‘Introduction to Drama’
1
‘Introduction to Drama’
Credit Units: 2/semester
Hour: 3/week
Time: Fri. 2 3 4
Classroom: Y212
Textbook: Miller, Jordan Y. The Heath Introduction to Drama. 5th ed. Lexinton:
Heath, 1996.
Course Objectives:
‘Introduction to Drama’ is open to second-year (and above) undergraduates who are
interested in both the historical and literary development of Western drama, theatre,
and play, from the classical era, through Renaissance, and up to the late twentieth
century. It is a two-semester course focusing on a wide selection of the dramatic
works in the English language, including those originally composed in other
languages but later translated into English. With reference to some fundamental
knowledge of genres, theories, and social issues, this course will guide the students to
act as an audience as well as a reader to approach the assigned tragedies, comedies, or
something in between by discussing their characters and languages, themes and plots,
forms and structures, types and styles, settings and contexts, and other dramaturgies
and theatrical elements. Besides the textbook, some selected articles, together with
relevant videos and DVDs of certain films, TV dramas, and theatrical productions,
may serve as supplementary teaching materials. Although this weekly course will be
conducted in a series of topical discussions that have been allocated to each of the
selected plays before the first lecture, the students are all welcome to provide any
comments, feedbacks, and suggestions regarding the discussed works in other
directions.
Course Plans:
A. 1st Semester:
The 1st semester endeavours to familiarise the students with the ideas of drama,
theatre, and play in terms of art, literature, religion, entertainment, culture, and life.
This semester will pay special attention to the following categories: the ancient
Greek masterpieces by Sophocles and Aristophanes, medieval mystery plays by
anonymous writers (15th century), early modern plays by Shakespeare and Molière
(16th and 17th century), comedies of manners by Richard Brinsley Sheridan (18th
century), and early forms of modern drama (from the late 19th century to the wake
of World War I) by Henrik Ibsen, Anton Chekhov, and George Bernard Shaw, who
all contributed to the movement of realism.
‘Introduction to Drama’
2
Method
Date
9/16
(W1)
Contents
Pagination
&
Activity
General Introduction
9/23
(W2)
Official Leave: No Class
9/30
(W3)
Introduction: On Drama
pp. 1-23
PPT
pp. 25-72
Presentation
pp. 73-119
Presentation
pp. 121-48
PPT
pp.
149-263
PPT
PPT
The Ancient Greek Era
10/7
A. Oedipus Rex (c. 480 B.C.)—Sophocles
(W4)
B. Discussion: the ‘Oedipus Complex’
10/14
(W5)
A. Lysistrata (411 B.C.)—Aristophanes
B. Discussion: the position of women
The English Medieval Era
10/21
(W6)
A. The Second Shepherds’ Play (c.1420)—
Anonymity or The Wakefield Master
B. Discussion: Christianity and ‘low’
characters
The Early Modern Era
I. The English Renaissance
10/28
(W7)
11/4
(W8)
11/11
(W9)
A. Hamlet (1600)—William Shakespeare
B. Discussion: Hamlet’s trauma
C. Review for the midterm exam
Midterm Exam
II. French Comedy and Farce
11/18
A. Return and discuss the midterm
pp.
(W10)
examination papers
B. Tartuffe (1669)—Molière
C. Discussion: the idea of hypocrisy
265-324
11/25
(W11)
The 18th Century
‘Introduction to Drama’
12/2
(W12)
12/9
(W13)
A. The School for Scandal (1777)—
3
pp. 325-96
PPT
pp.
397-468
Presentation
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
B. Discussion: the comedy of manners
The Early Period of Modern Drama
I. Norway
12/16
(W14)
A. A Doll’s House (1879)—Henrik Ibsen
B. Discussion: the husband-wife relationship
and domestic conflicts
II. Ireland (Brief Introduction Only)
A. Major Barbara (1905)—
George Bernard Shaw
B. Discussion: the idea of social reformation
pp.
645-760
PPT
pp.
459-505
PPT
C. Review for the final exam
III. Russia
12/23
(W15)
12/30
(W16)
A. The Cherry Orchard (1904)—Anton
Chekhov
B. Discussion: tradition and progress
C. Review for the Final exam
1/06
(W17)
Final Exam
1/13
(W18)
Final-Exam Week: No Class
B. Evaluations:
I. Attendance and Class Participation 10 %
-- The students are required to be punctual to class.
-- The students who are absent TRICE a semester will FAIL this course.
-- The students will be given time to discuss specific topics with reference to the
assigned plays. Those who are active to share their ideas will be awarded bonus
points.
II. Assignments 20%
-- The students are required to read the assigned play for each week prior to the
class.
-- The students have to write a 300-word response to each of the assigned plays
according to the scheduled progress.
‘Introduction to Drama’
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-- Plagiarism is strictly forbidden; thus any of the students who are found of
plagiarising their assignments will FAIL this course.
III. Group Presentation 20%
-- The Students are required to divide themselves into 4-6 sects depending on the
total number of the whole class; and, for better outcomes, the ideal group size is 5
or 6.
-- Each of the groups has to make an oral presentation by performing and
commenting on any specific episode(s) in one of the assigned plays.
-- Each of the students should get involved in his or her group presentation; and a
clear list of work division should be provided on the day.
IV. Midterm Exam 25%
-- Explanations and Identifications
-- Essay Questions
V. Final Exam 25%
-- Explanations and Identifications
-- Essay questions