This course is no longer required for admission to English Honours.
Is comedy just for laughs? Does it have a serious purpose? Is humour time-bound? This course will take the long view of dramatic comedy, exploring ways in which it is catalysed by, and speaks to, its immediate contexts. The entertainment revolution offered by London's public playhouses will provide the starting place for a wide-ranging investigation of the forms of dramatic comedy that evolved from it. We will explore dramatic comedy's relationship with developing technologies of performance and with socio-political concerns such as state and individual authority, class, and gender. Topics may include the Greek origins of early modern stage comedy, slapstick and the influence of Commedia dell'arte, Shakespeare's pastoral and romantic comedy, political satire and city comedy, the first female English playwrights, the comedy of manners, and the origins of farce . In each instance you will learn to identify both common tricks and innovations that have constituted the evolution of this important but often over-looked cultural form.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- identify, discuss and write critically about formal and thematic continuities and developments in dramatic comedy;
- examine, discuss and write critically about the relationship between dramatic comedy and its socio-political contexts;
- understand influential theories of comedy and apply them in critical analysis of examples of dramatic comedy; and
- collaborate in Practice-as-Research methods to investigate examples of dramatic comedy and to generate critical, interpretative insights.
Indicative Assessment
- Workshop presentation (as director or dramaturg) (30) [LO 2,4]
- Workshop journal or exam
(50) [LO 1,2,3] - Participation (20) [LO 1,2,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 36 hours of contact: 24 hours of workshops and 12 hours of seminars.
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
This is an in-person course that uses practice-led research and learning methods. In-person participation in workshops and seminars is required.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
William Shakespeare, Comedy of Errors, The New Oxford Shakespeare: Modern Critical Edition, Oxford, UK, 2016 via Oxford Scholarly Editions Online (ANU Library)
William Shakespeare, As You Like It,The New Oxford Shakespeare: Modern Critical Edition, Oxford, UK, 2016 via Oxford Scholarly Editions Online (ANU Library)
Other texts to be notified before the beginning of the semester.
Preliminary Reading
William Shakespeare, Comedy of Errors, The New Oxford Shakespeare: Modern Critical Edition, Oxford, UK, 2016 via Oxford Scholarly Editions Online (ANU Library)
William Shakespeare, As You Like It,The New Oxford Shakespeare: Modern Critical Edition, Oxford, UK, 2016 via Oxford Scholarly Editions Online (ANU Library)
Assumed Knowledge
No previous acting or performance experience is required to undertake this course.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4050 | 23 Feb 2026 | 02 Mar 2026 | 31 Mar 2026 | 29 May 2026 | In Person | N/A |