IGNOU MEG-02 British Drama Study Notes | Summary, Important Questions & Exam Guide
MEG-02: British Drama
BLOCK 1 – Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama
Historical Background
The Elizabethan Age (1558–1603) and Jacobean Age (1603–1625) represent the golden period of English drama. Public theatres flourished, and drama became the most popular literary form.
Major Features
- Mixture of tragedy and comedy
- Use of blank verse
- Complex characters
- Exploration of power, ambition, love, and revenge
Christopher Marlowe
Important Play
Doctor Faustus
Plot
The scholar Faustus sells his soul to the devil Mephistopheles in exchange for knowledge and power.
Major Themes
- Ambition and desire for knowledge
- Conflict between good and evil
- Human pride and downfall.
Dramatic Features
- Use of blank verse
- Tragic hero with excessive ambition
- Moral conflict.
William Shakespeare
One of the greatest dramatists in world literature.
Types of Plays
- Tragedies
- Comedies
- Histories
Shakespearean Tragedy
Example:
King Lear
Major Themes
- Power and betrayal
- Madness and suffering
- Justice and redemption.
Characteristics of Shakespearean Tragedy
- Tragic hero of high status
- Fatal flaw (hamartia)
- Conflict between good and evil
- Catastrophic ending.
Shakespearean Comedy
Example:
Twelfth Night
Features
- Mistaken identity
- Romantic love
- Happy ending.
BLOCK 2 – Restoration Drama
Historical Background
Restoration drama began in 1660 when the monarchy was restored in England. Theatres reopened after being closed during the Puritan period.
Characteristics
- Focus on urban life
- Satirical portrayal of society
- Themes of marriage and sexual intrigue
- Witty dialogue.
Restoration Comedy
Major Play
The Way of the World
Plot
The play revolves around the relationship between Mirabell and Millamant and their struggle to marry despite social obstacles.
Themes
- Marriage and social conventions
- Satire of upper-class society
- Love and manipulation.
Features
- Elegant language
- Complex plot
- Social satire.
BLOCK 3 – Eighteenth-Century Drama
Historical Background
Drama in the eighteenth century moved away from Restoration comedy toward sentimental drama and domestic tragedy.
Characteristics
- Emphasis on morality and virtue
- Emotional appeal
- Focus on middle-class life.
Oliver Goldsmith
Important Play
She Stoops to Conquer
Plot
Young Marlow visits Mr Hardcastle’s house but mistakenly believes it is an inn. Kate Hardcastle pretends to be a barmaid to win his love.
Themes
- Love and marriage
- Social manners
- Mistaken identity.
Significance
Goldsmith revived true comedy by rejecting sentimental drama.
BLOCK 4 – Victorian Drama
Historical Background
Victorian drama struggled to compete with novels during the nineteenth century, but theatre remained popular.
Characteristics
- Melodrama
- Moral themes
- Social issues.
Oscar Wilde
Important Play
The Importance of Being Earnest
Plot
Two young men create false identities to escape social responsibilities and pursue romance.
Themes
- Hypocrisy of Victorian society
- Marriage and social expectations
- Identity and deception.
Features
- Brilliant wit
- Satire
- Light comedy.
BLOCK 5 – Modern British Drama
Modern drama emerged in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries with a focus on realism and social criticism.
Characteristics
- Realistic characters
- Social issues
- Psychological depth.
George Bernard Shaw
Important Play
Pygmalion
Plot
Professor Higgins teaches Eliza Doolittle to speak proper English, transforming her social status.
Themes
- Class distinction
- Social mobility
- Power of language.
Dramatic Style
- Realistic dialogue
- Social criticism
- Intellectual debate.
Samuel Beckett
Important Play
Waiting for Godot
Dramatic Movement
Theatre of the Absurd
Plot
Two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, wait endlessly for a mysterious figure named Godot.
Themes
- Meaninglessness of life
- Human loneliness
- Absurdity of existence.
Features
- Minimal plot
- Repetition
- Dark humour.
Important Dramatic Concepts
Tragedy
A serious play dealing with the fall of a great hero due to a fatal flaw.
Comedy
A play that ends happily and often deals with love and social relationships.
Dramatic Irony
When the audience knows something the characters do not know.
Blank Verse
Unrhymed iambic pentameter often used in Elizabethan drama.
Most Important Exam Topics
- Tragic hero in Doctor Faustus.
- Characteristics of Shakespearean tragedy.
- Features of Restoration comedy.
- Comedy in The Way of the World.
- Themes of She Stoops to Conquer.
- Satire in The Importance of Being Earnest.
- Social criticism in Pygmalion.
- Absurdism in Waiting for Godot.
MEG-02 Most Important Long Answers
1. Marlowe as a Tragic Dramatist
Introduction
Christopher Marlowe is one of the most important dramatists of the Elizabethan age. His plays are famous for their powerful characters, poetic language, and exploration of human ambition.
