Modern European Drama

By Dr. C.G.SHYAMALA | MERCY COLLEGE, PALAKKAD, KERALA

Learners enrolled: 1548

Drama involves the sensibilities of the dramatist and the viewers. Though the dramatist writes a play with a particular end in view, ultimately it is the viewer who shares unique perspectives on the dimensions of the play. Europe has witnessed several experimental manoeuvers in drama and each production is a reflection of the age in which it has been produced. The course traces the origin if drama, moves on to discuss drama from various parts of the world and then specifically analyses select plays of Henrik Ibsen, Bertolt Brecht, Samuel Beckett and Eugene Ionesco, who have significantly contributed to the growth of European drama and served as the impetus for several dramatic improvisations thereof. Thereby, the development of theatre and the emergence of drama as one of the most effective modes of communication is evinced.

Summary

Course Status :	Completed
Course Type :	Core
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Language
Credit Points :	4
Level :	Undergraduate
Start Date :	16 Jan 2023
End Date :	05 Apr 2023
Enrollment Ends :	15 Mar 2023
Exam Date :

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1

1. Introduction to Drama

2. A Comprehensive View of the Features and Categories of Drama and Theatre- Part I

3. A Comprehensive View of the Features and Categories of Drama and Theatre- Part II

Week 2

4. World Drama: An Overview- Part 1

5. World Drama: An Overview- Part 2

6. Drama of the 19th century and Henrik Ibsen

Week 3

7. Modern Drama and Henrik Ibsen

8. Explanation and Analysis of Act I- Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen

9. Explanation and Analysis of Act II-Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen

Week 4

10. Explanation and Analysis of Act III. Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen

11. A Critical Study of the Play Ghosts and Henrik Ibsen as a Dramatist

12. Modern Drama and Bertolt Brecht

Week 5

13. The Contribution of Bertolt Brecht to Drama

14. Summary and Analyses of Prologue and Scene One: The Good Woman of Setzuan

15. Summary and Analyses of Scenes Two and Three: The Good Woman of Setzuan.

Week 6

16. Summary and Analyses of Scenes Four and Five : The Good Woman of Setzuan.

17. Summary and Analyses of Scenes Six and Seven: The Good Woman of Setzuan.

18. Summary and Analyses of Scenes Eight and Nine: The Good Woman of Setzuan

Week 7

19. Summary and Analyses of Scene Ten and Epilogue: The Good Woman of Setzuan

20. A Critical Study of The Good Woman of Setzuan and Bertolt Brecht as a Dramatist

21. The Theatre of the Absurd

Week 8

22. The Dramatists of the Theatre of the Absurd: An Outline

23 Samuel Beckett, the Dramatist

24. “Waiting for Godot”: Explanation and Analysis of Act 1- Part 1

Week 9

25. “Waiting for Godot”: Explanation and Analysis of Act 1- Part 2

26. “Waiting for Godot” : Explanation and Analysis of Act 2- Part 1

27. “Waiting for Godot” : Explanation and Analysis of Act 2- Part 2

Week 10

28. A Critical Study of the Drama and Samuel Beckett as a Dramatist - Part 1

29. A Critical Study of the Drama and Samuel Beckett as a Dramatist –Part 2

30. Eugene Ionesco and the Theatre of the Absurd

Week 11

31. Summary and Analysis of Act 1: Rhinoceros

32. Summary and Analysis of Act 2- Scene 1 – Rhinoceros

33. Summary and Analysis of Act 2- Scene 2- Rhinoceros

Week 12

34. Summary and Analysis of Act 3- Rhinoceros

35. A Critical Study of the drama Rhinoceros and Eugene Ionesco as a dramatist.

36. Significance of the Theatre of the Absurd

Books and references

Abrams. M.H., and Geoffrey Galt Harpham. A Glossary of Literary Terms. 11th ed. Cengage Learning, 2015.

Albert, Edward. History of English Literature. 5th ed. Oxford UP, 1979.

Fischer-Lichte, Erika. History of European Drama and Theatre. Translated by Jo Riley. Routledge, 2002.

Krasner, David. A History of Modern Drama. Vol.1. Wiley- Blackwell, 2012.

---. An Actor's Craft: The Art and Technique of Acting. Macmillan International Higher Education, 2011.

Kuritz, Paul. The Making of Theatre History. Prentice Hall, 1988.

Morley, Michael, editor. The Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre. Colin Chambers, 2002.

Styan, J.L. Modern Drama in Theory and Practice: Volume 1, Realism and Naturalism. Cambridge UP, 1981.

---. Modern Drama in Theory and Practice: Volume 2: Symbolism, Surrealism, and the Absurd. Cambridge UP, 1981.

Instructor bio

Dr. C.G.SHYAMALA

MERCY COLLEGE, PALAKKAD, KERALA

Dr. C.G.Shyamala is Assistant Professor and Research Supervisor in the Post-graduate Department of English and Research Centre for Comparative Studies, Mercy College, Palakkad, Kerala. Besides teaching, she is involved in preparing and delivering e-content modules. She is the Principal Investigator of the MOOC Course- Literary Criticism. Co-author of a book on American Literature, she serves as the Reviewer of several national and international journals. Her research papers have been published in national and international journals of repute. She not only serves as a Resource person for seminars and conferences but also as a member of the Editorial Board of several national journals of English literature.

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