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UGC NET English Unit-1 Drama Notes

UGC NET DRAMA STUDY MATERIAL

From Elizabethan to Late Modern Drama

Drama in English literature reflects the intellectual, social, and artistic developments of each age. From the grand tragedies of Shakespeare to the terse silences of Pinter, English drama has evolved through experimentation, rebellion, refinement, and psychological depth. What follows is a detailed study of the playwrights and movements you listed, explained chronologically to help you understand the progression of dramatic form and thought.

I. ELIZABETHAN & JACOBEAN DRAMA (1550–1625)

The Elizabethan and Jacobean periods represent the greatest flowering of English drama. During this age, theatre became a cultural institution supported by monarchs, nobles, and the general public. The opening of permanent theatres like The Globe made drama a mass art form. Playwrights experimented with characterization, structure, and poetic language.

1. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564–1616)

Shakespeare stands as the central figure of English drama, representing the Renaissance ideals of humanism, philosophical inquiry, and artistic experimentation.

Dramatic Features

  1. Complex Characters – Hamlet, Lear, Othello, and Macbeth show psychological nuance unmatched in earlier drama.

  2. Universal Themes – ambition, jealousy, love, power, betrayal, identity.

  3. Flexibility of Language – the mixture of blank verse, prose, puns, wit, and rhetorical speeches.

  4. Mixture of Tones – Shakespeare freely blends comedy and tragedy, elevating dramatic realism.

  5. Structural Innovation – soliloquy as a window into inner consciousness, subplots that mirror or contrast the main action.

Major Types of Plays

  • Tragedies: Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, King Lear—explore suffering, moral dilemma, and downfall of great individuals.

  • Comedies: Twelfth Night, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream—center on love, mistaken identity, festivity.

  • Histories: Henry IV, Richard II, Richard III—blend politics, kingship, and national identity.

  • Romances: The Tempest, The Winter’s Tale—themes of reconciliation, forgiveness, magic.

Shakespeare’s influence continues in modern drama where moral ambiguity, psychological insight, and poetic richness remain important elements.

2. CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE (1564–1593)

Marlowe, one of the “University Wits,” pioneered the English tragic form before Shakespeare perfected it.

Key Features

  • “Mighty Line” (Blank Verse) – rhythmic power and rhetorical intensity.

  • Overreaching Heroes – Tamburlaine, Faustus, Barabas are driven by ambition and defiance.

  • Moral and Philosophical Conflict – Doctor Faustus dramatizes Renaissance curiosity vs spiritual damnation.

Major Plays

  • Tamburlaine (tyrannical lust for power)

  • Doctor Faustus (knowledge, temptation, damnation)

  • The Jew of Malta (revenge, greed)

  • Edward II (political weakness and tragedy)

Marlowe laid the foundation for Renaissance tragedy by expanding the emotional and poetic scope of English drama.

3. BEN JONSON (1572–1637)

Jonson represents classical restraint, moral satire, and carefully structured comic drama.

Characteristics

  • Comedy of Humours – each character dominated by a single trait (humour).

  • Social Satire – exposes greed, pretension, folly in London society.

  • Classical Influence – unity of time, place, action; moral rigor.

Major Works

  • Volpone – satire of greed and corruption.

  • The Alchemist – exposure of human gullibility.

  • Epicœne – comedy of gender, deception, and noise.

Jonson’s influence can be seen in Restoration comedy and later satirical drama.

4. THOMAS KYD (1558–1594)

Kyd initiated the revenge tragedy tradition.

Key Work

  • The Spanish Tragedy

Features

  • Ghosts, murder, revenge plots

  • Play-within-a-play device (later used by Shakespeare)

  • Violent resolution

  • Moral ambiguity

Kyd set the pattern for one of the most popular Elizabethan genres.

5. JOHN WEBSTER (1580–1634)

A master of Jacobean tragedy, Webster is known for his dark and pessimistic worldview.

Major Plays

  • The Duchess of Malfi

  • The White Devil

Features

  • Violent and grotesque imagery

  • Corrupt courts

  • Strong, tragic heroines

  • Philosophical depth regarding death and morality

Webster’s tragedies reflect the disillusionment of the early 17th century.

II. RESTORATION & 18th-CENTURY DRAMA (1660–1800)

The Restoration marked a new era in English drama—after theatres reopened, drama became more urban, cynical, and socially sharp. Women began acting on stage, and comedy flourished.

1. APHRA BEHN (1640–1689)

One of the first professional women writers in English literature.

Major Play

  • The Rover

Features

  • Romantic intrigue and sexual politics

  • Exploration of female desire and agency

  • Critique of libertine masculinity

  • Comic misunderstandings and lively dialogue

Behn opened the door for women dramatists.

2. WILLIAM CONGREVE (1670–1729)

The master of Restoration Comedy of Manners.

Key Work

  • The Way of the World

Characteristics

  • Brilliant, polished wit

  • Satire of aristocratic sophistication

  • Intricate plotting

  • Themes of marriage, courtship, hypocrisy

  • The famous “proviso scene” symbolizes equality in marriage

Congreve refined Restoration wit into an art form.

3. OLIVER GOLDSMITH (1728–1774)

A central figure in the anti-sentimental comedy movement.

Major Work

  • She Stoops to Conquer

Features

  • Restoration-style humour mixed with warmth

  • Mistaken identity and farce

  • Celebration of naturalness over artificial refinement

Goldsmith revived laughter in English comedy.

4. RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN (1751–1816)

Sheridan perfected 18th-century satirical comedy.

Major Works

  • The School for Scandal

  • The Rivals (featuring Mrs. Malaprop)

Features

  • Brilliant dialogue and repartee

  • Themes: gossip, scandal, social pretension

  • Memorable character types (gossips, fops, hypocrites)

  • Moral but light-hearted comedic vision

Sheridan’s plays remain popular for their energetic humour.

