Chapter 1 George Bernard Shaw
1．1 Social and Historical Background
1．2 The Literary Background： The Irish Dramatic Movement
1．3 His Life
1．4 His Works
1．4．1 His Novels and Essays
1．4．2 Plays
1．5 Play Appreciation． Major Barbara
1．6 Comments on Major Barbara
1．6．1 A Brief Introduction to the Play
1．6．2 A Critical Comment on the Play
Chapter 2 Samuel Beckett
2．1 Literary Background
2．1．1 Stream of Consciousness
2．1．2 James Joyce
2．1．3 Theatre of the Absurd
2．2 His Life
2．3 His Works
2．4 Play Appreciation．． Waiting for Godot
2．5 Comment on Waiting for Godot
2．5．1 A Brief Introduction to the Play
2．5．2 A Critical Comment on the Play
Chapter 3 Harold Pinter
3．1 His Life
3．2 His Political Tendency
3．3 His Works
3．4 Comedy of Menace
3．5 Play Appreciation： The Dumb Waiter
3．6 Comments on The Dumb Waiter
3．6．1 A Brief Introduction to The Dumb Waiter
3．6．2 A Critical Analysis of the Play
Chapter 4 Eugene O'Neill
4．1 Historical and Cultural Backgrounds after World War II
4．2 Literary Background
4．2．1 American Literature between the Two World Wars
4．2．2 The World Wars' Impact on American Literature
4．2．3 Features of Modern American Literature
4．2．4 American Drama
4．3 His Life
4．4 His Plays
4．4．1 The Emperor Jones
4．4．2 Long Day's Journey into Night
4．4．3 Strange Interlude
4．4．4 The Hairy Ape
4． 5 Play Appreciation． Beyond the Horizon
4．6 Comments on Beyond the Horizon
4．6．1 A Brief Introduction to the Play
4．6．2 A Critical Comment on the Play
Chapter 5 Arthur Miller
5．1 Social and Historical Background
5．1．1 The Great Depression
5．1．2 WorldWar II
5．2 The Literary Background
5．3 His Life
5．3．1 His Political Attitude
5．3．2 His Marriage
5．4 His Works
5．4．1 His Quotes
5．4．2 His Play： Death of a Salesman
5．4．3 The Crucible
5．4．4 A View from the Bridge
5．5 Play Appreciation． All My Sons
5．6 Comments on All My Sons
5．6．1 A Brief Introduction to the Play
5．6．2 A Critical Comment on the Play