English 321—World Drama
Fall 2009
Dr. Furuseth
9:30 TR
Office: Hartnett Hall 325, Hours MTWRF 2-3
Phone 858-3369 (office), 839-1744 (home), 833-3574 (cell)
Texts: Types of Drama by Barnet, et al.
Course Structure: We will read the works and readings assigned, discuss them, observe some of them in
performance, and write about them.
Course Evaluation: Three 50 point essay tests, two 50 point assignments, and a 200 point 8-12 page critical
paper. Also, class participation will be an important factor.
Grading Percentage:
90-100=A
80-89=B
70-79=C
60-69=D
0-59=F
Attendance: Attendance will be taken. Two unexcused absences will be granted. For each unexcused
absence beyond two, the final grade will drop one third of a letter grade.
Writing the Paper: You are required to show two preliminary drafts before turning in the final draft. The
first will be evaluated in class by your classmates. The second draft you will discuss with the instructor.
The third draft is graded and may not be redone.
Plagiarism: Be very careful to give credit to those from whom you get ideas or words. If you fail to do so,
you will be strongly penalized.
Syllabus: (Assignments for the next period are in parentheses)
8/25 Introduction. Discussion of basic terms and ideas associated with the study of drama as drama, and
as literature. (43-54, Oedipus Rex)
8/27
9/1
9/3
Oedipus Rex (Antigone)
Antigone
Antigone (161-165, The Second Shepherd’s Play)
9/8
9/10
9/15
9/17
9/22
9/24
929
10/1
10/6
The Second Shepherd’s Play
(Everyman)
Everyman
(Dojoji)
Dojoji
(215-220, Doctor Faustus)
Dr. Faustus
Dr. Faustus
(Hamlet)
Hamlet
Hamlet
Test 1
(387-390, The Cid)
The Cid
(The Rover)
10/8
10/13
10/15
10/20
10/22
10/27
10/29
The Rover
Miss Julie
Miss Julie
The Cherry Orchard
The Cherry Orchard
Major Barbara
(547-550, Miss Julie)
(The Cherry Orchard)
(Major Barbara)
(The Good Woman of Setzuan)
11/3 Major Barbara
11/5 Test 2
11/10 Good Woman of Setzuan
11/12 The Emperor Jones
11/17 Death of a Salesman
11/19 The Dumb Waiter
11/24 Krapp’s Last Tape and The Sandbox
11/26 The Bacchae of Euripides: A Communion Rite
12/1 Top Girls
12/3 The Conduct of Life
12/8 Angels in America
12/10 Angels in America
(Fences)
12/16 Final Test 10:00
Finals Week: Term Paper Due by Wednesday
Assignment 1: Read another play by one of the playwrights in the course. Summarize and evaluate the play
in 4-6 pages.
Assignment 2: Find an article on one of the plays in our course and summarize it for the class then lead a
short class discussion.
Term Paper: 8-12 pp.
Test 2
English 321
Dr. Furuseth
Essay Questions:
(Do two. 25 points each. Give plenty of specific examples.)
(Plays: Gypsy, Sweeney Todd, The Good Woman of Setzuan, The Dumb Waiter, Krapp’s Last Tape)
1. Many characters in these plays are striving to figure out who they are, what their roles are, where
they belong, etc.. Discuss questions of identity in at least three of the plays.
2. Discuss how the musical form works in Gypsy and Sweeney Todd. Discuss important moments in
each musical. How do they compare positively and/or negatively to the non-musical form.
3. Discuss religious and/or political concerns in at least three of the plays. (Questions or morality,
ethics, the presence of God, etc., in the context of the play.)
4. 20th Century literature of all kinds is often deeply ironic. Discuss ironic qualities of at least three
plays.
Test 1
English 321
Dr. Furuseth
Essay Questions:
(Do two. 25 points each)
5. Discuss the importance of family relationships in at least three of the plays. Discuss the dynamics
in detail in each case. (Doll’s House, Earnest, Major Barbara, Cherry Orchard, and Death of a
Salesman, but also Long Day’s Journey into Night)
6. Discuss how Earnest, Major Barbara, and Cherry Orchard work as comedies, using all possible
definitions of the term.
