M.A. English: 18th & 19th Century Drama

• Focus: Master of Arts (M.A.) in English with a specialization in Drama, specifically from the 18th and 19th centuries

Key Areas of Study

• 18th Century Drama: Encompasses dramatic works produced during the 1700s including comedies of manners, sentimental dramas, and early forms of melodrama
• 19th Century Drama: Focuses on plays written and performed during the 1800s, including Romantic drama, Victorian melodrama, and the emergence of realism and early modern drama

Possible Authors and Playwrights

• 18th Century:
  • William Congreve: Known for comedies of manners like "The Way of the World"
  • Richard Brinsley Sheridan: Famous for "The School for Scandal" and "The Rivals"
  • Oliver Goldsmith: Wrote "She Stoops to Conquer"
  • John Gay: Author of "The Beggar's Opera"
• 19th Century:
  • Oscar Wilde: Wrote comedies of manners such as "The Importance of Being Earnest"
  • Henrik Ibsen: A major figure in the development of realism with plays like "A Doll's House" and "Ghosts" (though late 19th century, his influence is significant)
  • George Bernard Shaw: Known for his satirical and intellectual comedies, such as "Pygmalion"
  • Dion Boucicault: A master of melodrama, known for plays like "The Octoroon"

Key Dramatic Genres and Movements

• Comedy of Manners: Satirical plays that critique the behavior and conventions of upper-class society, common in the 18th century
• Sentimental Drama: Focuses on emotional suffering and moral virtue, aiming to evoke empathy in the audience
• Melodrama: Characterized by exaggerated emotions, simple morality, and sensational plots; popular in the 19th century
• Romantic Drama: Emphasizes emotion, imagination, and individualism, often featuring historical or exotic settings
• Realism: A movement that seeks to depict life as it is, with realistic characters and settings, emerging in the late 19th century
• Well-Made Play: A dramatic structure characterized by tight plotting, suspense, and a climactic scene of revelation

Theatrical Context

• 18th Century Theatres:
  • Drury Lane and Covent Garden: Dominant London theatres with strict licensing regulations
  • The Licensing Act of 1737: Had a significant impact on the types of plays that could be performed
• 19th Century Theatres:
  • Rise of the commercial theatre: Larger audiences and more elaborate productions
  • Development of stage technology: Gas lighting, moving sets, and other innovations

Common Themes and Issues

• Social Class: Examines the differences and conflicts between social classes, often satirizing the upper class or highlighting the plight of the lower class
• Gender Roles: Explores the expectations and limitations placed on men and women in society, particularly regarding marriage, family, and social status
• Morality and Ethics: Deals with questions of right and wrong, often challenging conventional moral values
• Marriage and Family: Focuses on the institution of marriage, its social and economic implications, and the dynamics within families
• Individual vs. Society: Explores the tension between individual desires and the demands of society

Critical Approaches

• Historical Context: Understanding the social, political, and cultural background of the plays
• Literary Theory: Applying different theoretical frameworks (e.g., feminism, Marxism, post-structuralism) to analyze the plays
• Performance Studies: Examining the plays as performance events, considering staging, acting, and audience reception
• Textual Analysis: Close reading of the play texts, paying attention to language, imagery, and symbolism

Potential Research Topics

• The representation of women in 18th-century comedy
• The impact of the Licensing Act on dramatic writing
• The rise of melodrama in the 19th century
• The development of realism in late 19th-century drama
• Theatrical technology and its influence on play production
• The role of the audience in shaping dramatic performance

Key Concepts

• Dramatic Irony: A situation in which the audience knows something that the characters do not
• Aside: A remark made by a character that is intended to be heard by the audience but not by the other characters
• Soliloquy: A speech delivered by a character alone on stage, revealing their thoughts and feelings
• Catharsis: The purging of emotions (pity and fear) experienced by the audience at the end of a tragedy

Further Areas of Exploration

• Censorship: The impact of censorship on dramatic works and theatrical performances
• Theatre Management: The business aspects of running a theatre, including financing, marketing, and labor relations
• Acting Styles: The development of different acting techniques and performance styles
• Stage Design: The evolution of stage design and its contribution to the overall theatrical experience
• Audience Reception: How audiences responded to plays and performances, and how this shaped dramatic trends

Skills Developed

• Close reading and analysis of dramatic texts
• Research and critical thinking skills
• Understanding of historical and cultural contexts
• Ability to articulate arguments in writing and orally
• Knowledge of dramatic theory and criticism