ENG 231 - Modern Drama

1 course unit

This course will examine the emergence of a realistic and naturalistic “modern drama” out of its nineteenth century theatrical melodramatic roots. We will pay particular attention to late nineteenth and early twentieth century plays about gender conflict and “The New Woman,” which emerged out of the suffragette movement, and to the evolution of theatrical forms. Students will be expected to distinguish between melodrama, the well-made play, the realist play, the naturalistic play, and expressionism. The first half of the course will establish how these forms were created and expanded by famous male European dramatists; in the second half, we will explore how these themes and forms were adopted and used by female playwrights.
Meets general academic requirement HU.