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King Saud University
College of Arts
Dept. of Eng. Lang & Lit.
Modern Drama (443)
Course Syllabus Second Semester (1432 / 1433)
Instructor: Dr. Hala M. Al-Tuwaijri
Section: 5424
Time: 11-11:50
Day: Saturday, Monday, & Wednesday
Room: R 12, bldg: 26, floor: Ground
Office hours: Sat, Mon and Wed: from 10-11
Sunday: 9-12
Office: rm 42 / bldg 26 (1st floor)
Email: [email protected] (Identify yourself every time)
Website: http://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/hala/
NB: Please register in KSU SMS (40678) so I can have an easy way to contact you.
Course Description: This third course of drama focuses on showing students how
Modernism as a literary movement has affected the theater in the late 19th century and
early 20th century. It focuses on different literary theatrical movements within the Modern
theater such as Realism, Naturalism, Expressionism, Feminism, and the theater of the
absurd that have contributed a great deal to modern drama.
Course Aims and Objectives: By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Define the characteristics of drama as a literary genre.
2. Explain the reasons behind the emergence of modern drama.
3. Discuss briefly the history of drama from the Restoration era till the end of the Victorian
era with an emphasis on the major changes in religion, politics, philosophy, dramaturgy
and public taste for drama.
4. Analyze the form and content of modern plays.
5. Make sound analogies and comparisons between different plays and different
playwrights
6. Define elements of Realism, Naturalism, Surrealism, Expressionism and Absurdity in
relation to their social, political, and philosophical backgrounds.
7. Apply some of these elements to some modern plays
8. Write research papers/present oral presentations on modern plays.
Course Main Subjects: Quick survey of the history of drama since the restoration
period till 19th century melodrama and farce
Ibsen’s introduction of Realism.
Experiment in drama: Breaking away from Realism : Kafka, Strindberg, Karel
Chapek
Kitchen Sink Theatre: Look Back in Anger
The Absurd: Samuel Becket’s Waiting for Godot
Methods of Assessment:
Assess Assessment task
ment
1
2
3
3
Proportio
n of Final
Assessme
nt
Midterm Exam
In-class assignments
20%
15%
Quizzes
Research paper
10%
15%
Final Exam
40%
Textbook(s):
A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
Look Back in Anger by John Osborne
Endgame by Samuel Beckett
Further References:
Abrams, M.H., A Glossary of Literary Terms, (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York)
1941.
Berst, Charles A., Bernard Shaw and the Art of Drama, (University of Illinois press,
USA) 1073.
Esslin, Martin, The Theatre of the Absurd, (Penguin books Ltd., Harmondsworth)
1983.
Innes, Christopher, Modern British Drama 1890-1990, (Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge) 1992.
Nicoll, Allardyce, British Drama, 6th ed., (London: Harp) 1978.
Rosenblood, Norman (ed.), Shaw: Seven Critical Essays, (University of Toronto
press)
Smith Warren (ed.), Bernard Shaw's Plays, A Norton Critical Edition,
Taylor , John Russel, Anger and After: A Guide to the New British Drama. (Eyre
Methuen Ltd., London) 1978.
Williams, Raymond , Drama from Ibsen to Brecht, (Penguin books Ltd.,
Harmondsworth) 1968.
http: //faculty.ksu.edu.sa/hala/
Syllabus:
Week
Topic
1+2
3+4+5
Introduction to Modernism and modern drama. Tracing
drama from the Restoration period till the 20th century.
Defining Modernism as a literary movement/ characteristics,
concepts, playwrights' aims/ Causes of Modernism/
consequences of modernization/ Difference between the
two/ effects of industrialization, WW's, scientific discoveries/
loss of faith. . . etc. Introduction of Darwin's, Marx's, Freud's
effect on Modernism as a literary movement.
A Doll’s House by Ibsen
Introduction to the playwright as the father of
modern drama/Social reaction to the play
Discussing Realism as a literary movement within
Modernism. Conflict between society and
self/Character development/Plot analysis/Major
themes/Imagery (birds) Symbolism (setting in
relation to the theme of entrapment)Social/gender/feminist issues/Double
standard/Quest for identity/Darwin's concept of
heredity and environment/ Freud's human
psychology/Open ending.
Page
6 hours
9 hours
6
First In-Term
1 hour
6+7+8
Look Back in Anger by John Osborne
Literary context: Kitchen sink realism
Social and political background
Introduction to the playwright
Plot analysis
Jimmy as a representative figure, as an individual, misogyny,
sentimentalizing the past. The case of social alienation, classstruggle, Helena as a naturalistic technique, Cliff as a buffer
and a foil. Fantasy, love-hate relationship.
9 hours
9
Second In-Term.
1 hour
10+11+12+13 Play # 3- Waiting for Godot by Beckett.
Theatre of the absurd. Discussion of Esslin's concept
of the theatre of the Absurd. Beckett's literary background.
Modernism and postmodernism. Major incidents/ Cyclic
structure/ Formalized style/ repetition, balance, silence and
pauses, failed discourse / setting/ characters. Quest for
identity in a chaotic world.
12 hours
14+15
9 hours
Presentations
Review
Research Paper Guidelines
All students are required to conduct a research paper at the end of the semester on Modern
plays of their choice. Your presentation should focus on the following:
1- Elements of drama the playwright utilizes to deliver the general meaning of the
poem (Plot, Theme, Character, Setting, Language, etc.)
2- Modern features that relate this play to Modern theories and/or Modern drama.
You should discuss your outline with me before you start conducting and finalizing your
paper. You should use a minimum of 4 references two of which should not be from the
internet. ACKNOWLEDGE all your sources.
WARNING
PLAGIARISM is claiming, indicating, or implying that the ideas, sentences, or words of
another are your own. It includes copying the work of another, or following the work of
another as a guide to ideas and expressions that are then presented as your own.
Accidental plagiarism is the improper use of quotations and paraphrases without a
deliberate attempt to deceive. If plagiarism is accidental, marks will be deducted. Any form
of deliberate plagiarism is not acceptable. If it occurs, then, the
grade is ZERO.
Your Grades are 10 pts.
• Content.
• Presentation skills.
• Language.
• Works Cited page.
List of suggested plays for your paper:
1- George Bernard Shaw:
a- Major Barbara
b- Arms and tyhe Man
2- Henrik Ibsen:
a- Ghosts
b- A Doll's House
3- Eugene O'Neill:
a- The Hairy Ape
b- The Iceman Cometh
4- Samuel Beckett:
a- Endgame
5- Harold Pinter:
a- The Birthday Party
6- Edward Albee:
a- Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?