Lecturer:
Inayatul Chusna
Goal:
This course aims to help students:
a. read short plays with discernment
b. analyze the elements and strategies of drama
c. respond articulately to dramatic works, both orally and in writing.
Objective:
All students will:
a. read carefully a substantial number of dramatic texts;
b. analyze dramatic texts through close reading, so that they can identify aspects such as characterization, plot structure which interact to produce the artistic effect and meaning of the work;
c. reason inductively about drama; for example, by examining specific instances in the play being analyzed, students will practice recognizing meaningful patterns in language and incident and identifying themes;
d. comprehend and use such elementary critical terms as exposition, rising action, climax, denouement, etc;
e. engage in focused discussion of drama;
f. write detailed and informed analyzes of dramatic work that demonstrate increasing mastery of the above objectives.
Methods:
a. readings (of plays in the text)
b. lectures
c. discussions
d. writing assignments and test.
Course outline:
1 Introduction
2. What is drama? Form in drama
3. History of drama (Greek – Medieval) Antigone; The Second
Sheperds’ Play
4. Elizabeth theatre Julius Caesar
5. 18th century The School for Scandal
6. 19th century
7. Midterm test
8. Basic elements of drama: Plot A Doll's House
9. Character A Doll's House
10. Thought; Diction; Music; Spectacle A Doll's House
11. Group work discussion
12. Group work discussion
13. Group work discussion
14. Final term paper
Assignments:
a. midterm test is conducted in class and open book. Material for the test will and test be drawn from the assigned plays and from class lecturers and discussions;
b. final term paper will be supplemented by essay questions requiring analyzes of a short play students have discussed in group discussions;
c. students who copy or receive answers from another student’s test or who plagiarize the work of another and submit it as their own in an oral or written assignment are liable to penalties. The penalty may include a failing grade for the assignment or for the course.
Attendance:
You will be allowed to skip 4 sessions. A skip of class for any reason will be considered absent. Any students who miss 5 sessions of class are automatically dropped from the course.
Grades: Your final grade will be determined from:
a. attendance 10%
b. discussions 20%
c. midterm test 30%
d. final term paper 40%
