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Modern Drama: Course Content

ENG 424

Aims & Objectives

The aim of this course is to introduce the students to themes and techniques applied in drama in the Modern era. Modern drama sharply differs from the Classical and Elizabethan drama and that is why, its awareness is necessary for understanding the modern mind-set and philosophies.

  • To acquaint the students with the evaluation of modern drama in relation to subject matter and style
  • To familiarize students with the trends of Feminism, Socialist Realism and Existentialism in Modern Drama
  • To make the students learn the difference between traditional drama and Modern Drama
  • To motivate the students to write short dramatic scripts

Course Outline

UNIT 1

  •  Henrik Ibsen as a Modern playwright

UNIT 2

  •  Hedda Gabler: its detailed reading with critical analysis
  • Dilemmas of the Modern woman in the play
  • Class struggle
  • Modern society

UNIT 3

  • George Bernard Shaw as a Modern playwright
  • Anti-Romantic approach
  • Realism

UNIT 4

  • Man and Superman : its detailed reading with critical analysis

Course Outline

UNIT 5

  • T.S. Eliot as a Classicist
  • Impersonality
  • Objective Correlative
  • Unification of sensibility
  • Verse drama: its characteristics

UNIT 6                                              

  • Murder in the Cathedral :its detailed reading with critical analysis

UNIT 7

  • Samuel Becket and Theatre of the Absurd

UNIT 8

  • Waiting for Godot : its detailed reading with critical analysis
  • Existentialism in Waiting for Godot
  • Difference from traditional theatre

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