Plays: Companion Text for College Writing 11.3x

by Nathan Taylor

Reading plays evokes a wide array of reactions, from trepidation to overwhelming excitement and joy. Without the guiding hand of a director or the specific interpretation of actors, however, reading a theatrical play instead of viewing a performance offers its own set of challenges.The plays included in this text—"A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare and "Cyrano De Bergerac" by Edmond Rostand—are intended to introduce readers to the theatrical play in an accessible, insightful, and entertaining way. An introduction and historical notes for each play help readers both understand and enjoy the material. Discussion questions follow each play to prompt critical thinking about the plot, characters, setting, themes, and other essential aspects of these works.Although this book is a companion text for the free edX.org course “College Writing 11.3x, AP® English Literature and Plays,” offered through UC Berkeley, it is suitable for anyone who wants to learn more about some monumental theatrical plays.

378 pages, Paperback

Published February 3, 2018