British Modernist Drama - Detailseite

Even though the London theatre was still dominated by melodrama and the so-called “well-made play” at the end of the 19^th century, the fin de siecle generated a variety of challenging experiments in drama and theatre. It is not surprising that - in the context of the Irish Renaissance Movement - the playwrights associated with Dublin`s Abbey Theatre influenced English and European drama and theatre in a major way.

Seminar discussions will focus on Oscar Wilde`s reshaping of the comedy of manner and tragedy, G.B.Shaws` “new realism” in drama as well as the contribution of Irish playwrights, such as W.B. Yeats and John M. Synge, to 20^th century drama.

Please bring your own copy of the following texts to our class:

Oscar Wilde, Salome (1894);

-----, The Importance of Being Earnest (1895);

1. Mrs. Warren`s Profession (1893);

-----, Pygmalion (1912);

.B.Yeats, The Countess Cathleen (1899);

John M. Synge, The Playboy of the Western World (1907).

The Lektürekurs is designed as a close reading of additional texts. Even though it is only obligatory for MA Englit. students students of the MA Europlit are cordially invited.