Journal #2: 02/24/2010
Solve a World Problem
Make a short list of 3-5 problems that
exist in the world today (like hunger, jobs,
etc. )
 Choose one, and explain how you would
solve this problem if given the opportunity.
 Then, tell me (this can be funny if you
like) What would be the ABSOLUTE
WORST WAY to solve this problem?
Explain why.

Neoclassical Drama/
Theatre
By Vanessa Molden
Western High School
Neoclassical Theatre
Started in France in the mid 1600’s
(during the Baroque period in music and
visual art)
 Modeled on classical Greek and ancient
Roman examples.
 Based on the principles of Aristotle.
 Guidelines were established for the arts.
Theatre had to follow RULES.

RULE #1: Purity of Dramatic Form

Complete separation of COMEDY and
TRAGEDY according to classical tradition.
TRAGEDY
•Written in high poetic style
•Feature kings and
aristocrats
•Deal with affairs of state
and the downfall of rulers
•End unhappily
COMEDY
•Written in more ordinary
speech (though still in verse)
•Feature ordinary characters
from middle and working
classes
•Deal with domestic and
personal affairs
•End happily
RULE #2: Verisimilitude
Plays should only include events that could
happen in real life.
 This excludes:

 Supernatural
Beings
 Fantasy Elements
 Onstage Violence (because it was rarely convincing
and potentially offensive)
 Choruses
 Soliloquies (a monologue where a character
speaks directly to the audience, or to themselves)
RULE #3: Serious Moral Purpose
Plays were meant to teach a lesson
 The virtuous are rewarded, while the
wicked are punished
 In Moliere’s comedies, the moral usually
concerns maintaining a balanced view of
life.

RULE #4: Universal Truths

Playwrights are expected to focus not on
the details of individual characters, but on
the universal and permanent aspects of
humanity
Rule #5: Decorum

Characters must act in a way that is
appropriate to their stations in life.
Rule #6: The Three Unities
Three Unities: Time, Space, and Action
 A well-crafted play should take place
within a very short time period (no more
than 24 hours)
 Should take place within a very confined
area.
 Should concern only one main action (no
or few subplots)

Rule #7: Five-Act Structure
Act Three: Climax
Act Two: Rising Action
Act One: Exposition
Act Four: Falling Action
Act Five: Denouement
Moliere (1622-1673)





Born Jean-Baptiste Poquelin
France’s greatest comic playwright – Louis XIV
loved his work.
Master of SATIRE
Folly, vices, and pretensions of characters are
exposed through witty dialogue, clever
language, and physical gags
Wrote: The Misanthrope (1666), The Doctor In
Spite of Himself (1666), and Tartuffe (1664)
Reading Satire
Jonathan Swift was an author who was writing
during the Neoclassical Period.
 Like Moliere, much of Swift’s work is considered
SATIRE.
 He wrote Gulliver’s Travels (a novel) and the
short essay, “A Modest Proposal” among other
things.
 Read “A Modest Proposal” and answer the
questions that follow. This will be turned in for a
grade.

***Whatever you do not finish should be
completed for homework and turned in
tomorrow