ENG862

Comparative Studies in Drama

Arts
800 level
3 credit units
135 pages
10 units

This course explores drama from diverse cultural and historical contexts. It covers world drama, modern drama, dramatic genres, and African drama. Students will learn to compare drama across different periods, styles, and forms. The course also examines traditional versus scripted drama, equipping students with the skills to analyze and critique dramatic works from various perspectives.

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About this course

Difficulty: Intermediate
Study hours: 208 hours
Maths: None
Content: Theoretical, case study, problem solving
Practical work: Yes

How it is assessed

Assignments
Tutor marked assessments
Final examination

What you'll read

The real module and unit structure of ENG862, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.

Module 1

Module 2 · MODERN DRAMA

Module 3 · DRAMATIC GENRE

Module 4 · AFRICAN DRAMA

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

ENG862 · Unit 2: Scripted Drama

The pattern of questions in your examination will follow the same pattern as your tutor- marked assignments. It is advisable that you spend time reading the different dramatic forms, styles and comparing the trends in different parts of Africa and globally well before the date of your final examination.

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What you should be able to do

Identify the various epochs and stages of drama and its evolution over time.
Carry out a comparison of drama in terms of style and form.
Carry out a comparison of drama in terms of dramatic writings on the African continent.
Do a comparative analysis of drama in different continents.
Discuss trends in contemporary drama.
Criticize dramatic writings based on observation of influences from different climes.

What it prepares you for

Careers

Playwright
Dramaturge
Theatre Critic
Screenwriter
Drama Teacher

Where it is applied

Theatre
Film
Television
Radio
Education

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

Module 1: World Drama
Unit 1: Drama in the Classical Era
The unit requires understanding of ancient Greek theatrical conventions and philosophical underpinnings which can be challenging for students without prior exposure to classical studies.
Module 2: Modern Drama
Unit 1: Romanticism, Realism and Surrealism
Surrealism's rejection of rational thought and embrace of the unconscious can be difficult to grasp without a background in psychology or art history.
Module 2: Modern Drama
Unit 2: Expressionism and Other Movements in the Theatre
Existentialism's focus on individual experience and responsibility in a seemingly meaningless universe can be challenging to grasp without philosophical background.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 45 hours in total. Yours will differ.

Week 1Module 1: World Drama
- Unit 1: Drama in the Classical Era · 3 hours
  Read the introduction to classical drama.. Identify key characteristics of drama in Egypt, Greece, and Rome.. Analyze the contributions of major dramatists from the classical era..
Week 2Module 1: World Drama
- Unit 2: Medieval through the Restoration Era and 18th Century Drama · 3 hours
  Study the development of drama during the Medieval period.. Examine the characteristics of Renaissance drama.. Explore the traits of Restoration and 18th-century drama..
Week 3Module 1: World Drama
- Unit 3: 19th Century and Contemporary Drama · 3 hours
  Analyze the evolution of drama in the 19th century.. Examine the key features of 20th-century drama.. Explore contemporary drama trends and their impact..
Week 4Module 2: Modern Drama
- Unit 1: Romanticism, Realism and Surrealism · 3 hours
  Understand the characteristics of Romanticism.. Examine the key features of Realism.. Explore the tenets of Surrealism..
Week 5Module 2: Modern Drama
- Unit 2: Expressionism and Other Movements in the Theatre · 3 hours
  Explore the principles of Expressionism.. Examine the key features of Existentialism.. Understand the tenets of Dadaism.. Analyze the use of Symbolism in drama..
Week 6Module 2: Modern Drama
- Unit 3: Poor Theatre and Others · 3 hours
  Examine the principles of Poor Theatre.. Explore the tenets of Theatre of the Absurd.. Understand the key features of Epic Theatre.. Analyze the characteristics of Avant-Garde Theatre..
Week 7Module 3: Dramatic Genres
- Unit 1: Tragedy · 3 hours
  Study Aristotle's theory of tragedy.. Examine the structure of tragedy.. Identify the different types of tragedy..
Week 8Module 3: Dramatic Genres
- Unit 2: Comedy · 3 hours
  Explore the emergence of comedy.. Examine the different types of comedy.. Identify and analyze comic devices.. Compare tragedy and comedy..
Week 9Module 3: Dramatic Genres
- Unit 3: Tragicomedy and other Genres · 3 hours
  Understand the characteristics of tragicomedy.. Examine the key features of melodrama.. Explore the elements of dance drama..
Week 10Module 4: African Drama
- Unit 1: North African Drama · 3 hours
  Explore the focus and major dramatists of North Africa.. Analyze the themes and styles of North African plays.. Discuss the challenges and contributions of North African drama..
- Unit 2: Southern African Drama · 3 hours
  Explore the focus and major dramatists of Southern Africa.. Analyze the themes and styles of Southern African plays.. Discuss the challenges and contributions of Southern African drama..
Week 11Module 4: African Drama
- Unit 3: West African Drama · 3 hours
  Explore the focus and major dramatists of West Africa.. Analyze the themes and styles of West African plays.. Discuss the challenges and contributions of West African drama..
Week 12Module 4: African Drama
- Unit 4: East African Drama · 3 hours
  Explore the focus and major dramatists of East Africa.. Analyze the themes and styles of East African plays.. Discuss the challenges and contributions of East African drama..
Week 13Module 1: Traditional versus Scripted Drama
- Unit I: Traditional Drama · 3 hours
  Understand the meaning of traditional drama.. Explore the emergence of traditional African drama.. Analyze the theories of traditional drama.. Discuss the functionality of traditional drama..
- Unit 2: Scripted Drama · 3 hours
  Explain the concept of scripted drama.. Trace the origin of scripted drama.. Outline the techniques involved in scripting for radio, stage, TV, and film/video.. Compare traditional and scripted drama..

Preparing for the exam

What to do

Create timelines for each era of drama (Classical, Medieval, Renaissance, Modern) noting key playwrights and movements.
Develop comparison charts contrasting different dramatic genres (Tragedy, Comedy, Tragicomedy) based on Aristotle's Poetics.
Analyze the socio-political contexts of African dramas, focusing on themes of colonialism, identity, and resistance.
Practice writing short critiques of plays from different periods, applying theoretical frameworks discussed in the course.
Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and identify areas needing further study.
Form study groups to discuss complex concepts and share insights on different playwrights and movements.

Questions students ask about this course

What is ENG862 about?

How many units does ENG862 have?

ENG862, Comparative Studies in Drama, has 10 units across 4 modules, over 135 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is ENG862?

ENG862 carries 3 credit units, at 800 level in Arts.

Is ENG862 hard?

ENG862 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, case study and problem solving work, and it has a practical component.

How long does ENG862 take to study?

About 208 hours of study, spread across its 10 units.

How is ENG862 assessed?

ENG862 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.

What can I do with ENG862?

Playwright, Dramaturge, Theatre Critic, Screenwriter and Drama Teacher.