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5: Plays

  • Page ID
    328034
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    • 5.1: The Art of Tragic Drama
      This page provides an overview of the evolution of drama as a literary genre, highlighting its origins in ancient Greece and its development through various historical periods. It discusses key elements of drama, including plot, character, and thematic structure, while examining techniques such as "in medias res," dialogue, and blocking.
    • 5.2: Oscar Wilde
      This page discusses Oscar Wilde's *The Importance of Being Earnest*, a comedy that satirizes Victorian society's superficial values through exaggerated aristocratic characters. It highlights themes of insincerity in social expectations and critiques arranged marriages among the upper class. The play contrasts written and spoken communication, questioning authenticity and identity, particularly regarding the name "Ernest.
    • 5.3: Susan Glaspell's "Trifles" (1916)
      This page summarizes Susan Glaspell's one-act play "Trifles," focusing on the murder investigation of John Wright. The male characters overlook domestic details while two women, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, empathize with Mrs. Wright's oppressive life. They discover a dead bird and a broken cage, symbolizing her lost joy, and conceal this evidence, reflecting on gender roles and societal expectations.
    • 5.4: Christopher Marlowe
      This page details the life of Christopher Marlowe, a gifted playwright and potential spy born to a shoemaker. He studied at King's School and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he controversially earned his Master’s degree. Marlowe's works, such as "Tamburlaine" and "Dr. Faustus," gained prominence in London but were clouded by accusations of atheism and his mysterious death involving Ingram Frizer. His influence on Elizabethan theater, particularly on Shakespeare, is notable.


    5: Plays is shared under a CC BY-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.