OPTIONAL READINGS IN THE MODERN DRAMA Note.-Report on as many plays as you have time for. Give for each the name of play and author; classify according to main class of plays represented, giving reasons for classification; classify, where possible, as to sub-class. What points of difference did you note between this and an older play? How did it compare in interest? Give in a sentence or two what the play is about. "The Doll's House". "Strife" "Justice" . Henrik Ibsen' John Galsworthy John Galsworthy ..John Galsworthy "The Silver Box" "The Pigeon" "On the Road," from "Daily Bread". "The Travelling Man". "The Rising of the Moon" "McDonough's Wife" "The Work-House Ward”. "Spreading the News". "The Land of Heart's Desire". "The Hour Glass" "On Baile's Strand". "Sherwood" "Herod" "Ulysses" "The Bluebird" "The Piper". "Marlowe" "The Wolf of Gubbio”. "The Servant in the House". "The Passing of the Third Floor Back”. "Fanny and the Servant Problem". "The Amazons". "Sweet Lavender" "The Manoeuvres of Jane". . Wilfrid W. Gibson . William Butler Yeats Stephen Phillips Stephen Phillips Maurice Maeterlinck Josephine Preston Peabody Josephine Preston Peabody Josephine Preston Peabody Charles Rann Kennedy . Jerome K. Jerome . Jerome K. Jerome Arthur Wing Pinero 1. Before turning to Book Two, sum up what you have gained from a study of poetry. How do you think the three main classes of poetry compare in interest? Can you distinguish one kind from another instantly? Can you easily distinguish the main types under each general class? Can you take a poem and prove its classification by pointing out its characteristics? Do you feel that you know some of the best writers of each type? Have you enjoyed the work? 2. For your theme work try dramatizing a short-story by O. Henry or some other author who has given a good deal of dialogue. Be sure to notice whether it would be actable. Look over examples of modern plays to see just what methods are used as to general arrangement, and the indication of speakers and of stage directions. 1 This usually marks the end of the first semester's work. BOOK TWO TYPES OF PROSE Prose literature is divided into the following important classes: (1) the prose drama,1 (2) the essay, (3) prose fiction, (4) the oration, (5) miscellaneous prose forms. 1 Treated in connection with dramatic poetry. CHAPTER I THE ESSAY Characteristics of the Essay.-The essay is that type of literature in which the author gives, in prose, his own thoughts on life or any of its phases. It is, therefore, the prose form which most. nearly corresponds to lyric poetry. It may treat any subject from the light, humorous, trivial things to the deepest thoughts that the soul can fathom. There is no definite form which essays must take. They are as varied as the writers themselves, and show, through and through, each author's personality. They may deal with subjects drawn from biography, history, personal life, travel, nature, art, or criticism. They may be written to entertain, to inform the mind, or to teach moral or religious truths. There are but three characteristics that will aid us in defining this type. These are: (1) in every essay the author himself is prominent, since we are made to see through his eyes the things which have interested him; (2) the essay is in prose; and (3) it is always artistic. If practical things are discussed, they are always put in an artistic form and appeal to the imagination and emotions. This especially distinguishes the true essay from other short prose types that are written only to inform or teach. Although there are no definite forms, there are several general classes into which essays may be roughly grouped. These very frequently overlap. They may be historical, biographical, personal, imaginative, narrative, didactic, critical, reflective, philosophical, or religious. They must, however, all be interesting and worth while. The essay never gives an exhaustive treatment of any subject, but, as its name implies, is an attempt to set forth only those phases or things that the author may choose to express. It is suggestive and rambling rather than complete and direct. It may vary in length from one page to a hundred or more. It usually is divided into three main parts: (1) the introduction; (2) the body, consisting of a series of paragraphs, more or less closely related, in which the subject is developed; and (3) the conclusion. This is not al |