Department of English

Our course takes up the works of Ibsen, Stindberg, Chekhov, Shaw, and others, but with special attention to the historical dynamics that gave rise to the modern theater, and to performance aspects of the plays. We will look at the plays as sites of cultural conflict and contradiction, and at the tensions between the drama's often tense fusion of didacticism and popular entertainment, with special attention to the presence of ritual.

Two essays, two one-page presentations, and a final exam.