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Themes and Techniques in Denis Johnston's Early Plays
Světlík, Martin ; Pilný, Ondřej (advisor) ; Wallace, Clare (referee)
in English The thesis is concerned with the analysis and comparison of the first two plays of the Irish playwright Denis Johnston, The Old Lady Says "No!" and The Moon in the Yellow River, in terms of their thematic and formal aspects. While in the case of themes both plays deal with topical issues of Irish history and politics of the 1920s, at times touching upon more universal problems (such as the question of idealism, progress or violence), the dramatic treatment of these topics is markedly different in each of the two dramas. Whereas The Old Lady Says "No!" is essentially an experimental comedy that draws inspiration from international avant- garde movements, The Moon in the Yellow River works in a much more traditional, realistic mode. The thesis is divided in two parts, dealing with the themes and the use of dramatic techniques respectively. The first chapter summarises the main thematic concerns of both plays and focuses on the way in which they react to a specific political and cultural climate of Ireland in the 1920s. The chapter examines the plays mainly as Johnston's critical reflection on Ireland after the Civil War, but also tries to distinguish the instances when Johnston transcends the topical nature of his drama and uses Irish issues to move into a more universal territory. The two...
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