III. 19th-CENTURY DRAMA → FOUNDATIONS OF MODERNITY

The 19th century saw a decline in English drama due to censorship and dominance of the novel, but several playwrights prepared the way for modern realistic and symbolic drama.

1. OSCAR WILDE (1854–1900)

A key figure of Aestheticism, known for witty social comedies.

Major Plays

  • The Importance of Being Earnest

  • An Ideal Husband

  • Lady Windermere’s Fan

Features

  • Elegant dialogue

  • Epigrams and paradoxes

  • Satire of Victorian morality

  • Comic treatment of serious social issues

Wilde combined humour with philosophical critique of society.

2. GEORGE BERNARD SHAW (1856–1950)

Shaw transformed English drama with the Drama of Ideas, strongly influenced by Ibsen.

Major Works

  • Pygmalion

  • Major Barbara

  • Arms and the Man

Features

  • Debate-driven plays

  • Social criticism (capitalism, poverty, gender roles)

  • Intellectual comedy

  • Realistic characterization

Shaw saw drama as a tool for social reform, not mere entertainment.

3. HENRIK IBSEN (1828–1906)

A Norwegian dramatist whose impact on English drama was profound.

Major Plays

  • A Doll’s House

  • Ghosts

  • Hedda Gabler

Features

  • Realism: domestic problems, middle-class dilemmas

  • Strong critique of social hypocrisy

  • Psychological complexity

  • Women’s issues and social oppression

Ibsen is considered the father of modern drama.

IV. 20th-CENTURY & MODERN DRAMA

The 20th century saw unprecedented experimentation. Two world wars, rapid social change, and existential philosophies shaped new dramatic forms.

1. T. S. ELIOT (1888–1965)

Revived religious verse drama.

Major Works

  • Murder in the Cathedral

  • The Cocktail Party

Features

  • Ritualistic structure

  • Exploration of spiritual crises

  • Use of verse to elevate dramatic experience

Eliot attempted to reintroduce poetic seriousness into modern theatre.

2. J. M. SYNGE (1871–1909)

A leading figure in the Irish Literary Revival.

Major Work

  • The Playboy of the Western World

Features

  • Use of Irish dialect

  • Mixture of humour and violence

  • Exploration of rural life and myth

  • Themes of rebellion, identity, and social norms

Synge’s work provoked controversy but is now celebrated.

3. SEAN O’CASEY (1880–1964)

Focused on Irish working-class and political life.

Major Works

  • Juno and the Paycock

  • The Plough and the Stars

Features

  • Blend of tragedy and comedy

  • Impact of war and poverty

  • Strong female characters

4. JOHN OSBORNE (1929–1994)

Leader of the Angry Young Men movement.

Major Work

  • Look Back in Anger

Features

  • Expression of youthful frustration

  • Attack on class structures

  • Emotional intensity

  • Revolt against polite middle-class drama

Osborne re-energized post-war English theatre.

5. SAMUEL BECKETT (1906–1989)

Central figure of the Theatre of the Absurd.

Major Works

  • Waiting for Godot

  • Endgame

Features

  • Minimalism in setting and dialogue

  • Circular, repetitive structure

  • Themes: meaninglessness, time, decay

  • Absence of traditional plot

Beckett changed the very nature of dramatic storytelling.

6. HAROLD PINTER (1930–2008)

Known for “Pinteresque” drama—silences, menace, power.

Major Works

  • The Birthday Party

  • The Homecoming

  • The Dumb Waiter

Features

  • Ambiguity

  • Psychological tension

  • Everyday speech hiding threat

  • Power dynamics within families

Pinter’s pauses became stylistic signatures.

7. EUGENE O’NEILL (1888–1953)

First major American tragedian.

Major Works

  • Long Day’s Journey Into Night

  • The Iceman Cometh

Features

  • Psychological depth

  • Family trauma

  • Symbolism mixed with realism

  • Exploration of identity, guilt, addiction

O’Neill shaped modern American theatre.

8. ARTHUR MILLER (1915–2005)

A social dramatist exploring moral, family, and political dilemmas.

Major Works

  • Death of a Salesman

  • The Crucible

  • A View from the Bridge

Features

  • Critique of the American Dream

  • Social morality

  • Tragic conflict within families

  • Use of memory sequences (Salesman)

9. TENNESSEE WILLIAMS (1911–1983)

Known for poetic realism.

Major Works

  • A Streetcar Named Desire

  • The Glass Menagerie

Features

  • Delicate psychological portraits

  • Southern Gothic atmosphere

  • Desire, fragility, trauma

  • Symbolism, memory-narrative techniques

Williams created emotionally rich, lyrical theatre.

10. EDWARD ALBEE (1928–2016)

A leading American absurdist.

Major Works

  • Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

  • The Zoo Story

Features

  • Breakdown of communication

  • Marital conflict and psychological games

  • Illusion vs reality

  • Harsh social critique

Albee fused realism with absurdist elements.

CONCLUSION: THE EVOLUTION OF DRAMA

From the Renaissance celebration of human potential to the Modernist questioning of identity and meaning, drama has continuously reinvented itself.

Key trends to remember for exams:

  • Elizabethan/Jacobean: poetic language, tragic heroes, revenge tragedy

  • Restoration: wit, satire, comedy of manners

  • 18th century: revival of honest humour, social comedy

  • 19th century: realism, social criticism, psychological depth

  • 20th century: experimentation, existentialism, absurdism, political drama

This evolution shows drama’s shift from public spectacle to psychological introspection, from heroic narratives to fragmented modern identities.

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