The History of English Literature Drama: From the Anglo-Saxon Period to the Post-Modern Period

Drama has played a vital role in English literature, mirroring the social, cultural, and political contexts of its time. This comprehensive guide will delve into the history of English literature drama, spanning from the Anglo-Saxon period to the post-modern era, with detailed examples and explanations for students preparing for the English Literature exam.

The Anglo-Saxon Period (450-1066)

During the Anglo-Saxon period, the concept of drama as we know it today was largely non-existent. The primary forms of entertainment and storytelling were oral traditions, poetry, and liturgical performances.

Key Features:

• Form and Structure: Predominantly oral, with liturgical performances.
• Themes: Biblical narratives, moral lessons, religious devotion.
• Notable Works: There are few surviving examples of drama; much of the performance was integrated into church services.

Example:

• Liturgical Drama: Performed as part of the Mass, these dramas depicted scenes from the Bible, particularly the Passion of Christ. These were didactic in nature, aiming to educate the largely illiterate population about Christian teachings.

The Medieval Period (1066-1500)

The Medieval period saw the emergence of structured drama with the advent of mystery plays, miracle plays, and morality plays. These were often performed during religious festivals and were a primary source of entertainment and education for the masses.

Key Features:

• Form and Structure: Cycles of mystery plays, miracle plays, morality plays.
• Themes: Biblical stories, saints’ lives, allegories of good and evil.
• Notable Works:
• The York Mystery Plays: A cycle of plays that dramatized biblical events from Creation to the Last Judgment, performed by various craft guilds.
• “Everyman”: A morality play that uses allegorical characters to explore themes of life, death, and salvation.

Examples:

• The York Mystery Plays: These plays were part of a larger cycle and were performed on pageant wagons. Each guild was responsible for a different play, such as the Creation, the Fall of Man, or the Last Judgment.
• “Everyman”: This play follows the character Everyman as he is summoned by Death and must account for his life, teaching moral lessons about the importance of good deeds and repentance.

The Renaissance Period (1500-1660)

The Renaissance period, particularly the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras, is considered the golden age of English drama. This era witnessed the rise of professional playwrights, permanent theaters, and a focus on humanism and individualism.

Key Features:

• Form and Structure: Tragedy, comedy, history plays, use of iambic pentameter.
• Themes: Humanism, political intrigue, love, betrayal, individual complexity.
• Notable Works:
• William Shakespeare: “Hamlet,” “Macbeth,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Romeo and Juliet.”
• Christopher Marlowe: “Doctor Faustus,” “Tamburlaine.”
• Ben Jonson: “Volpone,” “The Alchemist.”

Examples:

• William Shakespeare: Known for his mastery of the English language and deep exploration of human nature, Shakespeare’s works remain pivotal. “Hamlet” delves into themes of revenge, madness, and the human condition. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a comedic exploration of love and magic.
• Christopher Marlowe’s “Doctor Faustus”: This play tells the story of Faustus, who makes a pact with the devil in exchange for knowledge and power, exploring themes of ambition, sin, and redemption.
• Ben Jonson’s “Volpone”: A satirical comedy that critiques greed and corruption through the story of Volpone, a con artist feigning illness to dupe legacy hunters.

The Neoclassical Period (1660-1798)

The Neoclassical period, also known as the Restoration era, marked the revival of classical ideals in drama. This period was characterized by a return to the principles of order, decorum, and rationality, influenced by classical Greek and Roman models.

Key Features:

• Form and Structure: Comedy of manners, heroic drama, adherence to the three unities (action, time, and place).
• Themes: Social satire, wit, moral instruction.
• Notable Works:
• Aphra Behn: “The Rover.”
• William Congreve: “The Way of the World.”
• John Dryden: “All for Love.”

Examples:

• Aphra Behn’s “The Rover”: This play is a lively comedy that explores themes of love, betrayal, and gender roles through the adventures of a group of English cavaliers in Naples.
• William Congreve’s “The Way of the World”: A quintessential comedy of manners that satirizes the superficiality and hypocrisy of Restoration society, focusing on the romantic entanglements of Mirabell and Millamant.
• John Dryden’s “All for Love”: A neoclassical adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra,” emphasizing the themes of honor, love, and tragedy within the constraints of classical unities.

The Romantic Period (1798-1837)

The Romantic period placed emphasis on emotion, imagination, and the individual’s connection to nature. Drama in this era often took the form of melodrama and poetic drama, reflecting the broader literary movement.

Key Features:

• Form and Structure: Melodrama, poetic drama.
• Themes: Emotion, nature, individualism, the supernatural.
• Notable Works:
• Percy Bysshe Shelley: “The Cenci.”
• Lord Byron: “Manfred.”
• Joanna Baillie: “De Monfort.”

Examples:

• Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “The Cenci”: A tragic drama based on a true story, exploring themes of tyranny, revenge, and familial corruption.
• Lord Byron’s “Manfred”: A dramatic poem that combines elements of tragedy and supernatural, centering on the tormented character of Manfred who seeks redemption for past sins.
• Joanna Baillie’s “De Monfort”: A psychological drama that delves into themes of jealousy, revenge, and the destructive power of intense emotions.

The Victorian Period (1837-1901)

The Victorian era witnessed a return to realism and social commentary in drama. This period saw the rise of the well-made play and a focus on detailed character development and contemporary social issues.

Key Features:

• Form and Structure: Realism, well-made play, problem play.
• Themes: Social issues, morality, human psychology.
• Notable Works:
• Oscar Wilde: “The Importance of Being Earnest.”
• George Bernard Shaw: “Pygmalion,” “Mrs. Warren’s Profession.”
• Henrik Ibsen: “A Doll’s House” (though Norwegian, his work had significant influence on English drama).

