English syllabus - Gauhati University

12SEMESTER VPAPER 9Modern Drama IMarks 75 (60+15) [15 Marks Internal Assessment]. Credits: 6This paper will introduce students to 20th century English and European drama. It is to be noted thatby the turn of the century, the European avant-garde had completely altered the theatre – which at thisjuncture, seems to become a pan-European phenomenon, with stylistic/technical innovations andthematic experimentation. In the early phase of this period, realism is the dominant technique, and isthen followed by radical turns away from it.Students are expected to acquaint themselves with the European historical and cultural situation in thisperiod to read the prescribed theoretical texts in Section I and the plays in Section II.Students will have to answer 2 questions of 12 marks each (2x12=24) from Section I; 3 short questionsof 7 marks each (3x7=21) and 2 essay-type questions of 15 marks each (2x15=30) from section II.Section I: Essays(2x12) Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956): “On Experimental Theatre” Antonin Artaud (1896-1948): “Oriental and Occidental Theatre”.Section II: Plays(3x7 + 2x15) George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950): Arms and the Man* Anton Chekhov (1860-1904): The Cherry Orchard* Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956): GalileoRecommended Reading:See List at the end of Paper 10