Major Characteristics of Marlowe’s Tragedy
1. The Overreaching Hero
Marlowe’s heroes possess extraordinary ambition and strive for limitless power or knowledge.
Example:
Doctor Faustus
2. Theme of Ambition
The central theme in Marlowe’s tragedies is ambition that leads to destruction.
3. Use of Blank Verse
Marlowe perfected the use of blank verse, giving his plays grandeur and musical quality.
4. Conflict Between Good and Evil
Characters face a constant struggle between moral values and personal desires.
Conclusion
Marlowe’s tragedies portray the greatness and downfall of ambitious individuals, making him a pioneer of Elizabethan tragic drama.
2. Characteristics of Shakespearean Tragedy
Introduction
William Shakespeare created some of the greatest tragedies in English literature. His tragedies explore human emotions and moral conflicts.
Key Characteristics
1. Tragic Hero
The central character is a person of high rank who suffers a tragic downfall.
2. Fatal Flaw (Hamartia)
The hero possesses a personal weakness that leads to tragedy.
Example:
King Lear
3. Conflict
The hero experiences both internal and external conflicts.
4. Catharsis
The tragedy produces feelings of pity and fear in the audience.
5. Catastrophic Ending
The play ends with the death or downfall of the hero.
Conclusion
Shakespearean tragedy combines psychological depth, poetic language, and powerful themes.
3. Features of Restoration Comedy
Introduction
Restoration comedy flourished after 1660, when theatres reopened in England. These comedies focus on urban life and social manners.
Major Characteristics
1. Satire of Society
Restoration comedies mock the hypocrisy and superficiality of upper-class society.
2. Theme of Love and Marriage
Many plots revolve around romantic relationships and marriage negotiations.
3. Witty Dialogue
The plays contain clever and humorous conversations.
4. Intricate Plots
The stories involve misunderstandings, disguises, and intrigues.
Example
The Way of the World
Conclusion
Restoration comedy is known for its wit, satire, and portrayal of fashionable society.
4. Comedy in
She Stoops to Conquer
Introduction
She Stoops to Conquer is one of the finest comedies of the eighteenth century.
Sources of Comedy
1. Mistaken Identity
Marlow mistakenly believes Mr Hardcastle’s house is an inn.
2. Disguise
Kate Hardcastle pretends to be a barmaid to test Marlow.
3. Character Comedy
The humorous personalities of Tony Lumpkin and Marlow create comic situations.
4. Satire
The play satirizes social manners and class pretensions.
Conclusion
Goldsmith revived true comedy based on humour and lively characters.
5. Satire in
The Importance of Being Earnest
Introduction
The Importance of Being Earnest is a brilliant satirical comedy that criticizes Victorian social conventions.
Elements of Satire
1. Criticism of Social Hypocrisy
The play mocks the rigid moral standards of Victorian society.
2. Importance of Marriage
Marriage is treated as a social obligation rather than a romantic union.
3. Double Lives
Characters invent false identities to escape responsibilities.
4. Wit and Irony
The play is famous for Wilde’s clever epigrams and witty dialogue.
Conclusion
Through humour and satire, Wilde exposes the absurdities of Victorian social life.
6. Social Criticism in
Pygmalion
Introduction
Pygmalion is a famous modern play that deals with class distinctions in British society.
Major Themes
1. Class Inequality
The play shows the rigid class divisions in society.
2. Power of Language
Speech and pronunciation determine social status.
3. Transformation
Eliza’s transformation raises questions about identity and dignity.
4. Criticism of Social Pretensions
Shaw criticizes the superficial standards used to judge people.
Conclusion
The play is both entertaining and socially critical, highlighting the injustice of class discrimination.
7. Theatre of the Absurd in
Waiting for Godot
Introduction
Waiting for Godot is one of the most important plays of the Theatre of the Absurd.
Features of Absurd Drama
1. Lack of Plot
The play has no traditional storyline.
2. Repetition
Events and conversations repeat, showing the meaninglessness of life.
3. Existential Themes
The play explores human loneliness and uncertainty.
4. Minimal Action
Most of the play consists of dialogue and waiting.
Conclusion
The play reflects the absurd condition of modern human existence.
MEG-02 Very Important Short Notes
You should prepare short notes on these topics:
- Elizabethan theatre
- Blank verse in drama
- Revenge tragedy
- Comedy of manners
- Dramatic irony
- Sentimental comedy
- Melodrama
- Theatre of the Absurd
- Dramatic monologue
- Comic relief
Important Tip for IGNOU Exams
For 20-mark answers, follow this structure:
- Introduction
- 4–6 Key Points
- Examples from the play
- Short conclusion
This structure helps you score higher marks in IGNOU evaluation.
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