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ENG362Arts3 Unitsintermediate

English Drama

This course explores English drama from the Elizabethan era to the present, focusing on its evolution and development. It examines playwrights from Thomas Kyd and Christopher Marlowe to William Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, and John Osborne. The course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the technicalities and themes within selected plays through detailed analysis and interpretation. It covers various traditions, genres, and representative playwrights, as well as the principal themes of their dramaturgy.

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90h
Study Time
13
Weeks
7h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
English DramaElizabethan TheatreShakespeareRestoration ComedyModern Drama

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Elizabethan Drama

2

Revenge Tragedy

3

Shakespearean Comedy and Tragedy

4

Restoration Comedy

5

Victorian Melodrama

6

Modern Poetic Drama

Total Topics6 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Drama Critic

Apply your skills in this growing field

Literary Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Theatre Director

Apply your skills in this growing field

English Teacher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Content Writer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

EducationPublishingJournalismTheatre ProductionFilm and Television

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: Elizabethan Drama I

2h

Unit 1: Background to the Elizabethan Drama

2 study hours
  • •Read the introduction to Elizabethan drama.
  • •Understand the Elizabethan worldview and its influence on drama.
  • •Examine the concepts of degree, order, stellar influence, and humours.
Week
2

Module 1: Elizabethan Drama I

2h

Unit 2: Thomas Kyd and the Evolution of Revenge Tragedy

2 study hours
  • •Study the life and works of Thomas Kyd.
  • •Analyze the evolution of revenge tragedy.
  • •Examine Kyd's contributions through 'The Spanish Tragedy'.
Week
3

Module 1: Elizabethan Drama I

2h

Unit 3: The Dramaturgy of Christopher Marlowe

2 study hours
  • •Explore the life and dramaturgy of Christopher Marlowe.
  • •Analyze themes of power, wealth, and treachery in Marlowe's plays.
  • •Discuss 'Tamburlaine the Great', 'The Jew of Malta', and 'Edward the Second'.
Week
4

Module 1: Elizabethan Drama I

2h

Unit 4: Shakespearean Comedy

2 study hours
  • •Study Shakespeare's biography and his contributions to comedy.
  • •Analyze the characteristics of Shakespearean comedy.
  • •Examine 'Twelfth Night' and its themes of love tangle and disguise.
Week
5

Module 2: Elizabethan Drama II

2h

Unit 1: Shakespearean Tragedy

2 study hours
  • •Examine the nature and characteristics of Shakespearean tragedy.
  • •Analyze 'Macbeth' and its themes of ambition and fate.
  • •Discuss the role of supernatural elements and moral order.
Week
6

Module 2: Elizabethan Drama II

2h

Unit 2: Shakespearean Tragicomedy

2 study hours
  • •Explore the concept of tragicomedy.
  • •Discuss the characteristics of Shakespearean tragicomedy.
  • •Analyze 'The Merchant of Venice' and its themes of justice and mercy.
Week
7

Module 2: Elizabethan Drama II

2h

Unit 3: Shakespearean Chronicle Play

2 study hours
  • •Define the chronicle play and its functions.
  • •Examine Shakespeare's historical plays.
  • •Analyze 'Henry V' and its themes of leadership and nationalism.
Week
8

Module 2: Elizabethan Drama II

2h

Unit 4: The Drama of Ben Jonson

2 study hours
  • •Study Ben Jonson's biography and dramaturgy.
  • •Analyze 'The Alchemist' and its themes of deception and greed.
  • •Discuss Jonson's use of satire and wit.
Week
9

Module 3: 17th – 19th Century

2h

Unit 1: Restoration Comedy

2 study hours
  • •Examine the context and concept of Restoration drama.
  • •Describe the characteristics of Restoration comedy.
  • •Study Congreve's 'The Way of the World' and its themes of manners and society.
Week
10

Module 3: 17th – 19th Century

2h

Unit 2: The Heroic Drama

2 study hours
  • •Explore the concept of heroic drama.
  • •Discuss its characteristics and themes.
  • •Analyze Dryden's 'The Conquest of Granada' and its themes of love and honor.
Week
11

Module 3: 17th – 19th Century

2h

Unit 3: 18th Century and the Drama of Sensibility

2 study hours
  • •Examine the nature of 18th-century drama.
  • •Discuss the concept of domestic tragedy.
  • •Analyze 'The London Merchant' and its themes of morality and redemption.
Week
12

Module 3: 17th – 19th Century

2h

Unit 4: Victorian Drama

2 study hours
  • •Explore the characteristics of Victorian drama.
  • •Define melodrama and its elements.
  • •Discuss the social and cultural context of Victorian theatre.
Week
13

Module 4: 19th – 20th Century

2h

Unit 1: The Well-Made Play

2 study hours
  • •Discuss the concept of the well-made play.
  • •Examine the characteristics of the well-made play.
  • •Analyze 'The Second Mrs. Tanqueray' as a sample of the genre.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create timelines of key periods and playwrights to understand the evolution of English drama.

2

Develop character maps for major plays, noting motivations and relationships.

3

Practice analyzing excerpts from plays, focusing on themes, language, and dramatic techniques.

4

Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and Self-Assessment Exercises (SAEs) thoroughly.

5

Focus on understanding the social and historical contexts of each period to better grasp the plays' themes.

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