Weekly outline

  • General

    • 13 February - 19 February

      Introduction to the Course:

      - The definition and history of Drama

      - Elements of Drama

      - Definition of Tragedy

                 Aristotle's Poetics: Five Elements of Tragedy & The Three Unities

      • 20 February - 26 February

        Elements of Drama in Lady Gregory's The Rising of the Moon

        - Characterization

        - Setting

        - Plot

        - Movement

        - Stage Directions

        - Theme

        • 27 February - 4 March

          Greek Tragedies: Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

          - The legend (background story)

          - The Characters

          - The Chorus

          - The conflict at the beginning

          - Dramatic Irony

          • 5 March - 11 March

            Oedipus Rex continued: 

            - The oracles

            - Tiresias' conversation with Oedipus

            - Oedipus' hamartia

            - Hubris

            - The Shepard and the Messenger's Arrival

            • 12 March - 18 March

              Oedipus Rex continued:

              - Recognition

              - Point of No Return

              - Oedipus' Destruction

              - The theme of blindness and the general theme of the play

              - Five Elements of Tragedy  and the Three Unities in Oedipus Rex

              • 19 March - 25 March

                Midterm Examinations

                • 26 March - 1 April

                  Midterm Examinations

                  • 2 April - 8 April

                    Greek Tragedies: Medea by Euripides

                    - Revenge Tragedies

                    - The background story: Jason and the Golden Fleece

                    - Characterisation of Medea

                    - The Conflict at the beginning of the play

                    • 9 April - 15 April

                      Medea continued: 

                      - Foreshadowings

                      - Function of the Chorus

                      - Medea's entrance and expression of her situation

                      - Conversation between Creon and Medea

                      - Creon's characterization

                      • 16 April - 22 April

                        Medea continued:

                        - Medea's plans and manipulations

                        - The arguments of both Jason and Medea

                        - The function of Aegeus

                        - The portrayal of the death of Creon and his dauughter

                        - The Chorus' comments

                        • 23 April - 29 April

                          Medea continued:

                          - The murder of the children

                          - Different reactions to Medea's actions

                          - Dramatic Irony

                          - Deus ex machina

                          - Final conversation between Jason and Medea

                          - Medea's hamartia

                          • 30 April - 6 May

                            A comparison of Euripides' version of Medea and Seneca's version of Medea. 

                            - A brief look at Senecan tragedies.

                            - The main differences between the two plays.

                            • 7 May - 13 May

                              Roman Comedies: The Pot of Gold by Plautus

                              - Elements of Comedy

                              - Close reading of the play

                              • 14 May - 20 May

                                A short contemporary play: Trifles by Susan Glaspell

                                - Characterization

                                - Main conflict

                                - Symbols

                                - The significance of the title

                                - Irony