Teaching the Book: Teaching the Book: : A Doll : A Doll House House and and The Importance of The Importance of

Being EarnestBeing Earnest: Two Faces of the : Two Faces of the

19th Century19th Century

Comedy versus Tragedy: Comedy versus Tragedy: Two Sides of the Same CoinTwo Sides of the Same Coin

The  Greeks watch tragedies in the morning The  Greeks watch tragedies in the morning and comedies in the afternoon. and comedies in the afternoon.

The plays often dealt with the same themes The plays often dealt with the same themes and social concerns.and social concerns.

A Doll House and The Importance of Being A Doll House and The Importance of Being Earnest Earnest deal with similar social concerns: deal with similar social concerns: marriage, religion, child rearing, class marriage, religion, child rearing, class structure, gender expectationsstructure, gender expectations

One aims to elicit pity and terror while the other One aims to elicit pity and terror while the other laughter  laughter  

Serious in the Comic?Serious in the Comic?

AlgernonAlgernon: I really don't see anything : I really don't see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is The very essence of romance is uncertainty. If ever I get married, I'll uncertainty. If ever I get married, I'll certainly try to forget the fact.certainly try to forget the fact.

What is serious?What is serious?

What is the serious topic embedded in What is the serious topic embedded in this quotation?this quotation?

Which devices of comedy does Wilde Which devices of comedy does Wilde employ?employ?

What impact do the literary devices have What impact do the literary devices have on meaning and tone?on meaning and tone?

What type of person does Algernon seem What type of person does Algernon seem to be? How do you know?  to be? How do you know?  

Two Bourgeoisie BoysTwo Bourgeoisie Boys

IbsenIbsen (1828-1906) (1828-1906) NORWEGIANNORWEGIAN SOCIAL CRITIC OF MIDDLE SOCIAL CRITIC OF MIDDLE

CLASSCLASS FATHER LOST FORTUNEFATHER LOST FORTUNE

FATHER HAD ILLEGITIMITE FATHER HAD ILLEGITIMITE CHILDRENCHILDREN

DRAMATIST - TRAGEDIESDRAMATIST - TRAGEDIES

Wilde (1854-1900)Wilde (1854-1900) IRISHIRISH SOCIAL CRITIC OF SOCIAL CRITIC OF

ARISTOCRACYARISTOCRACY OFTEN IN DEBT TRYING TO OFTEN IN DEBT TRYING TO

MAINTAIN ARISTOCRATIC MAINTAIN ARISTOCRATIC TASTESTASTES

FATHER HAD ILLEGITIMITE FATHER HAD ILLEGITIMITE CHILDRENCHILDREN

DRAMATIST - COMEDIESDRAMATIST - COMEDIES

Genre MattersGenre Matters

FictionFiction Multiple points of viewMultiple points of view

Easy to change Easy to change settingssettings

Easy for individual Easy for individual imagination to make imagination to make meaningmeaning

DramaDrama Point of view usually Point of view usually

limited to characterslimited to characters

Bound to a degree Bound to a degree by settingby setting

Imagination bound Imagination bound by director’s choices by director’s choices

Genre MattersGenre Matters

Easy to employ Easy to employ animals as animals as characters and other characters and other supernatural supernatural phenomenonphenomenon

Individual often must Individual often must make own meaningmake own meaning

Reader can be Reader can be distracteddistracted

More difficult to elicit More difficult to elicit a willing suspension a willing suspension of disbeliefof disbelief

Audience responses Audience responses collectively add to collectively add to the play’s meaning the play’s meaning and toneand tone

Theater shuts out Theater shuts out distractions for distractions for approximately two approximately two hourshours

Comedy versus Tragedy: Comedy versus Tragedy: Two Sides of the Same CoinTwo Sides of the Same Coin

Tragedy and comedy are arbitrary classifications that Tragedy and comedy are arbitrary classifications that the western world has used since the time of Aristotle. the western world has used since the time of Aristotle.

Both have, however, changed over time, reflecting the Both have, however, changed over time, reflecting the tastes of the culture and time period in which they were tastes of the culture and time period in which they were written and performed. written and performed.

Furthermore, most comedies have tragic elements, and Furthermore, most comedies have tragic elements, and most tragedies have comic moments. most tragedies have comic moments.

As with any classification, boundaries blur. As with any classification, boundaries blur. Use accepted tenets of each as touchstones for Use accepted tenets of each as touchstones for

categorizing, comparing, and analyzing literature. categorizing, comparing, and analyzing literature.

From the 1993 Exam

The true test of comedy is that it shall awaken thoughtful laughter." - George Meredith

Choose a novel, play, or long poem in which a scene or character awakens "thoughtful laughter" in the reader. Write an essay in which you show why this laughter is "thoughtful" and how it contributes to the meaning of the work.

From the 2002 Exam

In the following excerpt from a recent British novel, the narrator, a young man in his early twenties, is attending a play with his new girlfriend Isabel when she unexpectedly discovers that her parents are in the theater. Read the passage carefully. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the author produces a comic effect.