AJL54012 Topics in Literature: British Drama in the 20th Century

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 7 credit(s) (plus 3 credits for an exam). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Tomáš Kačer, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Tomáš Kačer, Ph.D.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Twentieth century British drama and theatre in the context of the contemporaneous literary and cultural developments.
The course serves to give an overall summary of the history of the main figures in the 20th century British drama. It puts them and their works into a context with relevant aspects of the British theatrical practice and also crucial events in the fields of literary production and cultural history.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, a student will be able to:
- analyze a 20th Century British work of drama;
- know distinctive features of British drama of various styles in the 20th century;
- distinguish representative British playwrights and analyze their work in context;
- discuss the role of historical events, social development and cultural changes in the 20th Century Britain in relation to drama and theatre.
Syllabus
  • Historical perspective: classical and "modern" drama; Edwardian theatre; realistic drama; naturalistic drama; poetic drama; well-made play; angry young men; kitchen-sink drama; political drama; theatre of the absurd; comedy; feminist drama; in-yer-face.
  • Playwrights: Shaw, Eliot, Coward, Beckett, Pinter, Osborne, Stoppard, Bond, Hare, Churchill, Kane, Ravenhill.
Literature
  • SHEPHERD, Simon. The Cambridge introduction to modern British theatre. First published. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009, xvi, 250. ISBN 9780521869867. info
  • REBELLATO, Dan. 1956 and all that : the making of modern British drama. 1st pub. London: Routledge, 1999, ix, 265. ISBN 041518939X. info
  • INNES, Christopher. Modern British drama, 1890-1990. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992, 484 s. : i. ISBN 0-521-30536-5. info
Teaching methods
class discussion; lecture.
Assessment methods
Seminars based on discussion of the readings.
Assessment is based on:
- participation in discussions (25 %),
- response papers written before the seminars (1-3 pp., 25 %),
- the final critical essay (8-12 pp., 50 %).
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is taught: every other week.
General note: This course is NOT designated for Erasmus students! List of courses offerd by the Department of English and American studies for Erasmsus students is available at http://www.phil.muni.cz/wkaa/ under "Information for Erasmus students".
Teacher's information
http://www.phil.muni.cz/elf/course/view.php?id=2334
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