Tennesee Williams (1911-1983) The most influential American
playwright. Also poet, and novelist. Born in the South. One of the
first openly gay American writers. Struggled with depression and
fear of insanity throughout his entire life. Best-known plays: A
Streetcar Named Desire (1947; Pulitzer Prize) Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
(1955; Pulitzer Prize) Several plays made into movies.
Slide 3
Lord Byrons Love Letter (1946) Who is Lord Byron? Dramatis
personae (list of characters). Note the names. The meaning of stage
directions. What happens in the play? What genre is this play?
Slide 4
DRAMA as a Dramatic Genre Drama means action. The two faces:
Thalia, the Muse of comedy, and Melpomene, the Muse of tragedy.
Drama in a narrow sense (as a genre) is a fusion of tragedy and
comedy, or neither tragedy nor comedy. Appeared in late 19 th
cent.
Slide 5
Harold Pinter (1930-2008) British dramatist, essayist,
screenwriter, poet, actor, director, and sportsman (cricket
player). Political loudmouth. The Nobel Prize winner (2005).
Official website Official website
Slide 6
The Caretaker (1960) I went into a room and saw one person
standing up and one person sitting down, and few weeks later I
wrote The Room. I went into another room and saw two people sitting
down, and a few years later I wrote The Birthday Party. I looked
through a door into a third room and saw two people standing up and
I wrote The Caretaker. Harold Pinter
Slide 7
The Caretaker The Theatre of the Absurd: represents the
irrational world. Comedy of menace (compare to manners: play on
words). Made into film in 1963. Made into film in 1963 Pinteresque
characterized by halting dialogue, uncertainty of identity, and the
air of menace.
Slide 8
The Caretaker The title Characters Setting Stage directions
Language Symbolic details Themes Humour
