BA I Year: English Literature (Major II)
Syllabus (Session 2025-26 onward)
BA I Year: English Literature (Major II)Course Title: Study of Drama (Paper II)
Course Type: Major- II
Credit Value: 6
CCE: 30 Marks; Written Examination: 70
Max Marks- 100 Min. Passing Marks- 35
Content of the Course:
UNIT- I
Introduction to Drama
(i) Introduction to Sanskrit Drama
(ii) Types of Drama: Tragedy, Comedy, Historical Play, One Act Play
Keywords: Natyashastra, Rasa Theory, Bharatmuni, Bhava, Natyadharmi and Lokadharmi, Abhinaya, Dramatic Structure, Aristotelian tragedy, Chronicle plays.
Activity: Group Discussion on Sanskrit Drama & Rasa Theory / Comparative Chart of Drama Types.
UNIT II
Indian Classical Drama
(i) Mahakavi Kalidas: Abhigyan Shakuntalam, Act IV
(ii) Shudrak: Mrichha Katikum (The Clay Cart) Act I
Keywords: Curse of Durvasa, Separation (Viraha), Śṛṅgāra (Romantic Rasa), Karuna (Pathos Rasa), Tranquility (Santa Rasa), Nāyaka / Nayika, Vṛtti (Stylistic Mode), Court and Folk Theatre, Anagnorisis, Prakrit and Sanskrit Dialogue tradition.
Activity: Essay writing / Dramatic Reading and Enactment
UNIT- III
Modern Indian Drama
(i) Mahesh Dattani: Where There’s a Will
(ii) Manjula Padmanabhan: Harvest
Keywords: Social Allegory, Power dynamics, Social alienation, Women Empowerment, Family Relationship, Gender indiscrimination, Greed
Activity: Debate on Ethical Issues/ Panel Discussion on Contemporary Relevance
UNIT- IV
Renaissance Drama
(i) William Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice
(ii) Christopher Marlowe: Dr. Faustus
Keywords: Elizabethan drama, Morality Play, Humanism, Tragic Hero, Soliloquy, Supernatural Elements, Blank verse, Comic relief, Moksha, Karma, Vivek.
Activity: Character Sketch / Dramatic Reading / Quote Interpretation
UNIT- V
Modern Drama
(i) G.B. Shaw: Arms and the Man
(ii) John Galsworthy: Silver Box
Keywords: Realism, Satire, Social Criticism, Class Conflict, Romantic Idealism, Anti-hero, Hypocrisy, Nyaya (justice legal and moral), Ahimsa, Loksamgraha, Karuna.
Activity: Role-Play/ Creative Writing Exercise
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