
Page 3


2 
Say more without  
Speech — MIME
You will learn
 ? What is mime?
 ? Basic features of mime.
 ? Advantages of mime.
 ? Preparing for a show.
Imagine a situation where you are at an important 
event and nobody is allowed to talk. You suddenly 
remember that you had kept your umbrella 
outside as you were waiting for your friend, 
before the event began. But forgot to bring it inside 
with you. You are in the middle of the hall and cannot 
walk outside. You have to tell your friend sitting near 
the entrance door to go out and bring it in for you. How 
would you communicate it? 
Sit in pairs in the class and communicate this to each 
other. You can take turns doing this. If possible, you can 
also continue the conversation, for example, the friend 
replies by saying it is not possible to walk out. You request 
again, saying it is important — and so on. But all in silence!
What did you just do? Communicate using actions 
and expressions. Right? You just did a mime bit, that was 
miming!
“Mime as an art form speaks the universal language of silence. It can 
make the invisible become visible and make silence the most powerful 
and loudest form of communication.”
— Marcel Marceau (a well-known French mime artist)
Called Mukaabhinaya in India, let us first 
get familiar with the words used in this form of 
performance. 
Here are some basic terms that you might be 
familiar with.
Facial Expression 
The emotion and 
reaction shown on 
the face
Mime: A form of acting that uses 
no words or sound. Could be a part 
of a bigger play with dialogues.
The person performing this is 
also called a ‘mime’.
Energy 
Intensity and focus  
behind each action
Interactive: Incorporating 
audience participation to make 
them ‘a part of the illusion’ for 
more impact.
Body Language 
Hand gestures, body  
postures and 
actions made
Technique-based terms
So let us jump right in and try doing some 
mime.
Pantomime: A 
theatrical performance 
that involves multiple 
actors and music. The 
show involves acting, 
mostly in comedy.
21  |  SAY MORE WITHOUT SPEECH – MIME
ACTIVITY 2.1: INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY 
Since mime is all about 
performing without using 
a  specific set or props, first 
you have to learn how to 
create an imaginary world 
and convince the audience 
of its existence. Think of 
an object that you use 
every day, say your pencil 
box. Now pretend you are 
holding it in your hand. You 
have to remember the size 
and shape of it as you ‘mime’ 
its presence in your hand. 
Now, try and enact how 
you would hold the pencil 
box as if it is filled with iron 
(same size and shape). Now, 
imagine it is fully empty. 
How would you show these 
changes? Try different 
options to experience an 
object without touching it.
22  |  KRITI
Page 4


2 
Say more without  
Speech — MIME
You will learn
 ? What is mime?
 ? Basic features of mime.
 ? Advantages of mime.
 ? Preparing for a show.
Imagine a situation where you are at an important 
event and nobody is allowed to talk. You suddenly 
remember that you had kept your umbrella 
outside as you were waiting for your friend, 
before the event began. But forgot to bring it inside 
with you. You are in the middle of the hall and cannot 
walk outside. You have to tell your friend sitting near 
the entrance door to go out and bring it in for you. How 
would you communicate it? 
Sit in pairs in the class and communicate this to each 
other. You can take turns doing this. If possible, you can 
also continue the conversation, for example, the friend 
replies by saying it is not possible to walk out. You request 
again, saying it is important — and so on. But all in silence!
What did you just do? Communicate using actions 
and expressions. Right? You just did a mime bit, that was 
miming!
“Mime as an art form speaks the universal language of silence. It can 
make the invisible become visible and make silence the most powerful 
and loudest form of communication.”
— Marcel Marceau (a well-known French mime artist)
Called Mukaabhinaya in India, let us first 
get familiar with the words used in this form of 
performance. 
Here are some basic terms that you might be 
familiar with.
Facial Expression 
The emotion and 
reaction shown on 
the face
Mime: A form of acting that uses 
no words or sound. Could be a part 
of a bigger play with dialogues.
The person performing this is 
also called a ‘mime’.
Energy 
Intensity and focus  
behind each action
Interactive: Incorporating 
audience participation to make 
them ‘a part of the illusion’ for 
more impact.
Body Language 
Hand gestures, body  
postures and 
actions made
Technique-based terms
So let us jump right in and try doing some 
mime.
Pantomime: A 
theatrical performance 
that involves multiple 
actors and music. The 
show involves acting, 
mostly in comedy.
21  |  SAY MORE WITHOUT SPEECH – MIME
ACTIVITY 2.1: INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY 
Since mime is all about 
performing without using 
a  specific set or props, first 
you have to learn how to 
create an imaginary world 
and convince the audience 
of its existence. Think of 
an object that you use 
every day, say your pencil 
box. Now pretend you are 
holding it in your hand. You 
have to remember the size 
and shape of it as you ‘mime’ 
its presence in your hand. 
Now, try and enact how 
you would hold the pencil 
box as if it is filled with iron 
(same size and shape). Now, 
imagine it is fully empty. 
How would you show these 
changes? Try different 
options to experience an 
object without touching it.
22  |  KRITI
Now, before we actually begin mime work, here 
are some basic tips to help you.
1. DO NOT become the object, Use the object 
This is a common mistake made while showing an 
object. You have to show how you hold the object and 
not make your hand into the object. Here are some 
examples —
Show a pair of 
scissors
Holding a gun
Correct Wrong Correct Wrong
If you just pointed two fingers and moved them 
like a pair of scissors moved, then it is a mistake. If 
we can modify our fingers to create a gun, then how 
would we show a larger object? Say, a train or a car 
or a fridge? Hence, the first rule of mime is to use the 
object. 
2. Establish the space (size) and  
weight of the object 
To make imaginary objects more believable, a mime 
has to ensure that the 
actions are in line with 
the quality of object they 
are handling. A cricket 
ball, a basketball, a 
balloon — the size, weight 
and the experience of 
each one is very different 
from the other. 
Try doing actions of holding 
each one separately. With this 
in mind, let us play a fun game 
to learn this better.
23  |  SAY MORE WITHOUT SPEECH – MIME
Page 5