7. Discuss three of the plays in relation to their historical and cultural era.
4. Discuss how irony and modern psychology are used to express tragic elements in three of the
plays. (Doll’s House, Cherry Orchard, Emperor Jones, Death of a Salesman, Long Day’s)
English 321—World Drama
Fall 2007
Dr. Furuseth
10:00 MWF
Office: Hartnett Hall 325, Hours MTWRF 2-3
Phone 858-3369 (office), 839-1744 (home), 833-3574 (cell)
Texts: Types of Drama by Barnet, Berman, and Burto
Course Structure: We will read the works and readings assigned, discuss them, and write about them.
Course Evaluation: Three 50 point essay tests, two 50 point assignments, and a 200 point 8-12 page critical
paper. Also, class participation will be an important factor.
Grading Percentage:
90-100=A
80-89=B
70-79=C
60-69=D
0-59=F
Attendance: Attendance will be taken. Two unexcused absences will be granted. For each unexcused
absence beyond two, the final grade will drop one third of a letter grade.
Writing the Paper: You are required to show two preliminary drafts before turning in the final draft. The
first will be evaluated in class by your classmates. The second draft you will discuss with the instructor.
The third draft is graded and may not be redone.
Plagiarism: Be very careful to give credit to those from whom you get ideas or words. If you fail to do so,
you will be strongly penalized.
Syllabus: (Assignments for the next period are in parentheses)
8/21 Introduction. Discussion of basic terms and ideas associated with the study of drama as drama, and
as literature. (Text 1-15)
8/23
8/28
8/30
9/4
9/6
9/11
9/13
9/18
9/20
Further Discussion
(A Doll's House)
Doll's House
Doll's House
(The Importance of Being Earnest)
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Importance of Being Earnest
(Major Barbara)
Major Barbara
Major Barbara (The Cherry Orchard)
The Cherry Orchard
The Cherry Orchard
(The Emperor Jones)
9/25
927
10/2
10/4
10/9
10/11
10/16
The Emperor Jones
The Emperor Jones
Test 1
Death of a Salesman
Death of a Salesman
Gypsy
Gypsy
10/18
10/23
10/25
10/30
11/1
11/6
11/8
11/13
11/15
11/17
The Good Woman of Setzuan
The Good Woman of Setzuan
The Good Woman of Setzuan
The Dumb Waiter
Krapp’s Last Tape
Test 2 and The Sandbox
Medea
Dojoji
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
(The Mother of Us All)
(The Sandbox)
11/20 The Rover; or, The Banished Cavaliers
11/22 Top Girls
11/27 The Conduct of Life
11/29 Angels in America
12/4 Angels in America
(Fences)
12/6 Fences
12/13 Final Test 10:00
Finals Week: Term Paper Due by Wednesday
Assignment 1: Read another play by one of the playwrights in the course. Summarize and evaluate the play
in 4-6 pages.
Assignment 2: Find an article on one of the plays in our course and summarize it for the class then lead a
short class discussion.
Term Paper: 8-12 pp.
Essay Question 50 Minutes Maximum
From the readings for this class, choose a single work (or representative sampling by an author) that is culturally, historically, and
aesthetically significant. Please begin your response with a brief summary of the single work or representative sample of works.
In your critical analysis, be sure to do all three of the following (though not necessarily in the order listed below):
Discuss ways the work (or body of work) reflects, shapes, or challenges the culture in which it was produced and/or the culture in
which it is read today. Consider cultural values, beliefs, attitudes, and roles.
Discuss ways the work (or body of work) reflects (or doesn’t reflect) its historical context. Consider events and movements in
social, political, or literary history that may have been influential.
Discuss the work (or body of work) in terms of aesthetic qualities. Refer to specific aspects of literary form, genre, style, and
language that illustrate your sense of the work’s or author’s level of achievement and/or effect.
Exam II Review
November 4, 2008
1. Discuss the role of disguises and role-playing in three of the plays. Who? When? Why? Wherefore? What? How?
2. Discuss three incidents in which one or more characters watches or listens in secret.
3. Discuss sexuality in three different plays. How do Shakespeare’s words enhance the situation.
4. Discuss insanity in three different plays. Again make part of your argument by highlighting the words.
5. Discuss the imagery in two of the plays of chaos: darkness, confusion and time breakdown.
Exam II Review
November 4, 2008
1. Discuss the role of disguises and role-playing in three of the plays. Who? When? Why? Wherefore? What? How?
2. Discuss three incidents in which one or more characters watches or listens in secret.
3. Discuss sexuality in three different plays. How do Shakespeare’s words enhance the situation.
4. Discuss insanity in three different plays. Again make part of your argument by highlighting the words.
5. Discuss the imagery in two of the plays of chaos: darkness, confusion and time breakdown.