Writing Question

Students will write a 2-4 page paper analyzing a theatrical genre (100 points). A paper template is provided and should be used. A list of acceptable genres will be provided.

Consider the following:

• How does the genre compare to the one directly before it?
• How does the genre compare to the one directly after it?
• How does the genre comment on historical and/or social events happening during the time period?
• Who were the major proponents of the genre and how did they contribute to its ideals?
• Was the genre successful during its time period?
• Does the genre have staying power? Is it still performed in the theatre of today?
• Give an example of a play or production from the genre and describe how it represents the genre.

Use at least two (2) academic sources and cite the paper using the MLA format. See the library resource page for acceptable sources.

How to use the Paper Template

Open the paper template, you will see a bunch of gibberish. This gibberish is called Lorem Ipsem and is a generated text used simply as a placeholder till actual content is added.

First – double click on the header of the first page:

Your Name (Change to your name)
Professor Carl L Sage
Introduction to Theatre THTR 120
Today’s Date (Change to the appropriate date)

Second – Go to the second – and all subsequent – page(s) and update “Last Name” in the header with your last name.

Third – Change the “Title of Paper in Sentence Case with Play Title” with the title of your paper. If you use a play’s name in your paper, it should be in italics. Sentence case is when all large words are capitalized.

Fourth – Replace the Lorem Ipsum with your paper (or just start writing and delete the Lorem Ipsum as you go). The Lorem Ipsum is double spaced, has a hanging indent, and currently uses the Georgia font.

Fifth – At the end of the paper, there is a Page Break so that the Work Cited will be on a page all by itself. Be careful not to delete this. Delete the sample sources and insert your own in the MLA format.

Remember to use in-line or parenthetical citations in the body of your work – they would look like this: (last name of author, page #).

The thesis should be separated from the paper.

Thesis will be due separately before the final paper is due to allow the instructor to provide feedback and improve paper quality.

List of Western Theatre Genres

Genres

• Medieval
  • Liturgical
  • Mystery
  • Miracle
  • Morality
• Dark Ages
• Renaissance
  • Revenge Tragedy
  • Elizabethan & Jacobean Comedy
  • Commedia Dell’Arte
  • Spanish Golden Age
• Restoration
  • Comedy of Manners
  • Comedy of Humor
  • Comedy of Intrigue
  • Heroic Drama
• Neoclassical
  • Well Made Play
• Romanticism
  • Melodrama
  • Burlesque
• Naturalism
• Isms
  • Expressionism
  • Surrealism and Theatre of the Absurd
  • Epic Theatre
  • Poor Theatre
  • Symbolism
  • Theatricalism
  • Metatheatre
  • Avant-garde
  • Existentialism
  • Socialist Realism
• Comedy
  • High
  • Low
  • Farce
  • Romantic Comedy
  • Dark Comedy
• Docu-drama
• Federal Theatre Project (Negro Units)
• American Musical