Modern Plays: Introductions to Modern English Literature for Students of English

Intended for students who are ready to approach literature in English, this text deals with the literary and language aspects of modern plays. It includes seven extracts of modern plays, contrastive extracts and an introductory chapter on the anatomy of a play, which deals with characters, plots, stage design, acting and rehearsals. The text contains a variety of language-based exercises in areas of grammar, vocabulary and writing styles, as well as exercises involving personal responses. An answer key to the exercises means the book can be used for self-study. The seven main play extracts are from: Shaw's "Pygmalion", O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey into Night", Miller's "The Crucible", O'Casey's "The Plough and the Stars", Williams's "A Streetcar named Desire", Fugard's "Siswe Bansi is Dead" and Ayckbourn's "Man of the Moment". Contrastive extracts are taken from Wesker, Leonard, Friel, Russel and Mamet. A cassette containing professional dramatizations of the plays is also available (ISBN 0-13-017823-3).