LITERATURE IN ENGLISH PLAYS ANALYSIS

LITERATURE IN ENGLISH PLAYS ANALYSIS

Meaning of literature

The term literature has different meaning but here the term is used in the sense of showing the way a person can make representation of what is taking place in the society artistically.

Thus, as Literature depicts on what people does in their daily lives, then it have some connectedness with human life.

Origin of literature

Literature is related to man’s development in his life because it portrays on what people do or say, how they act, react or behave towards their environment.

TYPES OF LITERATURE

Literature has many types depending on people’s traditions, intentions and the message that is intended to be communicated to the audience.

Basing on its mode of Presentation one can categories literature into two groups being; Oral or Spoken Literature and Written Literature.

1. ORAL LITERATURE

Oral Literature is said to be the first form of literature because it began existing when human being started living together as a community with a common language for enhancing their communication

2. WRITTEN LITERATURE

This is the type of literature which represents the human social realities in written form. In most of African societies written literature came after the invention of writings. Before that Oral literature was dominant because the societies were illiterate.

LITERATURE IN ENGLISH PLAYS ANALYSIS

PLAY / DRAMA

A Play is a piece of writing which is designed in the way that it can be acted on stage before the audience.

OR

It is a piece of writing which is intended to be acted in a theatre.

TYPES OF PLAY / DRAMA

Drama consists of different types as explained below:-

a) Tragedy drama

This is the type of drama which takes some serious events. In most cases the main character or hero of this drama ends in suffering, danger or death making the play have sad ending.

b) Comedy drama

This is the type of drama which consists of some amusing, funny and humorous events which always makes the audience laugh.

c) Tragicomedy drama

This is the type of drama which consists of both sad and amusing events. In this drama the main character or hero comes across different hardships but does not end in death.

d) Historical drama

This is the type of drama which portrays on the history of a certain society. This drama also takes some elements of both the tragedy and comedy drama however the main character or hero does not end in danger.

e) Melodrama

This is the type of drama in which characters involved show some stronger emotions than a usual human being can do. In most cases this drama is aimed for entertainment.

Features of Play

i. They are short

ii. They have some illustrations on top the cover

iii. They have few Characters

iv. They take spectacles

v. They encompass music

vi. They have stage direction

vi. They take few events

vii. They are told in dialogue

viii. They divide events into acts and scenes

LITERATURE IN ENGLISH PLAYS ANALYSIS

1. THE TRIALS OF BROTHER JERO BY WOLE SPYINKA

2. THE DILEMMA OF A GHOST BY AMA ATA AIDOO

3. THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR BY NIKOLAI GOGOL