2 
Say more without  
Speech — MIME
You will learn
 ? What is mime?
 ? Basic features of mime.
 ? Advantages of mime.
 ? Preparing for a show.
Imagine a situation where you are at an important 
event and nobody is allowed to talk. You suddenly 
remember that you had kept your umbrella 
outside as you were waiting for your friend, 
before the event began. But forgot to bring it inside 
with you. You are in the middle of the hall and cannot 
walk outside. You have to tell your friend sitting near 
the entrance door to go out and bring it in for you. How 
would you communicate it? 
Sit in pairs in the class and communicate this to each 
other. You can take turns doing this. If possible, you can 
also continue the conversation, for example, the friend 
replies by saying it is not possible to walk out. You request 
again, saying it is important — and so on. But all in silence!
What did you just do? Communicate using actions 
and expressions. Right? You just did a mime bit, that was 
miming!
“Mime as an art form speaks the universal language of silence. It can 
make the invisible become visible and make silence the most powerful 
and loudest form of communication.”
— Marcel Marceau (a well-known French mime artist)
Called Mukaabhinaya in India, let us first 
get familiar with the words used in this form of 
performance. 
Here are some basic terms that you might be 
familiar with.
Facial Expression 
The emotion and 
reaction shown on 
the face
Mime: A form of acting that uses 
no words or sound. Could be a part 
of a bigger play with dialogues.
The person performing this is 
also called a ‘mime’.
Energy 
Intensity and focus  
behind each action
Interactive: Incorporating 
audience participation to make 
them ‘a part of the illusion’ for 
more impact.
Body Language 
Hand gestures, body  
postures and 
actions made
Technique-based terms
So let us jump right in and try doing some 
mime.
Pantomime: A 
theatrical performance 
that involves multiple 
actors and music. The 
show involves acting, 
mostly in comedy.
21  |  SAY MORE WITHOUT SPEECH – MIME
ACTIVITY 2.1: INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY 
Since mime is all about 
performing without using 
a  specific set or props, first 
you have to learn how to 
create an imaginary world 
and convince the audience 
of its existence. Think of 
an object that you use 
every day, say your pencil 
box. Now pretend you are 
holding it in your hand. You 
have to remember the size 
and shape of it as you ‘mime’ 
its presence in your hand. 
Now, try and enact how 
you would hold the pencil 
box as if it is filled with iron 
(same size and shape). Now, 
imagine it is fully empty. 
How would you show these 
changes? Try different 
options to experience an 
object without touching it.
22  |  KRITI
Now, before we actually begin mime work, here 
are some basic tips to help you.
1. DO NOT become the object, Use the object 
This is a common mistake made while showing an 
object. You have to show how you hold the object and 
not make your hand into the object. Here are some 
examples —
Show a pair of 
scissors
Holding a gun
Correct Wrong Correct Wrong
If you just pointed two fingers and moved them 
like a pair of scissors moved, then it is a mistake. If 
we can modify our fingers to create a gun, then how 
would we show a larger object? Say, a train or a car 
or a fridge? Hence, the first rule of mime is to use the 
object. 
2. Establish the space (size) and  
weight of the object 
To make imaginary objects more believable, a mime 
has to ensure that the 
actions are in line with 
the quality of object they 
are handling. A cricket 
ball, a basketball, a 
balloon — the size, weight 
and the experience of 
each one is very different 
from the other. 
Try doing actions of holding 
each one separately. With this 
in mind, let us play a fun game 
to learn this better.
23  |  SAY MORE WITHOUT SPEECH – MIME
CIRCLE  
TIME
1.  What is the most 
enjoyable aspect of 
performing without 
speech or props?
2.  What is most difficult 
about performing 
mime? No use of speech 
or no use of props?
ACTIVITY 2.2: TEAM ACTIVITY (FULL CLASS)
All of you sit in a circle. One of you volunteers to start with an imaginary 
object. The first person imagines an object, does an action to clearly 
depict it in terms of its shape, size and weight. The object is then passed 
on to the next one. Next person receives it, does another action to add to 
the understanding of the object and passes it on. 
Nobody can use sound or speech. Nobody must announce the name 
of the object. It is upto the understanding of the students and each one’s 
ability to communicate.
Basic?— Everyday objects like pen, a pair of scissors or a watch can 
be shown. When the object is received, each one of you does a unique 
action that is not done before and then passes it on.
A dvanced?—?This also has everyone 
passing the object. But the object 
changes slightly with time. So, 
the action done by the first 
person would not be the 
same for the last person. 
For example, a huge ice 
cube (melts with time) or 
a handful of sand (keeps 
reducing in quantity as it 
slips through the fingers).
24  |  KRITI