Course Contents

Introduction to Bernard Shaw as a Modern Dramatist. His life and works Special discussion on his i. Pleasant plays ii. Unpleasant plays (plays for puritans) Text Study of Devil’s Disciple. Significance of title and plot discussion Significance of sub-title “ a Melodrama” Text study Features of Melodrama Discussion on major Characters with reference to Psychoanalysis. Allocation of Assignment and presentation topics Text study A play as an attack on puritan’s religious rigidity. Discussion on various stylistic devices like language, symbols, themes. Use of Irony. Introduction to Bertolt Brecht. Special focus on Brecht as a pioneer of Epic Theatre. Text study of Mother Courage and her children. Discussion on title. Detailed discussion on Alienation Effect and role of Gestus in Epic Drama. Text study. Marxist Analysis of Mother Courage and her Children. Discussion on War of Faith. Text Study. Discussion on Major characters and their specific roles in War. Text Study. Detailed analysis of the character of Mother Courage specially her role as a parasite of War. Text study Discussion on the role of music in the play with special focus on use of songs as alienation device. Text study. Presentations on various topics from the plays studied. Introduction to Tom Stoppard, his life and major works Special focus on the characteristics of the theatre of Absurd. Introduction to the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead. Discussion on the Shakespearean play Hamlet ( as both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are the minor characters in Hamlet) Text study. Special discussion on stylistic devices of absurd drama: i. Meaninglessness of human beings ii. Prominence of inaction iii. Human plight in modern times iv. Modern madness Text study. Discussion on major characters and their comparison with each other. Text study. Discussion on various themes, symbols and other stylistic features.

Course Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to: • Understand the historical background of Modern drama. • Learn new approaches in 20th century Modern Drama. • Know about various trends in modern drama contrary to classical drama.