Examples:

• Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”: A comedic play that satirizes Victorian society and its obsession with social status, identity, and marriage.
• George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion”: A play that explores themes of social class and transformation through the story of Eliza Doolittle, a flower girl who is transformed into a lady by Professor Higgins.
• Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House”: A groundbreaking play that critiques the traditional roles of women and explores themes of individuality and self-discovery.

The Modern Period (1901-1945)

The Modern period was marked by experimentation and a departure from traditional forms. Playwrights explored new techniques such as expressionism and the theater of the absurd to reflect the complexities and uncertainties of the modern world.

Key Features:

• Form and Structure: Expressionism, surrealism, theater of the absurd.
• Themes: Alienation, existentialism, social critique.
• Notable Works:
• Samuel Beckett: “Waiting for Godot.”
• T.S. Eliot: “Murder in the Cathedral.”
• Bertolt Brecht: “The Threepenny Opera” (though German, his work had a profound influence on English drama).

Examples:

• Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot”: A seminal work of the theater of the absurd, exploring themes of existentialism and the human condition through the story of two tramps waiting for the mysterious Godot.
• T.S. Eliot’s “Murder in the Cathedral”: A poetic drama that depicts the assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket, reflecting themes of faith, martyrdom, and power.
• Bertolt Brecht’s “The Threepenny Opera”: A social critique disguised as a musical, addressing issues of capitalism, poverty, and corruption through the story of the criminal Macheath.

The Post-Modern Period (1945-Present)

The post-modern period continues the experimentation of the modern era but with greater emphasis on deconstructing traditional narratives and embracing eclectic and diverse styles. This period is marked by its questioning of reality and blending of genres.

Key Features:

• Form and Structure: Metatheatre, intertextuality, pastiche.
• Themes: Parody, irony, fragmentation, questioning reality and truth.
• Notable Works:
• **Tom Stoppard**: “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.”
• Harold Pinter: “The Homecoming.”
• Caryl Churchill: “Top Girls.”

Examples:

• Tom Stoppard’s “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”: A metatheatrical play that reimagines Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” from the perspective of two minor characters, blending tragedy and comedy while exploring themes of fate and free will.
• Harold Pinter’s “The Homecoming”: A play characterized by its use of Pinteresque pauses and ambiguity, exploring themes of power, family dynamics, and psychological manipulation.
• Caryl Churchill’s “Top Girls”: An innovative play that critiques capitalist society and gender roles through a non-linear narrative and a dinner party featuring historical and fictional women.

Conclusion

The history of English literature drama is a rich tapestry that reflects the evolving human experience. From the liturgical performances of the Anglo-Saxon period to the fragmented narratives of the post-modern era, drama has remained a dynamic and powerful form of storytelling. Each period brought unique characteristics, themes, and innovations, shaping the diverse and vibrant world of English drama that continues to inspire and provoke thought today.

The History of English Literature Drama: Mind Map

FAQs on the History of English Literature Drama

1. What are the main periods in the history of English literature drama?

• The main periods in the history of English literature drama are the Anglo-Saxon Period, Medieval Period, Renaissance Period, Neoclassical Period, Romantic Period, Victorian Period, Modern Period, and Post-Modern Period.

2. What is the significance of the Renaissance period in English drama?

• The Renaissance period, particularly the Elizabethan era, is considered the golden age of English drama. It saw the rise of professional playwrights, permanent theaters, and the works of iconic figures like William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, emphasizing humanism and complex characters.

3. How did the Neoclassical period influence English drama?

• The Neoclassical period revived classical principles of drama, focusing on order, decorum, and rationality. It introduced the comedy of manners and adhered to the three unities of action, time, and place, with notable works by Aphra Behn, William Congreve, and John Dryden.

4. What are the characteristics of Modern period drama in English literature?

• Modern period drama is marked by experimentation and the rejection of traditional forms. It includes expressionism, surrealism, and the theater of the absurd, exploring themes of alienation, existentialism, and social critique. Key figures include Samuel Beckett and T.S. Eliot.

5. Who are some notable playwrights from the Victorian period?

• Notable playwrights from the Victorian period include Oscar Wilde, known for “The Importance of Being Earnest,” George Bernard Shaw, with works like “Pygmalion,” and Henrik Ibsen, whose play “A Doll’s House” had significant influence on English drama.

6. What themes are commonly explored in Post-Modern drama?

• Post-Modern drama often explores themes of parody, irony, fragmentation, and the questioning of reality and truth. It blends different genres and styles, with notable works by Tom Stoppard, Harold Pinter, and Caryl Churchill.

7. What are some examples of Medieval drama in English literature?

• Examples of Medieval drama include the York Mystery Plays, which depict biblical events, and the morality play “Everyman,” which uses allegory to explore themes of life, death, and salvation.

8. How did Romantic period drama differ from earlier periods?

• Romantic period drama emphasized emotion, imagination, and individualism. It often took the form of melodrama and poetic drama, focusing on themes of nature, the supernatural, and intense personal experiences, as seen in the works of Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron.

9. What impact did the Anglo-Saxon period have on English drama?

• The Anglo-Saxon period had a limited impact on drama as it is understood today. Drama was primarily liturgical and part of religious ceremonies, focusing on biblical narratives and moral lessons, laying the groundwork for future dramatic forms.

10. How did the Victorian era’s focus on realism shape English drama?

• The Victorian era’s focus on realism brought detailed character development and contemporary social issues to the forefront of English drama. This period saw the rise of the well-made play and problem play, addressing the complexities of human psychology and morality.